In the business world there must be a dozen (if not dozens) of books and seminars entitled, “The Pathway to Success.” Time will be spent on how to dress for success, the attitude for success, and the actions that will lead to success. Everything is geared to be appealing and exciting to the human eye.
However, Psalm 23 reminds us that the desired successful mountain top experiences are often misinterpreted or misunderstood. Many a Christian will look at Christians during mountain top experiences and say how they long to be like that! A person sees a lot of people saved, God seems to be clearly reflected in their life, and there seems to be a joy that never ends!
When we look at the mountain tops, we often fail to realize or remember that it will take the paths in the valley to get to the mountain top! This is usually the last place any of us want to go…but it is the place that leads to the mountain top. We must trust the Lord that the valleys will lead to mountain top times in His time.
Background: Notice that the Psalmist now changes his Psalm directly to the Lord. The personal pronouns “I” and “Thou” now enter the conversation. Also, remember that when God sent Samuel to anoint David as the next King, he wasn’t at home – he was tending to his father’s flock high in the hills. David knew firsthand the difficulties and dangers (as well as the joy and delight) of the journey to the mountain top.
Before David was King, he was a shepherd fighting off dangerous animals.
1. The Valley is necessary
When we lived in Colorado, we often enjoyed taking people for a day trip into the mountains. We lived at 7000 feet above sea level, but a drive up Mount Evans would easily double that distance. The views were spectacular! It was definitely worth the drive. However, to get to the mountain peak we had to drive through the valley.
You cannot get to the mountain top without going through the valley. What we often want is a helicopter ride instead – and that can be very costly (financially and spiritually). But the reality is...it will cost me something when the Lord leads me through the valley as well.
Everything of great value will have great cost.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” It doesn’t say that we will necessarily die there, but it does say we walk through it!
So … “Why is this necessary?” Consider 4 Answers to “why the valley?”
1. It brings glory to God with dependence on Him alone (Hebrews 11:6)
2. It gives proper perspective (Hebrews 11:13)
3. It helps me help others (II Cor. 1:3-5)
4. It is the best watered path, and as a result, it helps us grow (James 1:3-4)
2. The Valley is revealing
The Psalmist says, “I will fear no evil for thou are with me.” When a boxer goes into the ring, his abilities are revealed for all to see. Last year, I watched the weigh in and news conference of a big fight. Both fighters were trying to show themselves to be stronger and tougher than the other; however, one of the fighters was particularly proud and cocky. He made quite the big show for all the reporters and cameras. He even attempted to intimidate his opponent in every way possible. When it came time for the fight, the fighter who was so big at the news conference was knocked out with one punch.
When we are in the valley the Lord reveals us to ourselves. That can be a very frightening thing. We often think we are more than what we are! We think we were more courageous, more powerful, more skilled, and definitely more spiritual!
“You will never know the fullness of Christ, until you feel the emptiness of everything else but Christ.”
What leads to the mountain top experiences is realizing that we are nothing without Him.
3. The Valley is rewarding
God’s desire is to bring me to higher ground! Our Good Shepherd knows the way of the valley. He also knows the peak of the mountain … and He knows what is needed to bring us to the peak. In the meantime, remember that when you see folks in those mountain top experiences – remember they went through the valley to get there.
So … center your attentions on these 4 areas as you live life each day...so when you begin to walk through a valley, you are fortified!
…Prayer (John 15:5)
…the Bible (Jeremiah 23:29: Hebrews 4:12)
…Relationships (John 15:12; Romans 14:19; I Thessalonians 5:11)
…Obedience (John 14:15; James 1:22)
Lastly, the ultimate reward is fearing no evil. That is quite the prize! Where does peace come from? Where does fearing no evil originate? It is all rooted in the reality of God’s presence (Exodus 33:14). The story is told of a few ladies from the USA Judo Olympic Team walking down the streets of Sydney, Australia after their competition that day. Before they knew it a group of men decided they were going to mug these ladies ... not knowing they were Olympians … in the martial arts. The ladies warned them to stay away and they refused. The men made their move and before the men knew what had happened, they were all face down on the ground subdued by the ladies awaiting the police to arrive. Knowing just that story, most if not all of us would feel safe walking around with those ladies. Their mere presence would calm our fears of evil. If we were to see them in action it would calm our fears even more.
You and I have seen God in action. We have seen answers to prayer. We have seen people saved. We have seen people baptized. We have seen Him build His church! We have read of his own actions in the Bible: the walls of Jericho came down without anyone touching them, the Red Sea parted to dry ground for more than a million people to pass through it before the enemy arrived, Jesus healed the nobleman's son and the woman with the issue of blood... it even came to the point that people would tear apart a roof and lower a man into the house -- just to get close to Jesus. The understanding was clear: if I can just get to Jesus, everything will be better.