WE WON'T HAVE TO CROSS JORDAN ALONE!

PSALM 23: 4

1. YEARS AGO, A LITTLE GIRL, WHOSE BABY BROTHER HAD JUST DIED, ASKED HER MOTHER WHERE THE BABY BROTHER HAD GONE. THE MOTHER REPLIED, "HE'S GONE TO BE WITH JESUS." A FEW DAYS LATER, TALKING TO A FRIEND, THE MOTHER SAID, "I AM SO GRIEVED TO HAVE LOST MY BABY," HOWEVER, THE LITTLE GIRL OVERHEARD HER MOTHER TALKING, AND REMEMBERING WHAT HER MOTHER HAD TOLD HER, SHE ASKED, "MOTHER, IS A THING LOST WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS?"

2. THE SUBJECT THAT IS FOUND IN PSALM 23:4, IS NOT ONE THAT ANYONE OF US ENJOY THINKING, OR TALKING ABOUT. IT IS A SUBJECT THAT CAUSES US TO STOP AND CONSIDER THE VALUE OF OUR LIFE.

3. HOWEVER, TO THE CHILD OF GOD, WHEN ONE DIES, WE NEED NOT SAY THAT THEY ARE LOST, FOR AS THE LITTLE GIRL ASKED HER MOTHER, 'HOW CAN IT BE LOST WHEN WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE?"

4. AUGUSTINE CALLED PSALM 23:4, "THE MARTYR PSALM!" 1IT HAS BEEN USED BY MEN EVERYWHERE IN THE EXTREMITIES OF LIFE, AND MULTITUDES OF MARTYRS FACED WILD BEASTS, THE SWORD, AND THE STAKE WITH THESE WORDS UPON THEIR LIPS.

5. I THINK OF ISABEL ALISON AND MARIAN HOWIE, WHO SANG THIS PSALM WHEN THEY WERE TAKEN TO THE SCAFFOLD OF EDINBURGH. MARIAN LOOKED TO ISABEL, IN THEIR HOUR OF MARTYRDOM, AND SAID, "COME, ISABEL, LET US SING PSALM 23." AND TOGETHER THESE TWO GIRLS WENT DOWN INTO THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH SINGING, IN GLAD ASSURANCE THAT THEIR SAVIOR WAS WITH THEM.

6. WE ARE INFORMED FROM SCRIPTURE THAT DEATH FOR THE BELIEVER, AND DEATH FOR THE UNBELIEVER IS AS DIFFERENT AS NIGHT AND DAY. FOR THE UNBELIEVER IT IS A TIME OF VEXATION, BUT FOR THE BELIEVER IT IS A TIME OF CELEBRATION. FOR THE UNBELIEVER IT IS A TIME OF REGRET, BUT FOR THE BELIEVER IT IS A TIME OF RELEASE. FOR THE UNBELIEVER IT IS A TIME OF SORROW, BUT FOR THE BELIEVER IT IS A TIME OF SHOUTING.

7. IN FACT, THE PSALMIST, IN PSALM 116: 15 INFORMED US HOW OUR LORD VIEWS THE MOMENT OF DEATH. "PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS."

8. THE WORD 'PRECIOUS' DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS EMOTIONALLY VALUED, BUT, RATHER, THE SAINTS DIE IN GOD'S SIGHT, IN HIS TIME, AND FOR HIS PURPOSE. THUS, WHEN THEY HAVE FINISHED THEIR COURSE, IT IS A GLAD HOMECOMING.

9. AS WE COME TO VERSE 4 OF THIS BELOVED PSALM, WE FIND A VERSE THAT HAS A UNIVERSAL IMPACT. IT IS A VERSE, WHICH HAS BEEN MOST WIDELY READ, AND HEARD AT FUNERAL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. BUT, AS WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK INTO IT'S VALUE, IT'S VALIDITY, AND IT'S VICTORY, DAVID REMINDS US, THANK GOD, THAT, "WE WON'T HAVE TO CROSS JORDAN ALONE!"

