The BLB Blog

The official blog of Blue Letter Bible

Biblical Hebrew Applied: Psalm 23 (part 4)

Posted on Posted by

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” 

As God enabled David to write this verse, it was not out of sitting in an academic circle of other men who were discussing the pros and cons of God’s ability to protect us, or if there were other linguistic and theological motifs that might better explain how we as human beings deal with issues of fear and uncertainty that we encounter, and which at times can even consume our every waking thought. No, this was something that God had made very real to David through all of the ‘real life experiences of near death encounters’ he had confronted throughout his life. There is indeed an area of life that we must all go through in order for God’s Word to become a reality in our lives, versus merely an intellectual assent we make in agreeing with doctrinal positions of our faith. In other words, the doctrinal expressions of faith must move from a mental confession with our brain through our mouth, to that which becomes a foundational aspect of our very soul and the basis and essence of how we live, move, and function in all areas of our lives. This is what occurred with David in order for him, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to pen this incredibly true and absolutely essential statement of living faith for all who come into a saving relationship with the One, True, Living God through Jesus Christ.

“When I continually walk”

First of all, I prefer the translation, “Also, when I continually walk … ” versus, “Even though I walk … ” because, from my perspective, I am fully convinced that is what David had lived, and he knew he would continue to live and face throughout the remainder of his life as he walked with God in the path God had called him to. This does not mean, however, that this was a daily occurrence for him, but rather it was a continuous and ongoing encounter of events and experiences wherein, metaphorically, “he could not see his hand in front of his face.” The result of these encounters, which were small, as well as large and far reaching, is that fear could consume his thoughts so as to potentially render him in a mental and emotional paralyzed state, which is what can happen to all of us.

At that point, he would be tempted to strike out on his own in order to deliver himself from such perceived danger, versus trusting in God and waiting upon His promised deliverance. The former always produces even more fear and anxiety, which can also lead to an all consuming, unabated, emotional grasping for self-deliverance. This in turn can of itself become an emotional addiction that never brings genuine deliverance and peace, but rather a deep enslavement to fear and its control of one’s life. On the other hand, the latter, which is trusting God and waiting upon His promised deliverance, will bring genuine deliverance and peace. However, for that to occur, one MUST first go through “the valley of the shadow of death,” holding on to God’s promises by faith, committed to the death to not give into fear anymore, but rather to really trust in God and His promised provision, deliverance, etc. –as the old Baptist hymn puts it, “there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

“The valley of deep, emotional darkness”

Secondly, the phrase, “the valley of the shadow of death,” may be better translated as, “the valley of deep, emotional darkness.” The Hebrew word צַלְמָוֶת (salmawet) is typically translated as “shadow of death,” which is both accurate and good, but the translation that I believe far better presents what David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was trying to convey is “deep, emotional darkness,” which is what the “death-shadow” was –that is, a place where one had no hope or purpose in living anymore, but only “a deep, emotional darkness” enveloped his or her life. The verb from which this noun comes is ַצָלַל (silal), and it has a dual meaning: )1(“to sink down or be submerged”; and )2(“to be or grow dark.” Thus, the “death- shadow” is a metaphor for one sinking into a deep, emotional depression, where there is a metaphorical “emotional darkness” that one “sinks” into, and in so doing, there can at times appear to be no way to come up out of this submersion. This verb is used in Exodus 15:10of the actual “submersion” of the Egyptian troops into the Red Sea as they were pursuing the Israelites: “Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters” (Exodus .)15:10The phrase, “they sank,” therefore, is the Hebrew verb ֲצָֽלֲלוּ ָ(salalu), which obviously comes from צָלַל (silal), with the meaning “to submerge.” Thus, the “submersion into emotional darkness” is a very real experience that we as human beings can frequently encounter, but as believers in Christ, Jesus can and will lift us out of that metaphorical “death-shadow” and place us on metaphorical dry, solid ground of spiritual, mental, and emotional health and soundness.

