The LORD is my shepherd
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.—PSALM 23
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Sheep need to be fed. They need still water because they can’t drink rushing water. They need to be led in safe places. And they need to be protected when they’re in the shadow of death, which brings up a wonderful spiritual reality. We don’t ever walk through the valley of death; we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Think of it this way. As the sun is setting and a huge semitruck sweeps past your car and casts its shadow over you, it is only the shadow running over you, not the truck itself. And so we fear no evil in the shadow of death. Death is but a harmless shadow for the sheep of the Good Shepherd. He takes care of us. He feeds us. He puts oil on our wounds. His goodness and mercy are available all the days of our life, and He will bring us into His eternal house forever.