I can walk this path, I can pass through this dark valley, if only my shepherd guides me, if only he leads the way. Yes, I can bear the loss of my son as long as I know the presence of my shepherd. I’d rather lose everything with my shepherd beside me than gain the whole world alone. I’d rather know the words to this one song than of all the great hymns of the Christian faith.
BEYOND THE SHADOW YOU SETTLE FOR TRIAL
I’d rather face my trial with David’s psalm in my heart than with Aaron’s staff in my hand, with Joshua’s army at my side, with Solomon’s gold in my pocket. I can follow him, knowing that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”Īnd I will follow him, singing this song in the darkness, meditating upon its truths with every step. He speaks to the darkness and declares, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” I can have in him all the confidence of a sheep in his shepherd. The way is uncharted to me but familiar to him, for he sees the end from the beginning, he has known from ancient times the things still undone. My shepherd has called me to walk a difficult path-a path of sorrow, a path of grief, a path stained by tears. They are never for a moment alone, for they are always following him. They enter the valley only because it is for their benefit, only because the shepherd is leading them to something better beyond. They are led there by their loving shepherd, they enter there only according to his good plan and perfect purpose. The sheep do not foolishly blunder into that valley, they are not led there by wily wolves or chased there by hungry bears. What comfort there is in the knowledge that the shepherd who tends his sheep by still waters is the very same shepherd who tends them in the valley of darkness. There again they will dwell in sweet peace. And there again they will settle together for rest and refreshment. And soon enough sheep and shepherd will emerge into the light on the far side of their darkness.
The shepherd who leads them in will lead them through and lead them out. When enemies approach he will ward them off with his rod, when sheep stumble he will lift them with his staff. Their fears are soothed by his strength, their uncertainty by his presence. So he calls his sheep to himself and begins to lead them into the darkness, to lead them along an unfamiliar path.Īnd here, on the edge of uncertainty, sheep says to shepherd, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” Though the shepherd must lead his sheep into the darkness, lead them through an unknown valley, they will go, for he is with them. Yet he also knows the way will be difficult, for these pastures and waters lie on the far side of a dark valley. And in such times the good shepherd knows just what to do, he knows he must lead his sheep to fresh pastures and to cool, still waters. The sheep can rest in peace under the shepherd’s watchful eye, they can be assured of every comfort under his tender care.īut sometimes fields go barren and springs run dry. When they are tired he will make them lie down in green pastures, when they are thirsty he will lead them beside still waters, when they are downtrodden he will restore them, when they are lost or uncertain he will lead them in the right paths. “The LORD is my shepherd” he says so simply, “I shall not want.” Because the LORD is his shepherd, this sheep can have confidence that he will never lack for any necessity, for the shepherd loves his flock and will faithfully attend to their every need. We weaken ourselves if we do not drink deeply of it in our deepest sorrows.ĭavid’s great psalm employs the simplest of images-that of a shepherd and his sheep-and assures of the greatest of truths-that God is forever present with his people. We impoverish ourselves if we do not read it, do not meditate upon it, and do not treasure it. To trade it for all the wealth of all the worlds would be the worst of bargains. I’d have rather penned the twenty-third psalm than written Hamlet, than painted Sunflowers, than sculpted The Thinker, for when Shakespeare’s play has been forgotten, when Van Gogh’s painting has faded, when Rodin’s sculpture has been destroyed, David’s song will remain. It tends to every kind of wound and ministers to every kind of sorrow. This psalm dries more crying eyes, raises more drooping hands, and strengthens more weakened knees than any man or angel. Sponsor Show Your Support Become a Patron
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