A shepherd’s job is to keep his flock safe and healthy. How does he do this? There are two tools a shepherd uses: a rod and a staff.
The rod is used to protect sheep from predators. It is also used to reprimand sheep when they are heading towards danger (eating harmful plants, fighting with other sheep, etc). A rod can be used to part a sheep’s wool to look for wounds, disease, and skin conditions.
The staff is used to guide the flock to a new pasture. It can be used to return a lamb to its mother, or free sheep from bushes/water. It is also used for tired sheep to lean on.
According to Psalms 23, God is compared to a shepherd. He uses these tools as a means to comfort us. Understanding the use of a rod and staff will help us to realize God comforts us through:
Protection
A good shepherd protects his flock from any danger that comes their way. He wards off predators who seek to do them harm. Who is seeking to do us harm? Satan! He works diligently to take our focus off of God. And he successfully distorts the minds and hearts of so many people in the world who seek to do harm every single day. Not only harm to themselves, but to others. More specifically, to Christians! How can we be protected from such evil that exists?
Psalm 5:11-12
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Gods protection is a blessing! But here’s what we need to remember: his protection is for the righteous. When danger finds its way to us, how do we respond? With anger, hatred, and revenge? If so, how are we demonstrating to others that we are God’s people? A righteous person embraces God’s protection by staying obedient to his commands. Why? Because we know God’s ways are the best ways! Living in obedience to his commands will keep us safe; they are guidelines that instruct us to follow the road which leads to success, even amidst the dangers of life.
Psalm 34:19-22
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”
God’s protection is comforting because we know the dangers of the world can’t even compare to the knowledge that he has! We will still experience the pain of an imperfect world. But he has all the answers and will teach us how to respond to evil through his Word. It will equip us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we respond to evil with righteousness, we experience God’s blessings and protection to the fullest!
Reprimand
Predators aren’t the only way a sheep can get involved with danger. Sometimes they find themselves getting into trouble without even realizing it. Just as a sheep wanders off and explores his world out of curiosity, so do we. And in the process, we discover many customs that the world views as normal and acceptable. This is another way in which Satan deceives us. He wants us to believe that our comfort comes from destructive habits, rather than from God. Sin is used to temporarily make us feel good, like through the abuse of drugs, lust, and alcohol.
Psalm 119:21-22
“You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes.”
A good shepherd reprimands his flock from any dangerous situations they come in contact with. The same goes with our relationship with God. He loves all of his children and never wishes harm or failure on anyone. And he will do whatever is necessary to bring us back on the path that leads to success. Even if that means teaching us harsh lessons and allowing us to deal with the consequences of our actions.
Proverbs 9:8-9
“Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”
A righteous person understands that even though they make mistakes, they can still learn and grow through rebuke. Even Jesus himself says in Revelation 3:19,
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
God’s rebuke is comforting because it comes from a place of love! He cares enough about his children to warn them of their sin, rather than sit back and watch them go down the path which leads to destruction. It is a stern wake up call that should encourage each Christian to repent of their old ways and make choices that will be beneficial to their faith.
Evaluation
A good shepherd uses his rod to part the sheep’s wool and examine the skin. He does this to make sure his flock doesn’t have any conditions that could lead to disease or sickness. God does the same with us. He examines our hearts to see where we are emotionally and spiritually. How does he do this? Through tests!
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
A sick heart leads to sin. What is in our hearts will say a lot about who we are and who our hearts belong to. Through evaluation, God checks in on us to see if we can apply what we’ve learned from him. It’s easy to stay faithful when life is going “according to plan.” But when we encounter a challenging situation, how do we respond? If we fail to pass the test, God is not looking to discourage us. He wants us to recognize the areas that need improvement. Through the testing of our faith, we learn a lot about ourselves - our strengths and weaknesses. And we learn how to respond more appropriately for the next test that comes our way.
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
God’s evaluation is comforting because he does what is necessary for us to grow and learn! Even if it means going through tests. A righteous person understands that through challenging situations, our faith is being exercised. We can’t fully understand the power of God’s Word until we live it and put his teachings into practice.
Direction
A good shepherd leads the flock where he thinks is best for them to roam. Maybe he moves them to a new field with fresh grass to graze on. Or perhaps there is a predator near by and the shepherd guides them to another area. Whatever the situation, the shepherd always leads his sheep to where they need to be. The same applies to our relationship with God.
Psalm 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
God knows exactly what each of us needs, and he will make sure we are given the opportunity to receive it. Some of us will be led to those who need to hear the Word. Some of us will be led to a fellow Christian in need of our wisdom. Some of us may even be led to another area of the world in order to do God’s work. It’s important to remember wherever God leads us is relevant in our Christian walk. There is something he wants us to learn while we are there. There is important work that needs to be done. And he chose you to complete the task because he needs your talents, courage, and faithful heart to serve him and help others!
Proverbs 16:1-3
“To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
God’s direction is comforting because we come to understand the world around us. We learn about different people from different places, how we can relate with them, and how we can help them grow in their faith. If the goal of a Christian is to serve God and do his will, then we must trust the direction of God - he will make sure our plans succeed. We may think we have life figured out, but God finds a way of interceding and establishing our plans in ways we never thought possible!
Shelter
Amidst the dangers and chaos of the world, a good shepherd provides a place for his sheep to rest. He uses his staff for the flock to lean on when they become weary. God provides the same for his children. Sometimes life can be too much for us to handle. When this happens, God allows us to lean on him for support and relief.
Psalm 61:1-4
“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”
God is our strong tower! Meaning, he doesn't fall or crumble. He stands firm against all difficulties of this world. Whether we seek shelter from our enemies, our situations, or even our troubled minds, he is there to remind us of who we are and what we have to look forward to. When our minds are focused on what is eternal rather than what is temporary and earthly, we have the hope of eternity. And we remember that perseverance leads to many gained qualities that shape our faith.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God’s shelter is comforting because no matter how hard life can get, we always have a place to rest. A place that helps our minds and hearts recover from the pain of this world. A place that offers peace that can’t be gained anywhere else. We can rest knowing God is in control. He is bigger than the troubles of this world. In fact, he has overcome the world (John 16:33)! And he wants us to rely on his strength, not on our own. When we take his yoke, we allow him to teach us as we share our burdens with him. God longs to work beside us through our challenges!
When you're in danger, where do you find safety? When you fail, who helps you grow? When you're lost, who is your compass? When you're weary, where can you find rest? Have you sought all of the following from earthly sources? Do you look for a temporary fix? Or can you confidently rely on a loving God who is there to help and support you? When we seek comfort from God, our souls are at ease. We leave our lives in his capable hands.
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
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