1 The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. 3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord. (Psalm 23:1-6, AMP)
When we hear about the "valley of the shadow of death" of Psalm 23, it is usually used as an illustration of life's various trials that believers encounter. Though I don't completely disagree, I am convinced by revelation from the Holy Spirit that the "valley of the shadow of death" is a specific physical location in the Old Testament which is a direct type of a destructive spiritual foundation. I believe that the valley of the shadow of death itself is not a direct illustration of our problems. Rather, the problems we encounter are a result of us walking through the valley of the shadow of death. So what is this mountain that casts a shadow of death unto its adjacent valley? I believe it is Mount Sinai. I'll let Scripture interpret Scripture.
6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?(Jeremiah 2:6, AMP)
Jeremiah lays out a concise overview of Israel in the wilderness and the exact same "shadow of death", in Hebrew, ṣalmāveṯ (H6757), is used. We know that there was an encounter that Israel had with God at a mountain in the wilderness after their exodus out of Egypt. It was at Mount Sinai where the Law was given. Exodus records this: "So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and flashes of lightning, and a thick cloud was on the mountain, and a very loud blast was sounded on a ram’s horn, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood and presented themselves at the foot of the mountain." (Exodus 19:16-17, AMP)
Mount Sinai was the place where Israel entered into covenant with God based on the foundation of their ability to keep the law. It is based on their self-effort to try to reach God. I found it particularly interesting that in the account of Sinai in Exodus 19, verse 20 says, "The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up." As opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ descending all the way down to where we were, God is calling Moses up. This is the belief of all religious systems outside of Christianity - man trying to reach up to God. Also note in verse 17 how the people of Israel "presented themselves at the foot of the mountain" - which could also be seen as the valley of Sinai.
Coming back to Psalm 23, it is of importance to note that verse 4 of Psalm 23 starts with, "Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,..." There is a reversal that has occurred. In the first 3 verses of the psalm, we see "He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." It is a direct contrast of walking in the grace of our Lord's leading and care for us versus our self-effort to keep the law of Sinai under the Old Covenant. It is man's attempt to achieve God's righteousness which Paul addresses in Galatians 2.
16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16, NKJV)
We know that when Jesus came into the world, Israel was under the Sinaitic covenant of the Law. It is beautiful how the Word of God is living when the Holy Spirit teaches. Isaiah prophesied of His first coming into Israel's (and our) shadow of death and Matthew records the fulfillment of that prophecy.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2, KJV)
16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, Upon them a Light dawned.” 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:16-17, NASB95)
I want to make one point absolutely clear here: it was not the sinners alone that were "dwelling in the land of the shadow of death", nor was it only the downtrodden that "were sitting in the land and shadow of death". It was all of Israel, including the religious Pharisees and everyone in between. If we can truly grasp that, we will come to the revelation that it was not sin that caused the darkness but the covenant itself from Sinai casting the darkness unto all. Romans 4 is my foundation for this statement.
14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. (Romans 4:14-16, NKJV)
Repentance is heavily emphasized in the church as turning away from your sins onto God. However, in its true context, repentance is really about turning away from the Law and our self-effort to keep it and turning onto the Light that is shining. This is crucial because as I said in the beginning of this post, the troubles that we encounter in "the valley of the shadow of death" are not caused by sin but rather which foundation, or covenant, we are standing on. To focus on the outward sin and not the underlying shakeable foundation is the problem that the church has had for far too long. With that, I am convinced that the repentance that Matthew 4:17 speaks about is not repentance from sin but repentance from what gives power to sin, which is the Law. Paul writes this profound statement in 1 Corinthians:
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56-57, NASB95)
Hallelujah! Can you see it? The veil must come off our eyes and it can only be removed by the grace of God. To put our focus on sin is to wander round and round in the wilderness as many Christians have experienced. From one resolution to another; mustering more willpower to overcome sin again and again - this is not the New Covenant in the slightest. Do you want to break free from the power of sin? Break free from the Old Covenant of the Law and your self-efforts. Do you want to be transformed into the image of Christ? Just behold Him. As you will see in the Scripture below, the transformation is passive and the Greek also bears that out.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)
The amazing part about Psalm 23 is that there is another mountain that can also be tied to a specific mountain and a different covenant. In verse 3, "paths of righteousness" is a shepherding terminology that speaks to the circular nature of the trail that a shepherd would lead the sheep up a mountainside. The Hebrew literally has the idea of circular in the root word for "paths". Sheep aren't able to take a direct line up a mountainside in the manner which we see goats do. The paths of righteousness is the circular route curving around the mountain as they progress in elevation. Think of the winding curves when driving up high mountains. The path is easier and safer for the sheep to traverse.
3 He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3, AMP)
Again, we need to let Scripture define exactly what righteousness is and what it is not. Romans 10 has a clear and unambiguous definition.
3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness [which is based on faith], and seeking to establish their own [righteousness based on works], they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior]. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it. 6 But the righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into Heaven?’ that is, to bring Christ down; 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible].” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. (Romans 10:3-10, AMP)
Here, we see the confirmation of Galatians 2:16 where Paul writes, "...even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law..." When our eyes are on the Lord and His finished work alone, we are justified before God and declared righteous! This "paths of righteousness" is Mount Zion! Yet again, I will let Scripture confirm Scripture.
18 For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging windstorm, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and a sound of words [such that] those who heard it begged that nothing more be said to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned [to death].” 21 In fact, so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, “I am filled with fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering], 23 and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], 24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance]. (Hebrews 12:18-24, AMP)
I wrap up this amazing revelation on a personal note and how understanding this truth cannot be overstated in relation to your life. There is a notable two year gap between this post and the post preceding this. Personally, it has been a trying two years culminating in an ordeal where I was on the verge of losing my mind and ability to function as a normal person. I was truly in the valley of the shadow of death when Abba told me that I had fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4 was my reality.
4 If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing). (Galatians 5:4, AMPC)
I want to be brutally clear that my Father did not tell me that I had fallen from grace by sinning. On the contrary, it was probably the most religious two years of my life. His voice was a gentle and loving one that made me realize that it was exactly what Paul writes here: attempting to be in right standing with God through the Law, which is self-effort. Looking back at the revelations from two years ago, I weeped realizing how much I had fallen from His unmerited goodness. But just as in Psalm 23, though I walked through the valley of the shadow of death by going back to my efforts, He was with me and now I can see with more clarity the deceitfulness of mixture between law and grace. I can say confidently that the Lord has restored me back into His grace with an even deeper revelation of the danger of the Law. I hope to be able to put revelation into words in the coming weeks.
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