September 3, 2012
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 (KJV)
Perhaps the most awesome verse in Psalm 23, verse four paints a circular picture of the testing and refinement God will use to develop our Christian character and the assurances we have in the midst of our storms. This is vital in God's plan for us because it is at those neediest moments that God is magnified in our lives and we truly surrender all to Him. It is far too easy to say you have faith on the mountaintop, when everything is going well. It is in the valley that faith is tested, He is glorified and we truly discover who we are in Christ.
The first part of this verse states that "though" I walk through the valley, not "if." So the first assurance from God is that we will indeed find ourselves walking through valleys in this life. Our walk through this world is not a linear one. It is filled with mountaintop experiences where we praise God for His provision and valley experiences where we should be praising God for His provision. Not only is it a valley experience for the Psalmist, it is described as "the valley of the shadow of death." David paints as frightening an image for the reader as possible because he does not want us to be confused and minimize the valley experience. God will see you through all of the little bumps in your life but David is speaking about the major depths ones life can sink to, where even the shadow of death itself hangs in the air.
The key word in this first sentence is "through." God does not say we will be languishing in the valley of the shadow of death. He does not say we will be living there. What God is speaking to us is that we are merely walking through the valley. The Psalmist conveys two truths in this one word. First that we will be coming out the other side of the valley at some point. In other words, the valley is not a permanent position but a temporary condition. Praise God! The second truth contained in the word "through", is that the walking is a process. It is not some unexplainable event in our lives but a pruning process, which God will use, to produce a more fruitful life.
What is David's response to his resignation of walking through the valley of the shadow of death? I will fear no evil. There is nothing the world can throw at us in our valley experiences that should cause us to fear. Second Timothy tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and self discipline. That self discipline is strengthened and nurtured in the valley experience. God could have stopped there and we could all be reassured that we should fear no evil in our valleys but He reinforces why we should be assured in the next sentence, "for thou art with me." This is a powerful reminder from God that no matter what you are going through, He is with you. Romans 8:31 reminds us that if God be for us, who can be against us? What the Psalmist is saying is that even though we can be assured that life will have valley experiences; that we have no need to fear because God is always with us. It is a matter of what we choose to focus on beloved. If we focus on the valley of death then we may fall into fear and doubt and see our faith waver. Yet if we focus on God, we are reminded of His great promises to us. That this valley has and ending and that He is leading us through it. That we will emerge not only victorious but better for having had the journey.
The verse finishes off the circular portrait by reminding us that God will always guide and protect us. The staff referred to is symbolic of the shepherd's crook which is used to guide his sheep. Remember Psalm 23 began with the pronouncement that the Lord is my shepherd. Here, David is returning to this truth and reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is guiding us. He is our shepherd on the mountaintop and in the valley. All we need to know to be comforted is that His staff is leading us. The second imagery used is the rod, which is also a tool of the shepherd. The rod is used by shepherds to ward off potential predators to his sheep. All we need to be comforted is having faith that His rod will protect us from the wolves the enemy will send into our lives. But we have to take comfort in them. This is not simply an exercise of knowing the shepherd's crook and rod are there but that because of them we are comforted. David was able to take comfort in the staff that guides him and the rod that protects him. We need to take the same comfort.
God wants to be exalted in your life. He wants the first place in your heart and everything that you do. Too often we give Him second best, or the afterthought. During the mountaintop it is easy to say we have faith but Psalm 23, verse 4 shows us that true faith is found in the valley. It is during our times of trial and testing that we learn to rely on God and forget our own understanding. In all likelihood it is from leaning on our own understanding that we ended up in the valley to begin with. Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to find the way out of the valley we fail to see what God is trying to teach us while we are in it. Remember, there is no way out of the valley -- only the way through. God's direction for our lives is never backwards. The purification process with gold and silver remove impurities but it requires heat. The process of encouraging growth in fruit requires pruning. These are not pleasant experiences but necessary for removing impurities in our life and for growth.
"But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God's paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. -- Job 23: 10-11 (NLT)
Oh beloved, He knows where you are going! Turn toward God in the valley, not away. Too often we get immersed in the worldliness of the problems and forget that God is with us and is bigger than any problems we may face. Turn toward Him. Seek the comfort from knowing His staff is guiding you and His rod is protecting you. No matter what valley you are walking through right now, remember you are only walking through it.
Walk on through, God is with you!
Rev. Anthony
