While this is true, and may be unquestioned by the reader, we have still left untouched

the heart of the question "why should sheep be led by their shepherd into such dreadful

Each case, of course, would have to be settled on its own merits, but in the generality

for instances, "the valley of the shadow" was a necessary link between pastures that had

been exhausted and pastures that were new. In the hill country of Judah many such

ravines and valleys intersect, with their deep shade, the pasture of the hills. Here, in

caves and dens, lurked the wolf and the hyena. David knew what it was in the exercise of

his calling as a shepherd, to face a lion and a bear. The shepherd never led his flock

through these dreadful places without real and imperative reasons, and we may rest

assured that God, Who is not only righteous but Who is love, Who is not only creator but

is redeemer, Who is not only Lord but is Father, never permits His children to pass

through any such experience without reason. We may not understand or appreciate this,

any more than `silly sheep' could understand the working of the Shepherd mind. Enough

that we know HIM; we have received from Him the greatest of all blessings, salvation.

That salvation was procured at infinite cost, and an argument is put into our lips, drawn

from this very fact:

If the believer will keep steadily in mind the opening lines of this Psalm, he will find

the answer to his question and to his fears in the words "The Lord is my Shepherd".

Grant this, and all must follow. He will provide, lead, defend. He will never afflict

without good reason, it is for us to follow, and, as the darkness deepens, to "lean hard

upon our Guide". However dark the shadow may be He is with us, and however deadly

the gloom, He has overcome death, and because He lives, we shall live also.

Peter, in his epistle, makes use of the figure of Shepherd and sheep and knew that this

dark valley must sometimes be endured:

The valley of the shadow therefore must needs be the experience of all who travel

through the wilderness of this world. Let us not make it more dismal by complaining or

repining, let us rather face its gloom saying:

This valley of the shadow of death may at times be given a particular name to

emphasize some special phase of experience. In case any reader should hesitate to use

mere geographical names as a basis for spiritual teaching, let him remember that the

instance which we now put forward is an inspired example of this very thing. It is good

to be sensitive in our handling of Scripture, but not super-sensitive, lest things written

beforehand for our learning and comfort be lost. One such name for this valley is "The