The Shadow of Weakness

Facing Fear • Sermon • Submitted 3 months ago • Presented 3 months ago

0 ratings

· 3 views

Lead Pastor Wes Terry preaches a sermon entitled “What If I Can’t Make It Through” for the sermon series “Facing Fear in the Face of God.” The sermon looks at the “Shadow of Weakness” out of Psalm 23 and the truth that the LORD is our shepherd. This sermon was preached on February 2nd, 2024 at Broadview West.

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION:

It’s been close to a decade since I last preached a sermon in this building. Many of you have no idea who I am. Some of you have loved me like one of your own children.

I always get nervous before I preach but I must say that the message this morning has made me especially nervous because of the subject matter I’m dealing with.

For the major part of this sermon we’re going to be unpacking Psalm 23 - one of the most well known and memorized passages of Scripture in the Old Testament.

Usually when people read Psalm 23 it’s at a funeral. Psalm 23 has little to do with dying or death but it’s read during funerals because it speaks to the kind of anxiety people have on those kind of days.

Psalm 23 addresses the anxiety we feel in seasons of uncertainty, discouragement and grief.

The title of the message is actually, “What If I Can’t Make It Through?”

That’s the question many people ask after the death of somebody the love very much. Or after the person/thing they depended on is taken from their world.

Grieving West Campus

Which leads me to why this morning’s sermon make me a little more anxious than others I’ve preached.

Even though we’re not mourning the loss of life this morning some of us are mourning none the less.

I asked Pastor Vernon a few weeks ago how did people respond to the initial letter and he said - “there were some tears.” That there were some tears doesn’t surprise me at all.

So while we’re not grieving anybody’s death it is understandable that we might grieve the upcoming changes that happening in a few months.

And that’s how I’d like the LORD to use our time together this morning as we find encouragement through this great Psalm.

In seasons of uncertainty, discouragement and grief - the LORD is our shepherd.

Set the Table

The 23rd Psalm was written by King David. It was most likely written during a season in his life where he was uncertain and discouraged.

If not, it was written from the other side of that valley and looking back on God’s faithfulness in even the most challenging of seasons.

In seasons when it feels like everything is up in the air and nothing is right in the world we have a God who loves us like a shepherd.

You can almost imagine King David - hiding in a cave - fearing for his life as he runs from King Saul.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD:

One of the reasons I think Psalm 23 is the perfect Psalm for discussing the changes at Broadview West is because it uses the metaphor of the LORD as our shepherd.

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd of Psalm 23. And the disciples of Jesus use the language of shepherding to talk about the role that pastors have in a local church.

I actually just became a real shepherd of real sheep myself. It’s one of my favorite things to learn about right now because sheep are fascinating animals.

As a shepherd, you have certain responsibilities. There are certain things that you must do for your sheep if they are going to survive.

It’s not all that different from God’s responsibilities towards us as his children.

I’m going to put our outline this morning under four basic tasks every shepherd will do.

Feed

Lead

Keep

Bring

The Lord Feeds Us

First, the LORD as our shepherd “feeds us.”

Imagine for a moment that you are a sheep. What would your biggest concerns be?

Would it be the weather?

Would it be whether or not your wool is fluffy enough?

Would it be some kind of sheep career advancement—getting promoted to head sheep? Of course not.

Your primary concern as a sheep would be where your next meal is coming from and whether or not you are safe.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for survival. Without the shepherd, they don’t just struggle; they die.

Sheep don’t have claws to fight with.

They don’t have speed to outrun danger.

And they don’t have the intelligence to find their own food or water.

If left to themselves, sheep will eat the same patch of grass until it is barren and drink from dirty, disease-ridden puddles.

They will wander into danger without a second thought.

This is why Psalm 23 begins with one of the most beautiful and powerful declarations in Scripture:

“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

That phrase, “I shall not want,” doesn’t mean that God gives us everything we desire. It means we will lack nothing we need.

