peace in the valley

The Lord has been speaking to me about Psalm 23:4, giving me a fresh perspective on the valley I have been walking through during this past season of my life.

Psalm 23:4 (NIV): 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.

This verse follows verses 1-3 which proclaim who the Lord is: He is my Shepherd who supplies all my needs - the needs of my spirit, the needs of my soul, and the needs of my body. These three verses also proclaim what He has done for me and why I should be praising Him - because Who He is and what He is done for me is the motivation for me to praise Him with every fibre of my being.

But then there is this sentence in verse 4, and all of a sudden, who the Lord is and what He is able to do for me seems to be of little significance – meaning, it doesn’t seem to keep me from pain and suffering because it mentions a valley and death, fear, and evil.  If God is truly for me, then why are these things able to touch me at all?

When you look at this verse in the original Hebrew language, you begin to see a deeper meaning to these words.

Yea – the Hebrew word gam which carries the meaning: also, moreover, yea. This transition word links the first three verses about who God is and who God is for me, with the times of testing that will come during my sojourn on earth. I am assured that His nature and purpose for me does not change even as I am promised there will be difficult times ahead.

Though – the Hebrew word ki which carries the meaning: that, for, when - reminds me of James 1:2 - "whenever you face trials of many kinds."

Walk – the Hebrew word halak which carries the meaning: that, for, when

Through the valley – the Hebrew word gay which carries the meaning: valley or valleys. As long as we live on the face of this earth, we are living in a broken creation that includes low places. But notice that the verse says we walk "through the valley". This is the same encouragement Jesus gave His disciples before they encountered the storm in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. He said they would "cross over to the other side." (Mark 4:35)

Of the shadow of death – the Hebrew word tsalmaveth which carries the meaning: death-like shadow, deep shadow. Notice that this is not death, although it may feel like something in you has died. This is also not separation from God, for we belong to God who is our Life. Rather, this is a time of testing so that our faith may develop perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anyting. (James 1:3-4)

I will fear – the Hebrew word yare which carries the meaning: to fear, to be in awe of, to reverence, to honor. Not only will I not fear the evil, but it will be because I am in awe of who God is. My eyes are firmly fixed on Him. He is the author and finisher of my faith. (Hebrews 12:2) God is love. In Him there is no fear because His perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

No evil – the Hebrew word ra which carries the meaning: bad, evil, malignant, unpleasant, giving pain, unhappiness, misery. Notice the verse says "I will fear no evil." Because I belong to the King of Kings, no evil may befall me; no disaster will be able to come near my tent. For He will command his angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways; they will lift me up in their hands, so that I will not strike my foot against a stone. I will tread upon the lion and the cobra; I will trample the great lion and the serpent." (Psalm 91:10-13)

Your rod – the Hebrew word shebet which carries the meaning:  rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe; in fact, the word is translated “tribes” more times in the Bible than any of the other meanings.

Your staff – the Hebrew word mish'enah which carries the meaning: a support, staff - as seen in Hebrews 11:21 - By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Comfort me – the Hebrew word nacham which carries the meaning: to be sorry, console oneself, when the time of mourning was ended. The difficulty is limited to a season. "A time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4) It is limited by the God who loves me. When the difficulty has accomplished His purpose in and through my life, He will comfort me. 1 Samuel 30:6 tells us that when David was greatly distressed, he consoled himself in the knowledge of who God is and who God is for him. 

There is a purpose for the valley: to test and strengthen my faith in what I believe about God as my Father, Protector, Provider, and Ever Present Help in Time of Trouble. The particular valley I may be walking through was designed by Him for my good, to strengthen me in the places where I am weak, to enable me to practice standing firm, so that I am able to resist those things which threaten to undo me, and to prove my faith in Him is well placed. Another purpose for the valley is to prepare me for the greater things God has in store for me for it is the testing that produces the testimony. And because of these things, I can be assured there will be valleys.

But why in the midst of my suffering is He talking about using His rod and His staff? How do implements of discipline produce the comfort I need in the midst of the trial? Again, when we look at the meaning of the Hebrew words translated “rod” and “staff” they mean more than instruments of discipline; rather they are instruments of significance! The rod symbolizes I belong to Him! I am a close relative of His! I am of His tribe! Therefore, I have standing before Him and He will do whatever it takes to bring me comfort. The staff is also not just an instrument of discipline; rather it is a picture of support. The staff is what you lean on. His staff is the symbol of who He is and what He has done for me in the past and what He will do for me in the future.

But why did God think it necessary to place verse 4 in the middle of the Psalm that is often repeated as a prayer of expectation?

Because it is a prayer of expectation.

We can expect the Lord to be Who He says He is.
We can expect the Lord will do what He has promised to do.
We can expect to experience difficulties that test our faith in Who He is and whether we can trust Him to keep His promises to us.
We can expect Him to fight for us, to stand up for us, to support us, and to enable us to be victorious over the difficulty.
We can expect that the valley is but a season; it is not permanent because he told us in verse 4 that we would walk “through” the valley. He also told us that death is but a shadow, an illusion. It is not real. The power of death was broken at the Cross and we who belong to the Lord will live and not die.

