An Expository Look At Psalm 23:4

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” —Psalm 23:4

We are cognizant of Psalm 23. We were (at least I was made to learn to recite it by heart when I was a child) made to put it into our memory. I will ask a simple question; “Have you given thought to all it really says?”

The LORD is my Shepherd…is He? Does, He lead you in fields of produce, do you feed near him, is your thirst quenched?
I will admit, I said this quite a bit, but was moved to actually think of the words. Yes, we have The Word. But in this case, a simple and short Psalm which most have read.

What is the “valley of the shadow of death?”

The Hebrew word translated “shadow of death” is used poetically for thick darkness (Job 3:5), as descriptive of Sheol (Job 10:21; 12:22; 38:17); figuratively of deep distress (Job 12:22; 16:16; 24:17; 28:3; 34:22 (in the last three passages the American Standard Revised Version has “thick darkness” and “thick gloom”); Psalms 23:4, the Revised Version margin “deep darkness (and so elsewhere)”; 44:19; 107:10,14; Isaiah 9:2; Jeremiah 2:6; 13:16; Amos 5:8; Matthew 4:16; Luke 1:79, skia thanatou). The Hebrew word is perhaps composed of tsel, “shadow,” and maweth, “death,” and the idea of “the valley of the shadow of death” was most probably derived from the deep ravines, darkened by over-hanging briars, etc., through which the shepherd had sometimes to lead or drive his sheep to new and better pastures.—W. L. Walker

I was encouraged to keep my sharing brief. Trust me it goes on, but the lesson is simply that we need to think about all we say and do! How is it received? What message do we share? Be blessed as you look within in ALL your ways.