Still on the subject of fear.
After drowning in the "defe defe" song for an unbelievable amount of time, I started thinking about the "Esum kabii bɔn mu" spoken of in the song - the valley of the shadow of death.
Although I have no association with the song writers, I strongly believe this phrase was adapted from the 4th verse of Psalm 23.
Ps.23.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (NKJV)
My ponder began from an inquiry into why the verse doesn't say the valley of death, but specifically mentions the valley of the shadow of death. What, really, is the valley of the shadow of death", and why is it significant?
To begin with, a valley is a low-lying area between hills or mountains, often carved out by rivers or geological processes over tgime. In ancient Israel, valleys were known to be treacherous places - narrow passages where bandits could hide, wild animals might lurk, and where travelers were most vulnerable.
Simply put, a valley is where you could easily die - or be unalived, as Gen Z prefers to put it. But my curiosity, really, stemmed from how David, in the psalm spoke not of the valley of death, but of the *valley of the shadow of death*.
I opine that that valley is not about death, but about fears. Fears, specifically, of what's not there. Of shadows. Of what isn't real. It's not walking through death, it's through shadows of it. Through the idea and notion that you could (not would) die. Could.
But here's the undeniable, self evident truth: most of what we fear are shadows, not substances. Our minds create elaborate scenarios of what might go wrong, what could happen, or even what may befall us. We fear failure before it happens. We fear illness before any diagnosis. We fear rejection before even trying.
We fear shadows- projections of our anxieties rather than actual dangers. So it makes sense then that David said in the verse that " Although we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, *we will fear no evil*". For the *Lord IS with us*.
And then he adds that His rod and staff comfort us. But what even are these? I further questioned.
Apparently, the rod and staff mentioned in the verse were essential shepherding tools, each with distinct purposes:
- The rod was a club-like weapon used to defend the flock from predators and was also used to count and examine the sheep as they passed under it. They were there for protection of and authority over the sheep.
- The staff was a longer implement with a curved end, used to guide sheep along the right path, rescue them from difficult spots, and gently correct them when they strayed. It symbolized guidance, support, and gentle correction.
Together, these tools represent complete pastoral care - both protection from genuine threats and gentle guidance through difficult terrain. In the psalm, they speak to God's dual role as both protector and guide, offering both strength against real dangers and gentle direction through life's challenges.
The key isn't to be fearless, but to walk through our fears with the right support and perspective - God. Just as the psalm doesn't promise no valleys, but rather comfort in the valleys, we too can learn to handle our fears not by eliminating them, but by walking through them with wisdom and support.
For in the end, many of our darkest fears are merely shadows - lacking substance when we face them with the right tools and companionship. And even in the lowest valleys, where shadows seem most threatening, we can find our way through with proper guidance and support.
We will fear, yes. But we will walk through them.
