Your Rod & Staff Comfort Me
Your Rod & Staff Comfort Me
What are the uses of the Shepherd’s rod and staff and how do they comfort the sheep?
#1: The Rod Guards And Protects
Sheep by nature are unable to fend for themselves, hence they need a shepherd to protect them from predators, just like how king David fought against the lions and bears in 1 Samuel 17:34-36.
Just like how the shepherd protects sheep from predators, God protects us from our enemies. It brings comfort to us when we know that we are safe because our Shepherd can conquer any beasts that come for us.
#2: The Rod Disciplines
Proverbs 13:24 says, ‘Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.’ What does this mean?
Imagine having a friend who is going on a path that is not good for him. Would you leave him be? Or would you warn him of the dangers ahead and try to pull him back in the right direction, knowing the harm that might ensue?
In a similar fashion, the Shepherd has foresight to see where we, the sheep, are going and therefore uses the rod to discipline us.
Although discipline may feel painful for us, God’s discipline does not harm us. It is an act of love, not of hate.
#3: The Staff Guides And Directs
The staff is a tool that is needed for guiding and protecting us when we cannot do things on our own. For example, a sheep on its back cannot pick itself back up on its own and might die from the weight of bodily fluids if left for too long. Hence, the Shepherd needs to tuck the staff under the body of the sheep to lift it up.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in trouble when we are far away from God. It’s like we are that sheep lying on our back. In that state, we need the Lord to draw us closer to Him the way a staff is used to draw sheep closer to their Shepherd. When He draws us closer to Himself, then He can continue guiding us in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).
Dear friend, now that we have a visual representation of how God takes care of us as a Shepherd, we can have a better understanding of how He loves us.
Here is a humbling verse we can remember as our Shepherd leads us: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.’ (Proverbs 3:5-6)
As you journey with God, let Him be the one that guards you, protects you, disciplines you, guides and directs you.
Prayer:
Lord God,
Thank You for being my Shepherd. Being guarded, protected, and being disciplined to walk the paths of righteousness comforts me, knowing that You do it out of love. May I learn to trust You as my Shepherd and rely on you for my growth.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
What are the uses of the Shepherd’s rod and staff and how do they comfort the sheep?
#1: The Rod Guards And Protects
Sheep by nature are unable to fend for themselves, hence they need a shepherd to protect them from predators, just like how king David fought against the lions and bears in 1 Samuel 17:34-36.
Just like how the shepherd protects sheep from predators, God protects us from our enemies. It brings comfort to us when we know that we are safe because our Shepherd can conquer any beasts that come for us.
#2: The Rod Disciplines
Proverbs 13:24 says, ‘Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.’ What does this mean?
Imagine having a friend who is going on a path that is not good for him. Would you leave him be? Or would you warn him of the dangers ahead and try to pull him back in the right direction, knowing the harm that might ensue?
In a similar fashion, the Shepherd has foresight to see where we, the sheep, are going and therefore uses the rod to discipline us.
Although discipline may feel painful for us, God’s discipline does not harm us. It is an act of love, not of hate.
#3: The Staff Guides And Directs
The staff is a tool that is needed for guiding and protecting us when we cannot do things on our own. For example, a sheep on its back cannot pick itself back up on its own and might die from the weight of bodily fluids if left for too long. Hence, the Shepherd needs to tuck the staff under the body of the sheep to lift it up.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in trouble when we are far away from God. It’s like we are that sheep lying on our back. In that state, we need the Lord to draw us closer to Him the way a staff is used to draw sheep closer to their Shepherd. When He draws us closer to Himself, then He can continue guiding us in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3).
Dear friend, now that we have a visual representation of how God takes care of us as a Shepherd, we can have a better understanding of how He loves us.
Here is a humbling verse we can remember as our Shepherd leads us: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.’ (Proverbs 3:5-6)
As you journey with God, let Him be the one that guards you, protects you, disciplines you, guides and directs you.
Prayer:
Lord God,
Thank You for being my Shepherd. Being guarded, protected, and being disciplined to walk the paths of righteousness comforts me, knowing that You do it out of love. May I learn to trust You as my Shepherd and rely on you for my growth.
In Jesus’ name, amen.