The Lord is My Shepherd

This morning I was reading more from Powerful Promises for Every Woman by Elizabeth George. In the chapter today she describes a shepherd's rod and staff. So many times in the Bible the Lord is described as a Shepherd to His people. In this book she looks at each aspect of what a shepherd does and then parallels it with the believers relationship with the Lord. We, like sheep, tend to often times want to go our own way. We need someone to gently pull us back with the crook of his staff. And the Lord does that with those of His sheep who tend to wander. Also sheep can fall into a crevice and the shepherd does not rest until he finds his sheep and gently draws them out and then gives them comfort. The Lord does the same with us when we slip and stumble. I remember reading in another book about how sometimes there will be a sheep who is constantly running away from the other sheep and the shepherd. This sheep always seems to head towards trouble and danger. The shepherd will go and bring the sheep back. And he will do it again and again if the sheep keeps wandering off. If the sheep never learns then the shepherd will break one of the sheeps legs and then help the sheep to mend. After this the sheep never wanders off again. We can sometimes be like that sheep and the Lord must discipline us because we just won't stop doing what we are not suppose to. But after He disciplines us, He bandages and takes care of us until we have learned what we need to. And then there are the sheep who stay by the shepherd's side and they know they are safest when they are with him. They have constant "fellowship" with the shepherd. May we be like these sheep who know that it is safest to be walking by the Shepherd's side and having constant fellowship with Him.

The Rod of a Shepherd

"It's an instrument that hangs by the shepherd's side or is sheathed in a long narrow pouch attached to his cloak. Most generally, it's made of oak and is about two feet long, coming from a carefully chosen straight young tree. After tearing up the oak tree, the bulb at the beginning of the root, which is about the size of a man's fist, is trimmed to make the head of a club. Next a hole is carved through the rod so it can be tied to the shepherd's belt or hang from his wrist like a riding whip. Sometimes two-inch metal spikes are driven into the club so that with one blow with it can kill an attacking animal or snake.
Most of us know that sheep have no defenses. God didn't make sheep with claws, nor horns, nor speed, nor tusks, nor spines, nor shells, nor fangs. No, all that the poor sheep has for defense is the shepherd and his rod. Armed with this instrument of protection and death, the shepherd can lead his sheep through tall grass, swinging the club back and forth to frighten any enemies, and prepare the way for his sheep. And with his tool of defense, the shepherd can beat off the enemies of the flock- eagles, snakes, wild animals, mountain lions, bears, wolves coyotes, even robbers."

The Staff of a Shepherd

"It's a much longer stick than the rod, more like six feet in length. It enables the shepherd to climb up and over rocks to survey their stability before leading his sheep there. With his staff, a shepherd can check out crevices and caves for snakes and scorpions that could harm his sheep. And his staff is also used to prod loitering sheep and to separate those that are fighting.

A shepherd's staff also has a crook on one end, much like the end of a curved walking stick. For centuries, the staff with its crook has been used as an instrument of guidance and restraint, and has come to symbolize the wise control of a shepherd over his sheep. For instance, the crook can slipped around a sheep's neck to restrain it or guide it. The crook can also keep a sheep from falling. And this marvelous device is also wielded to rescue sheep. If a sheep falls, the shepherd can twist the crook until it hooks into the sheep's wool and then lift the sheep until it is once again on sure footing.

Oh yes, the staff is most invaluable to the shepherd as he cares for his flock. He can use it to draw the flock together and to keep them from wandering. He can use it to restore the little lambs to their ewes. He can count each sheep when night falls by gently tapping each one on the head with the staff as it enters the sheep fold. And the shepherd uses his staff to communicate with his sheep as they trek and amble along their many paths together. A touch of the staff becomes a gesture of intimacy while walking, even though the shepherd towers over the sheep.

And yes, the staff is also used to coax the sheep to follow. For instance, a tap on a back leg brings a sheep into position, and a tap on the head of the lead sheep makes it lie down so that the others will follow."

"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

"I am the good Shepherd; and I know My sheep,

and am known by my own."

John 10:14

"He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs

with his arm, and carry them in His bosom,

and gently lead those who are with young."

Isaiah 40:11