Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Reflection, Psalm 23:4

Yea, 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.
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1 comment:

DRL said...

This is my personal favorite verse of this chapter.

"Yea", simply means "yes", can also be translated, "even".
"though I walk through the valley of the 'shadow of death'".
"valley" is chosen because the sun doesn't shine but rather a shadow in over it, unlike the top of the ridge or mountain that makes the valley. It is many times the summit we strive for, but the valley is the journey.But the curious word is the one for "shadow of death". It can also be translated "Gate of death". This is something that we all face, and have known so many before us that have crossed through it. As Paul said, "Death, where is thy victory. Death, where is thy sting." (1 Corinthians 15:55). It takes great comfort to face death and not to fear it.
"I will fear no evil". Later Jesus says, "and fear not them that kill the body,...". This again goes to where being comforted even in the face of death is the best comfort of all. Family is extremely important when it comes to someones final days. We have all been there for someone.
"for thou [art] with me". The word 'art' is not in the Hebrew or Septuagint(Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (old testament) translated by 70 Rabi's somewhere between the 3rd and 1st century B.C.) translations. I believe it is inserted for the English grammar.
Anyway, this describes the reason for not fearing, so does the next part.
This next part goes back to the sheep on the shepherds shoulder, in the earlier verse.
"thy rod and thy staff they comfort me".
Get ready for this.
The rod can be translated two main ways. First, a Kings Scepter. I do not think it is this, because David (even though he was King) was referring to a Shepard. So, that leaves the second. It is a short blunt stick used for beating. It is not, in the case of a Shepard, used for discipline. It was used to steer the sheep. If you wanted them to go to the right, you would hit them on the left side. So, to a sheep, the rod was a painful way to know which way to go. Though it hurt, it took you where the Shepard knew was the right way. Away form danger, towards the green pasture or still waters.
The staff, we have all seen them. a long stick with a crook on the end. This was mainly used by the Shepard to get sheep out of danger. If a sheep was going to walk off a cliff, then the Shepard could have a longer reach to snag the sheep and pull it to safety. If it fell into the brier-patch, the Shepard could bring it out.
So with knowledge of painful direction and a safety form painful direction, we can travel through the toughest of times and places. Sure, we will hurt, fear, worry, fail, and anything else you can through into the stew of life, there is comfort in knowing the Shepard is with us.
Please use this for what ever Shepard you use. Regardless of spiritual journeys, we all need a Shepard. Look to him.

March 25, 2009 at 3:58 PM

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