Verse 4 of Psalm 23 opens up saying, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” The picture here is of a dangerous path through a deep ravine with high steep mountains on either side, and no seeming way of escape, so you must move forward in spite of the surrounding fears and dangers. This may apply to physical death of which the Bible says “it is appointed unto men once to die…” Hebrews 9:27 KJV. But I think we need to see it in the light of the dangerous tests and trials that we go through in this life that are so strong it seems like death is inevitable. David had experienced this first hand in the days when he was fleeing from Saul who wanted to kill him, mainly because God was taking the kingdom from Saul and was giving it to David; and again when his own son was trying to usurp the kingdom, 2 Samuel 15-17. Because we live in this world we are vulnerable to these attacks; Job 5:7 says “man is born to trouble, (sorrow, labor, toil, grief, pain, trouble, misery, fatigue, exhaustion) As the sparks fly upward.” And again Job 14:1 says “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (tightness, trouble). If this is true for all men how much more will it be true for those who commit to the call and plan of God for their lives, when Satan revs up his attacks? The New Testament tells us in 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.” Then James 1:3-4 says “that the testing of your faith produces patience…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Yes these difficulties, hard places, and troubles are a test that will prove “what you are made of”. Stay tuned for the next two weeks as we look at the last parts of Psalm 23:4.
“Born to trouble”
By Rose Hill
Troubles come in this life we know,
And we just want to see them go.
But the evil we must not fear,
For we know our God is very near.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.