As I was walking through an old, condemned building recently, the thought of it collapsing entered my mind together with the immediate analogy to the valley of the shadow of death (Psalms 23:4). Further revelation taught me that the valley spoken of here was a place that one was guaranteed to die. There was no escape, no hope and no salvation that can be seen. In the valley, death is sure – but God. As a shepherd, son, father and king, David saw the hand of God in every realm of his life and grew an unshakable confidence in the Most High God, Jehovah.
Even as the shepherd knows that his role is to feed, protect, lead, guide and sustain his sheep, so too death has its work to perform; most often the sheep are clueless. We are clueless of the hand of death looming over our lives on a daily basis, and oftentimes neither are we aware of the shielding hand of the shepherd against the works of death. On the night of the first Passover, no first-born child would have been spared, for the angel of death had his instructions. However, the Lord intervened on behalf of his people and the angel had to obey and pass over those who had the blood marks over their doors. The Lord always makes a way of escape, he is the God of Life and not death; however, we must ask! Moses mediated on behalf of the children of Israel, parents ask on behalf of their children, the high-priest on behalf of the nation and so it goes.
Suicide, fear and hopelessness cannot stand up the Almighty God, but we need to ask him to be the Good shepherd in our situation. So that, when the journey of life leads you into the valley of the shadow of death you are fearless; confident that you will come out unscathed. No matter if you are even the bride of Satan, he can pull you out. Believe not the lies perpetrated by movies, media, the Internet and naysayers – your situation is not hopeless for God is greater than the death angel and they must obey him. Fear not the valley. Fear not death. If you are to die, with God it becomes a peaceful embrace instead of a cold scythe. Selah.