Overhead Outline
The Lord Is With You In The Valley!
Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV)
1
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4
Yea, 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 runs over.
6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the
house of the Lord Forever.
Introduction:
David -in writing this most famous of Psalms:
 Weaves a picture of God as a Shepherd, and we as His sheep
 He is our shepherd on the mountain and in the valley
1. The Lord Is Our Shepherd!
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
A. God is not a King sitting in an ivory palace
B. God is called a Shepherd:
The Lord, Our Shepherd, notices the needs we have as His sheep and He provides those
needs willingly and joyfully!
Psalm 23:2 & 3
2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
a. “green pastures” = food and provision
b. “still waters” = refreshing and relaxing
c. “restores my soul” = encouragement
d. “paths of righteousness” = God’s righteousness – right living!
Page 2
2. Everyone Goes Through Frightening Valleys!
Psalm 23:4(a) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
“I” walk through valleys!
Valleys represent discouragement…
Valleys represent disappointment…
Valleys represent dissatisfaction…
Everyone goes through valleys!
3. The Lord Is With Us In The Valley!
Psalm 23:4(b) …I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me.
A. Evil is everywhere!
B. Two instruments the shepherd has bring comfort to the sheep:
1) The “Rod” – a club-like stick
2) The “Staff” – a long stick usually with a curved end
C. The central issue is: “The Lord is with us” in the valley!
Conclusion:
Psalm 23:5 & 6
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the
house of the Lord Forever.
1. Enemies are out there – But the Lord has them under subjection!
2. When things are not going so great, He is with us!
3. He is with us “all the days of our life” – good days and “valley” days!
[Pastor’s preaching outline follows for you review]
The Lord Is With You In The Valley!
Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV)
1
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's
sake.
4
Yea, 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 runs over.
6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will
dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Introduction:
A Pastor had a silk threaded bookmark that on one side had a motto that was
clearly readable. The back side of the bookmark however looked like a mess ... a
bunch of jumbled up threads that crisscrossed with no apparent design. This
Pastor used it when he did visitations with Christians who were undergoing trials
that didn't seem to make sense. He would first show them the back side of the
bookmarker and ask what they saw ... their response was always the same,
"nothing except a bunch of tangled silk threads." Then he would turn it around
and let them see the design that after all did exist, and the motto that read, "GOD
IS LOVE." That side made sense; it had definite order to it. He would then
explain that this is often the way we see life, we see it from the backside, a
tangled hodgepodge of threads that don't seem to have any design, yet when
viewed from God's position it makes perfect sense, even the more painful and
unpleasant moments help create the overall design that read: “GOD IS LOVE!”
This is getting the clearer and bigger picture!
David, in writing this most famous of Psalms:
 Weaves a picture of God as a Shepherd, and we as His sheep
 God is with us on the mountain AND in the valley
 We shall not fear!
Page 2
1. The Lord Is Our Shepherd!
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
A. God is not referred to here as a King or leader sitting in an ivory palace
not really understanding what his constituents really need.
B. God is called a Shepherd:
 Where the Shepherd went sheep went, and where sheep went the
shepherd went!
 Shepherds ate, slept, walked, fought, and lived right along side the
sheep ...
C. The Lord, Our Shepherd, notices the needs we have as His sheep and He
provides those needs willingly and joyfully!
Psalm 23:2 & 3
2
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's
sake.
a. “green pastures” = food and provision
b. “still waters” = refreshing and relaxing
c. “restores my soul” = encouragement
d. “paths of righteousness” = God’s righteousness – right living!
2. Everyone Goes Through Frightening Valleys!
Psalm 23:4(a) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
Page 3
A. “I” walk through. Implies that we take ourselves there.
1) Before = “He” – God – makes, leads, and restores…
2) Here = “I” walk through the valley
B. Valleys represent discouragement…
C. Valleys represent disappointment…
D. Valleys represent dissatisfaction…
E. Everyone goes through valleys!
3. The Lord Is With Us In The Valley!
Psalm 23:4(b) …I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your
staff, they comfort me.
A. Doesn’t say there will not be evil –
1) Evil / Sin / Wrong is everywhere
2) We do not have to “Fear” evil because the Lord is with us!
B. Two instruments the shepherd has bring comfort to the sheep:
1) The “Rod” – a club-like stick
 A stick used for defense and discipline…
 Used to drive away the enemies that prey on the sheep
 Used to correct the sheep and keep them in line
Page 4
2) The “Staff” – a long stick usually with a curved end
 Used for guidance, support, and rescue:
 Guides from the slippery and dangerous places
 Supports with extra strength when weak or tired
 Rescues from tough spots when one slips or falls
C. The central issue is: “The Lord is with us” in the valley!
1) When He is with us - we should not fear…
2) When He is with us – He will protect us…
3) Evil can’t overtake us and the enemy can’t destroy us even in the
valley!
Conclusion:
Psalm 23:5 & 6
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my
head with oil; My cup runs over.
6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will
dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
1. Enemies are out there – But the Lord has them under subjection!
 His anointing makes our lives run over with abundance even in the presence
of the enemy!
2. When things are not going so great, He is with us!
3. He is with us “all the days of our life” – good days and “valley” days!