The Valley of the Shadow of Death by Bryan Craig
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 ESV
Last week, I wrote about my experience at my first Influencers Journey Prayer Retreat and how the Lord took me through the 23rd Psalm, literally. If you are interested in reading it, here’s the link Slow Down, Lie Down. Well, interestingly enough, a few days later at church, the pastor, who happened to go through one of my Journey groups a few years ago, was preaching on the 23rd Psalm for the first time in his 40 years of ministry. Why did I feel like this was all orchestrated for me?
The pastor talked about how David likely wrote the 23rd Psalm at the end of his life, and he made the point that David wrote about what He knew about the Great Shepherd. He knew it deeply. The part that struck me was the part about “The valley of the shadow of death.” He talked about the moment in David’s life when he was on the run from King Saul, fearing for his life.
I remembered reading about this season in David’s life, in particular when he was hiding out in the Cave of Adullam:
David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 ESV
Here is David, the one anointed to be king, the Giant Killer, the man after God’s own heart, the warrior…feeling weak and afraid and like an outcast. At one time, he knew he was anointed for great things and he was strong and confident. And yet, 400 men joined him, even in his season of struggling. It says all these men were struggling… in distress, in debt, bitter in soul.
Why does scripture record this? I think it’s a reminder that most of us find ourselves, at some time or another, feeling unworthy, beaten up, discarded. They were a rag tag group of men, just like the group Jesus gathered 1000 years later. They gathered around their leader, a man who was just like them. He was broken, but he was faithful.
I’ve been doing men’s ministry for 30 years, and I’ve met many men who are in distress, in debt or bitter in soul. I’ve been this man many times. Maybe you are reading this, and you are in this season. And I don’t think this is limited to men, by the way.
Could this season be described as “The Valley of the Shadow of Death?” For some, you may be facing death, either by age or due to some illness. For others, it is your critical hour when you are being pressed to the end of yourself. This may be the time when the Lord is trying to help you “die to yourself.” There are many verses about this. Here’s a few:
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Romans 6:8
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. Mark 8:35
If we want to abide with Christ, to really know Him and identify with Him, we will have to identify with His death. It will feel like a valley.
I’ve recently been through one of those valleys. I see God helping me put to death some old perspectives, some old fears, some old habits. I see myself emerging from the valley, coming out of the cave, coming out of the grave with a resurrected life of following Christ wherever He wants to take me. It is a life of freedom, anointing, courage and strength.
Some of these men burdened men that followed David went on to become mighty warriors. Some of them went down in history, being called “David’s Mighty Men.”
So, if you find yourself in distress, in debt, bitter in soul, or in your own Valley… take heart! You have a leader who understands, who has been there.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
We may feel beat up, discarded, afraid, but if we cling to Jesus and stick with Him, one day, we, like David will look back and remember how He delivered us from the Valley of the Shadow of Death and made us into a mighty man or woman of God.