“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4
Spiritual Thought
Psalm 23 is a very popular psalm and is usually the first that children learn to recite and new believers for that matter. So much so that many forget the relevance of this psalm and misunderstand its message. This psalm is a song of a man that has eaten of the fruits that come from intimacy with God.
He is not in denial of the curveballs that life has to throw or the dark and lonely roads that he may have to pass through, but He knows that he has God, and thus, he has no reason to fear the evils of life.
This is one of King David’s psalms, who had the experience of being a shepherd and leading his flock through varying terrains in search of pasture and water. Hence, when he describes God as a shepherd, he recalls from experience that the shepherd leads and protects the sheep, such that even when they had to walk through difficult roads, the sheep had the comfort of their shepherd’s presence.
In the New Testament, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd that lays down His life for the sheep. There is comfort in the knowledge that with the rod (symbol of correction) and the staff (symbol of protection), our Good Shepherd always leads us and is forever beside us.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I know that You are my protector. You go with me every step of the way, and I will not be troubled when I go through dark times because I know You will deliver me. Please bring me deliverance from all my troubles today in Jesus’ name!
