Intimacy in the Valley

Most funerals include at least a reading of Psalm 23.  At these times there is often a focus on the one stanza in the song: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me . . .." But prior to those words we read about how good life was for the author.  In fact we are somewhat envious.  He testifies to not wanting, to enjoying green pastures, living beside still waters, sensing a restored soul and living in paths of righteousness.  But suddenly the tranquility and the peace is broken with this words: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . ..

Some of us can relate to that.  We move along through life and suddenly the still waters turn into stormy seas. We get that unexpected call; that unexpected circumstance.  But in the big picture, what we just read in Psalm 23 was a common occurrence in the life of mid-eastern sheep and shepherds.  In the summer the good shepherd had to move his sheep to higher ground – to greener pastures.  But the route there as hard and dangerous.  They had to cross raging rivers, encounter poisonous plants, unexpected storms and wild animals.

But something was different about living in the winter plains and moving to the summer grazing in the hills.  The difference was the presence of the shepherd.  In the safe plains the shepherd didn't need to be beside the sheep all the time.  But in the trek up to the hills, the one thing the sheep could count on was the ever-present, ever-vigilant shepherd who had his rod and his staff for care and protection.

We speak rather romantically about "mountain-top experiences" – but the reality is that every mountain has its valleys, its ravines, its dangers.  The encouragement from the Psalmist is that it is in this very context that the intimacy with the shepherd is felt the deepest.  The Good Shepherd takes His sheep there because that is where the best food is.  That's where the best water and best nourishment is.

To anyone going through difficult seasons of life, scary days, threatening days – the answer is found in the opening sentence of this Psalm.  David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd . . .."  That is the key to comfort, hope and peace today.  Is the Lord YOUR Shepherd?  Can we say with the psalmwriter:

“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3, NIV)