The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Many people consider the 23rd Psalms to be a Sunday School verse for children to learn, others think that it is a verse to be quoted at funerals.  But I submit to you that the 23rd Psalms is a scripture related to the Good Shepherd, Jesus, developing in us the character and nature of God.  The image of Jesus as a shepherd is an appropriate one.  You see, the shepherd is the sheep's protector, his provider, his comfort and Jesus is all these things to us.  I believe that in this Psalm, David wanted us to reflect upon WHO Christ is in our lives at all times, even in the difficult places.  Psalm 23:1-3 reads: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."(ESV).  These verses allow us to see Jesus as our comforter, and protector.  He leads us to places of rich provision and calm in our lives.  He guides us along right paths so that our lives bring glory and honor to Him.  All of this sounds absolutely wonderful until we run smack into verse four:  "Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." Huh?  VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH! What happened to the green pastures and the calm waters?  Where's that right path?  Well, what I believe is that the "path of righteousness" takes us into "the valley of the shadow of death."  I know what you're probably thinking, "wait a minute Evangelist, that's a little far fetched."  Just think about David's words for a moment, "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."  I believe that these two verses are tied together and that the path of righteousness will of necessity lead us through the valley of the shadow of death.  You see, when we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we receive eternal life, but there are things from our old life, our old nature that we still carry and that can hinder us from becoming all that Christ wants us to be.  It is in the valley of the shadow of death that our old man, that old nature dies.  The valley of the shadow of death is not about physical death, but the death process for our old nature.  Remember a few weeks ago I wrote about the caterpillar.  Well, in a similar sense, the valley of the shadow of death is our cocoon.  It is the place where we come face to face with those things in our lives that do not glorify God and it is there that we must willingly surrender them.  David goes on in the verse to explain why we should not fear 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." When Christ leads us into that place where He exposes the things in our lives that must die in order for us to become all that He wants us to be, we don't have to be afraid of any evil that might try to attack us in this vulnerable place, where we are being exposed at our deepest levels because He is there with us.  Not only is He there with us, but He has His rod and His staff to protect us from the evil one and to correct us and keep us on the path of righteousness.  How are we to approach our valley of the shadow of death?  We find our answer in Hebrews 12:12, "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (ESV).  When we are going through the valley of the shadow of death, we should look to Jesus as our example, and endure the dying process because in the end it is going to produce righteousness that glorifies God and allow us to share His throne with Him.  So today, dearly loved ones, Praise God for the path of righteousness that leads us through the valley of the shadow of death!