Valley

Psalm 23 (KJV)

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴Yea, 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.

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 is the Gettysburg Address of scripture.

Well, actually I guess we should say that the Gettysburg Address was the Psalm 23 of political speeches.

So short, and so sweet, and so to the point. And, what a point it makes.

God is always with us.

He is our shepherd, tending us, protecting us, providing pastures in which we can be sustained.

This psalm has comforted millions and millions of people for thousands of years.

This is true, even though it doesn't say, "yea, he taketh me around the valley of the shadow of death, so that I do not set foot within it."

It says we go through. Through. Not around.

The Bible is such a wonderful reminder that God goes with us through it all, not around it.

Holly and I got to see that valley in person a couple of years ago.

We stood at a high outcropping of limestone above the Negev desert, outside of Jericho. Looking toward Jerusalem, we saw the scene, and the tiny path through that wilderness below. Today's picture is one that we took in that place.

There's so much more to say, but the Psalm says it all. Whatever you face today, you do not face it alone.

Grace & Peace,

Adam