Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved Psalms written…and, if I had to guess, verse 4 is one of the most well-known verses in this chapter. The last time I wrote (Psalm23:3~ Lectio_Divina), it was about verse 3: being restored.

This writing on verse 4 is going to take me in a whole other direction: as my wise friend says, “good, bad, who knows?” It just is.

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.

NIV

Death casts a frightening shadow over us because we are entirely helpless in its presence. We can struggle with other enemies- pain, suffering, disease, injury- but strength and courage cannot overcome death. It has the final word. Only one person can walk with us through death’s dark valley and bring us safely to the other side- the God of life, our shepherd. Because life is uncertain, we should follow this shepherd who offers us eternal comfort.

NIV Life Application Study Bible Study Note, pg 848

Most of us are familiar, in a not-so-friendly way, with death.

• 

Many of you may be in deep, fresh grief while reading this right now.

My own heart is struggling to accept the inevitable “final goodbye” I will have to say someday soon as a dear friend has entered hospice.

As an RN, I can say that there is no worse a feeling than being in the moment when it is realized those horrible words must be spoken to a family: there is nothing more we can do. I’ve had to speak those words to patients and families as well as stand by a physician when they have had to utter them.

The moment of silence that follows could fill a stadium.

Next come the questions:

• what do you mean?
• how has this happened?
• you can’t mean that?
• there must be something…?
• are you sure?
• this is not possible…
• so soon?
• so fast?
• but, you said…?
• what now??

It is a helpless feeling.

In the days to months that follow a death of a person we have loved, we begin to experience strange things: an intense disbelief that this is our reality mixed with the heightened awareness that this has indeed happened…we may think we see or hear our person while out in public…we may try to call them on the phone before realizing it is futile…we become confused, exhausted, anxious, fearful, angry.

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After my father in law died, I was at the grocery store in the milk aisle. It was there that I saw “him”. He was looking into the milk section while I was standing over by the yogurt. When I turned, “he” was standing there in a baseball cap and a t-shirt. By the time I stopped myself, I had crossed midway into the aisle in order to approach him to say “hi” and give him a hug. In the first moment, my heart leaped in recognition and in the second, it fell to the pit of my stomach when I realized I was so very wrong.

It was not dad.

Dad was gone.

Rough stuff, folks.

In the presence of death, we stand helpless.

Looking into today’s verse, we must search for what the author, King David, is saying otherwise we are all going to end up in a puddle of tears!

Verses 1-3 had us describing our Shepherd and how He provides for us, protects us, and guides us. He leads us to a place where we are tranquilly at rest and restored into the proper relationship with Him that we were created for: a place where we are safe, secure, loved, whole, and have all our needs met.

The first part of verse 4 is a key point to reflect on:

“EVEN THOUGH“

It is important to note that our faith does not shield us from the “even though’s” of life. Just because we are believers in Christ and are the heirs of heaven, we are not immune to the struggles that plague this earth since The Fall.

Jesus told us in John 16:33 that in this world you will have trouble.

Therefore, the even though moments are going to happen until that day when, as Revelation 21:4 proclaims, 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!

David had may of those even though moments…as a shepherd he was alone and separated from his family; as a soldier, he was hated by a jealous King Saul who then chased him for years in an attempt to assassinate him; as a friend, he learned of the death of his best friend Jonathon; as a king, he watched his child die after he had sinned with Bathsheba; as a king he again faced assassination attempts from his own son Absalom.

David walked through that valley of death many times…and could say even though.

So, we know we will have troubles and trials and suffering…but what is that valley of the shadow of death our verse speaks of?

Let me know the coordinates and I will FOR SURE avoid it!

When I think of a valley, I think of a landscape that is surrounded by higher ground. It could be an area surrounded by hills or mountains. It could be a lush ground because it is where the water runs off the mountains into. It could be an environment carved out by the forces of nature as it changes that landscape. It could be dry in some seasons while flooded in others.

It could be treacherous.

It could be difficult terrain.

It could be scary.

In a valley, the best option to exit is to walk through it as the surrounding landscape could be too harsh to climb.

The adjoining hillsides can block the sun, casting a shadow into the valley.

This means that although the sun is shining elsewhere, it is blocked from view…it is obstructed…the warmth of it is not felt…the light of it is not seen…there is only shadow.

An ominous shadow.

This valley, in those even though moments, is covered by the shadow of death.

There is only one way through this valley…there is no climbing out of it…we must walk it:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…

As mortal beings, death is inevitable.

We have heard of a saying~

There are only two things certain in life: death and taxes.

Benjamin Franklin

As an RN of almost 30 years, I have come to believe that death is as natural to living as birth is…

Tough ideology to accept.

The Bible has honestly told we will have those even though moments and we are all going to face the reality of the valley of the shadow of death…

What do we do with them, we ask??

I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.

How is that possible? NO fear? No fear in the unknown? The suffering? The finality? The emptiness? The quiet of the grave?

HOW?

FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.

Over 27 times, the Bible tells us that God will NEVER leave us or forsake (abandon) us.

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with us until the end of the age.

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39 that he was convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.

EVEN THOUGH we are walking THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, we can claim that we will FEAR NO EVIL because God is with us!!

Not only that, we are also comforted on the journey through the dreaded valley!

We have tools to help us…we do not need to do this on our own!

The STAFF: a shepherding tool that is used to

lean on when the ground is not dry or safe;

sit on for support when the shepherd needs rest;

rescue those in danger or difficult situations;

guide the sheep so they would stay on track.

The ROD: it is not a tool for correction or discipline, but to

protect the flock against attackers;

count the sheep.

The ROD and STAFF are part of the same tool working together in the shepherd’s hands.

What does that mean for us as tools of comfort?

The staff is a symbol that says we can lean on the Lord, we can find rest in Him.

It is a symbol that means He can pull us out of trouble- 1 Corinthians 10:13 God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up against it.

It is a symbol of God as our guide- He leads us beside the still waters, remember?

The rod is a symbol that God goes before you against your enemies- Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us??

It is a symbol of God’s love for us as He counts us as one of His own.

Even though I walk through the sunless valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod (to protect) and Your staff (to guide), they comfort and console me.

AMP

When I face those even though days that have me walking through the valley of the shadow of death, I am comforted to know that because I am not alone I do not have to fear any evil because I am guided and protected by my Shepherd.