The Valley

My morning reading took me through Psalm 23, an oft read and often quoted passage of Scripture that we generally fail to consider one very critical point: Why are the sheep and the Shepherd in the Valley of The Shadow of Death?  Why wouldn't the Shepherd simply guide the sheep elsewhere?  Why let the sheep pass through such a place?

The illustration comes from the fact that, in Palestine, green grass and abundant water does not exist every where - shepherds have to herd their flocks to those places, often on the other side of steep and treacherous valleys.  To stay on this side of the valley was simply not an option.

In Hebrews 9:27, we read, "people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment."  Again, there is no option.  And, as the writer of the Book of Hebrews warns, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (10:31).  Except for the fact that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and "The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (Jn 10:11).

Jesus went to the cross so that "whoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jn 3:16) and so the Valley of The Shadow of Death is not a fearful place for His followers as He is with us and he protects us by the power of his blood.

Like the sheep of Palestine, we need to pass through this dark valley in order to reach the land where the green grass, the quiet waters - the House of The Lord exists.  But we need fear no evil, no sting of death for, as Christians, we are safely escorted by the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  Jus' Say'n.