Through the Valley
In times of monumental disaster, there will inevitably be those who proclaim: “This is God’s judgment for sin!” Strictly speaking, it is part of God’s judgment, considering that His curse, which resulted from sin in the Garden, led to a fallen world complete with disasters. But these people usually mean they believe that God is specifically sending the current disaster to punish humanity for violating God’s righteous standards. They may even insist God is punishing a particular, present-day sin. That is rarely, if ever, the case biblically.
The truth about times of tribulation is that they are to be expected. They are the ordinary course of things in a fallen world. Some trials are worse than others. Some disasters directly touch our lives. But they are part and parcel of normal life this side of heaven.
When we live a in time or geographical area that is relatively disaster-free, unexpected and severe trials cause us to question the very nature of trials. We assume they are abnormal. Since we in the U.S. have affluence and luxuries most of the rest of the world does not enjoy, something like a famine or pandemic makes us start to wonder. We ask “What is God doing?” or “What is He telling us?” It would be more appropriate to ask, “What has God done?” and “What has God told Us?”
A pitfall of becoming too comfortable, self-secure and self-sufficient is that needing to be led looks weak. We’ve got everything under control, until we don’t. Suddenly, those apart from Christ are at a loss. Fear pushes them to seek the leadership of government authorities, or other human knowledge and power centers. And if Christians are categorizing the disaster under “punishment from God” why would they turn to rather than run from Him?
However, if we are used to familiarizing ourselves with what God has done and has said we not only know that we can expect trouble (John 16:33), we know where to go for real leadership through the disaster: “The Lord is my shepherd…Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,…” (Psalm 23:1 & 4).
Praise God for our governmental leaders and their diligent efforts to mitigate the spread and health impacts of the current global pandemic while seeking to provide for those suffering financial loss. There are many good leaders with which we have been blessed. But looking to them exclusively, or even first, is folly. Only One is fully capable of shepherding us successfully through all crises. Is He your Shepherd?
It is significant that David begins Psalm 23 with identifying the Lord as his Shepherd. As king, David was the primary human leader for Israel. He had the goods and services of that kingdom at his disposal. But he knew he was ultimately incapable of providing for his own needs. He looked to his Shepherd for that. So David describes what perfect provision looks like from the perspective of a sheep.
David also paints a picture of the comfort and protection provided by his Shepherd. In a global pandemic with rising death tolls being reported daily, it could well be described as “the valley of the shadow of death.” Our Shepherd doesn’t take us above the valley where we may see the beginning from the end, or at least predict the obstacles. He doesn’t guarantee in any way that we will avoid the valleys. He shepherds us “through the valley.” Only He knows what’s in store. But with Him as our personal Shepherd, we need “fear no evil.”
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” ─John 10:11