A Message from Psalm 23 - Part 2

"Thy Rod and Thy Staff They Comfort Me"

Please note that this is part 2 of a message from Psalm 23. The messages are taken from a book written by Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, and copyright 1970.

For years when I read Psalm 23 and got to the part about the "rod and staff", I thought it meant that I should view the discipline of the Lord as a comfort. When I was a child and my parents had to discipline me I never found it a "comfort". Eventually I would recognize the value of it but a comfort? Really?

Mr. Keller shares wonderful insight concerning the "rod and staff". David, the writer of the psalm, would have been very familiar with how a shepherd used a rod and staff with his sheep.

In the Middle East the shepherd always carries a rod and staff. Each shepherd boy, Mr. Keller explains, takes special pride in the selection of a rod and staff suited to his own size and strength.

Today let us take a look at the rod. First of all the young shepherd will spend hours practicing how to throw his club with amazing speed and accuracy. That rod will become his main weapon of defense for not only himself but also the sheep under his charge. He will drive off predators like coyotes, wolves, cougars or, as David did, a lion or bear.

The rod was also used to examine the sheep. Sheep need careful examination. Due to their long wool it is not easy to detect disease, wounds or defects in sheep. A skilled shepherd can use his rod and part the sheep's wool to determine the condition of the skin, the cleanliness of the fleece and the conformation of the body. The picture presented is of a shepherd who stops every sheep with his outstretched rod before he lets him through the gate and into the fields. His skillful hands will check the sheep so that all problems become laid bare and can be attended to.

What a great picture!! The Lord is our Good Shepherd. He is waiting for us to invite Him to use His rod to search us. Psalm 139:23-24 says "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."

You may ask, what is God's rod? When Jesus was in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan, the rod His Father gave Him was the Word. Dear one, there is simply no substitute for Scripture. We live in a world where many live by a code of conduct that is contrary to Christ-likeness. I know you see and hear it every day as I do. Ladies, it is His Word that we can count on again and again to counter the attacks of the enemy, to be our rod. The Word will lead us to all truth that will lead to freedom in Christ. The Word of God will get below the surface, way beneath the plastic smile we might wear on Sundays. It will get deep into our will and expose things that need to be made right. Our Good Shepherd has our best interests at heart. He will tenderly and compassionately search our hearts. We can trust in God's loving care.

Tomorrow we will address His staff.

Be blessed,

Patricia Wenzel
WOC Graduate

DIGGING DEEPER
James 5:1-3
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are motheater. Your gold and silver have corroded and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up trasure in the last days.

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