Where the path leads out of the valley of the shadow of death.

I recently saw a quote by an unnamed author. I have to be honest - it struck a chord in my heart. I'm still thinking about it. The quote sounds like an aphorism:

Don't be in a hurry to change your horseshoes! Maybe the clink of your horse’s hoofs warms someone's soul.

Of course, the main idea expressed in this phrase is visible to the naked eye. Stay yourself. Whether to remain yourself or still strive for some changes is a philosophical and ambiguous question. Everyone answers it himself and answers it as he knows how.

But here is what is interesting. When I read Psalm 23 of David, one of the most famous Psalms, I have a strong conviction that David's royal position had little effect on the organization of his thought processes. At heart, he was still the same mischievous shepherd who sang songs to the sheep, fought bears, chased lions, and protected the flock from wolves. He knew very well the life and work of a shepherd. Therefore, whenever the time of trial came, he, already a king, called out to God and comforted himself with images from the shepherd's life.

I have never had to herd either sheep or cows, I have never had such experiences in my life. Therefore, I can talk about all the wisdom and intricacies of this profession only hypothetically, and quite possibly, that my thoughts aren’t objective. But it seems to me that even such meager knowledge in this field is enough to draw a conclusion: a shepherd does not have the task of entertaining sheep. All those musical miniatures and complex arias, poetry recitations, and inspired songs - David gave them to the sheep as a bonus, not because the sheep were in dire need of them.

What they needed was someone to bring them to the green pastures and to the watering in time, to count them, and to make sure none were missing. And here's the interesting thing.

The basic needs of humans are not much different from the basic needs of sheep.

Listen to how David describes it:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, here we can see the two most important, basic human needs: physical needs (to eat, drink, and sleep) and safety (as the phrase says: still waters).

But the Psalmist goes further: the Lord cares for the soul. If the soul of a sheep receives the most blessed tranquility just because of eating, sleeping, and frolicking under protection, the soul of man longs for more. And God gives it. Davis says: He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

But the next thing that can be a source of very serious anxiety for the sheep as well as for any human being is the need to go through dangerous places, where there are many unknown, unexpected, and frightening things.

David says about this: though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;

The valley of the shadow of death can be entered for several reasons:

1. Because it's on the way to the green pastures. There's no way around it. You can, of course, not move or even look in that direction. But in that case, you will have to settle for only small crumbs of prosperity, and maybe even face serious hunger. Therefore, one must go.
   

There are such moments in a person's life. This valley of the shadow of death appears to us in the form of illnesses, the need to undergo a difficult surgery or serious changes in life, like a change of residence, change of profession, etc.

1. This valley can be specially organized by all sorts of enemies and foes. You weren't looking for it. You were trying to avoid it. But their traps and snares have caught up with you. And you have no other choice but to pass this valley and bear all its hardships.
   

It might occur, something can be stolen from you. One can destroy your house, cause physical harm, insult you morally, turn people against you, slander your good name. Going through this valley of the shadow of death is much more difficult than the first option we talked about. There, you make a conscious decision. You step into the darkness of the path, you are afraid, looking around, but you do it of your own free will. When this kind of valley is organized for you by others, it usually meets you with unexpectedness, meanness, the heaviest emotional shock and many mental traumas. Unfortunately, such a valley is sometimes inevitable too. Because there is enough evil in this world and it is developing.

1. We get into this valley because of our own stupidity or selfish, unrestrained character. There was no need to go through this valley. No one forces a sheep to break away from the flock and go somewhere to walk through unknown places. It is a very easy way to find the valley of the shadow of death.
   

And here is the whole set of crazy deeds, that plunge a person into the path of suffering. People can ruin the family just because they didn’t get along and don't even think about how it can traumatize their child. Wanting to get rich quick, you got involved in some dubious scams and lose property. In search of thrills, someone dived into an unknown place and broke their neck. The list could be endless.

Well, there's another reason why we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death:

1.  We're being led through it by a Shepherd. He knows the route. He knows why we have to go this way. Where we'll end up, and with what baggage.
   

That’s why it may happen that at the very beginning of the journey through difficulties and challenges, we find it difficult to understand why this is happening to us.

But here's the remarkable thing. For whatever reason, we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, David says, the Shepherd is with me. Now here's a very important point: Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

The rod and the staff are basically very similar items, but they are of different lengths and constructions. The staff is more suitable for helping a sheep. The rod is more suitable for defense, for repelling an attack. Therefore, a king has in his hands a scepter that looks like a rod, and a shepherd has in his hands a staff. And the Shepherd, whom David praises, has both a rod and a staff.

If you enter the valley of the shadow of death, you should expect to be touched by the Good Shepherd.

Eventually, the Shepherd will prepare a meal for us. Not just in a quiet corner somewhere, but in full view of all the enemies. In another Psalm, David conveys the same thing in different words. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light. Everyone will know that you will walk through this valley and be able to endure because the Shepherd is near.

Ultimately, our Shepherd has a much higher aim. Not just to lead the sheep to a place of rest or lodging. He has the noble purpose of leading us to eternity. So throughout His leading, throughout the paths He offers us, He "leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." He leads us to do what makes us more like Him. Sometimes that means learning to rest in the green pastures. Other times, it means the satisfaction of being with Him beside the still waters. And sometimes it means following Him into the darkness. But on all these varied paths, the underlying principles are our everlasting wealth, His glory, and our likeness to the Shepherd.

So. The main point of Psalm 23 is to affirm that the Lord is a shepherd who cares for us, provides for us, protects us from evil, and accompanies us with goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. And ultimately, the book of Revelation affirmatively states that we will be able to pass through all the valleys of the shadow of death, even death itself.

Revelation 21:4 tells us, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

That is an awesome hope. And may it guide you through life. May your days be blessed.