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.
–Psalm 23:4
If you ever get the chance, you have to try to make a trip to the land of Israel. Not only will it help you to better understand the worldview of the writers of the Scriptures, but the aesthetic beauty alone of that wonderful land will leave you awestruck.
Now when we read today’s passage, it’s important to understand the geography of the land where David lived. When he talks about the “valley of the shadow,” he’s probably thinking of a literal valley in Israel that’s 1,500 feet deep in some places and was cut by a river flowing from Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea.
Quite often, shepherds would have to lead their sheep on the treacherous trip through this valley to get water from the river. And not only was the terrain rugged, but all kinds of predators could hide in the cliffs. So when it came time for the shepherd to move his sheep up through the valley, he had to give special care as he led those sheep into such a dangerous situation.
David begins Psalm 23 with the famous words, “The LORD is my shepherd.” And the Lord is your shepherd as well. You can step confidently into any spiritual valley knowing that he will guide you and protect you from the enemy. There is no evil that can stand against him!
IN THE DARK VALLEYS OF LIFE, TRUST THAT THE LORD JESUS, YOUR SHEPHERD, WILL GUIDE AND PROTECT YOU FROM ALL EVIL!
