Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 23 is the passage I read most frequently in the hospital when I provide spiritual care for the patients. At first I read it because it’s a “safe” Bible passage for Jews, Christians, Catholics, Agnostics, and even SBNR’s (spiritual but not religious). Just reading these words out loud gives people comfort and solace in times of physical and emotional pain.
However, the short passage is chock full of imagery, metaphor, and allusion. For example, Psalm 23:4 describes the common journey a shepherd would take his sheep through dark ominous valleys. As long as the shepherd is nearby, the sheep have nothing to fear. And whenever a sheep goes astray, the shepherd gently guides it back to the rest of the flock with his staff.
It feels like we are living in very dark times these days. It often feels like we don’t know where we are going or what dangers lurk beyond our sight. As long as our loving shepherd is nearby, we will fear no evil.
