Psalm 23: No Fear

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

--Psalm 23:4

Fear is a powerful motivator often generating a ‘fight or flight’ response. However, there can be such terrible fear that a person is paralyzed. We might call that kind of fear, dread.

Fear drains the emotions, fatigues the mind, crushes the will, and even saps energy from the body. Unpredictable reactions and poor choices are common.

In the 23rd Psalm David described yet another response to fear, but not to fear in general, the fear of evil. The poor economy might shake us up as it threatens our vacation plans, career, or retirement. Health issues can certainly cause fear. We might feel pressures in our home life or at work and, as a result, fear the potential negative results. But evil? Ha! Why fear evil?

In general, people do not seem to fear evil, perhaps out of arrogant confidence, but probably more out of ignorance. We are more like a small child in a canoe idly drifting toward a waterfall not comprehending its devastating power. We prefer not to think about evil and its power in our lives.

Satan does not pound at our door announcing himself and his evil intentions. He is subtle and quiet as he offers enticements difficult for us to refuse. If we would simply reflect on our past, we would acknowledge how sin and evil have had control over us. We should fear evil, and yet….

David wrote, “I fear no evil.” He must have known the terror of evil and its incredible strength. Yet, he had no fear because he took comfort in someone who was stronger and able to provide protection from evil, someone able to provide safety.

The shepherd’s rod was a tool used against predators, but it was also used to discipline sheep. The rod represents God’s protection of his sheep from the evil one.

The Apostle Paul wrote that God would not allow anyone to be tempted beyond what he was able to endure. That tells us that temptations do exist that God knows will certainly overpower us. So, He will not allow those temptations.

Paul also wrote that God would provide a way of escape for the temptations He does allow. So, when there are appealing enticements, we can know that God is confident that we can overcome the temptation. He will provide a way of escape so that we can endure the trial.

The Hebrew writer encouraged Christians to have a good attitude regarding the discipline of God. Though discipline is not pleasant, it is for our good. The purpose of discipline is always to restore. Our Great Shepherd uses the rod of discipline to protect us and restore us.

The staff uniquely identifies a shepherd and is used to lead and work the sheep. The staff is virtually an extension of the shepherd’s arm. He uses it to gently pick up lambs and place them with their mother, to nudge sheep before they can wander off, and even to make simple contact with a sheep. In the latter case it is not unlike a father walking side-by-side with his child. The simple touch conveys safety and acceptance.

The rod and staff together represent the Great Shepherd’s contact with his sheep. Whether through a painful lesson learned with the rod of discipline or the gentle reminder of his presence with his staff, our Shepherd is ever near, protecting, guiding, training, leading, and comforting His sheep in the face of danger. With God as our shepherd, there is no reason to fear evil. We can awaken each day with confidence as he leads us in safety to our spiritual home.

Mark Stinnett

November 17, 2024

Did You Hear...?

Several years ago I witnessed a shooting…on the six o’clock news on television. I stood in shock. It was not due to a lack of awareness of violence, but that it was televised. Not only that, it was aired at an early evening hour.

Perhaps the airing of the shooting is a bold commentary on the impulses of man’s nature. It is not enough to hear about crime, people want to see it. Our television shows and motion pictures no longer make reference to violence, immoral sex, and other evils; they no longer simply suggest what happened; nothing is left to the imagination. For many that is still not enough. They want to participate and will not be satisfied otherwise.

As Christians we would never participate in acts of evil. However, are we participating through literature and other entertainment choices?

I would not expect agreement on which shows, movies, or books should be avoided, but surely we are all cautious to not go overboard. We stay away from the really bad stuff.

So, where do we draw the line?

Consider the Apostle Paul’s instruction for the Christians at Ephesus regarding evil:

And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

—Ephesians 5:11-12

Do your conversations sometimes revolve around the violence in the world, the sexual immorality on TV or at the movies. Have we gotten so accustomed to the evil around us that we know the language? Are we educating ourselves in the unfruitful deeds of darkness?

