His Rod Comforts

“Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…” (Psalm 23). The shepherd would lead his sheep to good pasture and water. The shepherd would have to lead them along good trails, along mountain passages, through dark valleys and through difficult foliage.

Sometimes, old trails would get overgrown with thorns, briars and thistles. It might be impossible to go around the weeds, or it would be very difficult to do so. The shepherd would then take his rod and swing it back and forth as he walked. By doing this, he would beat down the thorns and open up a passage for the sheep. The sheep would be able to walk through without getting cut or stuck by the thorns and thistles.

From a spiritual perspective, the thorns, briars and thistles represent sin in the world. Without the Good Shepherd leading our lives, we will get cut and stuck by sin. However, if we allow the Good Shepherd to lead us, He will beat back the sin so that we can walk through life more easily. This is how His rod comforts us. It is what opens up the pathway of life for us against sin.

Study your Bible. Learn how to follow the Good Shepherd, and if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.