Living in the Valley of the Shadow of Death

One on the best-known, most-loved passages of the Bible is Psalm 23, often referred to as the “Shepherd’s psalm.” It’s often quoted at funerals and memorial services because of the verse, “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.”

As comforting as those words are, they don’t necessarily concern the prospect of imminent death. They can, but the psalm speaks more about how life can be lived well despite the many pitfalls and perils we encounter along the way. 

 

True, for two years many of us have probably felt as if we were living in the valley of the shadow of death, with the relentless news reports, frightening statistics and grim predictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. When we learned about people dying from the virus that we knew, especially family members, the reality of its threat hit home. The procession of mandates and restrictions heightened our sense of gloom. Our challenge has been, as the psalm admonishes, to not fear but to trust in God’s presence and protection. 

 

The author of the 23^rd psalm, Israel’s King David, didn’t write from vivid imagination but from personal experience, hearkening to his days as a lowly shepherd. It was his responsibility to guide skittish and defenseless sheep through a variety of threatening environments, relying on their unwavering trust.

 

Those memories enabled him to apply that imagery to his reliance on God, his own Shepherd. During his post-shepherd days, David saw God deliver him from the “valley of the shadow of death” many times. The first occasion was his storied encounter with Goliath, whom sharpshooter David felled with his trusty slingshot. Then King Saul became his nemesis, followed by members of his own family. In each case, the Lord protected him.

 

Years ago, I had the privilege of co-authoring a book, Pursuing Life with a Shepherd’s Heart, with my friend, Ken Johnson. He had raised sheep on a “hobby farm” in Minnesota for a number of years and witnessed how, as Isaiah 53:6 declares, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray….” As I worked with Ken, the truths of Psalm 23 came alive for me, realizing how “sheepish” we really are.

 

For instance, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalm 23:2). Sheep need quiet and calm environments to thrive. Any disruption sets them on edge, so the shepherd works diligently to find places where they can rest and graze peacefully.

 

The previous verse promises, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Sheep can’t hunt for food; they rely on the shepherd to provide everything they need, including pastures free of noxious weeds that could harm them. He also watches so they don’t stray into difficulty, such as getting caught in bushes by their wooly fleece, or stumbling and falling, unable to get back on their feet. It’s not too hard to imagine how God does much the same for us.

 

In the passage about “walking in the shadow of death,” we read that the shepherd’s rod and staff provide comfort. These tools are used not only to guide the sheep, but also to ward off predators. So, the sheep quickly learn to stay close to their shepherd – and we’d be wise to do the same with our Shepherd.

 

Fear has become a way of life for many folks over the past couple of years, but this psalm assures us that the Lord will “prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows” (verse 5). These days it seems we have an abundance of “enemies,” and yet this psalm tells us to relax and go about our lives despite their presence. 

 

Sheep have no way to swat away flies and other parasites that could plague them, so anointing members of the flock with oil is one means shepherds utilize to keep the pests from unsettling them or even making them sick.

 

The sixth and final verse of the psalm is the most comforting of all, whether we’re preparing for just another day of life or confronting the inevitability of passing from this life: “Surely goodness and mercy [love] will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Just like an earthly shepherd caring for the sheep, seeking to ensure their well-being, we can trust that God will do the same for us, not only in this life but for all eternity.

No matter what we might have to face in the future, whether it’s a pandemic, other health issues, financial challenges, difficulties at work, family problems, or the social strife that seems to have no end, we can find hope and comfort in the assurances the Lord has given us in Psalm 23. As it says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” for anything, as we anchor our faith in Him.