Ep. 88 | When You Walk Through the Valley of Life (Psalm 23) | Eastertide

When we walk through life's valleys, we might believe that we walk alone—but Pslam 23 reminds us that God walks with us. He will guide us and provide for us through the darkest valleys of our lives. Listen to this week's passage and gain confidence for your journey, no matter how difficult.

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NOTES FROM THE TONY EVANS STUDY BIBLE: (a great Bible to have in your personal resources)

23:1 David started out as a shepherd (see 1 Sam 16:11–12; 17:15, 34–37), so he describes his relationship to God in those terms.

23:2 God met David’s spiritual needs. The cares and struggles of this world can leave us exhausted. Such times are opportunities to realize our dependence on the Lord for spiritual refreshment.

23:3 God met David’s directional needs. Sheep are prone to wander and become lost; they need guidance...Through his Word and his Spirit, God leads us along the right paths in life—and reroutes us when we foolishly become wayward. Why? For his name’s sake—that is, so that others can hear us say, “My God has brought me here.”

23:4 God met David’s emotional needs. He provides comfort with his rod (used to beat wild animals that attack the sheep) and his staff (used to guide the sheep and pull them back from harm). When life takes you through the darkest valley, receive consolation in knowing that your divine Shepherd has power in one hand and grace in the other.

23:5 God met David’s physical needs. God fed him when he hungered and anointed him with oil when he needed healing. God’s provision never runs dry. That’s why David’s cup overflow[ed].

23:6 God met David’s eternal needs. Shepherds often have sheepdogs that keep the sheep from wandering. The divine Shepherd has two sheepdogs named goodness and faithful love. Sometimes they bark and nip at you when you wander from the fold. But they do so with the intent of driving you back into fellowship with your Shepherd, so that you may eternally dwell in the house of the Lord.

 Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 2019), 613.

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HOW HAS THE LORD MET YOUR NEEDS THIS WEEK?
HOW DO YOU NEED HIM RIGHT NOW?
Take a moment to praise him and call out to him. 

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Transcript

Join the WellSoul Life community for bonus content and encouragement and resources to live with a well soul, delivered directly into your email inbox. See the link in the show notes. Welcome to the WellSoul Podcast, where we pause to drink in scripture, reflect, and pray. I am your host, Seana Scott, and sometimes life leaves our souls feeling parched. So come to the well of living water that never runs dry. Today we continue our series meditating on select Psalms during Eastertide, that is the season between Easter, Resurrection Sunday, and Pentecost Sunday, when the Church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit. Today we meditate on Psalm 23. Before I read, take a deep breath, quiet your mind, and focus your whole being on the words of scripture. Just be here.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

What did the Holy Spirit highlight for you? Focus your thoughts on this for a moment. I'm going to re-read this Psalm again. Once again, listen for what the Holy Spirit highlights for you. It may be something that triggers a sense of conviction or comfort. And then hold on to those words.

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Now take a moment to just sit with the words that you noticed. Think about them.

 Psalm 23 images God as a good shepherd. A shepherd guards and guides their sheep from evil. But the sheep need to stick close to the shepherd. 

Are you sticking close to our shepherd, the Lord? 

How might you need to draw near to him? 

Take a moment to pray about this or anything else the Spirit brings to mind. 

Let's pray. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, one and only true God, you are our good shepherd. Forgive us, Lord, when we wander like sheep, thinking that we can do things our own way, but it just leaves us vulnerable to enemy that rages war against our souls. Help us to draw close to you, to stay close to you, and to allow you to guide us in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake. We love you, Lord. In Jesus's name, amen. 

Thank you for joining me today on the WellSoul Podcast. For links to study this passage, see the show notes. You can subscribe to WellSoul Life and never miss a post on living with a well soul and gain access to bonus content. See the link in the show notes. In closing, I remember my late friend, Brian Vasquez, who helped make this podcast possible. God bless you and I pray that you have a well soul.