"... Your rod and Your staff they comfort me..." Psalm 23:4B
There's comfort in knowing the Good Shepherd is by your side, especially through the valley.
The word rod (7626) in Hebrew means: rod, scepter, tribe, shepherding staff. It became a symbol o the authority of the one bearing it. It was used to protect and count the sheep.
I think sometimes we think of God's rod and staff as means of discipline from a harsh Shepherd, but that couldn't be further from the truth. David says that God's rod and staff comfort (5162) him, meaning to show kindness, console and even avenge.
I did a little research on what a shepherd uses his rod and staff for and I think it will help us in our understand of this passage. Here's what I found.
The rod was a shorter stick that the shepherd used to protect their sheep from wild animals. They would use it to defend their sheep against predators. They also used the rod to count sheep and make sure none were left behind.
The staff was a longer stick with a hook on it's end. They would use the staff to pull sheep back from danger and to keep them moving in the right direction. You see, sheep are notoriously prone to wander without any seeming direction. They need the gentle, but firm staff of the shepherd to stay in the flock and on the correct course.
Know today that your Shepherd is with you every step of the journey.
He won't leave you behind to fend for yourself.
So thankful,
Photo Credit: Taryn Elliot from Pexels.com
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