"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Psalms 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:”
Even in the worst times of my life, the LORD will not forget about me. He is always near. He is Jehovah-Raah, “the LORD is my Shepherd.” When my pathway leads me through the darkest valley, my Shepherd is there to comfort me. He is leading and guiding me through that night. Even though there are dark and dismal dangers all around me, my path is safe, for my Shepherd is leading me through the valley.
“And, then, it is not ‘the valley of death,’ but ‘the valley of the shadow of death,’ for death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Some one has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is. Death stands by the side of the highway in which we have to travel, and the light of heaven shining upon him throws a shadow across our path; let us then rejoice that there is a light beyond. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment,”2 (Spurgeon).
I will fear no evil!
“For thou art with me;”
He is Jehovah-Shammah, “the LORD is there.” He is always present. With Jesus, my good Shepherd near me meeting my needs, I cannot fear.
Companionship is important for humans. We all need people in our lives. One of the dreads of dying for many people is loneliness in passing away alone. But David had it right, there is no loneliness in death with the LORD. He is there! He is with His child. His presence leaves the believer with nothing to fear. The words of our Lord are very dear to us, “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” (Hebrews 13:5c).
“Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
The tools of the shepherd bring comfort to the sheep. The “rod,” his club that he uses to fight off the dangers to the sheep. He defends his sheep with his very life. His “staff” is his “crook” that he uses to care for and even rescue his sheep when they might stray. The “rod” is for the sheep’s enemies, and the “staff” is for the needs of the sheep. They are both for the comfort of the sheep.
Believers, what is there for us to fear with the LORD by us? Indeed not death, nor any other enemies of the sheep. Who can harm us with the LORD near us? No one!
1. C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.