07/09/2022
I was speaking with a good friend yesterday about a place known to all who even casually read scripture, “The Valley of the Shadow of Death”, and he mentioned that as he toured Jerusalem that this was presented as a real place, The Kidron Valley. We quote this phrase when we are facing terrible situations in which we might truly die, and we have also affixed many figurative meanings to it as well, but when David was writing this psalm (23rd Psalm) he might, quite literally, have been writing about this very real valley; an evil place of deep darkness where children were sacrificed to Baal. Are we facing a place of evil in our lives today? Are we at the entrance to a very real valley of deep darkness in our lives, a place where death awaits, or are we walking through a more figurative place, such as a season of darkness and evil?
“Even though I walk through 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.”
Psalm 23:4 ESV
Many Bible scholars believe that the actual Hebrew word used by David was “salmawet”, which means deep darkness, and that in later translations it was divided into two words. The first being “sel” which means shadow, and the second word “mawet” which means death. But whichever of these translations is actually correct, the truth, and hope, is the same… God is with us, and He comforts us.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV
Our lives are filled with dark times, and we also face death personally, and through the lives of others, as we make our way through the valley. Believing that the Valley of Death is a real place might give us the impression that we are be able to avoid it by taking a route which circumvents it. If there is only one such valley, and it is just outside the walls of Jerusalem, then surely we should be able to walk around it without passing through it… or can we?
“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Revelation 20:6 ESV
We all face the first death which is a physical death, and except on rare biblical occasion it is unavoidable, but the second death is one that can be avoided if we will believe in Jesus Christ, and our names recorded in the Lamb’s book of life.
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:14-15 ESV
So we have a real, and a figurative translation of David’s 23rd psalm. One Valley we can see with our eyes, and touch with our hands, while the other we feel in our soul, and is spiritual in nature. Perhaps it takes both interpretations to serve us completely. We need to believe in both the physical sense with our minds, and in a spiritual way within our souls. We need to walk through the periods of deep spiritual darkness, and face the reality of death. Isn’t this what the Apostle Thomas faced, and wasn’t this how Jesus presented Himself to him?
“So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.””
John 20:25-27 ESV
Then Thomas touched him physically, and believed faithfully…
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””
John 20:28-29 ESV
In the opening paragraph I asked if we were facing a real, or a figurative valley right now. I asked if we were facing the real prospect of imminent death, or a season of darkness. Whichever it is, this passage of scripture should be of great comfort us, and give us hope. Unlike many scriptures it is not prophetic, but written in the present tense. This psalm, and this verse is not dealing with what is past, or yet to come, but what we are facing and feeling RIGHT NOW! God is with us NOW, and we are being comforted AT THIS VERY MOMENT. The decision we must make is before us presently; it is whether or not we will accept Him, and the comfort He is extending to us… now!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being with us always, but especially right now. We thank you for walking with us through our darkest times, and also as we fearfully face death. We thank you for allowing us to feel you in our very soul, and to see the evidence of you in the Kidron Valley as we reach out our hand and touch you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us now, and always. Praised be your name for every moment of comfort we receive from your rod and your staff. Merciful are you who touches us body and soul, as we traverse the hard times, the places of deep spiritual darkness, and the very real deaths in our lives. Our faith in Jesus sustains us , and your grace is sufficient for every one of us. In Christ we have all, and want for nothing. Wash us with His blood, and replace our sin with His righteousness. Judge us, not for who we once were, but for who we are now in Jesus. Pronounce us worthy Father, and seat us at your table forevermore! Dry every tear, and seal the Valley of Deep Darkness, and the Valley of the Shadow of Death, for all eternity.
Rich Forbes