Because God is our shepherd he will meet every NEED that we have.

God meets our needs—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Green Pastures / Still Waters

David continues:

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”

Notice that David doesn’t say, “I find my own way to green pastures.”

He doesn’t say, “I am smart enough to locate still waters.”

When we put our eyes on ourselves or attempt to self-medicate our needs only grow.

If you’ve ever been to Israel you know the “Green Pastures” aren’t some rolling green hills like you see in Colorado or Central Texas.

It’s rocky and dry and mostly barren where you look. But a shepherd knew where the green pastures would be located.

A skilled shepherd knows where to find the right patches of grass, the places where enough moisture collects overnight for fresh sprigs to grow.

Sheep will not find this on their own. If left to themselves, they will eat dirt and rocks before they figure out how to move on.

The same is true for still waters. Sheep won’t drink from fast-flowing water.

They’re skittish creatures, and a rushing stream is too dangerous for them. The shepherd must find calm, clean pools where the sheep can safely drink without fear.

Do you see the picture?

The shepherd doesn’t just point the sheep toward provision—he leads them there. He knows what they need even before they do. He knows when they are hungry, when they are thirsty, and when they are exhausted.

Restores My Soul

Then David says:

“He restores my soul.”

In Hebrew, the phrase literally means “He brings my soul back”—as if something has been lost or depleted, and God is putting it back where it belongs.

This isn’t just about physical needs. It’s about the deepest places of our hearts—

the wounds, the weariness, the grief, the discouragement, the seasons of life when we feel empty.

I have no doubt that some of you are feeling that emptiness this morning.

Some of you feel spiritually dry, as if you’ve been wandering in a wilderness, longing for God to feel close again.

Some of you are struggling emotionally, weighed down by discouragement or uncertainty.

And some of you are grieving—not over the loss of a person, but over the loss of what has been.

And now, the landscape is changing, and for some of you, it may feel like the pastures are drying up, the water is running low, and the journey ahead is uncertain.

But let me tell you something about the Good Shepherd: He knows exactly where to find the next pasture.

He knows exactly where to take His sheep, even when the landscape changes. He knows how to restore what has been lost.

The Lord feeds us. He knows what we need before we even ask. He knows when we are hungry, when we are weary, when we are empty.

Broadview West the Lord will meet every need: physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, financial, fill in the blank with whatever need you have.

Application

But just like sheep, we have to trust the Shepherd.

We have to trust that He is leading us somewhere good—even if we can’t see the full picture yet.

We have to trust that His pastures are still green, even if they don’t look exactly like the ones we’ve known before.

We have to trust that His still waters are waiting for us, even if we feel like we’re in a dry season right now.

Maybe some of you are asking, “But what if I don’t see the provision right now? What if I feel like my soul is still depleted?”

A little girl was once asked to recite Psalm 23 in front of her school. She got nervous and forgot the words, so she blurted out: “The Lord is my Shepherd… and that’s all I need!”

She might not have gotten the words exactly right, but she got the theology exactly right.

If the Lord is your Shepherd, you have all that you need.

Even if you don’t see the green pastures yet, they are ahead of you. Even if the waters still feel far away, they are waiting for you. Even if your soul is weary, restoration is coming.

So trust Him.

The Shepherd has never failed His sheep. And He’s not about to start now.

The Lord Leads Us

It’s one thing to know that God feeds us—that He provides for our needs. But what happens when you’re not sure where you’re going?

What happens when the familiar pastures disappear, the landscape shifts, and you find yourself staring at an unknown road ahead?

If you’ve ever felt that way, then you know exactly why we need a Shepherd who leads.

Psalm 23:3 says:

“He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

And then David adds this:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

David doesn’t just need a shepherd to feed him—he needs a shepherd to lead him.

The Lord is our shepherd who “LEADS US.” He will lead every sheep that will FOLLOW.

And not just through the easy places. We need a shepherd to guide him through the valleys.

