Articles
Your Rod and Your Staff, They Comfort Me
There is something rather comforting about a policemen’s badge. Though a ruddy metallic object, it stands for something greater – it stands for the power and authority given to policemen who serve to protect. They keep criminals at bay and guard our communities. And though crime can get bad, imagine how bad it would be without law enforcement. We would live in a complete state of chaos. But because of law enforcement, even as I drive down the interstate, just the mere sight of a police car causes me to check my speed and to apply the brakes if needed. Perhaps my life has been saved at some point because the mere sight of a policeman caused me to slow down. Is this not comforting?
Because a shepherd spends his nights out on the range with the sheep, he takes all of his camping and cooking equipment, food, and first aid supplies with him. But he also carries with him two tools – a rod and a staff. These brought comfort, security, protection, and correction to the sheep. If a predator attacked, the shepherd could defend his sheep. If a sheep wandered off, the shepherd could also use the rod to spank his sheep in order to keep them in line. The Shepherd’s staff, because it was long and slender, allowed the sheep to follow the shepherd – it was his “standard”. They would know where he was at all times. If a sheep were to fall from a cliff and hang from his feet, the shepherd could take his staff and place its crook under the chest of the sheep, and gently pull it back up to safety. The mere sight of the rod and staff was comforting to a sheep – it knew what they were for.
It is comforting to know that God is not idle toward unrighteousness. Though it seems for a time that sinfulness is rewarded, it eventually finds us out and we reap what we sow. This “discipline” from the Lord doesn’t seem pleasant at the time (Heb 12:10-11), but eventually yields a comforting result toward those who are “brought back in line”. We should never attempt to resist this discipline, it is for our good and helps us to be better people than we were yesterday.
When our sin has us dangling on a cliff over the pits of hell, it is comforting to know that God is anxiously stretching out His staff to rescue us from that impending doom. He doesn’t want us to go to torment; He wants us to follow Him. He’s provided the “standard” through His word and by the example of faithful men of old, He has taught us how to use it. It is comforting to know that our “guide” is readily available, easily seen, and easily used. Praise God, the Good Shepherd, who rescues us when we can’t rescue ourselves.
