From the shepherd’s point of view, this statement marks the halfway stage in the Psalm, which turns to address the shepherd directly.
David assumes that all of us will at some point or another walk through the valley of the shadow of death, hence his use of the term “even though.” So, our approach should not be one of figuring out how to avoid it, but understanding what we need to do to remain faithful along the way.
To David, “the valley of the shadow of death” wasn’t a poetic notion. He was describing a real place, where he led his sheep from the folds of Judea toward the heights of Galilee, threading many canyons—some of them deep and steep—infested with thieves and predators, riddled with caves, rimmed by narrow trails.
If you’re not in the valley today, you will find yourself there at some point. Which shepherd do you plan to turn to when that day arrives?
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