"The Lord's Protection in the Shadows"

"The Lord's Protection in the Shadows"

 

Psam 23:4: 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.

Verse 4 again takes up the figure of the Lord as our Shepherd.  The famous opening phrase can be translated either "shadow of death" or "deep darkness." Both speak of overwhelming distress that only the Lord can relieve.   The other day I was asked for a Psalm that gave comfort.  I said "Psalm 23."  My statemtnt was followed by a  chorus of "Oh no, that is the death Psalm."  Well, that is true, and Psalm 23 is almost always quoted at a funeral.  Yet, David did not mean for this to be a Psalm of sorrow, death, or defeat.  Rather, it is to be a Psalm of confidence that the Shepherd will not allow death to be anything more than a shadow.

Shadows may scare us, but they can't harm us.  Evil uses shadows to frighten us, but safe in the arms of the Shepherd, we will fear no evil.  David was chased by King Saul for more than a decade.  During those many near brushes with death, David, the young shepherd of Bethlehem, learned more and more to depend on the Lord, whom he saw as his shepherd.

Two reasons are given in this verse to give us confidence in the Lord as the One who can provide security from the power of death.  Again, they are in the metaphor of the shepherd.  One is a rod or club for beating off the enemies of the sheep.  The other is the staff that nudges the sheep along.  The Lord protects us from that which would bring spiritual death by giving His life for us as the Good Shepherd (John 10).  The Lord both defends and directs the believer.  He protects him and points out the way.  The mere knowledge that the shepherd has these two instruments comforts the flock. 

Place your reliance for daily direction and daily protection upon the Lord.