Notice also that the Lord LEAD - he doesn’t PUSH. (gunshow story)

There’s a story about a man visiting Israel who saw a shepherd driving a flock of sheep forward—yelling, pushing, forcing them down the road.

Surprised, the man said, “I thought shepherds led their sheep from the front?”

His guide smiled and said, “Oh, that’s not the shepherd. That’s the butcher.”

The Good Shepherd never drives His sheep forward with fear. He leads them gently, step by step.

Even when He leads us through the valley, He is walking ahead of us, calling us forward—not pushing us in fear.

Right Paths

How does the LORD Lead? Three ways.

First he leads us into “paths that are righteous.”

The phrase “paths of righteousness” literally means the right paths.

That doesn’t just mean moral righteousness, though that’s certainly included.

It means God leads His sheep in the paths that are best for them—even if they don’t always understand the route.

And that’s important, because sheep don’t know where to go on their own.

Sheep are directionally challenged. If left to themselves, they will wander into danger, get stuck in places they can’t escape from, and sometimes even walk straight off a cliff.

Sound familiar?

How many times have we wandered into something we thought would be good for us, only to realize it led to a place of pain?

How many times have we chosen our own path, thinking it was the right way, only to realize later it was leading us toward danger?

How many times have we resisted God’s leading because His path didn’t look the way we expected it to?

A shepherd doesn’t let sheep choose their own path.

Sake of His Name

The second way God leads is for the SAKE of his name.

Again - the primary goal of God in leading us down the right paths isn’t our success or comfort or anything like that. It’s HIS GLORY.

Not to us LORD, to YOUR name be the glory. “for His name’s sake.”

In other words, God’s leadership in our lives isn’t just about us—it’s about His glory.

He leads us because He is faithful. He leads us because He has a plan. He leads us because our lives are part of something bigger than we realize.

And sometimes, the right path doesn’t take us to the mountaintop immediately.

Sometimes, it takes us through the valley.

David says:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

This is one of the most well-known lines in all of Scripture, but let’s make sure we understand it clearly.

David isn’t necessarily talking about literal death.

The phrase “valley of the shadow of death” is a Hebrew expression for a place of deep darkness, uncertainty, and potential danger.

In Israel, there are actual valleys where shepherds would have to lead their sheep.

These valleys were narrow ravines with steep cliffs, filled with shadows and hidden threats.

Predators lurked in the darkness. Thieves waited to attack. The path itself was treacherous.

The sheep would have no way of knowing where to step safely. But the shepherd knew.

And that’s why David could say:

“I will fear no evil.”

Not because the valley wasn’t real. Not because the danger wasn’t there. But because the Shepherd was.

Every Step of the Way

Which leads to the last way that God leads: every step of the way

Sometimes, God’s path for us isn’t what we expected.

Sometimes, it leads through transitions.

Sometimes, it leads through uncertainty.

Sometimes, it leads through change.

But God goes with us every step of the way.

It may feel like the green pastures are behind you. It feels like you’re stepping into shadows, unsure of what comes next. It feels like the future is uncertain.

And that’s exactly when we need to remember:

We do not walk through the valley alone.

God doesn’t say, “I’ll meet you on the other side of the valley.” He says, “I will walk through it with you.”

Application

Notice how David phrases it:

"Even though I walk through the valley…"

He doesn’t say, "Even though I get stuck in the valley." He doesn’t say, "Even though the valley is where I end."

He says, I walk through it.

The valley is not the final destination.

And the same is true for Broadview West.

This is not the end of God’s work in this place. This is not the end of your spiritual journey. This is not the end of your calling.

It’s just a valley.

And the Shepherd is still leading.

So what do we do? We follow Him.

Even when we don’t know the way. Even when the path looks different than we expected. Even when we feel afraid.

Because the Shepherd knows what He’s doing. And He will never lead His sheep where His presence will not go.

The Shepherd Keeps Us

But not only does the Lord feed us and lead us. One of the most comforting truths of this Psalm is that the LORD KEEPS US.

