The Valley of Death Psalms 23:4

Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.


Every year at the end of the spring, David would take his sheep from their home to the top of the mountain to the cooler plateaus where they would graze during the hot dry summer. Then when fall came, they would make their way back down the mountain to their home where they would weather the winter. This trip up the mountain would take place in the valleys. It was in the valleys that food and water would be plenteous.

The only way to get to higher ground was to climb up through the valleys. Sometimes the valleys would present danger. Storms would build up on the other side of the mountain and then boil over the top of the mountain and into the valley with no warning. Rock slides and mudslides were constant dangers that the shepherd had to try to guard against. Predators such as coyotes and wolves and wild dogs would hide in the rocks and attack the sheep. There was no other way to get to higher ground. This was the only way.

David knew this and as he looked at his life he knew that to get to higher ground with the Lord he had to pass through the valleys himself. He knew that he had to go that way if he was going to get to the place that God wanted him to get to. However, he also knew that it was in the valley that God would water him and feed him and sustain him!

David speaks of this valley as "the valley of the shadow of death". We need to remember that a valley is not a dead end! There is an exit out of the valley! For the Christian, this valley is a journey to higher ground, which is eternity and it is a valley that we will not go through alone! David says, "I will not fear any evil for Thou art with me."

The Bible does not tell us a lot about what we can expect at death. However, one truth runs consistent and that is God will be right there with us. When a Christian leaves this life, he will be with the Lord! Jesus told the thief on the cross "today you shall be with me in paradise." As long as I am with Jesus, I don't care where I am!

As God's children, we do not have to fear the shadow of death for Christ has overcome death and the grave! Death is but a shadow that we have to pass through for death has been defeated for the Christian! Because He lives, we can indeed face tomorrow no matter what it may bring!