The Shadow of Death: Poetry of Life

The Valley of the Shadow of Death, is a place that many people often times refer to as a hard time in their life, but is this really what it means.

I was reading A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller and he talks about how life is poetry in Gods sight, and this thought is compelling. When we look at the Psalms this is what we see, we see people pouring their hearts out in poetry in how God is revealing himself in ones life, or how God is being called out to for help.

When we see the sunrise this is poetry in vision. Poetry doesn’t have to be about words, but action and the beauty that surrounds you. As we look at Psalms, I want to point out Psalm 23:4,

“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.”

What is the valley of the shadow of death? I would argue that it is the world. First I want to say that I am not someone who thinks that if you are happy you are sinning (there are people like this), but I would say that as long as we live on this sinful earth we can never truly ever be out of the valley of death. Those who live in the world never see the darkness that they live in, the walls of sin and death are as high as the skyscrapers that we build, we can drown in our own sin and wouldn’t even know it.

The good news is, the Gospel is alive! Look at what Luke writes,

“to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
            to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79

Jesus is the light that shines through the valley and allows us to feel the warmth of him, not matter how high the valley may be this light is strong enough – bright enough to reach us in the valley of death.

Christ came so that we may one day be out of the valley. I don’t not think that we are instantly pulled out of the valley, if we were we would instantly be perfect and we wouldn’t sin anymore. The valley is a place where promises are broken (Psalm 107:14), jackals surround us (Psalm 44:19) and where we are prisoners of affliction (Psalm 107:10). This is where we live today, a place that has sin and evil surrounding us.

We must continue to walk through this valley and hold fast to the Lord, this is our journey in the desert until we meet our Lord face to Face! I feel that often times we look at accepting Christ as something where all bad is taken away and we are finally through the hard part, but this is a lie! Satan wants us to think this so that when we do struggle, when that valley is dry and difficult, we will turn back to our old ways because we feel lonely. Let us remember that the Light of the Lord will shine down into any depth to care for a loved one. Hold onto the promise in Job, “He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light.” (Job 12:22)

Prayer:

Lord thank you for you light! Thank you for allowing it to shine down upon us and give us comfort in our lives, and to be there as a reminder at all times. Let us not forget what your son has done for us. Lord we cannot shine unless you shine upon us, please shine on us so that we can care for others. Give us a heart to reach out to those in the deepest of the deep in the valley – let the light that directs us help them find the light. Amen.