4a “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”
Keller writes ‘now it turns to address the shepherd directly. the personal pronouns I and You enter the conversation. It becomes a most intimate discourse of deep affection’.
This verse came to me very vividly in the first days after our son’s horrific accident. We had entered a deep dark valley with death knocking on the door. We didn’t know if Nathanael was going to live in those early days.
One of the things I felt the Lord impress on me was the word ‘walk’. We weren’t going to be stationary in this valley but we would walk through it. As I look back over the last 2 years, I can see that it’s been a walk. Not some leisurely stroll but more of a crawl on hands and knees not knowing some days how to put one foot in front of another, figuratively speaking.
Even now as I write this, the valley can seem very dark some days, but I also know that we are on a journey and the Lord is walking with us. He’s upholding us even if it feels like 1 step forward and 3 back at times.
It is said that life is full of valleys and also mountaintops. It is sometimes difficult to imagine ever experiencing the mountaintop again. It often seems like we’ll be in this valley for the rest of our lives. Maybe we are called to experience God and the blessings in valley and maybe they will be our own unique mountaintop experiences. Keller writes in his book…
‘just as water can only flow in a ditch or channel or valley—so in the Christian’s career the life of God can only flow in blessing through the valleys that have been carved and cut into our own lives by excruciating experiences’.
4b “I will fear no evil, for you are with me;”
Knowing that the shepherd is always present means that the sheep don’t need to fear. The same has to be true for us. However, we are prone to fear in spite of knowing God is near. My heart was full of fear in the early days of our son’s accident. Fear does horrible things to us. I couldn’t sleep, eat, concentrate and I would experience palpitations and sweating as I lay at night wondering what on earth has happened to us.
Many times in scripture we are told to ‘fear not’ or ‘do not be afraid’. God is not saying this because our problems are trivial and nothing to be concerned about. No, He says this because He is near watching out for us.
4c “your rod and your staff, they comfort me”.
Keller writes “the rod was, in fact, an extension of the owner’s right arm. It is basically a symbol of power, authority and defence. Think of Moses’ rod when dealing with Pharaoh and how it was used to show what God had invested in him.
The rod is used for discipline. I’ve often wondered that maybe God is disciplining me and has brought this horrible thing upon us to teach us something. That is open to huge debate. However, discipline is a good thing when used correctly and at the right time. Knowing God uses a staff to exercise His right over us, does bring comfort even though at times it hurts as all discipline does.
Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” NIV
The staff speaks of all that is longsuffering and kind, i.e His concern for the sheep.
If a sheep becomes wayward and has gone off track, the shepherd will gently guide it back into the fold. He draws the sheep together into an intimate relationship. God does the same with us as His children.
I must say, I have felt very alone and isolated and sometimes still do at times, to be honest. However, we are promised that comfort and help can be found through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”.
The King James translates helper as comforter. Paraclete in Greek can be helper, comforter, advocate. He is the One who comes alongside to bring the help and comfort we need at the time.
This verse brings out God’s complete and utter care for us in the most darkest of times.
Prayer - Dear Father, Thank You that in our darkest moments You can still be found. In fact it’s when times are really dark that You are standing right by. Help us all to know that, to experience that when times are tough. Thank You that You walk with us on the journey before us. Amen
I am grateful to Phillip Keller for the insight I have gleaned from his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’.
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