Valley of Shadows
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
02/21/2021
Yea, 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. (Psalm 23:4)
Unfamiliar surroundings can be a source of anxiety. The root of all fear, fear of the unknown, kicks in when you are facing first-time experiences, and every shadow sometimes looks like a potential threat in your mind’s eye. This is especially true of children, who have fewer life experiences to draw from, resulting in more first-time situations.
I recall a trip we took to Six Flags when the kids were younger. At one point our older girls, who were probably about six and four at the time, were riding one of those kiddy rides that spun around in circles and went up and down at the same time. Even though it was a pretty tame ride in comparison to some of the other rides in the park, it still had a way of making me sick to my stomach. So, I chose to let Bethany and Brooke ride by themselves to save myself some embarrassment.
As the ride started, I watched the kids’ expressions. They were terrified. As they whipped around in circles a time or two they seemed to get more and more scared. Until finally they noticed me standing off to the side waving one hand and holding a camera in the other. I was smiling and laughing, and when they caught my eye, the tension disappeared from their faces. Once they saw that I was nearby, and that I was not scared, they loosened up and enjoyed the ride.
Shepherds are a lot like parents. Just as parents provide comfort and protection for their children, shepherds do the same for their sheep. A shepherd is charged with protecting his sheep from natural predators, and his rod and staff make him well-equipped for this task. The rod was a solid club used for fending off prey, such as a wolf, and the staff was a longer stick with a crook at one end used for rescuing a sheep that might have fallen into a crevice or gotten caught in the thicket.
In Psalm 23:4, King David continues his extended metaphor and points out that as our Shepherd, God is more than able to protect us from our enemies. He points out that even though we may walk through “the valley of the shadow of death,” God is with us. The phrase “valley of the shadow of death” is literally, “the deep, dark valleys.” It is an idiomatic phrase in Hebrew that refers to any frightening, threatening, or troubling experience. The New King James Version gives this phrase the nuance of death, which is probably pretty accurate since death is certainly a troubling experience.
The point is no matter what we face we need not fear. God is there. When every shadow looks like a boogeyman, we can take comfort in knowing that God is well-equipped to care for us. When we are afraid, His promises give us confidence. When we are sorrowful, His Word brings hope and comfort. When we are in danger, His divine intervention will protect us. When we are sick, He is Jehovah Rapha, our healer.
Are you walking through a valley of shadows in your life? Have you stopped to consider God’s rod and staff? In the midst of your deep, dark valley have you caught God’s eye? He is there and He will protect you.
02/21/2021
Yea, 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. (Psalm 23:4)
Unfamiliar surroundings can be a source of anxiety. The root of all fear, fear of the unknown, kicks in when you are facing first-time experiences, and every shadow sometimes looks like a potential threat in your mind’s eye. This is especially true of children, who have fewer life experiences to draw from, resulting in more first-time situations.
I recall a trip we took to Six Flags when the kids were younger. At one point our older girls, who were probably about six and four at the time, were riding one of those kiddy rides that spun around in circles and went up and down at the same time. Even though it was a pretty tame ride in comparison to some of the other rides in the park, it still had a way of making me sick to my stomach. So, I chose to let Bethany and Brooke ride by themselves to save myself some embarrassment.
As the ride started, I watched the kids’ expressions. They were terrified. As they whipped around in circles a time or two they seemed to get more and more scared. Until finally they noticed me standing off to the side waving one hand and holding a camera in the other. I was smiling and laughing, and when they caught my eye, the tension disappeared from their faces. Once they saw that I was nearby, and that I was not scared, they loosened up and enjoyed the ride.
Shepherds are a lot like parents. Just as parents provide comfort and protection for their children, shepherds do the same for their sheep. A shepherd is charged with protecting his sheep from natural predators, and his rod and staff make him well-equipped for this task. The rod was a solid club used for fending off prey, such as a wolf, and the staff was a longer stick with a crook at one end used for rescuing a sheep that might have fallen into a crevice or gotten caught in the thicket.
In Psalm 23:4, King David continues his extended metaphor and points out that as our Shepherd, God is more than able to protect us from our enemies. He points out that even though we may walk through “the valley of the shadow of death,” God is with us. The phrase “valley of the shadow of death” is literally, “the deep, dark valleys.” It is an idiomatic phrase in Hebrew that refers to any frightening, threatening, or troubling experience. The New King James Version gives this phrase the nuance of death, which is probably pretty accurate since death is certainly a troubling experience.
The point is no matter what we face we need not fear. God is there. When every shadow looks like a boogeyman, we can take comfort in knowing that God is well-equipped to care for us. When we are afraid, His promises give us confidence. When we are sorrowful, His Word brings hope and comfort. When we are in danger, His divine intervention will protect us. When we are sick, He is Jehovah Rapha, our healer.
Are you walking through a valley of shadows in your life? Have you stopped to consider God’s rod and staff? In the midst of your deep, dark valley have you caught God’s eye? He is there and He will protect you.
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