+ Shirley Ann Buchanan
+
(December 28,
1938 – May 7, 2025)
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.
In the name + of Jesus.
Roger, you had mentioned that this Psalm
brought special comfort to you and Shirley.
There is good reason for it. And
there is much to ponder in it. I would
like to highlight one particular line.
To do so, I need to mention a feature in Hebrew literature which differs
from American literature. In American
literature, we save the most important point for the end. We wait for the punchline. But in Hebrew, the emphasis is in the
center. It is like climbing a mountain
until we get to the peak and then come down from it. The middle is the main point; and the center
of Psalm 23 is this: “I will fear no evil; for you are with me” (Psalm
23:4).
King David does not tell you that there is
no evil. You know that’s not true. Death is evil. It takes without permission. It breaks hearts and produces tears. Worse, it comes because of another
evil—sin. The Bible reminds us, “The
wages of sin is death” (Psalm 23:6).
We are all sinners. That doesn’t
mean we aren’t nice. Most people
are. But nice people die, too. No one is perfect, which means all people are
sinful, which means all people die. Every
person on earth has ugly moments that they would like to forget. These are evidence of hearts and minds
corrupted by sin.
Evils abound. Shirley’s body was affected by the evil of
cancer and other problems. That was not
God punishing her for something. It is
more evidence that this is a sinful world.
Sin corrupts our minds, our hearts, our bodies, and the whole world. The evils surround us. And yet, the Lord enables us to say, “I
will fear no evil; for you are with me” (Psalm 23).
The reason we have such comfort is this: “The
Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
That finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He told us, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John
10:11). Then he tells us what makes
him the good shepherd. “The Good
Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). As the Good Shepherd, Jesus defends,
protects, and saves the flock from every evil and every enemy. Jesus took his stand between us and sin,
death, and the devil. Jesus took up our
sins, and he let sin do to him what it should have done to us. He stood condemned before the Father,
exchanging his innocence for our guilt. Jesus
went into death, and he let death do to him what it should have done to
us. Jesus not only died; he died a cursed,
God-forsaken death and suffered hellish torment for sins. Jesus faced Satan whose name means
“accuser.” Jesus accepted responsibility
for every accusation Satan can make and let Satan do his worst. That is why Jesus laid down his life. He suffered and died for our sins.
Of course, a dead shepherd does not do us any
good. Jesus did not remain a dead
shepherd. Jesus declared, “I lay down
my life so that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the authority to lay it down, and I
have the authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18). Jesus let our enemies do to him what they
should have done to us, but then Jesus rose from the grave and overpowered
death. The payment for sins was
sufficient. Death was robbed of its
power. And Satan spent all his efforts
on Jesus who has left him crushed underfoot.
The evils have been undone.
Shirley Buchanan was baptized into the
name of Jesus when she was a little girl.
She received the benefits of Jesus’ work and became Jesus’ little lamb. Jesus served her as her Good Shepherd
throughout her whole life. There was
never a moment when Jesus neglected her or ignored her. He was with her every day. The evils may have surrounded her and
harassed her, she could still confess, “I will fear no evil; for you are
with me” (Psalm 23:4).
Shirley found joy despite all the evils
around her. I’m sure she enjoyed many of
God’s blessings in all your travels.
After all, that’s why you traveled—to see the beauties of God’s creation. There were many trips, and many memories. You stood in wonder at God’s creative
majesty. But you got to see some of the
ugliness of this world, too. We are
grateful for God’s goodness, but the evils do not go away. Still, she could confess, “I will fear no
evil; for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
It is even better than that. The
Psalm doesn’t say that we merely endure amidst the evils. It says, “You
set a table for me in the presence of my foes” (Psalm 23:5). Sin, death,
and the devil are always out there. But with
Jesus, you get to feast with joy. How
many times did you and Shirley kneel before the Lord’s altar to feast on the
living body and blood of Jesus? The Lord
granted her and you strength to live and to serve him faithfully as you both
did for decades at Lola Park. (I think
the banner that hangs here this morning is her work.)
Jesus guided Shirely in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. He strengthened and kept her in the true
faith unto life everlasting. He was
faithful to her as her Good Shepherd because that is who he is, and that is
what he does. Ailing health prevented
you from getting to church late in life, but Jesus was still with you. There is no reason to fear. Poor health, old age, and even death cannot
nullify Jesus’ promises. He remains your
good, faithful, and living Shepherd.
Today, it may seem as though the evils
have won out over Shirley. But the Good
Shepherd has not failed her. The Psalm
reminds us, “Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm
23:4). Notice that we walk through the valley
of the shadow of death. So, even in the
face of death we declare, “I will fear no evil; for you are with me” (Psalm
23:4). The Lord Jesus has already
passed through death. He has paved the
way to the resurrection and to eternal life.
To be more accurate, he IS the resurrection and the life. For, Jesus has overcome all our enemies.
The last enemy to
be destroyed is death, which Jesus will do when he comes again on the Last
Day. On that day, Jesus will raise up Shirley
and you and all the dead for judgment.
And do you know what? Shirley already
knew her verdict. Jesus guaranteed
eternal life to all who believe and are baptized. Shirley believed in Jesus as her Savior. She was baptized into God’s family. She is a child of the Most High God. Therefore, she is robed in righteousness and
glory. There are no enemies and no evils
which can change that.
At the resurrection, Shirley will be raised up with a body that will never again know cancer or pain or frailty. At the resurrection, Shirley will enjoy a body, a life, and a world without enemies, without evils, and without end. There will be no fear and no foes. The Good Shepherd has gone before her. Goodness and mercy have followed after her. Therefore, she will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Eternally, she has the comfort and the confession: “I will fear no evil; for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). This is the hope of every Christian, and it is a hope that will not disappoint us. The Lord is our Good Shepherd; therefore, we lack nothing.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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