A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver – Proverbs 25v11
As we continue our meditation in Psalm 23, verse 4 reads: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”. Although valleys are fertile and often have life giving streams running along them, they are also dangerous places for sheep as wild animals hide in the hills above from where they are waiting to ambush and attack. Yet David confidently maintains that he will not fear evil – why? Because his shepherd has his rod and staff with him all the time. To us they may seem rather inadequate weapons, but they are all a competent and brave shepherd needs to protect his sheep. The rod was a sturdy wooden stick which was used to fight off the wild animals as David recounted to King Saul in 1 Samuel 17v34: “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it”. The rod was also used by the shepherd to count his sheep to make sure none were lost. The analogy therefore is that we don’t have to worry and live in fear because the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, protects us as He promises in John 16v33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Friends, we have a peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4v7) whatever our circumstances because we have a Good Shepherd watching over us. The shepherd also has a staff with a hook at the end so if a sheep wandered off and got trapped, he was able to retrieve it to safety by looping it around its’ neck. David feared no evil because he knew that the Good Shepherd was continually protecting, directing his walk and rescuing him should he wander and get entangled by sin. Sheep are always looking to the shepherd who they trust implicitly and that is how we must live – trusting Him and obeying His commands. We all want to live on mountain tops, but life also has its dark valleys, but take heart and believe that your shepherd is Good and will never leave or forsake you. All we need to do is to trust, obey and follow Jesus Christ and the dark valleys will not be frightening, but become places of victory.
God Bless
Graeme Greenwood