【诗23:4】我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因为你与我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。【Psalm 23:4】Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

大卫不是用诗意幻想牧羊生活——他真的放过羊。中东的牧羊人有时会带羊群行过狭窄阴暗的山谷，在这种环境中充满未知惊恐，最容易遭害-被野兽袭击或跌下山崖，羊群会本能的不安与恐惧。David was not romanticising shepherd life—he had genuinely cared for sheep. In the Middle East, shepherds would at times lead their flocks through narrow, shadowed valleys. Such places are filled with uncertainty and danger—wild animals may attack, or sheep may slip from steep edges. The flock naturally becomes restless and afraid.

牧人手里有两样器具，杖和杆。杖是较粗的棒子，用来赶走野兽。In his hand the shepherd holds two implements: the rod and the staff. The rod is a solid club used to drive off predators. 也预表权能，击退那试图吞噬我的仇敌和负面思想；“杆”则是前头带弯钩的细棍子，“杆”预表慈爱，在羊偏离义路、滑向悬崖时，温柔地将羊勾回。It also speaks of authority and power, striking back the enemy and the negative thoughts that try to consume me. The staff, with its curved hook, represents loving care. When a sheep drifts from the righteous path or edges toward danger, the shepherd gently draws it back. 它也可以点击羊的身侧，用来纠正羊前进的方向，或偶尔管教。羊之所以不再惊慌，不是因为山谷变亮了，而是因为牧人同在。大卫作为一个懂羊的牧人，深知这两样东西对羊意味着绝对的安全感。At times he taps the sheep to guide its direction, or to discipline when needed. The sheep are calmed not because the valley becomes lighter, but because the shepherd is there. David, as a shepherd himself, knew that these two tools meant complete security.

大卫一生经历许多死阴的幽谷：亲情的撕裂，友情的背叛，爱情的失败；被追杀的惊惶，被误解的孤独，内心的惧怕与挣扎。David’s life included many valleys of deep shadow: fractured family relationships, betrayal by friends, failure in love; the fear of being hunted, the loneliness of being misunderstood, inner struggles and dread. 当敌人掳走家眷，众人愤怒到要用石头打死他时，他在神面前自卑自洁，饶恕接纳，最终夺回一切；当扫罗追杀他至营门口，他心无旁骛，住在耶和华的殿中经历神大能的拯救；When enemies carried off his family and his own men were so angry they spoke of stoning him, he humbled himself before God, sought cleansing, chose forgiveness, and eventually recovered everything. When Saul hunted him to the edge of the camp, he remained steadfast, dwelling in the presence of the LORD and witnessing God’s powerful rescue. 当他与拔士巴行淫后，经历神的管教，他谦卑悔改，不辩解，自此不偏左右，保守圣洁…他一生数次经历了神的杖与杆的安慰。After his sin with Bathsheba and the discipline that followed, he repented humbly and without excuse, and guarded his life in holiness thereafter. Time and again he experienced the comfort of God’s rod and staff. 为能时时见神的荣面，甘心付上代价。坐下起来，深夜清晨，一生紧紧跟随。神的应许从不落空。纵然他如羊走迷过，犯罪跌倒过，但他不怕遭害，因为大卫常常思想、寻求、跟神交通，他知道耶和华牧者的‘杖和杆‘从未离开过他。他深知他是神所爱的羊。To behold the glory of God’s face, he willingly bore the cost. By day and by night, he followed closely. God’s promises never failed. Though he strayed and stumbled into sin, he did not live in fear, because he continually sought and communed with God. He knew the Shepherd’s rod and staff had never departed from him. He knew he was a sheep deeply loved by God.

“因为你与我同在”。诗篇前半段，大卫说“他”；到了死阴幽谷，反倒使大卫跟神的关系变得更加贴近，从‘祂’变成‘你’， 这最黑暗的时刻，成了最能经历“你与我同在”，跟神交心的地方。“For You are with me.” In the earlier verses David speaks of “He,” but in the valley the language becomes personal—from “He” to “You.” In the darkest place, the relationship grows closer; it becomes the very place of experiencing “You are with me.” 他说“你”。这不仅仅是转向亲密的称呼，而是生死之交的经历，是血泪关系的见证。它引人进入与神更真实的面对面，肩并肩的确据，更深的信靠。This is not simply a more intimate way of speaking, but the testimony of life-and-death fellowship. It leads into a more real, face-to-face assurance with God and a deeper trust. 幽谷不是终点，而是通道，乃是为了带他进入丰盛之地的必经之路。正如耶稣基督，在应许中，虽然走进十字架的死亡幽谷，却第三日从死里荣耀得胜地复活。死亡不是目的，因信复活才是神的心意。The valley is not the end but a passage, the road that leads into fullness. Just as Jesus Christ entered the valley of death at the cross and on the third day rose in glory and victory. Death is not the purpose; resurrection through faith is the heart of God’s will.

主啊，多少时候， 我只求你为我开路，却忘了谁在掌权。万物结局在你手中，你的旨意是带领我悔改。Lord, how often I have simply asked You to make a way, forgetting that You are sovereign. The outcome of all things rests in Your hands, and Your purpose is to lead me to repentance.多少次，我感到心力交瘁、或处于人生低谷的时刻，我看环境，也断定事情已无转机，也以为你放弃了我。可没想到你在光中降临，我的罪被你除去，我的病被你医治，死荫幽谷的局势被你彻底翻转。When I felt drained or found myself in life’s lowest valleys, I looked at my circumstances and assumed there was no hope, even imagining You had given up on me. Yet You came in light; You removed my sin, healed my sickness, and turned the valley of shadow completely around.

主啊，我亲爱的牧者，我今天看到，在那死荫笼罩的幽谷深处，是你离我最近的地方。你不是在谷口等我走出来，而是你亲自陪着我走在其中。Lord, my dear Shepherd, today I see that in the depths of the valley overshadowed by death, that is where You are nearest to me. You are not standing at the entrance waiting for me to emerge; You walk with me through it. 没有深谷幽黯，就没有真实的信靠；没有破碎，就没有对你慈爱最深的洞见，也就无法经历心灵最深刻的喜乐和平安。如今，我不再祈求生活平顺安逸，而是求成为一个坚强的人。Without the dark valley, there is no genuine trust; without brokenness, there is no deeper understanding of Your steadfast love, nor the fullest joy and peace of the heart. I no longer ask for an easy and comfortable life, but to grow strong. 我宣告：我的平安不是来自青草地，而是你与我同在。我虽也经过死荫幽谷，但我不属于死亡。无论何事，无论死亡、疾病、我都不在惧怕，都不能让你的爱与我隔绝，因为你的保护，管教和安慰与我同在。I declare that my peace does not come from green pastures, but from Your presence. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I do not belong to death. Whatever comes—death or illness—I will not fear, for nothing can separate me from Your love. Your protection, discipline, and comfort remain with me.

（李姊妹/Sister Li）