1. THE DESTINY OF DEATH THAT AWAITS US!

1. NOTICE VERSE 4. "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH." IN THOSE WORDS, DAVID REMINDS US OF THE DESTINY OF DEATH THAT AWAITS EVERYONE OF US. IN FACT:

A. THERE IS THE UNSEEN OF DEATH THAT BECOMES A FACT

1. WHENEVER ONE SPEAKS OF DEATH, OR EXPERIENCE DEATH, THEY ARE REMINDED THAT THE UNSEEN HAS BECOME A FACT.

2. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE ARE BORN TO LIVE, AND WE LIVE TO DIE. THE VERY MOMENT WE WERE BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD WE BEGAN A JOURNEY HEADED TO ONE END, AND THAT IS DEATH. THE ONLY ESCAPE FROM DEATH IS TO BE 'CAUGHT UP' WITH THE LORD IN THE AIR. BUT, THE REALITY IS THAT EVERY ONE OF US MUST FACE THE FACT THAT WE MAY DIE.

3. DEATH IS A STUBBORN FACT. THAT IS, IT IS SOMETHING WE CANNOT EVADE, WE CANNOT ESCAPE, AND WE CANNOT EXCUSE. THE APOSTLE PAUL EXPLAINED, IN ROMANS 5: 12, THAT WE ALL DIE BECAUSE OF SIN. "WHEREFORE AS BY ONE SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN; AND SO DEATH PASSED UPON ALL MEN, FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED." WE ARE NOT SINNERS BECAUSE WE SIN, BUT WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS. THEREFORE, BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS, WE ARE GOING TO DIE.

4. DEATH IS NOT ONLY A STUBBORN FACT, IT IS A SURE FACT. IN HEBREWS 9: 27, THE WRITER PENNED THE FAMOUS WORDS, "AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT."

5. DEATH IS AN APPOINTMENT THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO KEEP. IT KNOWS NO HOLIDAYS, BIRTHDAYS, NOR SPECIAL DAYS. IT IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS. JUST AS WE LIVE, WE ARE JUST AS SURE GOING TO DIE.

6. HOWEVER, DEATH IS NOT ONLY A STUBBORN FACT, AND A SURE FACT, BUT IT IS A SWIFT FACT. I THINK OF JAMES' WORDS, IN JAMES 4: 14, "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS EVEN A VAPOUR, THAT APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY."

7. ONE OF THE VERY FIRST LESSONS THAT I LEARNED WHEN I ENTERED THE MINISTRY WAS THE BREVITY OF LIFE. I HAVE STOOD OVER THE YOUNG, AND I HAVE STOOD OVER THE OLD. I HAVE BURIED THE RICH, AND I HAVE BURIED THE POOR. I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SERVICES OF THE ELITE, AND THE UNKNOWN. HOWEVER, REGARDLESS OF POSITION, PLACE, POWER, PRESTIGE, OR POSSESSIONS, THEY ARE ALL CONSUMED WITH THE LAST BREATH OF LIFE; AND, TO BE HONEST, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A U-HAUL BEHIND OF A HURST. DEATH IS A STUBBORN FACT, A SURE FACT, AND A SWIFT FACT. AT DEATH, THE UNSEEN BECOMES A FACT.

B. THERE IS THE UNKNOWN OF DEATH THAT BRINGS A FEAR

1. MAN IS THE ONLY CREATURE WHO KNOWS THAT HE IS GOING TO DIE, AND YET HE DESPERATELY TRIES TO FORGET IT. SIMPLY BECAUSE, WHILE THE UNSEEN OF DEATH BECOMES A FACT, THE UNKNOWN OF DEATH BRINGS A FEAR.

2. THE VERY MENTION OF THE WORD 'DEATH' CAUSES MANY PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT. THE WORD SENDS A CHILL UP OUR SPINE, AND A FEAR TO OUR BONES.

