Ps23 Part II:
v.4a “By the same token, though I walk
in the valley of dark gloom – I fear evil not for you yourself reside within to
support me...”
Since the LORD, YHWH, Creator of the
heavens and the earth and God of Trinity who formed humanity in Their own image
and likeness, IS my shepherd – not only do “I lack nothing,” but “by the same
token” when I do “walk in the valley of dark gloom – I fear evil not for you
yourself reside within to support me...”
Remember the LORD is always a
reflection of Holy Trinity since God is indivisible as eternal community of
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There can
be no LORDship of Christ apart from the authority/will of the Father and the
power & presence of the Spirit.
When we are under the LORDship of
Christ and find ourselves in “the valley of dark gloom,” then it is because it
is the Father’s will for us to be exactly there as we walk in the obedience of
Jesus through the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, “by the same token” that we
experience times of stretching out in grassy pastures - beside the quiet waters
the LORD brought us to… we also “walk
in the valley of dark gloom.”
We should not be surprised one iota
when we find ourselves in “the valley of dark gloom.” When we are walking with the LORD we should
fully expect that life will alternate between times stretched out in grassy
fields beside quiet waters – and times in the “valley of dark gloom.” We, like
David, should remain unphased and fearless in the face of evil “for you
yourself reside within to support me...”
In the OLD Testament/Covenent/Contract/Pact
it was a rare occurrence that the Holy Spirit actually came to dwell within
people, but King David – author of Psalm 23 – was one of those people. In 1 Samuel 16:13 we read about how Samuel anointed
(mashach – root of Messiah or Anointed One) David as king and immediately the “Spirit
of the LORD came upon David from that day forward…”
Now, within the economy of God’s NEW Testament/Covenant/Contract/Pact,
Jesus’ advent has happened! Our eternal Anointed One has gone to the Cross and
paid-in-full our sin-debt in propitiation of God’s perfect judgment &
punishment for OUR rebellion and disobedience. Following King Jesus’
resurrection, whereby He defeated sin & death eternally, He ascended to His rightful
place upon His eternal throne in heaven – AND – promised to send another (παράκλητος) Paraclete, Helper, Comforter, Advocate to help
you (plural) and be with you (plural) "throughout the appointed time…" Jesus
promised to send His disciples, the people of His Church & Bride, the Holy
Spirit! (see John 14:15-31).
v.4a “By the same token, though I walk
in the valley of dark gloom – I fear evil not for you yourself reside within to
support me...”
The same LORD whom we trust to bring
us TO stretch out in grassy fields and to lead us beside still waters is the same
LORD who resides within us and supports us to bring us THROUGH “the valley of
dark gloom.”
If you are a disciple, follower,
devotee, catechumen, student, and zealot of Christ Jesus – then you ARE
intimately identified with the will of the Father, the obedience of the Son,
and truly HAVE the same power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit, the Helper,
Comforter, and Advocate WITHIN and SUPPORTING you, which King David, Christ Jesus,
the Apostles, and the martyrs of Christianity throughout history have had.
Therefore, “By the same token, though
I walk in the valley of dark gloom – I fear evil not for you yourself reside
within to support me...”
Tune in tomorrow as we continue our
DEEP look into the Holy Trinity in Psalm 23.
Blessings,
-Kevin
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