EPISODE 264 – HIS ROD AND HIS STAFF 3

Saturday 14th October, 2023

HIS ROD AND HIS STAFF 3

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

We have already discussed some key realities of Psalm 23:4. And in this verse we see two key ultimate things we enjoy or happens to us (as the sheep of the Lord):

– We fear no evil

– We are comforted.

Fear is dispelled even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death; because of the presence of the Good Shepherd.
We are also defended and given rest by His Rod and Staff.

However, there are some additional items we have to look into concerning the Lord’s Rod and Staff.

Understanding all that the Rod and the Staff represents will help you appreciate the verse 4 more.

The Rod is not only for protecting the sheep from predators, the Rod also:

– Reveals how the Shepherd ACKNOWLEDGES every sheep.

Mostly when the shepherd wants to count the sheep, he makes them pass under the rod.
Some mistaken this phrase “pass under the rod” to mean punishment. Meanwhile, that is not what it really represents.

“I will make you pass under the rod [as the shepherd does with his sheep when he counts them, and I will count you as Mine and constrain you] and bring you into the bond of the covenant [to which you are permanently bound]. Ezekiel 20:37 (Amplified)

The Rod is also the Shepherd’s instrument to identify or acknowledge you as His.

Just as the Lord designated Israel to Himself as His own flock and people, even so has He designated, distinguished and separated the Church (and you are a member of the Church) unto Himself as His own people.

The Lord is not a hireling, He is the GOOD SHEPHERD who owns His flock.

He marked you as His and knows you intimately, because you have passed under His rod and hands. You are permanantly bound to Him as His. He is your eternal Shepherd and you are His sheep eternally.

You are perpetually consecrated unto the Lord.

“and because the gatekeeper knows who he is, he opens the gate to let him in. And the sheep recognize the voice of the true Shepherd, for he calls his own by name and leads them out, for they belong to him” John 10:3 (TPT)

The rod of the Shepherd is not only for defending His flock, neither is it only for counting; it is also a symbol of intimacy. You are not just a number in His flock. You are a member and He identifies you by your name.

– The rod is also used by the Shepherd to SELECT His sheep.

“And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD” Leviticus 27:32

The Shepherd uses the Rod to select or choose the tithe of His sheep to be given unto the Lord. Listen, the Lord sees you as his choicest.

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)

Dear beloved, you are selected and chosen in Christ as His holy and faultless sheep, according to His loving kindness and grace.

Be comforted for the Lord knows and care for those who are His.

Shalom.