3. PERHAPS WE FEAR THE SORROW, THE SUFFERING, OR THE SICKNESS. PERHAPS WE FEAR THE BURDEN THAT MAY BE LEFT UPON OUR FAMILY, AND LOVED ONES. PERHAPS WE WONDER IF WE WILL HAVE E COURAGE TO FACE THE FINAL HOURS OF LIFE.

4. WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THERE IS AN UNKNOWN ABOUT DEATH THAT BRINGS A FEAR TO THE HEART OF MAN.

5. I HAVE HEARD MANY PREACHERS, AND SPEAKERS SAY HOW THAT THEY ARE NOT AT ALL AFRAID OF DYING. AND, THEY SEEMED TO BE PROUD, OR BOASTFUL OF THE FACT THAT THEY WILL STAND TOE TO TOE WITH DEATH WHEN IT COMES.

6. YET, WHILE I AM NOT AFRAID TO DIE, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD, THERE IS STILL AN ANXIETY ABOUT IT THAT I MUST ADMIT. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT I STILL SEEK TO ENDEAVOR IN THIS LIFE. THERE ARE GOALS THAT I DESIRE TO SEE FULFILLED. THERE ARE PRAYERS THAT I WANT TO SEE ANSWERED.

7. BUT, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT DEATH IS A ROAD THAT I HAVE NEVER TRAVELED BEFORE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WILL FACE. I DO NOT KNOW THE PAIN THAT I MAY SUFFER. THUS, I CANNOT HONESTLY STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, AND BOASTFULLY SAY THAT I AM IN NO WAY AFRAID TO DIE; AND, IF YOU WERE TO BE HONEST, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE SAME THING. THERE IS AN UNSEEN OF DEATH THAT BECOMES A FACT, AND THERE IS AN UNKNOWN OF DEATH THAT BRINGS A FEAR. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE IS A DESTINY OF DEATH THAT AWAITS US!

2. THE DEGREE OF DEATH THAT AMAZES US!

1. DAVID WONDERFULLY EXPLAINS WHAT DEATH WILL BE LIKE FOR THE CHILD OF GOD. WHILE WE MUST COME TO GRIPS WITH THE DESTINY OF DEATH THAT AWAITS US, WE MUST NOT FORGET THE DEGREE OF DEATH THAT WILL AMAZE US.

A. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A PROGRESSING THROUGH

1. NOTICE VERSE 4. "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH." I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO TWO WORDS THAT ARE FOUND IN THIS VERSE. THE WORDS, 'WALK THROUGH.'

2. THE WORD 'WALK' SPEAKS OF "A FIRM STEP." IT DENOTES A STEP OF CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE. ROBERT MOYER SAID, "IT IS A WALK OF SAFETY, A WALK OF SERENITY, A WALK OF SURENESS, A WALK OF SATISFACTION, AND A WALK OF SECURITY!" 2

3. HOWEVER, THE DEGREE OF DEATH DOES NOT END WITH A WALK. RATHER, THE PSALMIST SAYS EMPHATICALLY, "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH!"

4. THE PHRASE DENOTES PROGRESS. IT SPEAKS OF ONE HEADING, AND MOVING TOWARD A CERTAIN DESTINATION. THUS, DEATH, FOR THE BELIEVER IS DESCRIBED AS A PROGRESSING THROUGH.

5. I THINK OF ARCHBISHOP LAUD, AS HE NEARED THE END OF HIS LIFE, HE BECAME SO EAGER TO GO HOME, THAT HE SAID, "LORD, I AM COMING AS FAST AS I CAN."

6. FOR THE CHILD OF GOD, DEATH IS NOT A WALKING IN, A STAYING IN, AN ABIDING IN, A REMAINING IN, A LIVING IN, OR A CAMPING IN; IT IS NOT A MATTER OF 'IN', IT IS A MATTER OF THROUGH. WE ARE PROGRESSING THROUGH.

