The Lard Our Companion
Even in the midst of darkness and fear, we can find peace and comfort in trusting in God's presence and protection.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the comforting presence of the Lord as our companion through life's darkest moments, particularly in times of spiritual anguish and despair. He reflects on the assurance found in Psalm 23:4, noting that many have found solace in these words during their final hours, yet they also apply to the struggles we face daily. Spurgeon encourages believers to trust in God's guidance and protection, even when overwhelmed by sorrow, reminding us that the Great Shepherd is always with us to shield us from harm. He calls for a glorification of God through peaceful trust, regardless of the trials we encounter.
Text
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. (Psalm 23:4)
Sweet are these words in describing a deathbed assurance. How many have repeated them in their last hours with intense delight!
But the verse is equally applicable to agonies of spirit in the midst of life. Some of us, like Paul, die daily through a tendency to gloom of soul. Bunyan puts the Valley of the Shadow of Death far earlier in the pilgrimage than the river which rolls at the foot of the celestial hills. We have some of us traversed the dark and dreadful defile of "the shadow of death" several times, and we can bear witness that the Lord alone enabled us to bear up amid its wild thought, its mysterious horrors, its terrible depressions. The Lord has sustained us and kept us above all real fear of evil, even when our spirit has been overwhelmed. We have been pressed and oppressed, but yet we have lived, for we have felt the presence of the Great Shepherd and have been confident that His crook would prevent the foe from giving us any deadly wound.
Should the present time be one darkened by the raven wings of a great sorrow, let us glorify God by a peaceful trust in Him.
Sermon Outline
- The Valley of the Shadow of Death
- Applicable to both death and spiritual struggles
- A deathbed assurance
- A source of comfort in times of fear
Key Quotes
“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.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“We have been pressed and oppressed, but yet we have lived, for we have felt the presence of the Great Shepherd and have been confident that His crook would prevent the foe from giving us any deadly wound.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We can find peace and comfort in trusting in God's presence and protection, even in the midst of darkness and fear.
- God's rod and staff symbolize His power and guidance, which comfort and protect us in times of fear and uncertainty.
- We can glorify God by trusting in Him and finding peace in His presence, even in the midst of darkness and fear.