by Jilene Scherenske
This is the seventh in a series of articles on Psalm 23. I have found this study to be a great blessing to my soul and trust it will be to yours also. The reader should be aware that I have used Phillip Keller’s book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 as a resource. I refer often to his book and knowledge of the care of sheep. Then I take his insights, combine them with the Word of God and meditate thereon. This is the result of my meditations.
Psalm 23:4a
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” Keller says that up to now the sheep have been kept in winter and early spring in the pastures at home. But in the summertime the shepherd must take them to the high country, a country he himself is not as familiar with. As a result, he will be with them 24/7 and will develop a relationship with them that is deeper than previously noted. A good shepherd will go before the sheep to look over the country. He will be well aware of dangers that threaten such as predators, rampaging flooding rivers, sudden sleet and hail showers and snowstorms. It is a wild country up on the mountain slopes and in the valleys, but a skilled shepherd is prepared to deal with all of the dangers and keep his flock safe. So, Jesus, our beautiful Shepherd, does all of this and more for us. He is skilled beyond imagination. His care for us is unending and complete in every way. He never drives us, only leads us. He is more than able to keep us from all dangers. He is with us every moment, loving us, leading us, caring for us, and protecting us. We could not ask for more for He is above and beyond anything we could hope for!
Sometimes in our Christian lives we desire to move on to higher ground as the song states. But we must realize that there is only one path to higher ground, to greater intimacy with Jesus our Shepherd. It is by way of the valley. Even our beautiful highways through Colorado, for instance, follow the valleys in order to get to the heights of the mountains.
Notice firstly that the Psalm says, “Yea, though I walk…” Jesus never pushes us, never drives us at a pace we cannot endure. It is always a slow walk. Just as the sheep are quiet and calm as they follow the shepherd through the valley, so we Christians can walk through our valleys knowing that our Great Shepherd is leading us on in His wisdom and love and protection. We know we are secure in Him and His leading. We have no need to scurry, no need to run out of fear; because Jesus is leading us and protecting us we can calmly walk on. We do not even need to wish for the valley to end. It will end when the Shepherd sees fit, knowing that He knows the best trail to take for our benefit and His glory.
Notice also that it is a walk “…through the valley of the shadow of death”. It does not necessarily mean that death ensues, though it can mean that, but it most often also means that Jesus is leading us through a very difficult path, but a path that will lead to unbelievable intimacy with Jesus. The light at the end of the valley is unbelievable whether it is the light of heaven or the light of greater intimacy with Him. He does not leave us in the valley; and He never for one moment allows us to be there alone. He is ALWAYS with us. What an absolute comfort to know! Keller himself has experienced the death of his own wife. Here’s what he said: “Again and again I remind myself, “O God, this seems terribly tough, but I know for a fact that in the end it will prove to be the easiest and gentlest way to get me unto higher ground.” Then when I thank Him for the difficult things, the dark days, I discover that He is there with me in my distress. At that point my panic, my fear, my misgivings give way to calm and quiet confidence in His care. Somehow, in a serene quiet way I am assured all will turn out well for my best because He is with me in the valley and things are under His control.” Now that is the way we ought to travel through our valleys! The walk through the valley can be a beautiful thing if we will but submit this kind of an attitude to Jesus. It displays a quiet acceptance for anything Jesus chooses to bring into our lives. It brings an intimacy with Jesus that one did not have prior to the valley. Complete confidence that He will lead us through gives our walk peace and joy. Paul knew the blessedness of this walk when he said: Ro 5:3 … but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Who of us would not want or need more patience? More experiences in life so we can be wiser ministers to others? More hope and less doubt? More confidence in God’s love for us? That is where the valleys lead us – to greater maturity and greater dependence upon God. There is nothing more satisfying than that. Whatever valley you are walking through, Jesus our Shepherd will see that you get through it.
Notice also, He leads us through the shadow of death. There is no promise of death in that statement, nor is there any promise of evil. It is simply a shadow. Sure, the enemy may lurk nearby, but his shadow cannot hurt me as long as I am trusting in Jesus. Just as the shadow of a dog cannot bite us, or the shadow of a gun cannot kill us, so the shadow of death is not something that will destroy us! Sometimes the shadow of death is only in our imaginations. The shadow of death can be compared to a dead lion. As long as he is dead, we have great boldness to go pluck out his mane. He is dead, he cannot hurt us. So it is with the shadow of death. It is but a shadow and cannot hurt us. There is no reason to fear it; therefore, we can boldly walk on.
