Healing Rays of Righteousness

The multiple difficult experiences of the past several weeks have me leaning heavy into Psalm 23, King David’s song of confidence in God, for the comfort and encouragement I greatly need in the present circumstances.

Over the years I have frequently turned to Psalm 23 for the reassurance and strength I needed to live through the difficult and painful experiences of life. And as a pastor and chaplain I have shared this psalm with many others in their times of suffering because I believe this psalm declares an excellent summary of the Christian perspective for all of life, including suffering.

Psalm 23 is one the best-known and most quoted passages from the Bible. Even those who seldom read the Bible can quote at least a line or two from it, because they have heard it so often spoken at funerals. But if you think of Psalm 23 as only being an appropriate funeral text, you will miss the fact that this Psalm is mostly about living, not dying. In fact, only one verse references death, while the other five verses speak about good, abundant living.

Although many of us are used to hearing the King James version of verse four as “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death …,” the underlying Hebrew words can also mean simply “place of deep darkness.”  And so, the New International version, which I prefer, reads “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, (of hurt, pain, suffering and loss) I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4 candidly faces the inevitable experiences of suffering and fear. It does not say “If I walk” but says “Even though I walk through the darkest valley ….”  The comforting power of Psalm 23 comes from its use of these two key words: “though” and “through” – the same word except for the single letter “r.”  That one little letter makes all the difference in the world. It is the letter that turns your “though” into a “through.” Dark valleys are not resting places, but passageways.

 “Though” none of us journey through life without walking into a valley of darkness and doubt, the psalmist assures us that God does not intend for us to stay there. The valley is something one goes “through.”  Yes, we can walk through our problems. We can walk through our sorrows. We can walk through our pain. We can walk through our screw-ups and life-threatening situation without fear of evil because the Lord, our Shepherd, journeys through with us; leading the way with his rod and staff at the ready to protect and rescue us, if and when needed.

Psalm 23:4 is a statement of confidence in God’s shepherding us during the difficult and troubling stretches of life. The reason we are not overwhelmed by fear is because God the Shepherd is with us and his rod and staff are at the ready to protect and guide us. And his powerful, caring presence comforts and reassures us in the midst of the threatening darkness.

Furthermore, Psalm 139 can be read as evidence that God has journeyed through the dark valley ahead of us, making a way through. “Where can I go from your spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make by bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”  (Psalm 139:7-12).

King David concludes is song of confidence saying, “Surely your goodness and love shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This is why I choose to lean into King David’s song of confidence in God’s presence and power for the comfort and encouragement I need during the difficult and painful experiences of life. And I encourage you to do the same.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.worpress.com – 10/16/24