Ma egy nagyon nehéz ige van, megkísértett a gondolat, hogy ki is hagyom, de ez következik, azonban ez következik és így teljes a 23. Zsoltár. Hátha valakinek szüksége lesz rá. Nem tudom, kinek szól ez a mai ige. Egy váratlan esemény, olyan próbát jelenthet az életedben, ami nagyon nehéz. Előfordulhat minden hívő életében.
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.” Psalm 23:4 ESV
Isten vezetéséről beszéltünk a múlt héten. Lehet, hogy azt gondolod, hogy ha Isten vezetésére figyelsz, akkor nem lesznek problémáid. Azonban ez nem így van.
Az előző vers: Lelkemet felüdíti, igaz ösvényen vezet az ő nevéért (3.v.). Tehát, Isten az igazság (megszentelődés) útján vezet, melynek célja, hogy egyre hasonlóbbá legyünk a Fia képéhez. Ezért ISTENNEK FONTOSABB A SZENTSÉGÜNK, MINT A KÉNYELMÜNK. Ahogy haladunk a hívő élet útján, egyre inkább hasonlóvá válunk Krisztushoz, ha minden a terv szerint megy. Amikor megtérünk, akkor nyersanyag vagyunk, és Isten Krisztus alakúvá farag minket. A faragás néha nem kellemes. Ha megkérdeznénk a fát, hogy érzi magát egy fafaragó vagy asztalos kezében, biztos nem lenne nagyon happy.
HALÁL ÁRNYÉKÁNAK VÖLGYE
Isten néha olyan utakon vezet minket, amit nem szeretünk, mert nehéz, azonban ezek az utak szükségesek a lelki növekedéshez. ILYEN ÚT A HALÁL ÁRNYÉKÁNAK VÖLGYE. Egy nézőpontból mindenki járni fog ebben a völgyben, a halál pillanatában. De más nézőpontból, sokan (vagy mindenki), átmennek ezen a völgyön ebben az életben. Ez a völgy az az állapot, amikor:
- everything falls apart in your life,
- you feel there is no way out,
- everything is dark and hopeless.
- You think you can't take it anymore, it's so hard and scary, it's the finish, the end. It's all over.
- Social media (Facebook, Insta, etc) is also to blame because everyone is SHOWING THE BEST FACE. When we look at the pictures, it seems like this person is fine and we know that we have problems. We often compare people's false happiness with the reality of our own lives. I wouldn't be surprised if the fashion soon changes and everyone puts reality on Facebook.
BIBLIAI PÉLDA – DÁVID PRÓBÁI
Dávidnak is sok ilyen tapasztalata volt. Például amikor Saul üldözte, vagy amikor ráébredt bűnére Betsabéval és összetört a szíve, fia halála után, stb.
„Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?” Psalm 69:1-4 ESV
Judit's solution: stop whining and get a grip! ☺ That's sometimes a good solution, but not always. There are situations when the pain and despair of the soul is so great that ONLY THE GOOD SHEPHERD CAN HELP!
A halál árnyékának völgye nem az út vége, hanem az út része.
Today's passage can give you hope if you find yourself in such a situation. It is said that even today there is a valley in Israel called the valley of the shadow of death. Description. And there are caves there that are almost completely in darkness. In Bible times, the valley was full of dangers: bears, hyenas, leopards and other wild animals, and robbers. There were steep places where sheep could fall. It was a very scary place full of grotesque shadows. But this valley was very important for the shepherds because THROUGH WHICH THE ROAD LED TO THE GREEN PASTURES.
It is likely that David is talking about such a valley in the Psalm. He is a king, but he was also a shepherd before that, so he knows what he is talking about in this Psalm.
A REMÉNY ÜZENETE – ISTEN JELENLÉTE A VÖLGYBEN
Who is someone who is afraid or worried? It is always difficult to go through a test, but fear adds to the difficulty. Thank God that we can walk bravely in this valley, we don't have to be afraid, and so perhaps the journey will be easier. It's easy to say, but harder to do.
Only temporary, it will not last forever
Not the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death. If there is shadow, there is sunlight. Death (be it spiritual trial or real death) overshadows the light of God at such times, but when we walk through the shadow, we come out into the light. Example: when we drive a car under a cloud. When you go through the trial, it's a time of refreshment and you become stronger in faith. And when you go through the final test of your life, death, you come to eternal life, eternal light.
Az árnyékok nem tudnak ártani, csak megijeszteni.
Spurgeon: The shadow is not to be feared. Shadows stop no man on the sidewalk. The shadow of a dog does not bite. The shadow of death cannot destroy us, only frighten us. No matter how hard a trial you go through, remember that it is only a shadow. Of course, this is not to belittle the difficulty you are in, but to say that in reality, this difficult situation can only do so much harm as a shadow. It may be very scary, but it will not destroy you.
