Shadow of death

Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” What a promise. The shadow of death is a reminder of the enemy’s attempt to destroy us. This verse begins with “even though”. Yes, the enemy will try its best to destroy our faith, but it is but a shadow. A shadow is what forms out of something blocking light from passing through it. The enemy tries to block God from His people. It’s a feeble attempt. The shadow is only temporary. It cannot form without light. It does not block the light forever. It can only use the light for a brief moment. Without the light it cannot exist. I heard a preacher the other day say God has Satan on a leash. He can only do what God allows. The shadow can only exist because of the power of the light. Think about this verse. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me”. We do not need to fear the temporary shadows that try to discourage us. Revelations 12:12 says, “For this reason, rejoice O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” Revelation 12:10-11 says, “And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down who accuses them before God, day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony and they did not love their life even to death.’” Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. When we are in the valley of the shadow of death, we must understand the comfort God’s word provides. “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren.” Yes, only for a short time, just like a shadow the enemy tries to block the light. But without the light it can’t exist. Don’t be fooled by the shadow. I will fear no evil. 1 John 4:4 sums it up, “You are from God, little children and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world”. We can overcome him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of our testimony.