Valley of Death

Christian going through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Now at the end of this Valley was another, called the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and Christian must needs go through it, because the way to the Celestial City lay through the midst of it. Now, this Valley is a very solitary place. The Prophet Jeremiah thus describes it: A wilderness, a land of deserts and of pits, a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, a land that no man (but a Christian) passeth through, and where no man dwelt. Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon, as by the sequel you shall see.

I saw then in my Dream, that when Christian was got to the borders of the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, Children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land, making haste to go back; to whom Christian spake as follows,

Christian: Whither are you going?

Men: They said, Back, back; and we would have you to do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you.

Christian: Why, what's the matter? said Christian.

Men: Matter! said they'; we were going that way as you are going, and went as far as we durst; and indeed we were almost past coming back; for had we gone a little further, we had not been here to bring the news to thee.

Christian: But what have you met with? said Christian.

Men: Why we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but that by good hap we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came to it.

Christian: But what have you seen? said Christian.

Men: Seen! Why, the Valley itself, which is as dark as pitch; we also saw there the Hobgoblins, Satyrs, and Dragons of the Pit; we heard also in that Valley a continual howling and yelling, as of a people under unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; and over that Valley hangs the discouraging clouds of confusion; death also doth always spread his wings over it. In a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order.

Christian: Then said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but that this is my way to the desired Haven. Men. Be it thy way; we will not chose it for ours.

So they parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his Sword drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted.

A very deep ditch leading to perdition I saw then in my Dream, so far as this Valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch; that ditch is it into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Again, behold on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quag, into which, if even good man falls, he can find no bottom for his foot to stand on. Into that quag King David once did fall, and had no doubt therein been smothered, had not he that was able to pluck him out. The path-way was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought in the dark to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other; also when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for, besides the dangers mentioned above, the path-way was here so dark, that ofttimes, when he lifted up his foot to set forward, he knew not where, or upon what he should set it next.

Poor man! where art thou now?

Thy Day is Night. Good man be not cast down, thou yet art right:

Thy way to Heaven lies by the gates of Hell;

Cheer up, hold out, with thee it shall go well.

The mouth of Hell in the midst of Valley of shadow of death

About the midst of this Valley, I perceived the mouth of Hell to be, and it stood also hard by the wayside. Now thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises (things that cared not for Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before) that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called All-prayer. So he cried in my hearing, O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul.

Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards him: Also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in prices, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him for several miles together; and coming to a place where he thought he heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do. Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then again he thought he might be half way through the Valley; he remembered also how he had already vanquished many a danger, and that the danger of going back might be much more than for to go forward; so he resolved to go on. Yet the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer; but when they were come even almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, I will walk in the strength of the Lord God; so they gave back, and came no further.

One thing I would not let slip; I took notice that now poor Christian was so confounded, that he did not know his own voice; and thus I perceived it; Just when he was come over against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than anything that he met with before, even to think that he should now blaspheme Him that he loved so much before; yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had not the discretion neither to stop his ears, nor to know from whence those blasphemies came.

When Christian had travelled in this disconsolate condition some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, going before him saying, Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear none ill, for thou art with me.

Then was he glad, and that for these reasons:

First, Because he gathered from thence, that some who feared God were in this Valley as well as himself.

Secondly, For that he perceived God was with them, though in that dark and dismal state; and why not, thought he, with me? though by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it.

Thirdly, For that he hoped, could he overtake them, to have company by and by.

So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew not what to answer, for that he also thought himself to be alone. And by and by the day broke; then said Christian, He hath turned the Shadow of Death into the morning.

Interpretation:

The valley of the shadow of death is a spiritual place we have to tread on wherein we are tempted to the core by the devil. David did once fall into this quag when he committed the sin of adultery with Bethsheba. But he rose alive from the deep ditch when prophet Nathan confronted him with a prophetic message from God. As David repented of his sin, so he was restored. If Nathan had not met him, he would have perished in the ditch for ever. Many people have fallen into this deep, bottomless ditch.

Christian lifted up his foot to set forward, he knew not where, or upon what he should set it next. If you fall into this ditch, you do not know how to get out of it. Christian was forced to put up his sword against Apollyon, and use another weapon, called All-prayer and cry out, O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. By tearful prayers with a contrite heart, you have to come out of this ditch of mire.

In this valley, the fiends around you may tempt you with blasphemies as if you are uttering these words. These words will come to your mind from the fiends sent by Apollyon. The fire of the hell will surround you in this valley. You may not feel the presence of the divine Shepherd but the presence of Apollyon and his fiends. Though you may not feel His presence, yet He will be with you according to His promise. You should confess."Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear none ill, for Thou art with me". Saints who have gone through this valley will definitely counsel you and pray for you. Fellowship with the saints is a must as you go through this valley of darkness. As they pray for you, you will see a ray of light in your path.

Once you get out of the valley of the shadow of death, you would be able to look back the path traversed by you in this valley.

Next ......End of the valley of the shadow of Death