Warrior - The Dark Valley
Today, as we conclude Warrior, our sermon series on Spiritual Warfare, we are going to walk through one of the most recognized passages of scripture in the world.
For the last 11 weeks, we have been training for war. We have talked about armor. We have talked about standing firm. We have talked about casting out demons and fighting our battles in prayer. But today we are ending this series with the words of the greatest warrior in the Old Testament. A man who killed a giant, led armies, and lived through scandal, grief, and betrayal. The warrior is David.
Whether you are already a follower of Jesus or not, you most likely have heard the words written by David in Psalm 23 quoted in movies, funerals, or even pieces of it woven into popular songs.
Coolio’s “Gangsta Paradise” from 1995 even quotes the Psalm. But, rather than focusing on the peace that comes from following God, Coolio sings about the cycle of fear and hopelessness from street life and gang violence. His “Valley of the Shadow of Death” are the streets he grew up in. His song struck a chord with the heart of the world. So many people connected with the emptiness, hopelessness, and pattern of pain found in the lyrics. Coolio even won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo in 1996 for his song. And, unfortunately, we can all relate to the pattern and cycle of pain in life. We go from one battle to another and often fight battles on many fronts.
Pain and suffering are inevitable in this world. In one way or another, if you are a follower of Jesus, you will face battles that will leave scars. Some battles are demonic. Some battles are because of our own decisions. Some are fighting battles in their marriage, in their finances, with their children, with their health. Some are recovering from past battles with churches and are still overcoming church hurt.
But Psalm 23 is NOT a Psalm written for funerals or for the dead. Psalm 23 is a daily battle plan for those who are alive. So today I want you to leave with Psalm 23 in your heart that you will carry forward in life as your daily plan for battle.
Psalm 23:1-6 (NLT2)
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
To help understand the power of this Psalm, it is important to understand that at the time he wrote this Psalm, David was an older King of Israel and he was reflecting back on his life.
As a teenager, he fought lions and bears and killed them with his bare hands. He stood toe-to-toe with Goliath when trained soldiers cowered.
David had seen the battlefield. He had led men into war. He had lost people he loved. He had run for his life. He had slept in caves. He had been betrayed by friends and hunted by a king he once served. He led armies. He failed publicly. He buried children. He faced every type of battle possible, and as an older King, he writes this “Battle Plan” for other people who desired to be people after God’s own heart.
The first thing we need to remember about spiritual warfare and the battles that we face might sting a little bit.
FOR WARRIORS, THE DARK VALLEY IS THE RIGHT PATH
Through this Psalm, David is painting a picture of God as our caring Heavenly Father, leading us and guiding us.
Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT2)
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
As David looked back and reflected on his life, he remembered running from the wicked King Saul in the wilderness. He thought of how God guided him through the wilderness. How God guided every step, located every cave for David to find shelter, and led David to streams to quench his thirst, to lay down, and rest even though he was being hunted down. Then, David acknowledged something that all of us need to remember:
The same God that protected Him, renewed his strength, and quenched his thirst, also led him led him to the dark valley. Because, as David already acknowledged, the Dark Valley is the right path.
Psalm 23:4 (NLT2)
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
God, who led David beside the right path in verse 3, is still leading David through the darkest valley in verse 4. David said, “even when I walk through the darkest valley…you are close beside me.”
When we walk through dark valleys, as followers of Jesus, we often assume we have taken a wrong turn. We presume that pain equals punishment. We assume that struggle means something is broken. We assume we are being punished for sin. We whisper prayers like, “God I don’t know what I did, but please help me to learn from this.” But David says, “This valley of the shadow of death - it is a right path.”
If you are walking through the valley right now, it may not feel right. It may not look right. But if the Shepherd is leading you, it is right. You do not have to second-guess every hardship. You do not have to wonder if God left you behind. The Battle you are facing hurts. But it is the right path.
How dare I say that to you? How could I possibly suggest that the pain you experience in life is the right path for you?
Well, I was sexually abused by my alcoholic father until I was 13 years old. He called me names, put me down, and terrified our home. Kristy and I faced six years of infertility. We had a miscarriage. I have been betrayed by followers of Jesus. I have experienced church hurt from trusted friends. I watch three of my children fight an autoimmune disease every day. We face hardships that we whisper to God about. And, I can honestly tell you. The Dark Valley is the Right Path.