There are no valid rationalizations, such as:

• “It’s in the news.”
• “Everybody’s watching it.”
• “I would never do anything like that.”
• “I do think it is wrong; I don’t encourage it.”
• “My mind filters out the bad parts.”
• “I’m going to be exposed to it anyway.”

Paul’s words stand in bold contrast to these rationalizations: “It is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” He is saying that Christians have no business chatting about evil.

How do we make good conversation and entertainment choices? The “kid test” might be a practical guide. Let me explain: If kids are talking about inappropriate things, they will stop when an adult enters the room. So...If you would stop or change your conversation because someone entered the room (parents, church friends, kids) it might not be a proper topic in the first place! (This doesn’t cover every topic/situation, but it’s a worthy guide.)

In the same letter, Paul encouraged Christians to speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” (v 19). That is in stark contrast to disgraceful conversations about evil!

We are well aware that evil exists in the world, even in our communities. The Bible warns about evil. However, we do not need to be educated in evil, and we do not need to make evil the centerpiece of any of our conversations.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

—Ephesians 5:15

Mark Stinnett

May 26, 2024

Drawn to Evil

What a struggle we must overcome. Just up the road is that neighborhood, and we might think...
“I wish we could afford that kind of property. It would be great to get to know those people. Perhaps they could provide some good contacts for my business. I’ll bet we could get our kids on their ball team, one of the best in the area.”

Or perhaps we think…
“I don’t know why they have such a large house with only two kids. They are no better than my family. In fact, I know that they have a rather ungodly lifestyle.”

Or perhaps we think…
“I know for a fact that he is unethical in his business dealings. He may not break the law, but he treats his employees harshly. He puts on a glad face for his clients, but then he talks about them behind their backs.”

Those are all made up thoughts, but not unrealistic in the way we may sometimes look at others.

It may be tempting to look at folks around us and wish we had what they had: possessions, position, lifestyle, etc. It may be tempting to wish we could rub elbows with those who appear to be important. Yet, to what end?

Do not be envious of evil men,

Nor desire to be with them;

For their minds devise violence,

And their lips talk of trouble.

--Proverbs 24:1-2

Now, I am not suggesting that anyone in particular is evil. Success is not equivalent to evil. Yet, we may become envious of others without knowing their character.

It is also important not to read this proverb as a means of defining evil people. What I mean is that we might think that we can evaluate whether a person is evil on the basis of whether we know them to ‘devise violence’ or know that their ‘lips talk of trouble.’

The proverb was not written as a means of defining evil. Rather, it is meant to illuminate the way of evil people. (Proverbs 2 describes the evil man as one who leaves the paths of uprightness.) The reality is that an evil person will ‘devise violence’ and will ‘talk of trouble.’ That is the nature of an evil person.

What we need to consider is whether that is the kind of person that we should desire to be like or desire to be with?

In our culture we are careful to not be judgmental. We are careful not to be critical of the choices of others. We like to get along. Yet, there is such a thing as an evil person and that person is described by God in a certain way. Have you ever thought about God’s view of those who are evil?

For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD;

But He is intimate with the upright.

—Proverbs 3:32

Whenever you envy an evil person and desire to be with him, your desire is to embrace something that is an abomination to God, that is, something that is repulsive to God. Is that the kind of person you really want to desire and embrace???

Let’s resolve to keep our mind and heart focused on the righteousness of God.

Mark Stinnett

May 1, 2022

Don't Be A Birdbrain

Perhaps you have heard the expression; perhaps you have used it: "You are such a birdbrain."

Most everyone understands this expression. Even with some rather interesting research on the intelligence of certain kinds of birds, we recognize that, in general, birds have small heads, so they have small brains. So, we tend to equate the small brains to stupidity. Our generation was not the first.

Solomon observed:

   Indeed, it is useless to spread the net

   In the eyes of any bird.

   --Proverbs 1:17

A translation of the same verse from the Tanakh, a modern Jewish translation of the Old Testament, seems a little clearer.

   In the eyes of every winged creature

   The outspread net means nothing.

