Psalm 23 is probably one of the most quoted psalm of all the psalms. This psalm has only six verses and is short and simple. Although it is brief, it is powerful and comforting. It is a list of some of God's promises to those who know Him as their Shepherd.
David is the writer of this psalm, as he describes to us the character of the Lord and the care He has for His children. King David never forgot from whence he came, and he remembered that he was once a shepherd boy in his father's field. He fully understood the hardships of life. Life had beaten him down. Life had battered him. Life had baffled him. He knew all about depravation and hardships. He had been tried and tested.
David begins this psalm by first acknowledging the Lord, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." He ends it with, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell I the house of the LORD for ever."
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). Sheep will follow their own shepherd. That is the way you can tell who the sheep belongs to. A shepherd will do anything to protect its sheep.
On this note, allow me to move to verse four, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." Yea, is an old way of saying yes. It's especially used as a way of voting yes (yay or yea), the opposite of voting nay (no). Yea though, the valley; yea though, shadow of death; yea though, fear no evil; yea though, thy rod and thy staff; and yea though, thy comfort me.
As soon as we are born, we begin to die. We all live in Death's valley. All of us walk in the shadow of death. But while we are walking through the valley, we are assured that we should fear not evil. David had his share of valley experiences, thou "the shadow of death" was all around him, he trusted the Lord for his safety. We should too.
Like David, I am convinced we all have had our share of valley experiences. Every mountain has a valley and the best route out of the valley, many times are along the rough side. Although while traveling on the rough side, we may become fearful and weary, but we are the testimonies that the Lord protected us, though the "shadow of death" was all around us.
This psalm is an affirmation of faith. "Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death." Why do we walk through the valley of the shadow of death? Because God doesn't want us to think that the Christian faith walk is easy and without its challenges. The Bible clearly tells us, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trails of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothings" (James 1:2-4). God deals in the real. REALITY. The reality is that this life we live while on earth, will be hard. We can't always be on the mountaintop. Life is also full of valleys.
So the next time you find yourself in the valley, please remember you are never alone and you should "fear no evil." God tells us that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Our experiences in life is no secret to Him. He allows us to have the valley experiences. These experiences are the cornerstone of our Christian growth.
Jesus assures us of a victorious life, whether we live or die. Every mountain points downward to a valley and every valley ascends to a mountain. God always work all things for our good, as we look forward to one day dwelling in the house of the Lord, in heaven forever.