The presence of God
I will not fear evil, for you are with me, says David. What a comfort! When we are in trouble, it is not good to be alone. It is good to have my wife, my children, my friend, my parents or someone who loves me with me. But how much more comforting to know that the Lord, the Good Shepherd, is with me. He has not abandoned me or turned away from me, but is an active part of my life. When we are deepest in the valley, that is often when we experience God's nearness most. For example, when Dani or Picur falls, hits his head, and I pick him up, hold him close to me, and he calms down. The little child is not afraid to be around dad because he knows that dad is "all powerful" and will protect him. God is indeed all-powerful.
A jó pásztor nem hagy el a legmélyebb völgyben sem.
It's interesting that in the first 3 verses it was 3rd person singular, but now it changes to 2nd person singular. Previously David was looking at the reader, now he has lifted his eyes to God, as if to indicate that if you are going through this valley, you had better keep your eyes on God and not take your eyes off of him until you get to the end. It's not the shadows you have to look at, but Jesus, and then the fear will be gone.
Jesus is with us, so we do not need to be afraid. He is greater than all. If God is with us, who is against us? But if God is not with you, you are in big trouble. Then you have to go through the trials alone, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Footprints: (https://ldsminds.com/footprints-in-the-sand/)
- In my dream, I was walking on the beach with my Master, and the traces of my life were followed us:
- Two pairs of footprints, on the beach sand, as He was always there with me.
- But as I looked back at the end of the road, I could see only one pair of footprints here and there, just where my life had been trying, difficult, my fate cruel.
- I turned to the Lord with an anxious question: 'When I put my life in your hands and became your follower, my Master, you promised never to leave me, you will be with me every day. And now I look back, through the hardest of roads, through the most difficult of days, and yet I see no trace of your holy feet! Only a pair footprints are visible on the path. Have you forsaken me in the greatest difficulty?"
- The Lord took me by the hand and looked me in the eye: 'My child, I have never abandoned you! Through all those hard days, you see only the footprints of a pair of feet, because I carried you on my shoulders during the most severe trials.
A VESSZŐ ÉS A BOT – ISTEN VÉDELME
We've talked a little bit about this.
- rod
- stick (which is a bad translation, because it's more like a club) was used to chase away wild animals or thieves. It was used to protect the sheep. The Lord also protects us from every danger, like a father protects his child. A true shepherd is even willing to sacrifice his life for the sheep. This fact comforts and reassures us.
A pásztor botja és vesszeje a juhok védelmét szolgálta. Így védi Isten is az övéit. A vigasztalás eredeti héber szava „mély sóhajt” jelent – a megkönnyebbülés pillanatát. Pl. ha vonatszerencsétlenség történik, és az egyik családtag rajta van a vonaton, megy a telefon, de neki nincs semmi baja. Mély sóhaj. Vagy daganatot talál az orvos, de kiderül, hogy nem rák. Mély sóhaj. Minden rendben van, még akkor is, ha azt mondj az orvos, hogy rák, mert örök életünk van. Akciófilmek végén van ilyen érzés.
MIÉRT SZÜKSÉGES A VÖLGY?
Amikor egy fennsíkon elfogyott a fű, mert lelegelték a bárányok, mint egy fűnyíró, akkor a pásztor tovább vezette őket egy másik helyre. Az odafelé vezető út azonban sokszor a halál árnyékának völgyén keresztül vezetett. Ugyanis a zöld legelők felé nem volt más út. Így van ez most is. Néha nem kerülhető el a halál árnyékának völgye, hanem szükséges rajta átmenni, hogy füves legelőre jussunk. A jó pásztor nem vezetne veszélyes és félelmetes helyeken át, ha lenne más út az áldás felé.
But there is no other way. We live in a fallen world, and it is a spiritual law that the only way to God's blessings is through the valley. We would very much like to avoid it, we do almost everything we can to avoid going through the difficulties, but if we avoid it, we would be deprived of great blessings. You don't want to take a roundabout way. It's not worth it.
BUT, an important vers:
„No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
The devil can only do what the Lord allows him to do, see: Job.
Personal application
- It's not a question of how many valleys you go through, and how dark those valleys are, but how you face them? With fear or with calm? Do you trust God or do you panic?
- Végül Jézus példája mutatja: a völgy nem végállomás, hanem átjáró. Ő győzött, és veled is végig fog menni az úton. Jézus átment a halál árnyékának a völgyén, amikor a keresztre ment, és ez nem pusztította el, hanem győztesen vissza is jött a 3. napon. Ráadásul Ő nem csak árnyékokkal találkozott, hanem a valódi ellenséggel, az ördöggel és az örök kárhozattal.
A legsúlyosabb próbák alatt Isten vállán hordoz téged.
- A little girl was walking with her dad. As they walked along the sidewalk, a line of cars, including trucks, passed them on the road. The little girl ran, "Look daddy, look, the truck went right through me." The father neglected his little girl, looked her in the eye and said, "Only the shadow of the truck went through us, but Jesus was hit by the real truck."
- Because Jesus walked this valley before you, you have nothing to fear. Whatever comes your way, He will carry you victoriously through all difficulties, and when you go on your last journey in this life on earth, He will still be with you and give you victory over death.