   --Proverbs 1:17 (Tanakh)

The simple idea is that a net is spread in full view of a bird, yet the bird is so stupid, it is still caught in the net. It cannot understand the danger of the net; the net means nothing. The wise Solomon was using this illustration to warn his son against running with friends who were involved in evil things. Those involved in evil are no better off than the birds.

But they [those who run to evil]  lie in wait for their own blood; 

They ambush their own lives.

--Proverbs 1:18

The evil person has the stupidity of a bird. He might even take stupidity to its extreme: He is not only caught in a trap that he can see, he set the trap for himself through his pursuit of evil! This is the crowning jewel of stupidity; the pinnacle of stupidity; stupidity's most glorious moment, shining as bright as the sun!

The Book of Proverbs was written for the purpose of keeping people from the 'birdbrained' stupidity of self-entrapment by their involvement in evil. Don't pass over the word 'evil' as some sort of abstract gray haze. Evil has many faces: disrespect toward parents, lying, cheating, laziness, anger, lust, pornography, disobedience, fighting (with fists or words), gossip, intoxication (drugs or alcohol), dishonesty, pride, chasing money, hatred, jealousy, intentionally being unfair (unjust), sexual sin, and so on....

Avoid evil.

Avoid those who do evil things.
Don't be a 'birdbrain.'

Your Gaze

I was about 12 years old, living in ‘small town’ America (population 364). I had gone with my dad to our garden spot a few miles out of town on a long dusty gravel road, literally out in the middle of nowhere.

On our way back home I courageously blurted out in my Arkansas twang, “Can I drive?”

Dad squeezed himself next to the driver’s side door and let me scoot across the wide bench seat in behind the steering wheel. Giving me a few brief instructions, we were off . . . s-l-o-w-l-y.
I was driving!

A moment later dad saw a bright red cardinal perched in a tree to the right of the road ahead. He pointed to the bird and I looked at it.

The next thing I knew dad jerked the steering wheel to the left to get us back on the road. Driving lesson over.

I had become a perfect example of what ‘not’ to do. Having no prior experience, I naturally steered the car in the exact direction I looked. I saw the bird in the tree and I unconsciously adjusted the steering wheel toward the bird, the object of my gaze.

   Let your eyes look directly ahead, 
   And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
   --Proverbs 4:25

This proverb sounds like it was written for the inexperienced driver, but Solomon  was warning about one’s gaze as it applies to life. Observing that we are all on a spiritual journey he encourages us to give careful attention to our path, not turning to the right or left. In this way the wise will avoid evil.

It is true in our physical lives and in our spiritual lives: We will walk along a path according to the gaze of our eyes.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
--Hebrews 12:1-2

Upon what is your gaze?

Hate Evil?

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; 
Pride and arrogance and the evil way, 
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
                                                     --Proverbs 8:13

Tolerance! is the order of the day. In fact, our society tolerates just about anything, anyone, and any thought . . . except intolerance!!!

Most people assume that the soul of a person and the actions of a person are a 'single package' when it comes to acceptance. If you accept me, you must therefore accept what I do. If you do not accept what I do, you must not accept me.

Jesus stood out like a sore thumb and showed the right way.

When the Jewish leaders dragged a woman in front of Jesus and accused her of adultery, they demanded that he judge her according to the Law of Moses. Jesus made the most remarkable stand. He condemned the Jews for their arrogant judgment because they were also sinners. He then told the woman that he would not stand in judgment of her; but there is one thing more. Jesus instructed the woman to go her way “and sin no more.” He accepted the woman, but did not tolerate her sin!
(Read the entire encounter in John 8:1-11.)

He condemned those who judged.
He refused to judge.
He accepted the sinner.
He did not tolerate sin.

God does not tolerate sin.

Isn't that the beauty of the sacrifice of Jesus?
It expresses God’s love for the souls of men and, at the same time, his intolerance for sin. (If he tolerated sin, then why the sacrifice?!)

God hates evil.
Do you stand in awe of God?
Do you fear the Lord?
Do you hate evil?