Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Psalm 23 - Even Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

We come in our study to one of the most often quoted sections of Psalm 23 (especially for funeral sermons).

And why not because the phrase – “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me” includes some truly comforting words. Indeed, we all know that some day (unless the Lord returns for us first) we ourselves will walk through the “valley of the shadow of death.”

Yet as we look at the actual meaning of the phrase in the original, we will see that there is much more here than meets the eye.

The phrase “valley of the shadow of death” can be variously translated: “valley of deep darkness” (Van Gemeren) or the “darkest valley” (Kidner). The phrase “shadow of death” (or its derivatives “deep / thick darkness,” “darkness and black gloom,” “deep shadow,”) are used 18 times in the Old Testament (Psalm 23:4; 44:19; 107:10, 14; Job 3:5; 10:21-22; 16:16; 24:17; 28:3-4; Amos 5:8), plus the following:

Jeremiah 2:6
6 "And they did not say, 'Where is the LORD
Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,
Who led us through the wilderness,
Through a land of deserts and of pits,
Through a land of drought and of deep darkness,
Through a land that no one crossed
And where no man dwelt?'

Jeremiah 13:16
16 Give glory to the LORD your God,
Before He brings darkness
And before your feet stumble
On the dusky mountains,
And while you are hoping for light
He makes it into deep darkness,
And turns it into gloom.

Every time the phrase (one word in Hebrew Strongs #6757) is used it conjures up the same sense of despair and hopelessness.


Derek Kidner says,

“valley of the shadow of death” can mean “the darkest valley” which would widen the reference of the verse to include other crises beside the final one (i.e. death), (pp. 111).

It is a broad phrase that represents any difficult experience of life that makes us afraid and it brings with it, loneliness, doubt, fear and disappointment, including death.

Now, this image is consistent with the shepherd metaphor because the shepherd leads the flock through ravines and wadis where the steep and narrow slopes keep out the light.

When we think of a valley we usually imagine a pleasant lowland sweep bounded by sloping hillsides (like the San Joaquin Valley) but that is not the picture here. The “valley” pictured here refers to a dreadful place—a home for vultures by day and a haven for wolves by night. It is a place of high craggy cliffs with deep ravines. It is a dangerous place of shadows and darkness.

While the valley is a dreadful place it is also a necessary place because it is the best way to the high country / mountain top. Verse 4 is related to verse 3 in that the right paths often go through the deepest darkest ravines.

James Montgomery Boice writes,

It is important to note that “the valley of the shadow of death” is as much God’s right path as the “green pastures” which lie beside the “quiet waters.” That is, the Christian life is not always tranquil nor, as we say, a mountain-top experience. God gives us valleys also. It is in the valleys with their trials and dangers that we develop character (pp. 211).

God does not generally “air lift” us to the mountain, rather the main way to “higher ground” is through the deep valleys or ravines. We have to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

But why? Why does God send us through the deep dark ravines of life in order to get to the higher ground? Again we can learn something from shepherding, something that David understood.

Phillip Keller gives three reasons why the shepherd would move his sheep to the high country through the valleys.

(1) It is the best route to the top – It affords a great deal of “personal” time between the sheep and the shepherd.

(2) It is the best watered route – mountain streams and deep pools of refreshing water are found along the way.

(3) It is where the richest food and best forage can be found.

For these very reasons the LORD will send us on the “right path” through the valley of the shadow of death.

What is true of sheep and the shepherd is also true of the saint and the Savior. The Lord knows that we can only reach the higher ground of the Christian life if we travel through the deep, dark valleys of suffering and adversity. It is through times of danger and despair, suffering and adversity that we can grow the closest to the Lord, that we can be refreshed by His Spirit and that we can be fed by His word.

James 1:2-5
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 Peter 1:6-9
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.


This is the ultimate goal for us in life – to reach the outcome of our faith – Salvation.

Romans 8:18-30
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 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. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

We cannot experience “glorification” without experiencing the ultimate trip through the “valley of the shadow of death.” But here is the great truth for us to grasp, all along the way, He is there WITH us.

“For Thou art with me”

Notice that the pronouns change from He to (Thou) You. David changes from taking about the shepherd to talking to the shepherd. It also indicates to us that the Shepherd is no longer ahead, to lead, but alongside to escort.

“We are never so conscious of the presence of God as when we pass through life’s valleys.”

Hebrews 13:5-6
5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," 6 so that we confidently say,
"The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What shall man do to me?"

Because He is with us we no longer have to be afraid – “I fear no evil”

The Great Shepherd is always with us ready to protect us in moments of danger. How does the Lord make known His presence to us?

· Through other people
· Through music
· Through His word
· Through His Holy Spirit

I want to close with a discussion of “shadows.”

Shadows are illusions, they are not something real. What causes shadows, a barrier to the light or a distortion of the light? A shadow occurs when something is blocking the light. The point we need to grab hold of is that you cannot have shadows if you do not have light.Since shadows are caused by blocked light, what should our response be?

· Come to the light, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
· Walk in the light, “He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12)
· Stay in the light, “Shall have the light of life” (John 8:12)

Isaiah 9:1-2
1 But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
2 The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.

Matthew 4:16
16 "The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light,
And to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,
Upon them a light dawned."

Luke 1:79
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."

John Phillips says,

Just as the shadow of a dog cannot bite and the shadow of a sword cannot kill, even so, the shadow of death cannot harm the child of God (pp. 177).

Hymn “Higher Ground”

I’m pressing on the upward way,New heights I’m gaining every day;Still praying as I’m onward bound,“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,By faith, on Heaven’s table land,A higher plane than I have found;Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stayWhere doubts arise and fears dismay;Though some may dwell where those abound,My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Refrain

I want to live above the world,Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;For faith has caught the joyful sound,The song of saints on higher ground.

Refrain

I want to scale the utmost heightAnd catch a gleam of glory bright;But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Refrain


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