Who doesn't love Psalm 23? For three verses it's all smiles and peace, all dancing through flowers.We read this and we're like, "Woohoo! Christianity means I get to be happy, happy all the time! 'Green pastures, quiet waters, restored soul'? Sign me up! 'He guides me in paths of righteousness'? Yes please!"
But then we hit verse four, and our happy dance skips a beat: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil." Wait, what? Valleys and shadows and evil? That doesn't sound very Psalm 23-ish. I don't feel like dancing anymore.
We back up and read verse four again.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...
Yep, we read it right. What's Death Valley doing in the middle of Happy Land?
