I Will Fear No Evil
I Will Fear No Evil
#1: The Valley is Inevitable
Dear friend, do you see what David says here? He says, ‘Even though,’ rather than ‘Even if.’
This tells us what David knew very well: that valley seasons - seasons of darkness, trials, and of facing evil - are unavoidable and inevitable. They don’t only happen to certain people for certain reasons. They happen to us all.
So, what can we expect from these seasons?
#2: The Valley is Not Our Dwelling Place
Firstly, though valley seasons are inevitable, they are not permanent. Hallelujah!
David says, ‘Even though I walk through the valley”. There’s movement and transition. Dear friend, we are not meant to dwell in the valley of the shadow of death - we are to walk through it.
#3: The Valley is Not Death Itself
Secondly, although the valley may look and reek and feel like death, it is not death itself.
Although we may be facing the toughest trial and the most sinister evil ever, and although death casts its cruel and dark outline over us, David assures us that this valley is merely the shadow of death.
When we read this passage in light of our Great Shepherd, Jesus, we realise that death has lost its sting! Now, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, only death’s shadow is present.
Charles Spurgeon spoke these comforting words, “Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains…. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us.”
#4: Our Companion in the Valley
In the face of great evil and suffering, it is natural for us to fear. But here, David’s words offer us peace:
‘I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’We need not fear, because our companion in the valley is our very great Shepherd.Though He may not remove the evil itself, He will remove the fear of evil.
David Guzik writes, ‘Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil.’
And look how close He is to us: David changes from speaking in the third person to speaking in the second… from ‘He’ to ‘You’. He speaks directly to the Shepherd, and reminds his heart that His Shepherd is indeed always with him, just as He is with you, beloved.
May God your Shepherd make His presence so real to you today and displace all fear.
Prayer:
Good Shepherd,
Thank You for being my ever-present companion in the valley. I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
In every valley, in every trial, and in every dark association I find myself in, remind me that You are there. I will choose to remember Your Word - that the valley is not permanent, that You have already conquered death, and that Your presence will dispel all fear.
Thank You, Good Shepherd. I love You.
In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/psa.23.4.HCSB
#1: The Valley is Inevitable
Dear friend, do you see what David says here? He says, ‘Even though,’ rather than ‘Even if.’
This tells us what David knew very well: that valley seasons - seasons of darkness, trials, and of facing evil - are unavoidable and inevitable. They don’t only happen to certain people for certain reasons. They happen to us all.
So, what can we expect from these seasons?
#2: The Valley is Not Our Dwelling Place
Firstly, though valley seasons are inevitable, they are not permanent. Hallelujah!
David says, ‘Even though I walk through the valley”. There’s movement and transition. Dear friend, we are not meant to dwell in the valley of the shadow of death - we are to walk through it.
#3: The Valley is Not Death Itself
Secondly, although the valley may look and reek and feel like death, it is not death itself.
Although we may be facing the toughest trial and the most sinister evil ever, and although death casts its cruel and dark outline over us, David assures us that this valley is merely the shadow of death.
When we read this passage in light of our Great Shepherd, Jesus, we realise that death has lost its sting! Now, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, only death’s shadow is present.
Charles Spurgeon spoke these comforting words, “Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains…. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us.”
#4: Our Companion in the Valley
In the face of great evil and suffering, it is natural for us to fear. But here, David’s words offer us peace:
‘I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’We need not fear, because our companion in the valley is our very great Shepherd.Though He may not remove the evil itself, He will remove the fear of evil.
David Guzik writes, ‘Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil.’
And look how close He is to us: David changes from speaking in the third person to speaking in the second… from ‘He’ to ‘You’. He speaks directly to the Shepherd, and reminds his heart that His Shepherd is indeed always with him, just as He is with you, beloved.
May God your Shepherd make His presence so real to you today and displace all fear.
Prayer:
Good Shepherd,
Thank You for being my ever-present companion in the valley. I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
In every valley, in every trial, and in every dark association I find myself in, remind me that You are there. I will choose to remember Your Word - that the valley is not permanent, that You have already conquered death, and that Your presence will dispel all fear.
Thank You, Good Shepherd. I love You.
In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
“Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff — they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4 HCSB
https://bible.com/bible/72/psa.23.4.HCSB