The Shepherd's Psalm (Pt. 3)

 

Even 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 ESV).

 

Continuing in our look in the Shepherd’s Psalm we come to the fourth verse, which is our reading today. It is unusual for me to use just one verse as the basis for the devotional; however, this verse is so full of encouragement and meaning we must not rush through it simply to “finish” the psalm. Of course the ultimate enemy in our lives is the certainty of death. We don’t like to talk about it often, much less think about it. It is as if we simply ignore the steady decline of our bodies that will somehow stall the final act of these present bodies.

 

Even when loved ones and dear friends die, we somehow manage to deflect our own personal fear and anxiety about that moment. However, the truth remains. We will all face this inevitability unless Jesus comes before our passing. So the great question is what our assurance is as we face the inescapable. David answers in our psalm… it is Jesus, our ever present Good Shepherd. He will walk us through, guiding, protecting, and comforting us in our journey. And, as the children of God, this promise is merely intensified because of the grace extended to us in Jesus. He has already taken that walk ahead of us so that our walk through death’s valley doesn’t end in death, but in glory.

 

David goes on to declare two other incredible truths. First, he says, “I will fear no evil.” It is reminiscent of the Apostle Paul’s last verses in the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans:

 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37 ESV).

 

We could spend days unpacking and pondering this declaration. Suffice it to say the apostle sees us as much more the mere sheep. We are conquerors! I know that in the midst of the difficulties of our journeys we often don’t feel like the victors; however, we are. We have been so declared by the work of Christ, who has already won the final battle of life over death.