Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me… (Psalm 23:4, ESV)
Psalm 23 is one of the most loved of the Psalms and has long been a source of comfort and encouragement for God’s people in times of sorrow and uncertainty. This Psalm is an expression of confident trust in the Lord as protector and provider in all circumstances. It begins with the confident assertion, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The Psalm then unfolds this statement in the imagery that follows. It opens up to an idyllic pastoral scene, with green pastures and still waters. There’s a picture of abundant provision and peaceful security under the sovereign and loving guidance of the Lord as the Shepherd/King of His people.
At verse 4, there is an abrupt change of scene. We go from the peaceful, security of the green pasture and the quiet, still waters to a place of danger and uncertainty. The Psalmist describes walking through the valley of the shadow or death or, “The valley of deep darkness.” Here, in contrast to the seeming carefree experience of the first 3 verses, there is danger about. The valley of deep darkness implies that enemies are near. This is also implied in the mention of the rod and staff, which are a source of comfort, because the shepherd is well-equipped to fend off and defeat any potential attackers in the darkness.
This is surely an apt metaphor for our experiences in life. We have times of relative peace and security when all seems, at least, “normal.” Then, there are the experiences of the dark valley – the shadow of death, when dangers abound, and we are surrounded by uncertainty. There’s suddenly cause for fear, while the darkness seems to close in about us. That’s a fair description of the present time, while our world is engulfed in a pandemic, a new strain of disease that even the top experts don’t fully understand. There’s an atmosphere of unease and uncertainty. There’s a darkness of uncertainty concerning our health and well-being, even as we have heard the stories from places where hospitals have been overrun and medical facilities are lacking. Meanwhile, we hear, daily, the grim new death toll from COVID-19. There’s a dark shroud of uncertainty over the future and our economic security as well. This is surely one of those times when we are found in the dark valley, under the shadow of death.
However, even in the darkest valley, the Psalmist can express confidence – “I will fear no evil,” because of the Lord’s abiding presence – “for you are with me.” The Lord’s presence as the source of all security is really the key theme that runs throughout this Psalm. Indeed, it is the promise of the Lord’s presence that has been a source of comfort and encouragement throughout the experience of God’s people. Repeatedly, the Lord’s Word of assurance came to the patriarchs saying, “I am with you” (Gen. 26:3, 24; 28:15; 31:3). To the frightened and hesitant messenger, Moses, the Lord said, “But I will be with you…” (Exo. 3:12). The promise comes to Moses again, later, on behalf of all Israel, “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14, ESV) The promise is passed on to Joshua as well, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” (Joshua 1:5) The same kind of reassurance is given to God’s people through the prophets, even as they must pass through the dark valley of God’s chastening judgment of exile. For example, in Isaiah 43, the Lord sets for this encouragement, “When you through the waters, I will be with you…Fear not for I am with you….” (Isa. 43:3, 5)
The assurance and comfort offered to God’s people throughout the ages has not been that we may avoid the valley of the shadow of death, but, rather, it is the promise and reality of the Lord’s presence even in the valley. When, from a merely human standpoint, there is every reason to fear, God’s people need not fear, for our Shepherd/King is ever present to protect and preserve and to guide. This promise of God’s presence with His people, which runs throughout the Scriptures, culminates in the Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. What was true for God’s people in the Old Testament is even more clearly set before us, as we live in the light of Christ’s coming, His life, death and resurrection. Christ is ever present as the Great Shepherd of His people. He is the Lord and the Shepherd of His people, pictured in Psalm 23 and elsewhere in the Old Testament (cf. Ezek. 34). As the Good Shepherd, Jesus has laid down His life for His sheep. He has, in fact, traversed the deepest darkness, the darkness of death under the curse and wrath of God on behalf of His people. By His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus descended into the dark valley of death all alone, so that we, His redeemed people, the sheep of His pasture, will never have to traverse the darkness alone and forsaken.
This means, beloved, that we, as believers in Christ, can have a peace and security in the midst of this darkness and uncertainty that the world does not know. With the Psalmist, we can say, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:4, ESV) Even when we come, as we must, to the experience of death itself, and prepare to cross that dark valley, we need not fear. In the Lord Jesus Christ, God has come near. God is with us and for us. In the deepest darkness, He keeps and protects us from the real harm, the curse of sin. So, whatever may come, from coronavirus or any other earthly “darkness,” rest assured, your Shepherd is with you, and His presence is your security and peace.