Even when we are on the "paths of righteousness," we are still under the threat of hell. And the weak point comes in the relationship between our internal, spiritual life and our external, natural life.

Valleys represent the lowest parts of ourselves: our day-to-day, bodily lives in the world. A shadow represents the clouded thinking that goes with that life, thinking connected to bodily things rather than spiritual ones. And death means spiritual death, or the obliteration of our desire to be good and our understanding of how to be good. So this verse is telling us where the threat is: No matter how exalted our thinking might get, it can get torn down pretty quickly by bodily desires. Well-intentioned diets are ruined by hunger; well-intentioned marriages are ruined by lust; well-intentioned businesses are ruined by greed. "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

But we are protected by the Lord's "rod" and "staff." Those both represent the power of true ideas from the Lord; when used together, "staff" represents more external truth and "rod" represents more internal truth. So we have weapons! If we are indeed following the Lord, we will have powerful, applicable principles that can support us through any attack we suffer in the "valley."

9527. 'And you shall make a table' means a receptacle of heavenly blessings [that belong to the good of love]. This is clear from the meaning of 'a table' as heaven in respect of its reception of such blessings as come from the Lord there, which are the good of love and the good of faith, and the joy and bliss derived from them. These blessings are meant by 'a table' because 'food' means the heavenly blessings that belong to the good of love and faith, and the wisdom and intelligence gained from them, which in everyday language too are called heavenly food and also in the Word are meant by 'food', see 56-58, 680, 681, 1480, 4459, 4792, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5576, 5579, 5915, 8562, 9003. What is more, a visual representation of those blessings is now and again made in heaven by means of a table on which all kinds of food are laid. From all this it is evident that 'a table' means a receptacle of heavenly blessings, thus heaven in respect of its reception of such blessings as come from the Lord. These blessings are also meant by 'table' in Luke,

Jesus said, I bestow on you, just as My father bestowed on Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. Luke 22:29-30.

And in Matthew,

Many will come from the east and the west and will recline with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11.

Also in David,

I will fear no evil. You will spread a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You will make my head fat with oil; my cup will overflow. Goodness and mercy will follow me. Psalms 23:4-6.

In the contrary sense however 'table' means a receptacle of such things as exist in hell. In Isaiah,

They go astray through strong drink. They err among the seers, they are tottery in judgement. All tables are full of vomit. Whom will He teach knowledge, and whom will He cause to understand what is heard? Isaiah 28:7-9.

In the same prophet,

You who forsake Jehovah, who set a table for Gad, and fill a drink offering for Meni. Isaiah 65:11.

And in David,

They gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Their table before them will become a snare. Psalms 69:21-22.