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 into 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 recieved? What message do we share? Be blessed as you look within in ALL your ways.
The 23rd Psalm is one of greatest pieces of literature ever penned. But more importantly, it is also God-inspired scripture that flowed from the heart of King David during a dark, painful time in his life.
“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” (Ps. 23:4, ESV).
King David was experiencing a time of “doom and gloom”; he felt as though death was near. Hardship, peril, chaos, and deep suffering were invading his life. In our fallen world, these things will invade our lives, too. At some point, you and I, too, will make that long, slow, painful walk through the “valley of the shadow of death.”
Never forget
You may be walking in the valley right now––perhaps a doctor gave you a bad report? Maybe your spouse has left you? Or your child has left the faith?
No matter what the circumstance, it is so important that you and I remember a simple truth about the valley of the shadow of death. In order for there to be a shadow, there also must be a light. And that light is Jesus, the great light of the world. Jesus walks in the valley with us. His light is also by our side. We are not alone.
In order for there to be a shadow, there also must be a light.
Jesus is the light, but he is also the Great Shepherd, who walks with us and guides us. He will comfort us with his presence, even in the valley of the shadow of death.
Marinate on that.
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When we feel overwhelmed…take it to The Lord in prayer!
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
Just who is being truthful/honest/unaccountable? In truth, as a Christian it just does not matter, why? The Gospel gets preached, no matter what!