“Fear no evil”

The following statement by David in this verse, however, is the key to the spiritual, mental, and emotional victory we are desiring, and that is, “I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” The phrase, “I fear no evil,” is literally, “I will continually not fear evil,” as the verb “I fear” is in the Qal imperfect, implying an ongoing and continuous action. As I already stated above, the most oft repeated command in the Bible is, “do not fear” and its corollaries (e.g., don’t worry, don’t fret, etc.), and the second most oft repeated command is “trust in the Lord” –they are the antithesis of each other, with the former bringing enslavement and tyrannical oppression, and the latter bringing freedom, peace, and the discovery of one’s true identity as a child of God!

However, it must be stated that to come to that place of not allowing “fear” to rule and control one’s spiritual, mental, and emotional life, which in turn can also affect one’s physical well being, is not an easy thing to do, but through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, He can do it within us! We read the following in Paul’s epistle to Timothy: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2Timothy 1:7). Therefore, if “God has not given us a spirit of fear,” then where does it come from? The answer is that it comes from the enemy of our souls, Satan, “a murderer . . .a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Therefore, learning to distinguish between Satan’s lie and God’s truth can only come about as you abide in God’s Word and prayer, and in so doing, “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Rod and staff of comfort

God, therefore, has a metaphorical “rod and staff” whereby He “comforts” and protects us as we daily surrender to Him. I say this because His protection and deliverance for us who are His children is conditioned on our surrender to His Lordship of our lives – that is, if we surrender, then we will indeed experience His blessing, but if we choose to do things “our way,” versus following and obeying Him in faith, then we will in turn experience the consequences of our disbelief, which is motivated and coerced by the “fear” that Satan spiritually, mentally, and emotionally assaults us with. That fear is constantly saying, “God cannot help us in this situation,” and, as pointed out above, that is the testing time for us to either believe and trust God to do what He says He will do, or to flail around in fear like a drowning man in the ocean without a life vest.

However, the life vest of God is immediately at hand for us as His children through holding onto the promises of His Word, and we do that by surrendering “daily” to His Lordship over our lives: “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it” (Luke 9:23-24). Therefore, to “lose our life for Jesus’ sake” is to say, “Yes, O Lord, I believe and trust your Word in this situation, and I am going to believe and follow what you say, versus be led by my emotions which are motivated by the fear that You will not keep Your Word, and I in turn need to act independently of You if I am going to survive this situation.” God gives us a choice, and He also enables us to believe and obey Him, but we must make that choice to say, “Yes, O Lord, I choose to believe and trust You”: “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching” (Romans 10:8).

Comments

  1. The exhortation is a balm to my soul as I frequently experience emotional darkness. I am much appreciative of the diligence in explaining this wonderful inspired scripture that helps to strengthen our faith. I look forward to reading the remaining exposition. With gratitude I bless the author and BLB for facilitating this resource.

  2. Thank you, Justin, for the insights into the deeper meaning of Scripture as well as for pointing out that God’s comfort and protection (and everything else, I might add), can only be fully realized when we are in submission to Him. For most of my saved life, I was not obedient to the Lord’s ways with regard to money. Consequently, I did not experience the peace and freedom that God wanted to give me. I finally trusted Him and became obedient, and His blessings have been abundant! God is faithful to His Word, and we need to do likewise.

  3. John 3:19
    And this is the condemnation that light has come into the world
    and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil

    John 3:20
    For every one that doeth evil hateth the the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved

    John 3:21
    But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in GOD

    Psalm 119:129
    Thy testimonies are wonderful
    therefore doth my soul keep them

    Psalm 119:130
    The entrance of thy words giveth light
    It giveth understanding unto the simple

    Isaiah 8:20
    To the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them

    John 14:14
    If you shall ask anything in MY name I will do it

    John 14:15
    If you love ME keep MY commandments

    John 5:14
    And this is the confidence we have in HIM that if we ask any thing according to HIS will HE heareth us

    John 5:15
    And if we know that HE hear us what so ever we ask
    we know that we have the petitions that we desired of HIM

    Hebrews6:11
    And we desire that everyone of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end

    Hebrews 6:12 That you be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES

    James 1:6
    But let him ask in faith nothing wavering
    For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed

    James 1:7
    For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the LORD

    Colossians 1:11
    Strengthened with all might according to HIS glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness

    1 Peter 1:1
    Forasmuch then as CHRIST hath suffered for us in the flesh
    arm yourselves likewise with the same mind
    For he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin

    1 Peter 1:2
    That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men BUT TO THE WILL OF GOD

    1 Peter 1:15
    BUT LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER AS A MURDERER OR AS A THIEF OR AS AN EVIL DOER OR AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER MENS MATTERS

    1 Peter 1:16
    Yet if any man suffer as a christian let him not be ashamed
    but let him glorify GOD on this behalf

    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering without ceasing you work of faith and labor in love
    and patience of hope in our LORD JESUS CHRIST in the sight of GOD AND OUR FATHER

    LOVING THE LORD

  4. Thank you so much Justin for your sharing that with God’s people. We are so like sheep and easily afraid of the ‘pests’ in life. This message today hits me right where I’m at because of the place we find ourselves as a nation. I have been quite unsettled and needed to be reminded of the saving, keeping power of my Shepherd.

  5. John.3:34
    the shield of Saul…not anointed with oil 2Sam.1:21
    On the contrary, David was anointed thrice!
    “..there is but one step between me and death.” 1Sam.20:3
    So Saul perished, but David flourished
    Our God is an acute Insomniac!Ps.121:4
    Trusting & obeying is faith life.
    “NOW the just shall live by faith.” Heb.10:38
    When it is repeated over and over again, God means it.
    Still, He gives you/me the choice to be just or unjust,that’s His greatness He is the #1 Equal Opportunity Employer. Like it, or lump it, ” GOD GIVETH NOT THE SPIRIT BY MEASURE..” What a prodigal, lavish, extravagant Father we have! Count the ‘faithfulness’ in Ps.89. Halle..lujah!
    May the Lord ENLARGE your heart.(Ps.119:32; 2Cor.6:13; 2Cor.7:2)
    Poor and needy one,
    mathew

  6. I am very blessed by this teaching and take it as personal encouragement for our Lord. I too struggle with the unknowns and have been at times awake on my bed at night, but He is faithful to lead me to the green pastures and lie down in knowing He is in control and loves me.
    Thank you very much for this word.

  7. Hi Justin,
    I am a biblical counselor with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ.) I just forwarded this fine work to a great couple who needs such goodness of truth for the rich storehouse of His Word. Thnak you!

  9. Micah.6:9
    What do the ROD & STAFF mean?
    Reproof and counsel?
    Wonderful counsel & wonderful correction?
    Dominion and discipline?
    You find the ROD of Aaron in the ark as a memorial Heb.9:4
    What meaneth this?
    grace be with you all.
    poor and needy one,
    mathew

  10. Hi! I am a huge BLB fan and use the site consistently as I work on discipleship study books called, “The CrossPointe Series.” However, this is the first time I have looked at the blog. How timely for me! Hourly the Lord gives me something wonderful and this was “it” for this hour. I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer 3.5 years ago. The Lord miraculously has kept me alive! However, it popped up again, but He, the miracle worker is at work. I have unbelievable joy and peace and happiness in the Holy Spirit! Glory to His name! This psalm means the world to me, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. My husband and I head off to Taiwan for YWAM next week and I will hold this in my heart. Blessings, Sue

  11. This is not a comment on the current topic at hand, but I have not been able to find anyway to contact BLB 🙂 Shows my ignorance in webology.

    But I was just reading under the Strong’s definition of the word ‘ἀποκυλίω’ the following comment made a commentator:

    This word is used in the Gospels to refer to the stone that was in front of the tomb of Jesus. In Palestine, graves were usually in a depression and the stone was rolled down an incline to cover the mouth of the tomb. For a small grave, about twenty men were required to roll a stone down hill to cover the door of the tomb. The Bible tells us that the stone covering the door of the tomb was a large stone. The women would have needed more men than even a full Roman guard of sixteen men to roll away the stone. This was a major task.