We live in a broken world that has been impacted by sin. And, sin broke the painless and perfect life that God planned for us. So, the Dark Valley is the right path…now. And, as you fight battle after battle. As you fight health battles. Marriage Battles. Finance Battles. Dating Battles. Work Battles… In time, you will understand that…
SEASONED WARRIORS LEARN NOT TO FEAR
The reason David said, “I will not be afraid” is because David had learned that the Shepherd never abandons during the battle. He learned that God never retreats. God never waves a flag of surrender. God never ducks and runs when you have been cut deep in the battle. David had learned to expect God’s presence in the valley. He remembered what it felt like to walk out onto the battlefield with nothing but a sling and five stones and to feel the presence of God steady his hand.
He remembered being in the back of a cave while Saul was breathing down his neck to murder him, and knowing that it wasn’t just David and Saul in that dark cave – but God was there shielding him and protecting him.
He remembered the cry of heartbreak after the death of his newborn, and how he experienced the comfort of God holding him up. David was a seasoned warrior. Seasoned warriors do not learn to fear less because the battles get easier and are less painful. They learn to fear less because they experience God’s presence in the middle of pain.
And Kristy and I are learning that, too. Some battles we have experienced together really don’t feel right.
If you are in a valley today and fear is gripping you, please understand…You will not always feel like this. Fear will visit you and your household, but it does not get to move in with you. You may feel afraid, but you are not abandoned.
And that is why seasoned warriors learn not to fear—Not because we are strong, but because He is close. And, when you feel like you go from bad to worse. When you go from one battle to the next…David did, too. And, even when David was going through a Valley of the Shadow of Death…Saul kept on chasing him to kill him!
We see in this Psalm that…
THE ENEMY IS RELENTLESS—BUT SO IS GOD
While David was in that Dark Valley – it wasn’t just he and God. His enemy was there, too. In fact, many of his enemies were there. Enemies who wanted to end his life and destroy him. But look how God showed off!
Psalm 23:4-5 (NLT2)
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
In the presence of David’s enemies, look what God did. Right smack dab in the middle of the darkness, death, and fear. God pulled out a picnic blanket, spread it on the ground, picked up his rod and staff, faced David’s enemies, and said:
“Sit down, David. You are safe. I’ve got this.”
Even while the battle rages, God is honoring you, anointing you, and blessing you. He does not get intimidated. He does not hide. God walks right into the presence of your enemies, looks them in the eye, and spreads out a feast for you. You may feel surrounded. You may feel like the battle is raging. You may feel like you are not winning. But God is honoring your faithfulness, even while the enemy watches. So, sit down. Stuff your face. And, surrender.
Surrender because…
SURRENDERING TO YOUR ALLY BRINGS REST FOR YOUR SOUL
Psalm 23:6 (NLT2)
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
David understood that God’s unfailing love would pursue him all the days of his life. He didn’t live in fear that his enemies would continue to pursue him…He lived with confidence that God’s love would pursue him – through the battles, through the valley, through the fields of life. David had lived long enough to realize that real rest comes from surrendering to the One who is in control. And surrender is not weakness. Surrender is not giving up and throwing in the towel. It actually requires a great deal of humility to surrender to God. Surrender is saying, “I cannot fight this battle in my own strength anymore. I am laying down my weapons and placing my trust in my Shepherd.”
So here we are at the end of our Warrior Series. Thirteen weeks of armor, strategy, truth, and battle. I hope you walk away from this series with the understanding that this life is not easy. But you are not powerless. And you were never meant to fight alone. Begin to live transparently with a sermon-based life group. Battle for yourself with others. And invite others to battle for you. And, remember. When you walk through the darkest valley…when you fight battles…He walks with you. He leads you. And He defends you. You never battle alone. You have a Savior. A Warrior King. A Shepherd.
So, you can keep trying to carry your own burdens. You can keep trying to win your own battles.
Or…
You can surrender to your Ally. And you can give your life to Jesus.
Romans 10:9 (NLT2)
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
That is it. It is about surrender. It is about saying,
Jesus,
I am ready to surrender to you. Thank you for paying the price for my sin on the cross. I trust and believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross and rose from the dead. I believe you went up to Heaven, and one day you will return. And today, I surrender my life to you.
Amen.