7. WE ARE PROGRESSING THROUGH THE SHADOW INTO THE SUNSHINE. THROUGH THE BLACKNESS INTO THE BRIGHTNESS. THROUGH THE DARKNESS INTO THE DAYLIGHT. THROUGH THE GLOOM INTO THE GLORY. THROUGH THE VALLEY INTO THE VISION. THROUGH THE GRIEVOUS RAVINE INTO THE GLORIOUS RAPTURE.

8. OH YES, WHEN WE COME TO JORDAN'S STORMY BANKS, WE WILL NOT BE WALKING IN DEATH, WE WILL BE 'WALKING THROUGH' IT. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A PROGRESSING THROUGH.

B. IT IS DEPICTED AS A PASSING THROUGH

1. IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THE DEPICTION THAT DAVID GIVES ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE BELIEVER. HE REFERS TO IT, BY SAYING, "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH." IT IS DEPICTED AS BEING 'THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH."

2. J. D. JONES REFERRED TO THE PHRASE AS "A RAVINE OF DEEP GLOOM." THE PHRASE HAS ALSO BEEN TRANSLATED, "THE DARK SHADOW OF DEATH, OR THE VALLEY OF DEATH SHADE."

3. HISTORIANS, AND THEOLOGIANS, INFORM US THAT THERE IS SUCH VALLEY IN PALESTINE. IN FACT, THE VALLEY IS CALLED, 'THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.' IT ORIGINATED CENTURIES AGO BESIDE A FRESHWATER STREAM IN A VALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 2,700 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, AND TRAVELS TO THE DEAD SEA, 1,300 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL.

4. THE STREAM WAS FED BY OVERFLOWING TORRENTS FROM THE SURROUNDING HILLSIDES DURING THE RAINY SEASON, AND IT CREATED A VALLEY THAT WAS DEEP, DARK, AND NARROW, ONLY 12" WIDE. THIS DARK PLACE WAS FULL OF SHADOWS EVEN AT HIGH NOON. 3

5. IT WAS SAID THAT DANGEROUS PREDATORS WOULD HIDE IN THE CRACKS OF THE ROCKS, READY TO KILL AN UNSUSPECTING SHEEP OR SHEPHERD. THIS WAS ALSO AN INFAMOUS HIDING PLACE FOR ROBBERS, AND THIEVES.

6. YET, WHILE THIS VALLEY HAD ITS DISADVANTAGES, IT ALSO HAD ITS ADVANTAGES. THAT IS, IT WAS SOMETIMES VERY USEFUL. IT PROVIDED A NATURAL TRAIL FOR SHEPHERDS TO GET THEIR FLOCKS FROM THE HIGH LAND, NEAR BETHLEHEM, INTO THE LOW LAND, NEAR JERICHO. ALSO, IN THE WINTERTIME, WHERE GRASS WAS SCARCE, SHEPHERDS WOULD LEAD THEIR SHEEP THROUGH THE VALLEY WHERE THE GRASS WAS GREEN, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE WINTER. 4

7. IN THE SAME WAY, FOR THE BELIEVER,

WHILE THIS 'VALLEY' HAS ITS SETBACKS,

IT ALSO HAS ITS STRENGTHS. IT IS A

'VALLEY OF A SHADOW.' IT IS NOT THE

STROKE OF DEATH, NOR THE STING OF

DEATH, IT IS THE SHADOW OF DEATH. IT

IS NOT THE SUBSTANCE OF DEATH THAT

WE MUST FACE, BUT ONLY THE SHADOW

OF DEATH THAT WE MUST FACE.

