9/16 Shadows

"The Shadow of Death" Psa. 23:4

"The Shadow of the Almighty" Psa. 91:1

I have heard that a shadow cannot harm us, and that to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, one must walk slowly because a shadow is a reflection of the real thing, and I can see the logic in all that, but there’s another shadow that we can take comfort in because it speaks of better things. This “shadow” is the shadow of the Lord, as seen in psalm 91, the “Shadow of the Almighty”. This speaks of closeness to Him; of protection; of comfort; of security, and of fellowship. When we “walk with God” we walk in His shadow. While the “Shadow of death” speaks of caution and fear, we have the opposite in His shadow, the shadow of God. These “shadows are millenniums apart, and yet they are both shadows that we must walk through. I would rather though, “dwell” under the shadow of the Almighty than have to run back to it when danger came along! Why not live there and never leave, then we avoid the other—the shadow of death? The first shadow cannot overwhelm the other. If we are to live “in the shadows” where usually evil lurks, let us seek the shadow of the Almighty where only righteousness prevails, and peace is the standard for our lives. We need to abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

We find the word “shadow” mentioned eight times in the New Testament, and each time a wonderful truth is taught. The first mention in the New Testament is in Mt 4:16, where we see another reference to the “shadow of death” which is compared to the darkness of our lives. There are many “shadows” but the most significant one may be in Col. 2:17, where the law and its practices are seen as a mere shadow of things to come. They were given for a “Pattern” for us, similar to a pattern that might be used in a blueprint, or for sewing. They are there for us to follow, but not in the reality that they were given i.e. under the law. Paul was a “pattern” or an example of the suffering that the children of God must endure (1 Tim. 1:16), and he was patterned after Christ Himself. You see, a pattern is for our example, while a shadow is a reflection of the real thing. So, we have shadows and patterns to teach us of the wonderful truths of God; we have blueprints and pictures then to show us the way and will of the Lord. Our Lord has made it easy for us to do His will and follow Him; He has laid it out plainly, and even given us the written Word so that there would be no doubt as to what is expected of us, and how we can accomplish that which is expected of us. So, we have a three-fold outline on doing and knowing the will of God for us, all we must do is to pay attention and heed the pictures, patterns, and words of the Lord.