    Among other things it says that about 20 men would normally be required to move such a tomb stone. However, in the gospels of Matthew and Mark it states that Nicodemus himself rolled the stone in place. And in the Greek the verb is in the 3rd person singular. That seems to indicate that he did it by himself. Since the stone was on a slope it probably was not that impossible for him to do that by himself. Now, I am not contesting that removing the stone could have been a one-man job 🙂

    • Dear Odo:

      Thanks so much for your very important question about the burial of Jesus and the “stone” that was “rolled” against the entrance. First of all, just for accuacy sake, it was not “Nicodemus” who “rolled” the stone in place, but Joseph of Arimathea (Mat 27:60 & Mk 15:46). Nicodemus is only mentioned in John’s Gospel as accompanying Joseph of Arimathea in retrieving the body of Jesus and assisting in his burial (Jn 19:38-42). And yes, you are right, in Mark’s Gospel, the aorist 3rd person singular is used, whereas in Matthew, it is an aorist masculine singular participle, but both are in the singular, not the plural. However, the verb that is used is not “apokulio,” but rather “proskulio.” On the other hand, your quandry is justified, especially with the realization that such a stone, even in a track made for it to roll, could not be moved by just one person, which is what Mark 16:1-3 indicates: “And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” However, as the following reference indicates, even though the verbs used in both Matthew and Mark are singular, they do not necessarily indicate that Joseph of Arimathea “by himself” rolled the stone over the entrance of the tomb, but rather that he, being a man of wealth and means, had his servants to roll the stone in place:

      “The removal of the body from the cross, the purchase of linen cloth, and the actual burial are actions expressed of Joseph alone. The implication of the sentence, however, does not exclude the presence of others who assisted him (cf. Jn. 19:39–42). At least the removal of the body and the closing of the entrance to the tomb Joseph could not have accomplished alone. As an eminent person, he undoubtedly had servants who must have attended to many of the details required during the brief time between the granting of permission for burial and sunset. It seems necessary to read the entire verse in a causative sense, i.e. he caused the body to be taken down from the cross, linen cloth to be purchased, and the body prepared for burial. With servants to assist him, two hours was sufficient time for accomplishing all that was required” (W. L. Lane, “The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of Mark” (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1974), 580).

      Thus, Joseph had his servants to remove Jesus’ body, as well as roll the stone over the entrance to the tomb. However, your questions was an excellent question, as it demonstrates your wanting to know the truth of what was happening, and I praise the Lord that He has given you an inquisitive mind in wanting to know the truth, and for that, you never need to apologize. Would to God that more believers had such an inquisitive mins, versus simply taking what someone says at face value and checking it out for themselves to find out the truth.

      If you ever have any more questions, DO NOT HESITATE to write and ask, as it is our privilege and honor to be able to answer them.

      God bless you,

      Justin T. Alfred

  12. This is not a comment on the current topic at hand, but I have not been able to find a way to contact BLB 🙂 Shows my ignorance in webology.

    But I was just reading under the Strong’s definition of the word ‘ἀποκυλίω’ the following comment made a commentator:

    This word is used in the Gospels to refer to the stone that was in front of the tomb of Jesus. In Palestine, graves were usually in a depression and the stone was rolled down an incline to cover the mouth of the tomb. For a small grave, about twenty men were required to roll a stone down hill to cover the door of the tomb. The Bible tells us that the stone covering the door of the tomb was a large stone. The women would have needed more men than even a full Roman guard of sixteen men to roll away the stone. This was a major task.

    Among other things it says that about 20 men would normally be required to move such a tomb stone. However, in the gospels of Matthew and Mark it states that Nicodemus himself rolled the stone in place. And in the Greek the verb is in the 3rd person singular. That seems to indicate that he did it by himself. Since the stone was on a slope it probably was not that impossible for him to do that by himself. Now, I am not contesting that removing the stone could have been a one-man job 🙂

  13. A friend and I have been doing these as a study at work, we both have been so blessed by these writing. Thank you so much as we work for a mission and each blog hits home for us.We have both been brought to tears during this time and we are growing with each lesson.