Psalm 23:4–6 ESV

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23 doesn’t just tell us that the Lord feeds us and leads us—it also assures us that He keeps us.

A shepherd’s job is not just to provide for the sheep or guide them to the right paths. He must also protect them, defend them, and keep them safe.

David writes:

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

These images are packed with deep meaning. David is telling us that God is actively involved in keeping, guarding, and securing His people—especially when they are vulnerable.

The LORD will defeat every enemy THREAT.

Let’s break down each of these threats.

The Rod: Weapon of Protection

The rod was a short, club-like weapon, often carved from a sturdy branch or even embedded with iron.

Shepherds used the rod as a tool of defense—not against the sheep, but against the enemies of the sheep.

When wolves, lions, or bears threatened the flock, the shepherd would swing the rod to drive them away.

If necessary, he would throw it with precision, striking an attacker to protect his sheep. The rod was a symbol of power and authority—a reminder that the shepherd was strong enough to fight for his flock.

This is why David himself, as a young shepherd, was confident he could defeat Goliath. He had already used his rod and staff to kill lions and bears while tending his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-36).

So as our shepherd the LORD will fight our enemies on the OUTSIDE.

You do not have to fight your battles alone.The Shepherd fights for you.He keeps you safe from enemies you don’t even see.

Broadview West—even though change is coming, you are not defenseless. The same Shepherd who has led you will protect you in the days ahead.

The Staff : Tool of Guidance and Rescue

While the rod was a weapon, the staff was an instrument of guidance and care.

A shepherd’s staff was a long, curved stick—often with a crook at the end—designed for leading and rescuing sheep.

If a sheep wandered off, the shepherd could use the staff to gently pull it back to safety.

If a sheep fell into a crevice or got stuck, the shepherd would use the crook of the staff to lift it back onto solid ground.

If a sheep refused to follow, the shepherd nudged it along with the staff, guiding it back to the right path.

So not only does God fight our outward facing enemies. He also faces our enemies on the INSIDE.

I mean enemies like sin, foolish decisions, and things like that.

The staff shows God’s gentleness—His desire to lead and restore us.

God keeps us both by protecting us from external enemies and by rescuing us from our own foolishness.

Some of us need the rod—we need to be reminded that God is our defender, fighting battles we can’t see.

Some of us need the staff—we need to feel His gentle pull back to safety when we stray. And all of us need the comfort of knowing that He will not let us be lost.

The Oil – The Shepherd’s Healing Touch

David continues:

“You anoint my head with oil.”

At first, this might seem like a strange shift in imagery. But this was an essential practice for shepherds.

Sheep were constantly attacked by insects and parasites—especially around their heads. Flies would lay eggs in their nostrils, leading to severe irritation and even disease.

To protect them, shepherds would anoint their sheep’s heads with oil, creating a barrier that repelled pests and kept infections from spreading.

Oil in Scripture is a symbol of God’s presence and the Holy Spirit (Psalm 133:2, Isaiah 61:1)

.Just as oil protected sheep from disease, God’s anointing protects us from the spiritual attacks that seek to wear us down.

Some of you are weary right now. Some of you feel emotionally drained.Some of you are carrying the weight of uncertainty.

And here’s what God is saying:

“I will anoint your head with oil. I will cover you with My peace. I will shield you from discouragement. I will refresh your weary soul.”

The Table: Ultimate Security

David also says:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

In ancient times, when a king wanted to show absolute security, he would prepare a feast even while surrounded by enemies.

Instead of hiding in fear, he would sit down and eat—because he knew his victory was already assured.

The enemies might be near, but they had no power to stop what was happening.

This is a picture of God’s ultimate triumph over every force that opposes His people.

Even in the middle of a battle, God provides for us.Even when we feel surrounded by difficulty, God prepares a feast of grace.

Future threats - of ANY KIND - are powerless before the Shepherd.

Your future may feel uncertain, but God has already set the table. This transition may feel unsettling, but God’s provision is already in place.

