The Valley

 

The Valley

The world tends to punch us when we’re down. Outside of our control, we may have enemies, especially due to the Cross and the truth found in Scripture. This morning let’s consider David and how he was called – anointed- and found himself often at odds with his environment. We are called to obey Christ, we are called to spread the Truth in love, we are called to care for our fellow man, and we are called to view heaven as the end game, not this world – all things that will put us at odds with the world.  As we recall, Jesus stated in Matthew 10:

 “…and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” 

And in John 15, speaking of how the world will view His disciples: 

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’”

When we are doing the will of the Father, the will of Christ, we will be hit and hit hard at times. We will feel as though we are deep in the valley with the world at the top of the mountain. Worse yet, we may feel those that we know and love may be at the top while we struggle below. Remember David, his struggles, his faith, and his words:

Psalm 23, from the New Living Translation
A psalm of David.
¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.
    I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

We cannot give up, we cannot surrender. When we are in the valley, don’t look up to compare our life with others; reach up to God, reach up to take a fellow disciple's hand, reach “…further up and further in.”

Image courtesy of National Geographic:

A talented musician, King David plays the harp in this 1622 painting by Dutch artist Gerard van Honthorst.

ILLUSTRATION BY FINE ART IMAGES/HERITAGE IMAGES/GETTY