WHEN traveling over mountains we sometimes come to ravines or glens so narrow and so deep that, save at noonday, the sun does not shine right down into them―desolate places where only a few shrubs grow, and along which the path is but a ledge of rock. A lonely spot such as one of these might well be called a valley of the shadow of death. In Palestine, where the wild beasts prowl about the mountains and the robbers lie in wait, these valleys seem to be worthy of the dark name― “shadow of death.”
These desolate ravines are frequently the only way by which the shepherd can lead his flock from one pasture to another. We must not think only of the green fields of peaceful old England when we speak of pastures; we must remember the fruitful patches of green upon the sides of the huge mountains of other lands; and when the Bible is before us we must consider Palestine as it was when that part of the Bible we may be reading was written.
Now, a pretty sight it is to witness the shepherd going before his flock, and with careful steps showing the sheep the way along a rocky path. No doubt David, when a shepherd, often did this for his father’s “few sheep in the wilderness,” and we know that he protected them both from the lion and the bear, as he told King Saul. Robbers and wild beasts beset the sheep in David’s day, and the shepherd needed to lead them―to go before them with his life in his hand for their sakes.
The psalms of David are full of inspired sweetness, and they express what David himself had experienced. And thus, when he says, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me” (23:4), we feel David wrote what he had experienced in his soul No one can truly say, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” unless he be one of the Lord’ sheep.
Can we all thus speak of Him, even the Good Shepherd who gave up His life for the sheep, and who calls those who are His “My sheep”?
On the preceding page we have a little picture of a familiar incident of a shepherd of Palestine leading his sheep through some valley of the shadow of death, and going before them as their guide and protector. In one hand he holds his rod (or club), it the other his staff. He is ready to meet bear, wolf, or man who would scatter or rob the sheep.
Now, we all who love God are like pool feeble sheep, and our safety lies in the strength and the love of our Shepherd, Jesu: Christ the Lord. He brings us into the green pastures, or leads us through the dark valley, as to Him seems best. His club (or rod) comforts us, for all the might) power and the strength of His right arm stands between us and the foe. He will beat down every one who shall seek to harm His sheep and lambs.
Our Lord also comforts us with His staff which is specially for our guidance and upholding, even as we see the shepherds in, our own land use their crooks.
A shepherd in Palestine requires to be both brave and kind. He must fear no foe, and must ever heed the needs of his flock. And in this double character we feel sure the Lord Jesus in heaven, the chief Shepherd of the sheep, expects the under shepherds to behave themselves on behalf of the flock of God. On the one hand to go before them―for the devil, as a roaring lion, is not afar off, and perverse men also are about for no good ends; and on the other hand, to be of a ready mind, and full of love, and in gentleness and patience to care for the weak and the timid amongst God’s dear people.