Look at these verses: Jer 2:6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. Yes, these verses are a prophecy of Jeremiah against the stubborn Israelites but let us look at what these verses are saying about God’s leading. Look where He led them: through the wilderness, through deserts and pits, through a land of drought, through a land where no man had gone before and a land which could not sustain a people. Yet what did He do as He was leading them through this dismal country? He fed them with manna, which to us is the Bread of Life, Jesus and His Word. And what was His goal? It was to bring them into a plentiful country overflowing with goodness. Always, always, always God’s goal is that we would learn to eat of His manna when we are in the shadow of death, so that when He brings us out of the valley we may be filled with Jesus in more ways than we were before we experienced the valley.
So, we have already seen one reason that Jesus leads us through the valleys of life which is to bring us greater intimacy with Him, but there are a couple more reasons as well. Only in the valleys are there refreshing streams of water. The sheep need this desperately as they are walking continually and slowly climbing. When life is going easy, we do not seem to need as much encouragement, but when we are in the valley we greatly long for encouragement. To seek it from others is less than desirable. All humans are fleshly, and they will disappoint in one way or another. But to find refreshment from Jesus Himself is completely satisfying. I often pray for those in deep distress that God would become to them all they need. Sure, I do not mean to shirk my duty to them to help them in any way I can, but it is most important that Jesus become their main and total Source of encouragement. He is always with them. When one is in distress there are some moments much worse than others. There will not always be someone with you when those moments come. But Jesus is there. Learning how to lean on Him fully and glean from Him all you need is a blessing beyond anything else you will ever experience. And, oh, the peace that He brings along with His comfort! It is unbelievable!
Something else results when one has learned this: you become the best comforter to others who go through like circumstances because you understand thoroughly the journey through that valley. I do not know what it is like to have cancer. I do not know what it is like to lose my husband. I do not know the sorrow one feels when a child goes astray. Yes, Jesus will minister to me should I experience such times, but He can, and often will, use one who has already walked through that valley. The one who goes through a certain valley and finds in it the refreshment he needs, the encouragement he needs, is well equipped to direct others going through a similar valley and direct them to the same Source of refreshment that they discovered – Jesus.
Another reason a shepherd takes the flock through the valleys is because along the valley streams is the best grazing. The grass is lush, green, and plenteous. Often these grassy glades are on the floor of canyons with steep walls on either side. Shadows prevail there with sunlight only shining for a little while around noon. As you might imagine, these valleys are also frequented by all types of predators who also come to drink but who also come to seek for prey. The shepherd must be continually vigilant. These areas also are often subject to sudden storms and flash floods, and rockslides, or mud or snow avalanches. Even sudden storms of sleet, rain, and snow sweep through these valleys. If a sheep becomes soaked and chilled the exposure will quickly kill them. Their thin skin leaves them very susceptible to colds and pneumonia. In David’s day robbers also frequented these valleys knowing that there was little hope of escape.
As our Shepherd, Jesus knows all about this. He knows that where He leads may be a dark valley, but He also knows that He is all we need. Valleys may indeed be dark and shadowy, but they are fruitful. He alone can be the Source of strength to us and courage to us as we face these dark days and learning that will produce immense fruit in our soul. He will faithfully guide us through and sustain us. If we will look back on the crisis we have gone through, we can easily see His hand guiding us, strengthening us, sustaining us. Over and over He proves that He cares for us best. Knowing this and trusting in His care brings to us great stability, as well as peace and calm. Fear melts away. The Good Shepherd says to us all, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Going through the valleys strengthens us for the next valley. The lush grass, His food – the Word of God, nourishes us so that the next dark path does not look so foreboding because we remember the last valley and how He took us through it. We remember what we learned. We remember how His Word strengthened us, how His Spirit ministered to us. When feasting on His Word while we are in that valley, we will see truths that we had not seen before, truths that will minister to us and nourish us and strengthen us. The last valley gives us courage to face the next valley. It made us more mature, it gave us muscles that we would not have had if we had not experienced the last valley. And what is this strength? It is that we learned how to rest in Him more than we had before. Any muscles we develop are the muscles of learning how to trust in Him in greater ways, how to yield to resting in Him. It is learning that no matter what we face we can trust in Him. He wants to be all we need, and He can be that to us if we will just learn to rest in Him. That is what every valley teaches us. They teach us how better to rest in Him. Mt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
“…I will fear no evil: for thou art with me...” Think of it….Jesus is the Creator of the world – if that does not speak of His power I don’t know what will. Not only did He create it, He sustains it every day. Every cloud in the sky is there because He put it there. Not one moment of our day passes but that He is aware of it and in control of it. He knows and sustains every cell of our bodies. He is ALL POWERFUL. There is NOTHING that He cannot do. Did He not cause all the enemy to go blind so that they did not kill Elisha (2Kgs 6:18)? Did He not slay all 185,000 Assyrians who were coming against Hezekiah (Hez 19:35)? Did He not save Daniel from the lion’s den (Dan 6:21-22)? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace (Dan 3:19-26)? Did He not part the raging Red Sea (Ex 14:21) and again the raging Jordan (Josh 3:16)? Has He lost His power today? Absolutely not!!! His power still reigns today whether we see it or not. And He looks after each of us individually and He loves us with a love that we will never understand until we get to heaven. Every nano moment of our lives is directed according to His love for us personally. This MOST HIGH GOD, this loving Savior, NEVER leaves us alone. He Himself is ALWAYS with us. He is the One leading me on this path and who knows better than He? There is absolutely nothing that I need to fear! Nothing real and nothing made up. It ought to be to us an utter joy to realize that Jesus never leaves us. Our Great God is with us all the time! What a privilege that we have – to have the assurance that He is always with us.
Why then would we fear anything? I have to stop and ask myself that very question because there are times when we all fear. The Greek word for fear includes adversity, affliction, calamity, displeasure, distress, evil from men or something else, grief or something that is grievous to us, harm, something that is heavy in our soul, something that is hurtful, something that is mischievous, a misery, something that is noisy, that is not pleasant, that is sad, or brings us sorrow; it can be trouble of any kind, even wickedness that others bring to us. Wow! That covers a lot of territory! The word also indicates that whichever of these it is, it is exceeding great. I am sometimes tempted to fear the news and the evil that I hear exists in our political system; I am tempted to fear where that evil is taking our country and what impact it will have on me and my grandchildren. I must be careful what movies I watch because they can fill me with fear, especially when the loud music exaggerates the plot. Sometimes I am tempted to fear intruders into my house. I fear when there is a loud noise and I do not know what it is. I will wait to take a shower until Steve is home! I think the bottom root is that I can be tempted to fear the unknown. When I can see the danger ahead, I have less fear. But even then, I must ask myself why am I tempted with these fears? I think it is because I forget Who my God is. I forget He is with me. I forget His power. I forget He promises me protection. I forget for a moment that He is completely in control of all things! In those moments of temptation or actual fear, I must call out to Him immediately for Him to relieve the fear. I must start praising Him for Who He is – that always chases away fear promptly! Jesus has a cure for fear, it is trusting in Him, and He even gives us that faith if we will but ask for it. I remember when I lay in a hospital bed dying, I had a conversation with the Lord about this very thing. I told Him I could trust Him for any diagnosis, even a terminal diagnosis, if I only knew what the diagnosis was. He gently reminded me that I needed to go a step further and trust Him for the unknown diagnosis and then, as I surrendered to that, He gave me the faith to trust Him for the unknown in that situation. Now I must learn that lesson again! As I am in the fourth quarter of my life, I must now trust Him with all the unknowns of this era, and many unknowns abound, but He is greater! He has taken me thus far, why should I doubt how He will lead me in this quarter?
As I am studying this verse, my thought keeps going back to another time in my life when I was near death. Something extremely painful wracked my body so that I could not tolerate light, nor noise of any kind, nor even a touch of a loving hand. I laid in a hospital bed for 33 days with some unknown sickness. At the time, I had three toddlers whom I loved dearly, as well as a very loving husband. But I was so sick that even they faded into the background. Though I could not read my Bible, nor listen to it on tape, I could talk to Jesus. And when I was alert, that is what I did. Poured my heart out to Him. I had memorized Psalm 91 and that kept washing through my thoughts. I cannot explain to you the nearness of Jesus that I felt and knew at that time. I knew for sure that He was with me. Nor can I explain to you the change that experience worked in my soul. I grew much closer to Jesus during those dark days. Our fellowship became so sweet as I lay in that hospital bed that, when I regained strength, I often wished for those days again! Valleys are worth walking through. What one finds on the other side is so much better than what one had before. Deepening one’s relationship with Jesus….is sweetly unexplainable but I highly recommend it.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Ps 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Higher ground can only be attained by walking through the valleys. It is a principle of life. One cannot get stronger muscles unless those muscles are taxed. One cannot get smarter unless their brain is tortured by much study. We will not grow spiritually without the valleys in our life. It is but for us to follow our loving Shepherd through those valleys, trusting confidently in Him all the way through. He has promised that He will always be with us and that He will never lose any one of us (John 10:28).
Application
I think we must first consider if we are desiring higher ground. Are we satisfied with our spiritual relationship with Jesus right now, or do we long for greater intimacy? Every day we ought to beg for more Christlikeness. Every day we ought to long to be closer to Him than we were the day before. But then, once we long for that, we must realize that it will come with a price. There must be a valley for us to go through in order to learn how to be closer to Him, more submitted to Him, more surrendered. Are we willing to endure the trial? Let us take a moment to look at the song whose words are indeed rich:
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Chorus:
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
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.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
Higher Ground by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
This song describes how we ought to feel, what we ought to desire. It describes one who has a close intimate relationship with Jesus in view and that is why they have such a great desire to reach higher ground spiritually. Even though they are fully aware that satan’s darts will threaten, yet higher ground is better than living a mundane life amongst doubts and fears. Stop and consider, is this what you desire with all your heart?
Yes, Jesus may lead us through dark valleys that sometimes are just shadowy, but other times have severe storms. But we must always remember that He knows best. The storm will never be too hard for us whatever the severity. Every shadow, every storm, is there because He loves us so much. So then it is but for us to not react but willingly surrender to the storm, trusting all the while in He Who alone can guide us through it and bring us out on the other side closer to Him then when we went in to the valley.
If the Most High God is with you continually, why then would you fear anything? Think of it. What is it that you tend to fear? Why do you fear that thing? What can you do to chase away the fear? One of the definitions of the Greek word ‘fear’ is reverence. When one thinks about it, whatever we fear, we are, in essence, reverencing, worshipping! When we choose to reverence/worship God, there will be no room for fear. Many of our fears are made up, they are contrived by our own imaginations. Let us take our imagined fears to Jesus, surrender them to Him, and allow Him to dispel them, for He will! Then let us replace fear with the worship Him.
Know the sweetness, and the security, and the strength of “thou art with me”. Know that security so well now that when death does approach, His presence is strong and sweet and lush to your soul. The same Shepherd Who carried you through all your past valleys will carry you through death’s door peacefully and securely and sweetly. He will lead you on to the moment your soul has been waiting for all your life – a precious reunion with Him. That cannot, can never, be dark. It is the fulfillment of the longing desire of your life. I love what I read on this subject of dying by some source named Viscountess Powerscourt found in the Treasury of David: “When anticipating the solemn hour of death, when the soul is ready to halt and ask, How shall it then be? can you turn in soul affection to your God and say, "There is nothing in death to harm me, while thy love is left to me"? Can you say, "O death, where is thy sting"? It is said, when a bee has left its sting in any one, it has no more power to hurt. Death has left its sting in the humanity of Christ, and has no more power to harm his child. Christ's victory over the grave is his people's. "At that moment I am with you," whispers Christ; "the same arm you have proved strong and faithful all the way up through the wilderness, which has never failed, though you have been often forced to lean on it all your weakness." "On this arm," answers the believer, "I feel at home; with soul confidence, I repose on my Beloved; for he has supported through so many difficulties, from the contemplation of which I shuddered. He has carried over so many depths, that I know his arm to be the arm of love." How can that be dark, in which God's child is to have the accomplishment of the longing desire of his life? How can it be dark to come in contact with the light of life?”
I am reminded of Peter’s example in Acts 12. King Herod had already killed James just so he could please the Jews who opposed the gospel. Now he imprisoned Peter and was planning to kill him as soon as Easter was finished. The night before Herod planned to kill him, Peter is still in prison. He is sleeping between two soldiers and bound with chains – not a comfortable position and truly not a comfortable situation knowing that the next day most likely execution was his lot. Yet we find him sleeping so deeply that even though a bright light shined in the prison the angel still had to smack him on his side to awaken him! You would have thought that the discomfort of a cold damp prison floor and most likely a sitting position to sleep, plus the chains and being cuffed to two soldiers would have made him sleep lightly so that the light in that dark room would surely have woken him quickly. But, no, Peter was sleeping deeply because the shadow of death had no effect upon him! So may we enter into those days that are stepping us into eternity!
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” At first glance it seems so foreboding, but it is the exact opposite. There is no better place than to walk with Jesus no matter where He leads for wherever He leads will be peaceful bliss if we but rest in Him.