Valley of the Shadow of Death - Caroline
In Psalm 23:4, there is the verse “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me,” which means even through the hardest times, one shouldn’t be afraid because God is with them.
1. Roger Fenton released a photograph in 1855 titled “The Valley of the Shadow of Death.” It depicts the scene of war with a cannonball littered dirt-road. The allusion in the title enhances the feel of fright and hardship during war.
2. Another depiction of war using this allusion is Ken Burns’ Civil War, Episode 6: Valley of the Shadow of Death 1864. Similarly, it describes war as a time and place of fear.
3. Strong Will Continue by Nas featuring Damian Marley has a verse that says “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; New York to Cali, for the money, power, respect.” Many rappers sing about becoming famous, and in this case, Nas uses the allusion to express how tough it is to achieve fame.
4. James Gillray painted a scene of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It included a man with a sword walking through a land of creatures such as bears, lions, and snakes. Also, in the sky was God watching over him. This painting is a very literal depiction of the bible verse.
Sources:
- Fenton, Roger. The Valley of the Shadow of Death. Digital image. All World Wars. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.
- Ken Burns' Civil War, Episode 6: Valley of the Shadow of Death 1864. Digital image.Alibris. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.
- Nas, Damian Marley, K'Naan, Stephen Marley, Dennis Brown, Wayne Lil, and Joss Stone. Distant Relatives. Universal Republic, 2010. MP3.
- Gillray, James. The Valley of the Shadow of Death. Digital image. Web Gallery. 1st-art-gallery.com, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.artchive.com/web_gallery/J/James-Gillray/The-Valley-of-the-Shadow-of-Death-Satirical-Cartoon.html>.
- Nas & Damian Marley - Strong Will Continue. Perf. Nas Featuring Damian Marley. N.d. 16 July 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.