Heritage Devotional - The Valley of the Shadow of Death

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Heritage Service

October 9, 2022

 

Psalm 23:4 “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.” 

 

            What’s the word that stood out for you in that verse? Probably, death. We don’t like to talk about death. The older we get, the more we think of our mortality. Death is a universal experience. We are all going to die.

A preacher began his sermon by glaring out over the congregation and proclaiming in a very loud voice: “Every member of this church is going to die.” Most of the congregation looked pretty somber at this, and he was about to proceed when he noticed that one man in the front row was smiling back at him. So, he decided to say it again, more loudly this time. “I said – every member of this church is going to die!” And he hit his fist on the pulpit this time for emphasis. Well, the rest of the congregation looked even more grim, but the man in the front row still just smiled at him. The preacher was very frustrated at this, so he mustered up all his energy and with as much volume and drama as he could summon, he said a third time: “I said – every member of this church is going to die!” But the man in the front row smiled even wider. At this point the preacher called him out. “You there, did you hear what I said?” And the man said, “Yes sir, you said that every member of this church is going to die.” So, the preacher asked him, “Then why are you smiling?” And the man replied: “Because – I’m not a member of this church!”

If it were that easy, we would revoke our memberships in all the things that end in death. 

In Psalm 23, David used that frightening word – death – but he says he does not fear it. Where does he get this bravado in the face of death? The LORD is my shepherd, he wrote. This is the foundation of our courage in the face of death.

Now, David may not have been talking about physical death per se. The valley of the shadow of death could represent any dark moment in life. We go through times of despondency that may feel like death, and sometimes when a chapter of life closes (the end of a job) it may feel like something has died. Some scholars say that David was being pursued by the murderous king Saul when he wrote this, so the metaphor of death can be applied many ways. 

The point is, death scares us, but with the Lord as our Shepherd, we don’t need to fear. Why do we fear death? 

We fear the unknown – those who have died cannot tell us what it is like to pass from this life to the next.

We fear separation – the spirit from the body; leaving loved ones; separation from God if the person is not a believer

We fear judgment – did I live a life that honors God? Did I live a life surrendered to the Lordship of Christ? 

We fear the finality of death – Job calls it the “journey of no return” (16:22).

David’s metaphor of a valley is appropriate. In the Holy Land, valleys are cut out of the rock by winter streams which leave long, deep crevices in the bottom of the hills. These valleys wind between the mountains so that dark shadows fall upon the deepest paths.

Shepherds will move their sheep from the winter pastures to the summer fields by journeying through these gorges. Travelers walk slowly along and try not to draw attention to avoid being seen by bandits or predators. They may tremble at the thought of trouble or death as they pass through. There is no way around these valleys – they are the only way to get from one point to another. There are no detours, and once in them, there is only the way forward. 

Some writers have tried to find comfort in saying that the shadow is not as dangerous as the substance. In other words, one said, he could stand near the tracks as a train barrels by at 60 mph and not be hurt by the shadow of the train passing by. This is markedly different than standing on the tracks. The shadow can’t hurt you, he said.

I see it differently. Consider this: If a 600-pound grizzly bear stands ten feet from me up on his hind legs, front paws outstretched and roaring that terrible roar, but only his shadow falls on me, I’m still too close. I am in danger. The shadow of death represents the spectre of death, and that’s enough.

David doesn’t fear the valley of the shadow of death because he knows the Shepherd is nearby. He sees himself as a sheep and the best place for a sheep is as close to the shepherd as possible in the valley. Sheep have no defenses. Cats have claws and agility; dogs have teeth and power; horses can kick and run; even a deer can bound away. Sheep have no bite, no claws, no speed. The sheep’s only security is the shepherd – the presence of the Shepherd. That deepens the meaning of Immanuel, doesn’t it? God with us. As David said, “for you are with me.” 

We were never promised an easy life. Our world is under the curse of sin with consequences to sin. We face times of illness, grief, financial hardships, and loneliness just as those without Christ do. But our Shepherd does not abandon us in times of trial. He is not only our Shepherd in pastures of green grass, but also the Shepherd in the valley. And the assurance is great in David’s words because he says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” 

Remember that in Palestine, the shepherd uses the valleys as a bridge from one pasture to another. It is not the destination; it is the path. Though we walk “through” the valley – the risk of life is temporary; it is not permanent. Charles Spurgeon said, “Death is not the house but the porch.” While we have to pass through the shadow, we are headed to the light. 

As you go through the valleys of life, especially the darkest valley of actual death, you are not alone. The Shepherd of our souls goes with you. He is the only one who can. Jesus travelled this road of death, died a death that broke the power of death, and was raised to life. As the writer of Hebrews said, “…we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone,” (2:9). 

Even if we are defenceless sheep, the Shepherd is our protector. “…your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The rod was a 2 ½ foot long mace-like weapon for protecting the flock from enemies like bandits and predators. It was also used count sheep. The shepherd would hold his rod horizontally across the entrance to the sheepfold so that the sheep passed under it one at a time. If a sheep was missing, the shepherd would begin to search for it. The comfort from this metaphor is that the shepherd knows who belongs to him and if you are wandering lost out there in the valley, he will come and find you. 

            While the rod was mostly for external threats, the staff was for the flock itself. About five feet long, the shepherd leans on the staff, uses it for climbing, and directs the sheep with it. If a lamb falls into a crevice, the shepherd can use the crook of the staff to lift a leg or a whole sheep back onto the path. 

            So, you see, in this little verse there is a great deal of comfort. David’s shepherd metaphor gives us courage as we journey through the valley of the shadow of death. We do not have to be afraid of death. We have the Lord Jesus as our Good Shepherd. 

            The writer of Hebrews said that Jesus shared our humanity so that “through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery,”(2:14-15). 

            The LORD is my shepherd

                                                            AMEN

Heritage Center is a local seniors residence and care home. RFC performs services once a month for members who cannot attend church services or who enjoy the intimate fellowship of a smaller group.