🌟 Psalm 23 – Part 2: Jesus, Our Light in the Shadows

 Welcome back, friends! 👋

If you read Part 1, we uncovered something amazing: that the Lord who is our Shepherd in Psalm 23 is Jesus Christ. Not just a metaphorical guide, but the eternal Son of God, God in the flesh. 🔥

Now in Part 2, we’re going deeper into this powerful Psalm. Today, we’re unpacking verse 4 and verse 6. Trust me, these verses will shift your perspective on fear, death, and the character of God.

---

📖 Let’s Read Psalm 23 Again (CSB)

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.

Let’s dive into verse 4 first...

---

⚔️ “Even When I Walk Through the Darkest Valley...” (v.4)

Life is not always green pastures. We all walk through dark valleys—seasons of heartbreak, pain, depression, financial strain, betrayal, and even death itself. In older translations, this is called the “valley of the shadow of death.”

And yet... David is not afraid. 😳 Why?

“For You are with me.”

David’s confidence comes from this one truth: God is with him—even in death.

💡 Here’s what’s mind-blowing: David believed this before Jesus had even walked the earth. He understood prophetically that God was powerful enough to walk with him through the grave and beyond.

---

🌍 The Bible: A Revolutionary Revelation

Now lean in—because I want you to understand just how revolutionary the Bible truly is. 📜

In every other religion, especially ancient Pagan religions, their gods were not immortal. They feared death, grew old, and could be defeated. Let me say that again:

🔥 The gods of ancient myths could not overcome death because they themselves were subject to it.

Their followers couldn’t truly trust them with eternity—because they had no power to save anyone from death. Let me give you a few examples:

---

📜 Egyptian Mythology

In Egyptian myths, their gods were anything but eternal or all-powerful.

• Ra, the sun god, is attacked every night by a giant serpent named Apophis, who wants to devour him and plunge the universe into darkness:

“Apophis wanted to overthrow the order of the universe and plunge the world into eternal darkness by devouring the sun god Ra.”
— History Skills

• In a separate myth, Ra is poisoned by a serpent, and is so weakened that the goddess Isis has to manipulate him into revealing his secret name in order to be healed:

“Depart, O venom, from Ra... Now let Ra live, for the venom hath perished.”
— Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook

Even the chief god in Egypt’s pantheon is vulnerable, manipulated, and in constant danger.

And then there’s Osiris, who was murdered and chopped into pieces by his own brother. Though he is said to rule the underworld, he is not resurrected with power. He is simply a dead god who governs the dead, not one who conquers death itself.

⚔️ Norse Mythology: The Death of the Gods in Ragnarök

Let’s now turn to Norse mythology, where things get even more dramatic.

In Norse belief, there is a final, catastrophic event called Ragnarök—a kind of apocalypse in which even the greatest gods die. The very beings they worshipped and feared were not immortal, nor did they conquer death—they succumbed to it.

Here’s what their own texts say:

“Then Fenrir will kill Odin. And immediately afterwards, Odin’s son Víðarr will come and kill the wolf.”
— Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson

The most powerful god, Odin, the Allfather, is devoured by the monstrous wolf Fenrir. Even his son Víðarr cannot prevent this—he only avenges his father after his death.

And then there's Thor, the hammer-wielding warrior god of thunder:

“Thor will kill the serpent, but after walking nine steps, he will fall dead.”
— Poetic Edda, Völuspá

Though Thor manages to slay Jörmungandr, the massive world serpent, the serpent's venom is too strong. After taking just nine steps, Thor collapses and dies.

Let that sink in... 🧠 Even in their moment of victory, these gods are powerless to escape death. The so-called protectors of mankind perish in the end.

Norse mythology paints a grim picture: a world where even the gods are doomed. Where the end is inevitable, and no one—god or human—can stop it. There is no real hope of resurrection. No promise of eternal life. Just death… and darkness.

🕊️ But Then Comes the God of the Bible...

And He’s different.

“The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary...”
— Isaiah 40:28

“...Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light...”
— 1 Timothy 6:16

“If I ascend to heaven, You are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!”
— Psalm 139:8

Unlike mythological gods, the God of the Bible is immortal, eternal, unchanging, and omnipresent—even in Sheol, the grave.

---

✝️ Wait—So What About Jesus?

This is the turning point. If God alone can overcome death… then what does that mean about Jesus?

Let’s see what He says about Himself:

“Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,
so the Son also gives life to whom He wants...
All people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.”
— John 5:21–23

💥 Jesus raises the dead, gives life, and deserves the same honor as the Father.

Now check this out:

“In the beginning, Lord,
You established the earth...
They will perish, but You remain...
Your years will never end.”
— Hebrews 1:10–12

God the Father is talking about Jesus. He created the universe. He will never age, and He remains forever.

Then Revelation takes it home:

“I am the First and the Last, and the Living One.
I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever,
and I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
— Revelation 1:17–18

🔥 Jesus was dead, but now lives forever. He holds the keys of death itself. Death couldn't hold Him—and now, He offers that same eternal life to us.

This is what David saw in the Spirit.
That’s why he could walk through death without fear.

💖 The Shepherd’s Pursuit and the Pain We Feel

“Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
— Psalm 23:6

Take a moment to read that again. Slowly. Let it sink in.

David isn't making a poetic wish—he's making a prophetic declaration. He’s saying, with full confidence, that no matter what happens, God’s goodness and faithful love (the Hebrew word is hesed, meaning covenantal, never-breaking love) will pursue him. Not follow from a distance. Pursue him—relentlessly, faithfully, intimately.

And that same promise is for you.

Right now, wherever you are reading this, no matter what you’re walking through—God is chasing after you with His goodness and His love. He isn’t ashamed of your mess. He’s not intimidated by your pain. And He doesn’t grow tired of picking you up.

David understood that life wouldn’t always be still waters and green pastures. He knew valleys would come, enemies would rise, and tables would be set in uncomfortable places. But even there, God would still be with him, loving him, comforting him, pursuing him.

That’s what you need to understand today—you are not alone.

But maybe you’re asking, “If God is so good, then why is my life so hard?” I hear you. Let’s talk about it.

💔 Why Is Life So Broken If God Is So Good?

This is where many people wrestle. We read about God’s love and His promises, but we look around and see a world full of heartbreak, sickness, injustice, and pain. It’s easy to wonder, Where is God in all of this?

Let me be honest and clear: it’s not God’s fault.
It’s not Jesus’ fault either. He’s not the reason for the pain—you need to know that. In fact, He is the only one who stepped in to rescue us from it.

The world we live in is broken because of sin. It was never meant to be this way. In the beginning, God created everything good. There was no death. No sorrow. No war. No betrayal. But when Satan deceived Adam and Eve, sin entered the world, and with it came death, pain, and separation from God.

If that moment never happened, no one would have to die—not even Jesus. But because of sin, the world fractured... and Jesus, out of love, stepped in to redeem it.

He didn’t stand at a distance. He didn’t throw lightning bolts from heaven. He came down.
He became one of us. He put on flesh. He walked among broken people. He bore the punishment we deserved. And then—He rose from the grave to prove He has authority over death.

You see, no other god in mythology did this. No pagan god saw humanity’s failures and said, “I will become one of them and die in their place.”
Only Jesus.

And the resurrection is the proof. He didn’t just die—He conquered death. He rose again. And now, He offers that same eternal life to you.

But don’t get it twisted: eternal life isn’t just life after death. Jesus wants to give you life right now—peace, joy, rest, love—real, tangible, soul-restoring life.

He knows your wounds. He knows your doubts. He knows the nights you cried alone. And yet, He’s still pursuing you with goodness and faithful love.

So don’t run from Him. Run to Him.

It’s the will of God that none should perish, and the Bible makes it clear in John 3:16-17:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through Him.”

He came for you. He stayed for you. He died for you. And He rose for you.

🛐 Will You Walk With the Shepherd?

If your heart is stirred right now, don’t ignore it. That’s Jesus calling you into something deeper. Not religion. Not routine. Relationship. Right now, in this moment, you can respond. You can give Him your heart—not just because you’re scared of dying, but because you want to start truly living.

So, let’s do this together.

Pray this with me:

“Lord Jesus, I believe You are God the Son.
My life is broken without You. I give You my heart.
Be my Shepherd, my Savior, and my Lord.
Walk with me through every valley,
and lead me into eternal life.
Amen.”

📬 Let’s Connect and Learn Together!

I’d love to hear from you! Whether you want to dive deeper into a topic, discuss a teaching, or just share your thoughts, the comment section is open for you. Feel free to ask questions, suggest subjects, or even drop a YouTube video or resource you love.

Here are some great places to find more content, teachings, and community with Kingdom Power Glory Global:

• 📺 YouTube: Kingdom Power Glory Ecclesia Center

• 🌍 Overthrow Campaign: overthrow.world

• 👍 Facebook: Kingdom Power Glory Global

• 📸 Instagram: kingdompowergloryglobal

Let’s grow in the Kingdom together—your voice matters here! 💬🙏