Thou Art with Me

Thou Art With Me
By Henry Ossawa Tanner

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.”
Psalms 23:4

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This painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner of a shepherd standing with his flock at the edge of a steep precipice beautifully captures the moment in Psalms 23 when David evokes the promise of the Good Shepherd’s comforting presence in those dark moments of fear, difficulty or uncertainty that the Psalmist poetically calls the “valley of the shadow of death.”

The rural areas around Bethlehem and Jerusalem where Bedouin shepherds still graze their flocks abound with steep cliffs and narrow ravines, where sometimes a wise shepherd would need to take his flock in search of safety and nourishment. Traveling down from a mountaintop into a deep ravine would mean navigating a narrow path with rugged rocks on either side, filled with blind turns and unseen dangers. The lower the flock descended, the darker the journey became, and the more formidable the towering cliffs and overhanging rocks appeared. One can imagine the shadow of death everywhere in such an environment, which would strike fear in any heart. Plus, sheep lack good vision and are easily frightened and generally reluctant to move into dark places. Yet, the flock travels through this treacherous valley without fear or trepidation. The sheep remain calm because of the presence of the shepherd, whom they implicitly trust.

We all face similar shadowy valleys in life. Times of great loss, worry, uncertainty or confusion, when the path before us is unsteady and obscured, and where it can feel as though we are surrounded by the very shadow of death. But like David’s sheep, we can have faith and trust in the Shepherd who travels alongside us in our darkest, most difficult times. May we find the solace and strength to face even our darkest days, reassured by the eternal presence of the One who guides, protects, and loves us unconditionally. In the words of Charles Spurgeon: “Wherever Jesus may lead us, He goes before us. If we don’t know where we are going, we know with whom we go.”

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