Words of Grace | Psalm 23 | I Will Fear No Evil

Psalm 23 - “I Will Fear No Evil…”

“I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).  It is an astonishing thing to be walking through a valley of deep darkness and to not fear it for the simple reason that you know you do not walk it alone. It is at this point, for the very first time in the Psalm, that we move from hearing about the shepherd to speaking to the shepherd. We transition from the third-person “he” to now addressing him directly in the second-person “you.”

It is one thing to be able to see that someone is with me but quite another thing to be able to turn toward that person and address him personally by saying “You are with me. If I speak in the third-person, it may be possible that I have received some of the benefits of the shepherd by being one among many others in the flock, but by speaking in the second-person, it is pointing to a personal and intimate relationship with the shepherd. It is somehow as if all other sheep are not really in the frame at this moment.

The comfort of a Good Shepherd's presence is all the more wonderful when we take seriously the reality of the darkness and the presence of evil in the world. It is very important to be clear that David is not saying that the presence of the shepherd removes evil or eradicates darkness, as if saying “you are with me” means that the room is now somehow filled with light and happiness.

No, the point is that because “you are with me,” I will not fear the very real darkness and the very real evil I am facing. The comfort is the presence of the shepherd in the midst of the danger rather than the comfort of the removal of the danger.

The picture in verse 4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” is of the sheep trembling in the valley with danger surrounding them from every side, but then the sheep hears the shepherd's voice and remembers the shepherd's presence. Only then does the sheep not fear any harm or evil.

Our prayer for you, especially if you're currently plunged into deep darkness, is that you will take the time to reflect on who it is that is right beside you, wherever you are. Until next time, may the goodness and mercy of God follow you all the moments of this day!