Taking the Sting Out of the Valley of Death

“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me” -Psalm 23:4.

Phillip Keller in his book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, gives wonderful insight into the meaning of verse 4 of the Shepherd Psalm. In most sheep-herding areas, the shepherd must find summer grazing lands on higher slopes and different planes than for the rest of the year. The shepherd goes to scout out the area, Keller states, “He knew from firsthand experience about all the difficulties and dangers, as well as the delights, of treks into the high country…Never did he take his flock where he had not already been before.” He scouted out the paths, knew the best routes, knew where the best grazing lands lay. But he was also well aware of dangers along the way and guided his sheep safely through them as they journeyed to the high tablelands. The shepherd’s two trusted instruments, his rod and his staff, were used to rescue, protect and guard his flock.

When Jesus came to earth, He had a mission. That mission was to die as a sacrifice for the sins of the people and to provide a way for them to be restored unto fellowship with Almighty God. The Good Shepherd tasted death, he knew its sting, its finality. But because he went safely through and came out resurrected and victorious, death no longer held the sting and finality it once wielded. “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” (I Corinthians 15:55-57).

Life is full of valleys and “shadows of death”—even death at the end of life. Just now, I am facing the reality of my beloved companion’s death. He has been sick for a long time—hovering, as it were, in “the shadow of death.” I may go before him, because I don’t know what the future holds. Or, considering his long-time illness, he now seems very near to death within the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. Because I have not walked this way before with him, there is a great sense of sadness at potential loss and physical absence. But the Lord is with us both, and He is walking with us through this valley. His rod and staff comfort me daily (rod—weapon of power, the Word of God, that brings protection as well as healing; staff—the shepherd’s symbol of authority, concern and compassion, the implement of rescue, His ever-present Holy Spirit). In the words of the old gospel song, “Lonesome Valley,” we know that each of us must make the journey through that vale. But we are not alone! The Shepherd is with the sheep. He walks there to carry me through! Selah!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, June 6, 2010