Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil..."

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

Question:

I love this prayer as it is my comfort prayer. There is so much beauty, promise and strength in this prayer, and I have loved it since I was a little girl. Every sentence in the prayer is so powerful. It is so powerful to me because of the metaphysical meaning. But I have wondered for years what this part of the passage means? I am really struggling with feeling worthy of "Divine Abundance" and I would love to "play" with this :)

Comment:

The 23rd Psalm is certainly one of the best-known passages in all the Bible. It offers a wealth of comfort and reassurance as we move through the challenges of this human experience we're sharing.   Metaphysically we understand the Lord to be synonymous with the Christ—the indwelling Presence of God that is the truth of our spiritual identity. The Christ in me is infinitely powerful, but it's a quiet power; it doesn't shout to get my attention the way some of the negative thoughts in consciousness do. That's why it's important to remember that it is always within me, available to 'shepherd' me lovingly through the shadows of death and evil that seem so real, to the green pastures and still waters of peace, joy and abundance that are my destination. The 'goodness and mercy' of the Christ are with me all the days of my life; it's up to me to know that, and to choose always from that rich resource. As to the specific meaning of verse 4, it continues the imagery of the Lord—the Christ—as the shepherd available to guide us through the challenges of life. The rod and staff are traditional shepherds' tools—the staff offering support when the journey gets difficult and the rod to repel any dangers that may seem to threaten us.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed