Yea, 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)
Several decades ago, I made my first visit to the Holy Land. One of the many interesting sights we visited was a secluded valley in the Judean wilderness identified on maps as Wadi Qelt; our guide referred to as the Valley of the Shadows. The name is derived from the fact that this canyon is steep, deep, narrow and, consequently, remains in constant shadows. In fact, the only time the canyon floor receives direct sunlight is when the sun is overhead at high noon. Other than this brief period, the bottom of the valley remains darkened by the shadows of the canyon walls.
It is also noteworthy that this valley is situated along the road that leads from Jericho to Jerusalem which, you may recall, is where the story of the Good Samaritan took place. In other words, this valley is situated in a remote and potentially dangerous area, especially for someone who traveled alone, whether a Samaritan or a young shepherd leading his flock to pasture. Considering that Bethlehem is situated close to this valley, it is very possible, if not likely, that David would have led his sheep through this valley at some point. And so, is this the place David had in mind?
It may be that David had no particular place in mind when he composed this verse; it could be that he simply spoke metaphorically of circumstances that cause all of us, at some point in our lives, to feel as if we are walking through such a foreboding place. We can see the world around us but things can be obscured in the shadows. Still, if the LORD is our Shepherd, we should not fear what the world can do to us. We must keep following His lead and He will cause His light to shine upon our path if but for that brief moment. Nevertheless, it will be just what we need to encourage us to keep going because He is with us. As it is written, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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