EPISODE 265 – HIS ROD AND HIS STAFF 4

Sunday 15th October, 2023

HIS ROD AND HIS STAFF 4

“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)

To know the extent of comfort David enjoyed, you must understand the efficacy of the Shepherd’s ROD AND His STAFF.

I have already shared some few verities on the ROD and the STAFF. According to the verse 4 of Psalm 23, the goal of the Shepherd’s Rod and Staff is to bring COMFORT to the sheep.

The Rod and the Staff are sometimes used interchangeably in the scriptures. The Hebrew word “shêbeţ” means rod, and could also mean scepter or staff. This is why in some verses of the scriptures, you will find the word Rod in one translation and in another translation they use Staff or Scepter. (However, in Psalm 23:4 they used two different Hebrew words for Rod and Staff as I explained in the Part 2 of this topic “His Rod and His Staff”).

“Shepherd Your people with Your scepter, The flock of Your possession Which lives by itself in the woodland, In the midst of a fruitful field. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old.” Micah 7:14 (NASB).

The word scepter is the word shêbeţ; a scepter is used by kings as symbol of authority and power. The King exudes the righteousness of His Kingdom by His scepter. (Psalm 45:6).

The Shepherd is the leader of His flock. His authority and power is not in how He uses the sheep to His advantage. His leadership is seen in how He tends the sheep.

We have already learnt that by His ROD (authority and power, which He exerts through the Word of His Power):

– He defends and protects you.

– He acknoweldges, identifies, designates, distinguishes or separates you to Himself as His.

– He has chosen you unto Himself according to His lovingkindness.

By His Rod and Staff:

– The Lord LEADS/GUIDES / DIRECTS you in the way you should go. He guides you from dangerous circumstances. All you have to do (as the Lord’s sheep) is to hear His voice and follow Him. (John 10:3,27).

– The Lord RESTRAINS you from falling or going astray. The Shepherd uses the staff hook to draw a sheep close when it seems to wander away. He is the good Shepherd who will keep you from falling (Jude 1:24). He keeps you from falling into sin, error, darkness evil paths and plots of the enemy. The more you pay attention and heed to His voice, the more you are restrained from error and evil.

The GOOD SHEPHERD takes delight in you and cares for you according to His loving kindness.

FOLLOW HIS VOICE!

Shalom.