Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me.”
I want to begin today by asking you a question. Have you ever lost someone to death that you dearly loved? Have you lost a son, daughter or spouse? Have you lost a brother or sister? Have you lost a good friend to death? How about a grandparent, or aunt or uncle?
I’m guessing few, if any of you reading this, have not answered yes to at least one of those questions. And that brings us to a truth about life – death effects us and death has power. That is why the Psalmist wrote verse four of Psalm 23 the way he did: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...” He didn’t write, “If we walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” he wrote “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Walking through the valley of the shadow of death is not an “if” question, it is a “when” question. We will all at some point in our lives traverse this valley. Therefore, the question is not “if” but “when,” the real question we have to ask when it comes to this valley is – “How are we going to walk this walk?”
The psalmist answers this all important question as follows: “I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me.” How wonderful is that answer! The psalmist not only looks death in the face, he actually walks through it and says that in God, death’s power has been greatly diminished. The psalmist proclaims that we do not have to fear death as the ultimate power, the Good Shepherd is with us, will protect us and will lead us through it.
Again, please note that the psalmist isn’t saying we don’t have to walk through that valley, we do. Even Jesus did! While on the cross Jesus cried out, “Eloi Eloi, lema sabachthani” which translated means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” Now we have probably not felt the level of separation from God as strongly as Jesus did, but we have all felt that darkness and feelings of forsakenness. Yet, as death approached, Jesus says this, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus is reiterating the fact that God was with him as he journeyed through death.
How will we walk through this valley? Psalm 23, reminding us that it does not have to be a fear-filled journey, but can be a faith-filled journey. And once we understand this journey is taken with the risen Messiah, we can be assured that we will not only survive the ordeal called death, but it leads to the gift of new life; either in paradise itself, or the gift of knowing our loved ones are safe.
Take some time today and think about how you feel about death. After doing this, read Psalm 23 and see if this doesn’t change your perception about death and the journey.
God bless, Dan