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诗篇二十三篇如诗如画的语言总是让我想到户外和徒步旅行。我记得几年前和我妻子一起徒步走过一条陌生的小路。那是早春，小路两边都是重重的树木。它也非常泥泞，而且周围没有其他人。似乎随时都会有一些威胁从我们经过的每一棵树后面跳出来，或者从我们徒步经过的废弃矿井和小屋里面跳出来。我承认，我当时很害怕。

诗人知道沿着这样的小路走是什么感觉。他无疑借鉴了自己走过孤独峡谷或狭窄山谷的经验，随时准备迎接野兽或敌人的攻击。他知道什么是恐惧。但他也知道被神——这位好牧人——带领穿过可怕的地方是怎样的经历。神在他的一生中一直看顾着他——即使在事情看起来最可怕的时候，他知道他无需害怕，因为神与他同在。

我们的生活中充满了黑暗的谷底——那时所有的一切似乎都在为难我们，或者似乎没有安慰。在这些时候，我们需要记住，神与我们同在，祂看顾并引领我们。祂会把我们带到青草地上，使我们的灵魂苏醒。

The picturesque language of Psalm 23 always makes me think about being outside and hiking. I remember hiking an unfamiliar trail with my wife a few years ago. It was early spring, and the trail was bordered by heavy trees on both sides. It was also very muddy, and there was no one else around. It seemed that at any moment some threat could jump out from behind any tree we passed, or from inside the abandoned mines and cabins we hiked past. I’ll admit that I was scared.

The psalmist knew what it was like to follow trails like that. He no doubt drew on his experience of walking through lonely canyons or narrow valleys, ready for a wild animal or an enemy to attack. He knew what it was to be afraid. But he also knew what it was to be led by God—the good shepherd—through frightening places. God had taken care of him throughout his whole life—and even when things seemed most frightening, he knew he didn’t need to be afraid because God was with him.

Our lives are filled with dark valleys—times when everything seems to be out to get us or there seems to be no comfort. During those times we need to remember that God is with us, watching over us and guiding us. He will bring us through to green pastures and will restore our souls.