In The Valley, But Not Alone

In The Valley, But Not Alone

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.

Psalm 23:4

The walk of life has many milestones. We find it takes us to high and low places.  Some of these places are full of sun, others of shade and still others are dark and foreboding. David knew all these places by heart. God permitted him to experience the full range of human emotion, and to write, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the most eloquent verse upon these experiences.

Psalm twenty-three shines like a diamond on black velvet in the midst of these verses. At the heart of it is the text for today. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.’ Let us stay there for a moment. Here is the most fearful of situations. It is the place of darkness and death; the hallway of our own mortality. Here is where all bravado fails, and the strongest quake. What hope do those of us who are weak have here? One person and One alone makes all the difference. Christ, Himself goes with us through the ‘valley of the shadow of death.’ No other Person has such power over death. No other Defender has such courage in the face of death. No other Conqueror has in His hands already, the death certificate of death. He is the Lord of Life and the Ultimate Victor and Destroyer of Death. If He is with me, as my Shepherd, then I need fear nothing, even in this fearful environment. Rest today, O Lamb of the flock. Your Shepherd is here. You need fear nothing.

Our Great Savior
We rejoice in Your Presence
And in Your abundant peace.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice