Death-Shadow

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“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.” (Ps. 23:4)

Many portray this verse as a passage of gloom and doom, but it is far from being so IF one looks beyond the shadow and becomes absorbed in the beauty of the face of the Good Shepherd. Everything is not as it seems if one is distracted by the peripherals and loses sight of the subject. Too often, folks are like Peter; they take their eyes off of Jesus and become preoccupied with minor issues. Is not Jesus Christ the Lord over all His creation?

“The shadow of death” from the Hebrew is “death-shadow.” In other words, it is not death itself; it is merely death coming between the light of the Sun of Righteousness and the believer, thus, creating an eclipse, which blocks the believer’s clear vision of the origin of the light, the Sun. The presence of Jesus in essence becomes overshadowed by the diversion of darkness and gloom. Death in its own rights is real, but the shadow of the eclipse has no real power.

We are fully aware of the fact that this sinful flesh in which we are imprisoned undeniably does die; however, what happens to the spirit? In short, unbelievers will suffer the second death in the eternal Lake of Fire; but, what of the believers? Jesus speaking of His sheep (the believers) said: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jn. 10:28) By this we understand that all who are bound by faith in Christ Jesus will never die; they are reserved unto eternal life. Thus, death can only cast an eclipsed shadow of gloom and doom, but it has no authority to incarcerate the free citizens of New Jerusalem. Death is feeble in the presence of the Good Shepherd.

The Shepherd’s rod is a fighting tool, which He uses to protect and defend His sheep. The Good Shepherd will not allow anyone or anything to pluck His sheep from Him. The Shepherd’s staff is an object of support, which He utilizes in emotional and spiritual support to hold up, help, comfort, ease, and give rest to His purchased possessions. In the face of the Sun of Righteousness “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” A death-shadow is only an eclipse!