Sermon Central
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In The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death (Covid-19 Pandemic).
Contributed by Wilson Oshorakpor on Mar 30, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: The valley of the shadow of death looms over the earth in the form of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But, God assures his children that he is with them in the valley and will deliver them by his mighty power.
TEXT:Psalm 23:4.
"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."
SHADOWS
Shadows are the dark shapes formed on surfaces by objects when they are between light and the surface. Shadows are dark. They are not real. They need light to emerge. They sometimes loom large and overshadow the real object. The shadow of death is looming large over the earth today in the form of the global COVID -19 pandemic.
THE SHADOW OF DEATH
There is a shadow of death that man must walk through. To walk through this shadow of death requires bravery. A lot of people die in the valley of the shadow of death because of fear. Fear is a killer in the valley of the shadow of death. A renowned poet once wrote: "cowards die many times before their death..."
The shadow of death is described in scriptures as:
"A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as darkness (Job 10:22).
"...hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? (Job 38:17b).
Job passed through the valley of the shadow of death and describes it from his own personal experience. He actually passed through the door of the shadow of death.
"Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron" (Psalm 107:10).
It is like sitting in darkness, bound in affliction and iron, a dire situation that mimics death itself.
A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
God led the children of Israel through the wilderness to the promised land, but they turned their backs on God and walked after vanity and became vain. They forgot the God that led them through the valley of the shadow of death and started worshipping idols (Jeremiah 2:5-6).
God then sent a message to them through Jeremiah warning them: "Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and while you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness" (Jeremiah 13:16).
The world today have forsaken God. Many people have put science in place of God and vanity rules the world. God has allowed this plague to befall the world in order for man to realise that He is still the one that created the heavens and the earth. He wants man to come to the understanding that all powers in heaven, on earth and under the earth are in his hands. Power belongs to God. The Lord is using the COVID -19 pandemic to send a message to the world.
(2 Chronicles 20:6, Matthew 28:18, Psalm 62:11).
"Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death (Psalm 44:19).
The world is indeed over shadowed by the shadow of death. Legends will be made of this period in the history of humanity. Tales will be told to ages unborn of the time God covered the earth in the shadow of death. We are witnessing today a plague in the proportions of the likes that happened in Biblical times.
WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Walking through the valley of the shadow of death requires courage and the guidance of God. It requires faith. Faith is the opposite of fear. David said he will fear no evil because God was with him, that he will be comforted by the rod and staff of the good shepherd. If God allowed this plague to occur that means he can safely help us walk through it without any scar.
The rod and staff represents the Holy Spirit whom God has given to comfort his children. In times like this, the Holy Spirit is our comforter and guide (John 14:16, 26).
If God is with us then there is no reason to fear. He says in Hebrews 13:5, "....I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
He promises to be with us when we pass through the waters, rivers and fire (Isaiah 43:2). His promises are yea and amen. The valley of the shadow of death is no match for the shadow of the Almighty God.
God says: "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Do not I fill heaven and earth?" (Jeremiah 23:24).
If God fills the heaven and the earth, what an awesome shadow his will be. It is in that shadow that those who dwell in the secret place of the most high God abide in (Psalm 91:1). David said in Psalm 57:1, "....in the shadow of thy wing will I make my refuge until these calamities be overpast." You are secured under the shadow of God as he will not allow you to dwell for too long in the valley of the shadow of death. You are just walking through.
