Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 23
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.
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.
Commentary:
23:4 The shadow of death may be the shadow that death casts, or it may be, as the ESV footnote has it, “deep darkness.” Perhaps the idea is that in a valley in the desert (or wadi) in Judah one can encounter deep shadows, and cannot know for sure who (bandits) or what (animals, flash floods) lurks in them; even in such periods of suspense and danger, the faithful find assurance that God is with them, and thus they need not fear.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 966.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 966.
Questions:
- "...your rod and staff, they comfort me." Shepherds would typically carry a rod, which would be tucked into his belt and used as a weapon to fend off predators, and a walking staff they would use to smack the sheep if it tried to wander off. He's speaking of the Shepherd's PROTECTION. Jesus said that not only was He the Good Shepherd, but He was the gate to the sheep fold. In ancient times, shepherds would pin up their sheep at night in a small circle. There would be no gate, but the shepherd would lay across it to function as the gate. Jesus is the gate that protects you! Because of His death and resurrection, and because you belong to Him, anything that wants to get you has to come through Him first! How much peace and security does it give you to know that you have the Savior of the world as your protector? What reason do you have to fear?
- David also saw the correction and discipline of the staff as a comfort. If a sheep tried to wander off, it would get smacked back in line. He disciplines those He loves. Has God ever smacked you when you tried to wander off the path? How can you be more like David and find comfort in your discipline?
Pray:
- That you would not fear, but trust in the Gate.
- That you would learn to find comfort in discipline.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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