Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NKJV)
In his book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, author, pastor, and shepherd Phillip Keller recounts a safari trip in Kenya with another shepherd. While trying to get good photos of some elephants, they dislodged a boulder. A cobra emerged ready to strike. The shepherd killed the snake with his rod, without it leaving his hand. *
The rod provided protection to the shepherd and his flocks making it a distinguished symbol of comfort. Some theologians see the rod as a type for the Word of God. Like the sword of the Spirit, the rod was an offensive weapon.
How does the Word of God protect us? Have you read a verse and the Holy Spirit sheds a new light on it? Sometimes He shows me how the enemy works against me. The Holy Spirit teaches me how to fight with spiritual weapons.
The rod symbolizes the power and authority of the shepherd. Do you recall the miracles Moses did with his rod before Pharaoh? Moses had authority. In our hands, we hold the authoritative Word of God. It contains everything we need.
Sometimes, a shepherd used his rod to discipline wondering or disobedient sheep. Consider the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. His voice is your conscience when you have sinned. I have felt the rod come down on my toes when I have stumbled and lost my way.
Shepherds also used their rods to thoroughly examine sheep as each sheep passed under the rod. Parasites or wounds could be lurking under the sheep’s thick wool. Similarly, God examines us. Wool often represented self and the world, two areas that lead us astray.
When we travel the dark valleys, we experience a peace unbelievers can’t comprehend. We know our Shepherd guards us and nothing happens to us without His approval. Assurance fills our hearts because we know when we meet temptation, the shepherd makes a way of escape. His rod may come down hard on us, but He has our best in mind. His thorough inspection keeps our lives clean and holy. He will pull us back from harmful self-will and worldliness.
As you pray today, thank Jesus for the rod. Thank Him for the times He kept you safe. Thank Him for stepping on your toes and pulling you back from the clutches of sin. Then take comfort in His rod.
Lord Jesus, I take comfort in You and Your Word. It is a guide to my feet and the cleansing for my soul. You direct me through the dark valley with the help of the rod, and I feel safe. You are my good shepherd. Amen.
DIG DEEPER
HIKING THE TRAIL
How have you experienced the comfort of Jesus’s rod? Praise Him for that comfort.
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* Phillip W. Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1970, 2007, 2015) Kindle version, Chapter 8.
Originally posted on September 24, 2021 @ 3:00 am
So good!