Psalm
23:4-5 "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. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
We want to keep the connection throughout this Psalm. The Lord IS my shepherd.
He provides restoration for me in every situation and circumstance according to
His timing and His purpose. He leads me each day. There are times when He
is taking me from one place to another that I must go through the valleys. Ah
yes! The valleys of life are a necessary part of living.
Several years ago, a preacher friend and I were returning from a meeting in
Indiana. As we made our way westward back into Missouri, we passed through all
sorts of terrain. We went through cities, through flat countryside, and through
small towns. But we noticed something wonderful as we approached the
Mississippi River. As we were on the highway going toward the river, we had to
go from a higher area down into the valley. The view was incredible as we
looked down upon the river valley toward the river itself. It was then that we
realized the crops were incredible in the valley. The corn was standing tall.
The soil was so much more fertile. As we were riding and preaching to
each other (as preachers often do), we both were made to realize that the
better fruit is found in the valley.
Does that have an application to our lives? I think so. We do not always enjoy
the valleys of life. We tend to look at them as dark and dismal; yet, it is in
the valley that our lives are able to produce the fruit that honors our Lord.
Yes, the mountaintops give beautiful views, but stronger lives are produced in
the valleys. David led his sheep from one field to another through the
valleys in order to provide better food for them. He always had two
instruments in his hands while leading his flock. He always had a staff in
which he could reach out and draw the straying lamb back into the fold. And he
always carried a rod in which he would defend the flock from any enemy that
might attempt to steal a little lamb away from him.
He always carried oil with him to help heal any wound the lambs may have
received. He never allowed the sheep to become famished. He had places
prepared along the way where the flock could stop, be refreshed, receive the
oil to help heal and also to prevent any parasites from doing damage to them.
David, the shepherd, was always prepared for any emergency that might arise.
One of the stumbling blocks of the nation Israel was due to their unbelief that God was able to properly care for them while going through the wilderness. "Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" (Psalm 78:19) David spoke of the "valley of the shadow of death." It seems to me that anytime we are in the "valleys of life", we are confronted with our own weakness, insecurity, inability, and the frailty of life. Every valley that we must cross is indeed a shadow of death for us. But we must never overlook one beautiful word in Psalm 24:4. That word is "through". Yes we must enter the valleys, but there is always an exit to those dark times. Our wonderful Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, will always take us THROUGH the valley to the other side.