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Psalm 23Psalm 23

A psalm of David.1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,3     he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths    for his name’s sake

4 Even though I walk    through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,    for you are with me;

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Psalm 23Psalm 23

5 You prepare a table before me    in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil;    my cup overflows.6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the LORD    forever.

Poetry and prophesy give us sometimes a deeper insight in Gods Word than prose can provide.

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The darkest valleyThe valley of the shadow of death. (previous version)

The last valley will always seem the darkest…,

and feel as if separated from Gods love.

But nothing can separate us from the love of God!

No people, no things, no events, no sorrow, no nothing!

… nor anything else in all creation (Romans 8:39)

When Man was separated from God through sin, that separation was first and most felt by God: We were the object of His love.

God has always continued to love us!

Genesis 1:15 “…he will crush your head and you will strike his heel”

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Romans 8Romans 8

Paul's defiance:

Romans 835 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

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39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nobody and nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God… = will have the power: dunèsetai/dunamis

Who? What?

neither angels nor demons.

neither present nor future

nor any powers

nor height nor depth

nor anything else in all creation

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Neither angels nor demonsAngels: 290 references is the Bible, of which 182 in the NT

Rebellion started wit Lucifer (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28)15 …You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created

till wickedness was found in you. (Ezekiel)

There is a spiritual warfare going on… (Revelation 12)

Ephesians 6:1212 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the

rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Colossians 2:1515 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public

spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

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Neither present or futureThe mystery of time and space: God’s secret that we once will know

At a point in time there is a Cross at Calvary.

Gen 1:15 …he will crush your head and you will strike his heel”

The right sequence?

Even today immeasurable sorrow and individual suffering take place…

Revelation 21:3 …And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”