My Shepherd

Psalm 23:4 NIV: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

My grandmother had me memorize the 23rd Psalm as a child for the incentive of one dollar, so it holds a special place in my heart. This verse comes to mind most frequently of all the phrases in this beautiful psalm.

The darkest valley mentioned here is translated in the KJV as “Valley of the Shadow of Death.” The Hebrew word tsalmaveth combines the two words shadow and death and is used frequently in the Book of Job.

In Job 16:16, dark shadows ring his eyes after he cries, and in Job 24:17, fear is mentioned, as the word is translated into terrors of darkness. From these references, we can understand what kind of valley this is—the darkest emotional place we can imagine—either in terror or sadness. Think as black and as bleak as possible.

The problem is this dark valley is more than a possibility in life; it is guaranteed. The psalmist says, “Even though” or “when” you hit this time of life, fear no evil. A better way to say this is don’t fear the calamity, injury, or potential pain lurking in dark times.

How is that even feasible? Simple. The Shepherd is there. This verse explicitly mentions the shepherd’s two tools: the rod and the staff. Despite what seems like redundancy, these objects have distinct purposes. The rod is more like a club; it is short and bulky and used to fend off predators. The staff, in contrast, is not used as a weapon, as it is too flimsy, but is used for correction, to gently guide a sheep back to the herd, or to rescue a sheep from an entanglement.

The profound truth in this verse is that Christ, our shepherd, is present not just to protect us from outside forces but also to rescue and gently correct our path at times.

If you notice, this art piece isn’t just about the shepherd but also about a promise for us. The 23rd Psalm starts with “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul;” (Vs 2-3).

If you study sheep (because don’t we all love sheep?), you know the only way you can make a sheep lie down is when two necessities are met: They must feel safe and must be full. It is the shepherd’s duty to provide safety and a place for nourishment, but it’s up to us to “feed” on the proper sustenance.

That’s why it’s so important to be under the care of the Good Shepherd. You can’t do it alone! He will get you through the valley of the shadow of death and provide a place to be nourished and rest.