Over the past seventeen months, I have been walking through a valley and I have experienced the doubt and fear that come when we are facing an unknown menace and an uncertain future. I experienced the loss of faith in who God is and His promises to me. I went into a death-like shadow. But God brought me through the dark place and restored my faith that He truly is God, He will do what He has promised and I can put my hope and trust in Him alone. It is out of the valley that the testimony arises – the testimony of His goodness and mercy which will follow me all the days of my life.

In June, 2019, my husband received word that a routine pulmonary CT scan revealed a mass on his liver. He was scheduled for a second CT scan of the abdomen a week later. The second scan confirmed the mass on the liver, the preliminary diagnosis was “hepatocellular carcinoma” and the recommendation was to follow up with a liver biopsy and a PET scan as soon as possible. The biopsy confirmed the diagnosis and the PET scan confirmed that the cancer was contained in the liver.

As my mind reeled from this devastating news, I heard the Lord say to me, “Liver cancer is not a death sentence.” I wasn’t sure exactly what He was telling me, but I chose to go with what He said and boldly proclaimed that my husband would live and not die as I cursed the cancer that had invaded his body.

I searched the Internet for everything I could find about this particular cancer. Although most of the documentation was dismal, giving a 6-12 months life expectancy if no treatment was given, there was one bright spot in one of the articles posted on the medical website. The article was titled, “Liver Cancer Does Not Have to be a Death Sentence”. The article discussed the value of early detection and early treatment. Unfortunately, my husband’s cancer was already spreading within the liver even though it was not yet spreading to any other part of his body.

Hope and faith grew dim as I wrestled with the unknowns of this inescapable journey that lay ahead of us and what would happen to me if my husband died within the next several months. Our lives changed overnight and the trauma of it all had a deep impact on my thoughts, my feelings, and my belief in God as the healer. I became my husband’s caregiver to make sure he took his meds and kept all of his doctor’s appointments; and as a result, I often forgot to take my own meds and keep my own appointments.

During our first visit with the oncologist, he explained that my husband’s cancer was not operable because it already covered both lobes of the liver. The only course of treatment recommended for him would be chemotherapy, and the chemo would not be effective in eradicating the cancer; it would only extend his life. My husband chose not to do any chemotherapy at that time; however, several months later, he changed his mind, and asked to be able to take a daily chemo pill rather than go through weeks and months of infusion. Five months after the initial diagnosis, he began a three month regimen of a daily chemo pill.

The months on chemo were difficult for him and for me, as I watched my husband’s strength wane and his mental sharpness become confused. He experienced constant dizziness and fatigue and lost interest in doing much of anything. By the end of the third month, a CT scan showed the tumors were diminishing and no new tumors had appeared. We were overjoyed with the good news; but my husband chose not to do any additional chemotherapy. Within three days of ending the chemo, my husband was back to his normal self; and I rejoiced in the gift of having my husband returned to me. He was able to begin doing some things around the house and for awhile, he seemed to be no different than he had been before the chemo.

The plateau lasted about eight months before he began to experience pain in his lower back. A scan revealed that the tumors were growing again and were reproducing at an alarmingly rapid rate. My husband was given the option of doing more chemotherapy; he chose not to continue with chemo. Then he was given the option to engage Hospice care. He also turned that down. But after several weeks of difficulty standing and walking because of the pain, he decided to call in Hospice care.

The Hospice team took very good care of my husband, so that he was not suffering with pain. He continued to lose weight and strength and required assistance to get in and out of bed. One day as I was helping him back into bed, he asked me, “Do you see all those people in the room?” I knew God was giving him a preview of the higher realm he would be entering soon.  Then five days before he passed, he said he could see white cattle through the window. It had snowed the day before, and I thought he was mistaking the snow laying on the horizontal tree branches for white cattle. But now I believe he was seeing the cattle that belong to the Lord that graze on a thousand hills – another preview of heaven.

We had prayed that God would take my husband peacefully in his sleep; and God was gracious to do just that. Having passed from this life, my husband who had such difficulty hearing could now hear a pin drop across the room; my husband who had difficulty seeing could now see clearly for miles and read the finest print without the aid of a magnifying glass and a bright light; and my husband who had suffered horribly with bouts of eczema every summer would no longer suffer. I rejoiced over the new life my husband had received and I was overwhelmed by the goodness of God we had experienced during our walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I gained a deeper understanding of how much God loved my husband and how much He loves me.

But that’s not even the end of the story. Several weeks after my husband had passed, the Lord spoke to my spirit with these words: “Liver cancer did not take your husband. When the number of his days had been fully accounted for, I took him home to be with me.”

God is faithful to keep all of His promises. He tells us that it is He who determines the number of our days even before we are conceived in our mother's womb, that all the days ordained for our life here on earth will be fully completed, and that not one of our days would be stolen. That means that there are no untimely deaths! That means there are no unnecessary deaths! That means that the "cause of death" referenced on an official death certificate is but an illusion! That means we have nothing to fear from any of the "C" words: Cancer, COVID-19, COPD, Cardiac Arrest, Collision because our "C" is greater than that! We have Christ and we have Christ in us, the hope of glory!

When we choose to believe God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised, then we can fully agree with and rejoice in the words of the Apostle Paul:

Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?...Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57-58)
 
Shalom!
Linda Sue Harper
​(c)2021