7. C. H. SPURGEON SAID, "WHO IS AFRAID OF SHADOWS? THE SHADOW OF A DOG CANNOT BITE YOU, THE SHADOW OF A SWORD CANNOT SLAY YOU, SO THE SHADOW OF DEATH CANNOT HARM YOU!" 5

8. I THINK OF A GREAT PREACHER WHOSE WIFE HAD DIED WHEN SHE WAS STILL A YOUNG WOMAN. THEY HAD A YOUNG DAUGHTER WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE DETAILS SURROUNDING HER MOTHER'S DEATH AND HOW JESUS' DEATH PROVIDED ETERNAL LIFE FOR HER MOTHER. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FUNERAL, THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING DOWNTOWN. THE LITTLE GIRL LOOKED AT THE WALL OF A DEPARTMENT STORE, AND SAW A LARGE SHADOW OF A SMALL TRUCK. SHE SAID, "DADDY, LOOK AT THAT BIG SHADOW." THE FATHER KNEW THAT HE HAD HIS OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH HIS DAUGHTER A VALUABLE LESSON.

9. HE SAID, "SWEETHEART, IF YOU HAD A CHOICE, WOULD YOU RATHER BE HIT BY THE SHADOW OF THAT TRUCK, OR THE TRUCK ITSELF?" SHE SAID, "THAT'S EASY, DADDY, I WOULD RATHER BE HIT BY THE SHADOW." HE REPLIED, "HONEY, THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR MOTHER. ONLY THE SHADOW HIT HER. THE TRUCK HIT JESUS 2,000 YEARS AGO!"

10. THANKS BE TO GOD, THE STROKE, THE SUBSTANCE, AND THE STING OF DEATH HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY; ALL WE MUST NOW FACE IS BUT A MERE SHADOW.

11. IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THERE CAN BE ONLY BE A SHADOW WHERE THERE IS A BRIGHT LIGHT SHINING. THUS, DEATH, FOR THE CHILD OF GOD, IS BUT A SHADOW BECAUSE THE 'LIGHT OF THE WORLD' HAS ALREADY TASTED DEATH FOR US.

12. F. B. MEYER SAID, "DEATH IS NOT A STATE, AN ENDURING CONDITION, OR AN ABIDING PLACE. IT IS A PASSAGE, A TRANSITION, AND A VALLEY THROUGH WHICH WE MUST WALK. THE VALLEY MAY BE DARK AND LONELY, AND INFESTED WITH EVIL THINGS; BUT, WE DO NOT PITCH OUR TENTS THERE, WE PASS THROUGH UNTO OUR REST!" 6

13. DAVID REMINDS US THAT FOR THE CHILD OF GOD, DEATH IS NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A PROGRESSING THROUGH, AND IT IS DEPICTED AS A PASSING THROUGH. THAT IS THE DEGREE OF DEATH THAT AMAZES US!

3. THE DEFEAT OF DEATH THAT ASSURES US!

1. TO CONCLUDE VERSE 4, DAVID OUTLINES THAT DEATH HAS BEEN ALREADY BEEN DEFEATED FOR THE BELIEVER, AND THAT DEFEAT ASSURES US AS WE WALK THROUGH IT. IN FACT, NOTICE HE SPEAKS OF:

A. THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN THE LORD

1. NOTICE VERSE 4. "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL."

2. IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED THAT WHILE DEATH BECOMES A FACT, IT ALSO BRINGS A FEAR. HOWEVER, DAVID EMPHATICALLY SAYS, "I WILL FEAR NO EVIL."

3. THE WORD 'FEAR' MEANS "TO PUT IN FEAR, OR TO DREAD A TERRIBLE THING." IT SPEAKS OF SOMETHING HORRIBLE WHICH PROMOTES, AND PROVOKES UNCONTROLLABLE FEAR IN THE HEART.

4. WHILE WE OUGHT TO LIVE EVERYDAY IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DIE, DAVID REASSURES US THAT WE NEED NOT ALLOW THE FEAR OF DEATH TO OVERWHELM US, AND OVERTAKE US. WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD.

5. LUKE SPOKE OF THIS, IN LUKE 1: 78-79, "THROUGH THE TENDER MERCY OF GOD; WHEREBY THE DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH HATH VISITED US, TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, TO GUIDE OUR FEET INTO THE WAY OF PEACE."

6. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE ONE WHO WILL GIVE US GLORY IS THE ONE WHO GIVES US GRACE. AND, WHILE HIS GRACE 'HAS LED ME SAFE THUS FAR, HIS GRACE WILL LEAD ME HOME!' THUS, EVEN IN THE HOUR OF DEATH, WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD.

B. THE COMPANIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE LORD

1. DAVID NOT ONLY SPEAKS OF A CONFIDENCE, BUT OF A COMPANIONSHIP. AND, WHILE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD IN THE HOUR OF DEATH, WE ALSO HAVE COMPANIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IN THE HOUR OF DEATH.

2. NOTICE VERSE 4. "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR THOU ART WITH ME, THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME."

3. WE HAVE COMPANIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE GOES WITH US. "I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR THOU ART WITH ME."

4. I NEED NOT REMIND YOU TONIGHT WHOM THE PSALMIST IS SPEAKING OF. HE IS REFERRING TO JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH, THE LORD OUR PRESENT HELP. HE IS SPEAKING OF THE ROSE OF SHARON, THE LILLY OF THE VALLEY, AND THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. HE IS THE DAYSPRING, THE DAYSTAR, AND THE DESIRED ONE.

5. HE IS ELOHIM, JEHOVAH, ADONAI, AND EL-SHADDAI. HE IS WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, AND THE PRINCE OF PEACE. HE IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END. HE IS THE ETERNAL ONE, THE EVERLASTING ONE, AND THE EXALTED ONE.

6. HE IS THE ONE WHO WRECKED EVERY FUNERAL THAT HE EVER ATTENDED. IN HIS PRESENCE, DEATH COULD NEVER STAND STILL. HE WAS, AND IS, "THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, HE THAT BELIEVETH IN HIM, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE. AND, WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL NEVER DIE." THANKS BE TO GOD, HIS PRESENCE GOES WITH US.

7. HOWEVER, WE NOT ONLY HAVE HIS COMPANIONSHIP BECAUSE HIS PRESENCE GOES WITH US, BUT HIS POWER GOES BEFORE US. "I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR THOU ART WITH ME, THY ROD AND THY STAFF THEY COMFORT ME."

8. AS YOU KNOW, BOTH THE ROD AND STAFF WERE VITAL TOOLS TO THE SHEPHERD. HE USED BOTH IN HIS EVERYDAY OCCUPATION OF TENDING THOSE SHEEP.

9. THE ROD SERVED AS A MEANS OF AUTHORITY. IT WAS WHAT HE USED TO CORRECT THOSE SHEEP. AND, IT WAS ALSO WHAT HE USED TO PROTECT THOSE SHEEP.

10. HOWEVER, THE STAFF SERVED AS A MEANS OF STABILITY. WHILE HE USED IT TO RESTORE, AND LIFT A WAYWARD, WEARY, AND A WEAK SHEEP, THE SHEPHERD USED IT FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT AS WELL. THAT IS, HE LEANED ON THAT STAFF FOR SUPPORT. HE RESTED, AND HE RELIED UPON THAT STAFF TO HOLD HIM UP.

11. THUS, DAVID REMINDS US THAT AS WE WALK THROUGH THE DARK, DISMAL, DEPRESSING VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, WE HAVE ONE WITH US; WHO, BY THE USE OF HIS ROD, AS AUTHORITY, AND HIS STAFF, AS SECURITY, HIS POWER GOES BEFORE US.

12. I REMEMBER READING OF A LITTLE 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS DYING, AND WAS FINALLY INFORMED THAT SHE MUST 'GO THROUGH THE JORDAN.' WHEN SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS MEANT, SHE WAS SOMEWHAT FEARFUL. SHE LOOKED TO HER MOTHER, AND SAID, "BUT, MAMA, WON'T YOU GO WITH ME?" HER MOTHER, WEEPING, LOOKED BACK, AND SAID, "HONEY, I CAN'T GO WITH YOU." SHE LOOKED TO HER FATHER, AND SAID, "DADDY, WON'T YOU GO WITH ME?" HER STRONG, COURAGEOUS FATHER REPLIED, "HONEY, I CAN'T GO WITH YOU." THE LITTLE GIRL TURNED HER FACE TO THE WALL, AND BEGAN TO WEEP UNCONTROLLABLY, BUT SHE SUDDENLY STOPPED. SHE LOOKED BACK, AND SAID, "DADDY, MAMA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH ME. JESUS WILL GO WITH ME!" 7

13. THANK GOD, HE DOES GO WITH US

"IN SHADY GREEN PASTURES, SO RICH, AND SO SWEET,

GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG.

