464

We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace

Full Text

1 We shall walk through the valley in peace;
we shall walk through the valley in peace.

Refrain:
If Jesus himself shall be our leader,
we shall walk through the valley in peace.

2 There will be no sorrow there;
there will be no sorrow there. [Refrain]

3 There will be no dying there;
there will be no dying there. [Refrain]

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Scripture References

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

No hope is stronger than that expressed in Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1, Question and Answer 1: we “…belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ…because I belong to him, Christ by His Holy Spirit assures me of eternal life...”

 

The basic perspective of hope is expressed in Belgic Confession, Article 37 “…the Lord will make them (us) possess a glory such as the human heart could never imagine. So we look forward to that day (of Christ’s return) with longing in order to enjoy fully the promises of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.”

 

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 15, Question and Answer 42 clarifies what may be misunderstood when it says that even though Christ died for us, we still have to die, but “our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life.” Additionally, Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 17, Question and Answer 45 explains that Christ’s resurrection “is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection.”

 

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 22, Questions and Answers 57 and 58 speak reassurances about the actual event of dying: “Not only will my soul be taken immediately after this life to Christ its head, but also my very flesh will be raised by the power of Christ, reunited with my soul, and made like Christ’s glorious body,” and “even as I already now experience in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life I will have perfect blessedness such as no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human heart has ever imagined: a blessedness in which to praise God forever” (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 22, Question and Answer 58).

 
Our World Belongs to God, paragraph 56 summarizes our hope by testifying, “We long for that day when our bodies are raised, the Lord wipes away our tears, and we dwell forever in the presence of God. We will take our place in the new creation, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, and the Lord will be our light. Come, Lord Jesus, come.”

464

We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace

Tune Information

Name
PEACEFUL VALLEY
Key
A♭ Major
Meter
irregular
464

We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace

Hymn Story/Background

This song of comfort based on Psalm 23 comes from the African American. Unlike most traditional spirituals that are anonymous, this one names A. L. Hatter, though nothing is known about the composer. Even earlier arrangements, especially the well-known and loved choral setting by Moses Hogan, only list this song as an African American spiritual, with no composer’s name listed. This arrangement by Joseph Joubert was first published in the African American Heritage Hymnal (GIA, 2001).
— Emily Brink

Author and Composer Information

Joseph Joubert, was born in New York, New York, where at the age of eight he began playing the piano. After advanced study and graduation from the Manhattan School of Music, with the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, he began to enjoy wider recognition as a solo pianist. As his reputation for solo and ensemble work grew, he performed with many notable symphony orchestras and as both a solo performer and ensemble player has appeared in New York City's major concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and Alice Tully Hall.

As an accompanist critics have hailed Joubert's "sensitive and supportive" performances as well as the "uncommon tonal beauty" of his playing. He has also enjoyed success in musical direction and as a record producer and arranger/orchestrator.

Joubert’s spiritual arrangements are published by GIA Publications, Mar-Vel Music, Hinshaw Music, Hal Leonard and Silver Burdett Ginn. Best known for his amazing versatility, Joubert is very comfortable arranging and performing in any style of music from classical to pop, from Broadway to gospel, from spiritual to R&B and many of these elements can be found in his arrangements.

Most recently Joubert was an orchestrator for the film Nights In Rodanthe starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere. He is currently keyboardist and assistant conductor of Billy Elliot and Associate Musical Director and Accompanist for “The CenturyMen.”
— GIA Publications, Inc. (http://www.giamusic.com)

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