Psalm 23 does not promise that we won’t face trials. But it does promise that through every trial, God will keep us:

He will fight for us (the rod).

He will guide and rescue us (the staff).

He will refresh us (the anointing).

He will sustain us even when enemies surround us (the table).

And because of that, we can trust Him.

Broadview West—you may not know exactly what the future holds. But here’s what you can know:

The Shepherd has not abandoned you. He is still fighting for you. He is still guiding you. He is still healing and sustaining you.

And no matter what happens next, you are still in His hands.

So don’t be afraid.

The Shepherd who keeps you today will keep you tomorrow. And He will never let you go.

CONCLUSION:

We’ve seen so far that the Lord feeds us, leads us, and keeps us.

But Psalm 23 doesn’t end in the valley. It doesn’t end with struggle. It ends with a promise of arrival, a destination, a home.

David concludes this great psalm with these words:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

This is the ultimate promise of the Shepherd. Not only does He guide us through the valleys and protect us from danger, but He also brings us home.

Let’s take a closer look at what David is saying here.

Goodness and Mercy Follow Us

David says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

The word “surely” means certainty. David isn’t guessing. He isn’t hoping. He is confident that this is true.

But notice something interesting—David doesn’t say that he follows goodness and mercy. He says that goodness and mercy follow him.

The Hebrew word for “follow” isn’t passive. It’s an active pursuit. A better translation would be “chase me down” or “pursue me.”

Think about that.

God’s goodness (His provision, His care, His blessings) actively chases after us.

God’s mercy (His forgiveness, His grace, His compassion) pursues us every day of our lives.

No matter what you’ve done. No matter where you’ve been. No matter how many times you’ve failed.

God’s mercy is chasing you.

God’s goodness is running after you.

This is the testimony of every believer—we do not hold onto God because of our strength; He holds onto us because of His grace.

Dwelling in the House

But David doesn’t stop there. He ends with the ultimate promise:

“I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

This is more than just poetic language. In the Old Testament, the “house of the LORD” referred to the temple—the place where God’s presence dwelled.

But David isn’t talking about a temporary visit to the temple. He’s talking about a permanent home in the presence of God.

He’s talking about eternal life.

David wrote Psalm 23 as a shepherd who had personally experienced the faithfulness of God.

But Psalm 23 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

In John 10:11, Jesus said:

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Jesus doesn’t just lead us beside still waters—He gives His life for us.

Jesus doesn’t just protect us with His rod and staff—He defeats sin and death on our behalf.

And Jesus doesn’t just provide for us in this life—He brings us all the way home to the Father’s house.

Are You Following?

So the question is: Are you following the Good Shepherd?

Some people run from God, thinking they can find their own pastures.

Some people wander, thinking they don’t need a shepherd.

Some people resist His leading, afraid of where He might take them.

But the truth is, you were made for the Father’s house. The only way home is through Jesus.

He said in John 10:27-28:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

This is the Gospel.

The Shepherd became the Lamb—slain for the sins of the world.

The Shepherd laid down His life so that we could be saved.

The Shepherd rose again so that we could have eternal life.

Broadview West, I know that this transition feels uncertain.

I know that for some of you, it feels like the pastures you’ve known are fading, and the valley is deep.

But here’s what Psalm 23 tells us:

The valley is not the final destination.

God feeds us so that we don’t grow weary.

God leads us so that we don’t get lost.

God keeps us so that we don’t fall away

And God brings us home so that we can dwell in His presence forever.

This is not the end. This is just a step in the journey toward the Father's house.

And the Shepherd is still leading. So the question is: Are you following Him?

If you have never trusted Jesus as your Good Shepherd, today is the day to follow Him.

If you are weary from the journey, today is the day to rest in Him.

If you are afraid of what’s ahead, today is the day to trust that He is bringing you home.

Because the Lord is our Shepherd. And He never loses His sheep.

Related Media

Related Sermons

Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.