The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
Psalm 23:4
The canyons and valleys provide passage to the higher plains where the sheep need to feed in summer months. There also predators lurk, waiting for an opportunity to steal a sheep or perhaps a little lamb.
It has been suspected that the phrase “valley of the shadow of death” referred to one particular valley, notorious among shepherds for its dangers to the sheep. It is difficult to prove that to be the case, but it is not beyond possibility. Some think the phrase should simply mean “the darkest valley,” but whatever the idea was it brings into mind the most extreme and dangerous place that a sheep could travel. Even there, the sheep would not fear because of the protection of the Good Shepherd.
In the spiritual for the Christian, it means that a life of faith and trust in the Lord Jesus lifts us above fear. A Christian does not need to live in constant fear — not for his health, nor for his wealth, not for any spiritual danger. We should respect the reality of the dark powers that exist in the universe, and know that we are in ourselves no match for them, but we need not fear. Our God is greater.
This should not translate into arrogance against evil spiritual beings, a sort of “chip on the shoulder” attitude just looking for a spiritual fight. Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world, (1 John 4:4), so we do not fear, but only a fool would venture into a spiritual battle that God had not called him to fight. Jude 1:8 warns against those who “heap abuse on celestial beings,” even mentioning that Michael the Archangel did not directly rebuke Satan in their dispute over the body of Moses, but rather said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
The spiritual armor that God supplies us with, described in Ephesians 6:13–18, is mostly defensive in nature: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation. Only the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” is offensive. The rest is to protect us that we may “stand firm.”
The imagery of Psalm 23 depicts the Christian as a helpless sheep — all of our confidence is placed in the Shepherd, not in ourselves. And this should be the attitude in which we face each day — our Shepherd is Strong. He is the Almighty God.
But let us also not run from the battles God calls us to fight. 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 says,
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
The Christian’s confidence is completely bound up in our Lord, not in ourselves. Isolated from the flock, out of fellowship with the Shepherd, the Christian is vulnerable, weak, ready to be taken down. But walking in fellowship with the Shepherd, enjoying His protection, enjoying the close communion with Spirit-filled Spirit-led believers, the Christian is strong and lives with divine power and authority.
A sheep can never boast in his own strength, and neither can we. But we can rejoice confidently in the strength of our Lord. This is demonstrated through prayer — taking our fears and concerns to the Shepherd. Asking hourly for His leadership and strength. Leaning on His wisdom and not on our own understanding. This way, we do not fear and can live confidently.
