Thy Rod and Thy Staff Comfort Me

Why would a sheep find comfort in the rod and staff of the shepherd? Trusting him for guidance over difficult and dangerous terrains, the sheep, because of its characteristics, tend to wander off into trouble and because it doesn't pay attention well, it is easy prey to any wild beast of the field. In such situations, it experiences fear. The sheep is incapable of defending itself and so rely on the good shepherd for its protection. It is important to note that in David's time, sheep were not kept as pets but were extremely valuable to families. Therefore, the shepherd had a vital role to play in the family’s welfare and future.

The Psalmist, in his years as a shepherd, had reasons to protect his flock from danger when he slew a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17), and it was this same sense of being protected by the LORD, his Shepherd, that he unveils in the psalm. In those days shepherds used rods and staffs to protect the sheep from harm or, in other cases, to get the sheep out of harm’s way. The shepherd used the rod as a defensive weapon to fight off predatory animals like wolves and bears. The staff - which measured about 8 feet in length - was used by the shepherd as a tool to get the sheep out of a difficult spot. Sheep were known to get caught in the brushes, so the shepherd would use the crooked end of the staff to pull the sheep out of the thicket and draw the sheep out to the shepherd’s protective care. In some cases, the sheep would lose its footing and slip down, hanging helplessly on some ledge below. With his staff, the shepherd could reach down, place the crook over the small chest of the sheep and lift it back onto the pathway. If the sheep fell into a pit, the shepherd would hook the staff around the lamb’s neck and pull it to safety. The picture presented is to save the sheep from harm and to draw the sheep close to the shepherd.

In his book, Surprised by Suffering, R.C. Sproul writes, “Without the shepherd the sheep would be helpless in the shadowy valley. But as long as the shepherd was present, the lamb had nothing to fear. If the shepherd fell, all would be lost for the sheep. But we have a shepherd who cannot fall. We have a shepherd who cannot die. He is no hireling who abandons his flock at the first sign of trouble. Our shepherd is armed with omnipotent force. He is not threatened by the valley of shadows. He created the valley. He redeems the valley.” What a Shepherd!

Knowing that our God is a loving and protective Shepherd who is actively looking out for us is not only powerful but very reassuring. To know and accept this revelation deep in our hearts should give us tremendous strength to endure during the difficult times on our individual journeys. It is good to know that we have an all-powerful shepherd who is infinitely capable of caring for, protecting and rescuing us from any sort of danger. The thing to remember is that along this journey we are incapable of taking care of ourselves. However, we do not need to worry about the present or the future because He, our Shepherd, has everything under control. To Him be all the glory.