“TAKING THE JOURNEY, NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE”
“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.”
Psalm 23:4
INTRODUCTION
Probably all of us have had to make journeys we would have rather avoided at one time or another.
Right in the middle of perhaps the best known and most loved piece of poetry in the world Psalm 23, the Psalmist uses a powerful and vivid metaphor to describe a journey that no one wants to take describing it as “walking through the valley of the shadow of death”
“The valley of the shadow of death” here is a poetic but meaningful way of describing a crisis in life, an experience potentially filled with danger, despair, fear, anxiety and uncertainty. The original Hebrew phrase could be translated “the darkest valley” and so describes any deeply traumatic experience we face. However, down the centuries most often this vivid phrase has been used by people to explain the experience of facing their own death or the grief that accompanies the death of a loved one.
The good news is that Psalmist doesn’t just describe this journey we would rather avoid but tells us some vital truths about the journey that will help us make it.
Specifically, He tells us it is,
An Unavoidable Journey
If you are human - there will be dark valleys in your life, they are unavoidable. No life is care free or trouble free at one time or another we are all going to have to take this journey no one wants to and walk through the dark valley. No one is immune. Jesus echoed what the Psalmist said about the inevitability of hard times, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” John 16:33 Both Jesus and the Psalmist are helping us be realistic about life, that it’s not all plain sailing.
A Survivable Journey
Perhaps the key word for us to grasp when it comes to these dark valley experiences from what the Psalmist says is “through.” He says he is going to “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” he’s not going to be trapped in it or be unable to escape from it, it’s an experience, however difficult, that he is going to make it through. Crisis in this life are all ultimately temporary, the Psalmist knows he is going to survive this journey, he will make it through even the darkest valley.
The Psalmist is not claiming that he will make it through this dark valley under his own steam, this is not a case of "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." Instead he claims he will make it through the valley because of who will walk through it with him, the Lord, who is his Shepherd.
"For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
The promise of this Psalm is that in the darkest of life's valleys we'll find God our closest of companions. Like David and countless others we'll find, if we are open, that in the most difficult of life's experiences that Divine intimacy can counteract human anxiety.
God's care means we don't have to give into despair or be paralyzed by fear, His presence allows us to continue our journey in life.
PERSONAL IMPLICATIONS
This Psalm has been so precious to so many people down so many centuries because they have discovered in the midst of life they have experienced what it promises. The Psalm as a whole, promises with the Lord as our Shepherd we will experience, rest, peace, guidance, companionship, comfort, protection, security, provision for our present needs and hope for our future. None of this happens automatically it is translated into our experience when we learn to rely on the Lord as our Shepherd, relying on His presence with us, His protection of us and His provision for us, even in the valley of the shadow of death.
PASTORAL IMPLICATIONS
Jesus speaks of Himself as the "Good Shepherd" and those appointed to be leaders of His Church are described as Shepherds. Peter tells the first generation of church leaders "Be shepherds of God's flock which is under your care" 1 Peter 5:2 One of the primary roles of leaders in the Church is to create a caring community. We could say then, that the Church is to be a Psalm 23 community, a community where God's presence, protection and provision is experienced through the care of God's people.
END OF LIFE CARE & PSALM 23
Taking these words seriously from Psalm 23 many Christians have been at the forefront of developing what has been called palliative care, care for those literally "walking through the valley of the shadow of death." Palliative care has been described succinctly as ‘the active total care of those who have advanced, incurable life-limiting illness" In other words being with people and caring for them so they can journey "through the valley of the shadow of death" without being overcome by fear or pain and experiencing care and comfort in life.
EMMS International has been at the forefront of bringing palliative care to people journeying through "the valley of the shadow of death" in some of the most marginalised and poor communities in Indian, Malawi and Nepal. Details of these projects can be found by following this link .... https://www.emms.org/vital-work/the-work/providing-palliative-care/
EMMS International also wants to equip churches so they can be "Psalm 23 Communities" who through care and provision help people "walk through the valley of the shadow of death." In order to do that EMMS International in cooperation with partners in Africa have produced a book entitled INSPIRING HOPE. The website describes in these terms,
"Inspiring Hope is a palliative care handbook from Africa. It is a resource for church leaders, volunteers and members to support the delivery of palliative care in their communities. In his foreword to the handbook the Most Rev Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Capetown, writes: "In clear, tangible, down-to-earth ways, it assists church communities, leaders and members to understand more about palliative care, and how we can best contribute." It contains inspiring stories and useful examples to both encourage people to get involved and make it as easy as possible to do so."
You can obtain a free downloadable copy of "Inspiring Hope" by following this link
http://www.emms.org/about-emms/publications/inspiring-hope-palliative-care-handbook/
This year’s Advent Appeal from EMMS International is specifically to fund the development of palliative care in Nepal. Details of the appeal can found on the website
http://www.emms.org/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/ideas-and-resources/nepal-an-advent-journey/
QUOTES
• "When the chips are down and our hearts are heaviest it's to this magnificent "Psalm of the Shepherd" we most often turn" Chuck Swindoll p68
• "From the cradle to the grave, Psalm 23 provides timeless comfort and endless assurance for those who lack the secure feeling of God's perpetual presence." Chuck Swindoll p68
• "There is no valley, no experience in life, not even the darkest of them, we have to go through alone" Anonymous
• “It is our privilege as children of God to love one another, pray for one another, help one another and be with one another. Palliative care is about doing all of this, for all of our neighbours.” James Wells CEO EMMS International. Preface. Inspiring Hope, Helping churches to care for the sick. (“EMMS International, Copyright © 2013 by EMMS International. ISBN 978-0-9926619-0-8)
ILLUSTRATION
“In Nepal, where living is hand to mouth, there is often no care for people who are sick and in pain. Medicine is out of reach for most people and even paracetamol is only affordable if they have savings. Sadly, people living in poverty will never be able to afford even basic pain relief or care.
Nurse Manju and church volunteers journey around Nepal seeking out this who are poor and sick. They bring medicine and care, God’s love and comfort, embodying the message of Psalm 23 to those they care for. People who have all too often felt isolated, alone and in pain. They are cared for and comforted as they make their way through what is often the most difficult of life’s journeys for them.