WHERE THE WATERS COOL FLOW, BATHES THE WEARY ONES FEET.

GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG.

AWAY FROM THE MIRE, AND AWAY FROM THE CLAY,

GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG.

AWAY UP IN GLORY, ETERNITY'S DAY,

GOD LEADS HIS DEAR CHILDREN ALONG."

14. WE CAN SAY WITH PAUL, "O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY? THE STING OF DEATH AND THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW. BUT, THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVETH US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." THERE IS A CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IN THE LORD, AND A COMPANIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE LORD. WE ARE ASSURED OF THE FACT THAT DEATH HAS BEEN DEFEATED!

15. BACK DURING THE CIVIL WAR, FOLLOWING A BATTLE WHICH LEFT MANY WOUNDED, HURTING, AND DYING, A CONFEDERATE SURGEON WAS GOING FROM BODY TO BODY TO GIVE COMFORT, AND AID TO THE WOUNDED. FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS, HE HAD GIVEN EVERYTHING HE HAD, ATTENDING TO EVERYONE HE COULD; AND, AS A RESULT, HE WAS TOTALLY EXHAUSTED.

16. HE FOUND A STUMP AND SAT DOWN TO REST. JUST AS HE SAT DOWN, HE HEARD A FAINT VOICE IN THE DISTANCE SAY, "HERE, HERE, HERE!" HE PULLED HIMSELF UP AND SAID, "SON, I'M COMING, I'M COMING," USING THAT FAINT VOICE AS HIS GUIDE.

17. FINALLY, HE CAME TO AN 18-YEAR OLD CONFEDERATE SOLDIER WHO WAS JUST A STUB OF A MAN. HIS WOUNDS WERE SO SEVERE, THAT THE SURGEON WAS CONVINCED THAT HE WAS DYING. THE SURGEON STOOPED DOWN, AND SAID, "I'M HERE SON, AND I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU." ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE WOUNDED SOLDIER OPENED HIS EYES, AND SAID, "SIR, I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU."

18. THE SURGEON, SOMEWHAT SURPRISED, SAID, "SON, YOU'VE BEEN SAYING 'HERE' FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MINUTES. IF YOU WEREN'T CALLING ME WHY WERE YOU CALLING OUT?" THE WOUNDED SOLDIER SAID, "SIR, ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO THEY BEGAN TO CALL ROLL IN HEAVEN. ABOUT 3 MINUTES AGO I HEARD THEM CALL MY NAME. AND, I WAS TELLING THEM THAT I WAS "HERE, HERE, HERE!"

20. THANK GOD, ONE DAY, THEY'LL CALL ROLL IN HEAVEN, AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE SAVED, WILL ANSWER, 'HERE, HERE, HERE.' THERE IS A DESTINY OF DEATH THAT AWAITS US, A DEGREE OF DEATH THAT AMAZES US, AND A DEFEAT OF DEATH THAT ASSURES US. OH FRIEND, "WE WON'T HAVE TO CROSS JORDAN ALONE!"

1. THE PSALM OF PSALMS, ROBERT MOYER, P. 37

2. IBID, P. 42.

3. "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD," ADRIAN ROGERS, P. 63.

4. IBID.

5. IBID, MOYER, P. 45.

6. THE SHEPHERD PSALM, F. B. MEYER, P. 58.

7. IBID, MOYER, P. 46.

Steve N. Wagers