Psalm 23:4
Ps 23:1-4 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
God cares for us. He provides what we need, He gives us rest and peace even in difficulty, He revives us, and He is our perfect Guide – all for the glory of His name. These truths give us comfort. Verse 4 of Psalm 23, shares a bit of bad news along with some good news. It begins with the phrase, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.
What is the ‘valley of the shadow of death’?
Remember, David is the writer of this Psalm and he is in fear of his life. Reference to the valley of the shadow of death can be literal or figurative. In the book of Jeremiah, Israel’s time of wandering in the desert makes a reference to the shadow of death. A historical account of the time this Psalm was written stated that a common practice was to line soldiers up on each high side of a valley that others would need to pass through in traveling. You can imagine having no choice but to move forward knowing that high above you on each side attack may come at any time. Perhaps you have felt the threat of death in a situation, either from circumstances brought on by danger, difficulties or health. Job also refers to the shadow of death during his time of loss and suffering. While we may never experience the specific situation David refers to, we will enter into rough times – the valley.
Jer 2:6 Neither said they, where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
Job 10:21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death (KJV)
Matthew Poole’s Commentary explains the valley of the shadow of death as “through a dark and dismal valley, full of terrors and dangers”.
Even those who know God enter into times of hardship. In fact we are told that we will experience difficulties on this earth in John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." But still there is hope in this ‘valley of darkness’. So the bad news is that we can all expect difficult times. We will go through times when we feel as if we are in ‘the valley of the shadow of death’. The good news is, the child of God has no reason to fear! Psalm 23:4 says, ‘I fear no evil; for Thou art with me;’
Ps 27:1 ([A Psalm] of David.) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?
Ps 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
It is important to note that we will face hardship and even physical death. We will have seasons of extraordinary distress in our lives. We live in a fallen world and bad things happen. But there is no reason to fear any calamity meant for evil against God. He is greater than all things on earth and He gives His children protection. There is still suffering in this world because of man’s sin, but in the midst we can have peace from the knowledge that God is in control and will cause all things for His purpose and glory.
Ro 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.
Ro 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)
Ro 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
“Though I, as one of the flock, should walk through the most dismal valley, in the dead of the night, exposed to pitfalls, precipices, devouring beasts, &c., I should fear no evil under the guidance and protection of such a Shepherd. He knows all the passes, dangerous defiles, hidden pits, and abrupt precipices in the way; and he will guide me around, about, and through them.” Adam Clarke’s Commentary
I love the sentence used by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary, “In the darkest and most trying hour God is near”.
Truth. We can have confidence in God’s protection as our Great Shepherd. We can be of good courage when we find ourselves in a valley because God is our comfort and defense.
Ps 27:2-5 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in [spite of] this I shall be confident. 4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
Ps 46:1-3 (For the choir director. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song.) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar [and] foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
We will probably never have enemies encamped about us ready to take our life as David did. You can almost picture him in the hills seeking refuge in the caves away from Saul’s army. We can learn from the Psalmist’s example of crying out to God and then resting in our confidence of His protection. We can be reminded that there is no need to live in the grips of fear. Do we rely on God with the same confidence David had?
Isa 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Psalm 23:4 goes on to say, “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me”. Picture a shepherd’s staff, used to gently turn a sheep back into the right direction when it has wandered off. We can depend on God’s guidance when we seek to follow Him, even when we’ve wandered off the path. God is still there desiring us to turn back and waiting for our return. He loves us so much, He will go to great lengths to bring us towards Him. There is a sigh of relief for a believer knowing that God is the one directing a path to follow and even putting roadblocks on those paths we are not to enter. Under our Great Shepherd’s protection we find comfort.
Psalm 23 is very commonly read in services for those who have passed away from this earth. Each of us will pass from this earth to an eternal future. A child of God, one who has accepted Jesus’ death and resurrection as necessary payment for their sin, does not need to fear the valley of physical death. Heaven is waiting.
Consider. You have probably made plans at one time or another to travel somewhere. You think about what you will do when you arrive, you spend time preparing and perhaps packing. Finally, the day arrives when you will go on your trip. You’re excited to get to your destination. At long last, the day has arrived, you are on your way. The anticipation puts a smile on your face … This is what the journey to heaven is to a believer, to those who have put their trust completely in Jesus. Physically, we will all die, but spiritually we live forever. For a child of God, forever in heaven with their Lord and Savior is the destination they look forward to. It doesn’t get any better!
1Co 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed. The dying saint is not in a flurry, he does not run as though he were alarmed, nor stand still as though he would go no further, he is not confounded nor ashamed, and therefore keeps to his old pace. Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it. … the valley of the shadow of death, for death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Someone has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is.” The Treasury of David
Ps 65:4 How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near [to Thee], to dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple.
Ps 84:4 How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house! They are ever praising Thee. Selah.
Can you personally say and believe “Thou art with me”?
Consider what you are living for. The ‘valleys’ in life grow us in our trust and dependence on God. Just as we are encouraged to read the words in Psalm 23:4, those around us are encouraged as they see us continue to move forward in God’s strength even when it’s difficult. When you have experienced low times the good times are more appreciated. As we might grow feebler with age, our hearts grow closer to God and His heaven that awaits us. There is no need to fear the valley, God is with us, He will protect us, and He will guide us and give us His comfort.
2Co 4:15-17 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
Php 1:19-23 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
