ROD AND STAFF

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today, we will focus on two images from Psalm 23:4. The Lord provides these two images to comfort and compassion us.

Listen again to this masterful poem, and then we will focus on the meaning of the rod and the staff:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23:1-6 NIV11)

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Both of these two words, rod and staff, are derived from the same Hebrew word, שֵׁבֶט (shevet).

Rod

The first use of this term is that of the rod. 

One use for this word is that of a crude weapon made of wood that would be used to ward off enemies of all kinds. Another use of this word refers to the scepter a king might hold out before his people to symbolize his authority and rule. 

The use of the rod and scepter both owes its meaning to the use of power in the discharge of one’s duties. 

The shepherd uses the rod against the sheep’s foes. There are many creatures out there who would love to abuse and damage the sheep for their own gain or pleasure, but the shepherd pushes them back and defends the sheep. 

Good Shepherd

Jesus Christ spoke of the shepherd’s function in his teaching about being the embodiment of this very psalm. Listen to how Jesus describes the difference between his care for the sheep and that of the hired hand.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father —and I lay down my life for the sheep.

(John 10:11-15 NIV11)

His life

The Good Shepherd does more than swing his club at the enemies of the sheep, he gives his very life for their sake. Jesus has provided for us in ways no other human could. 

He fights off the wolf and the attacker with such ferocity that he will lay down his own life to care for those who are his. The Lord is our warrior. He fights for us and defends us against enemies, great and small. 

Derelict?

We may think that the Lord has been derelict in his defensive duties, allowing more attacks than we can count to get through, but the truth is that the Lord works on our behalf in ways we cannot yet understand. 

His battle is not against flesh and blood but against all of the other forms of attack that come at us from dark places filled with the love of rebellion and deception. The Lord carries more than a club to defend us; he lays down his very life, covering us completely and providing us with true victory over the enemies of sin and death. 

The Shepherd’s Staff

The staff provides us comfort from the Lord as well. The shepherd used his staff (מִשְׁעֶנֶת mish-eh´-neth) to lovingly correct the sheep when they get off course or to rescue them when they fall into the ditch. 

The sheep might think they know the right way to the water trough or the right path to take to get home, but more times than not, they get distracted by shiny objects and the bleating of the other sheep. The shepherd uses his staff to bring much needed correction to the sheep. 

It is good to see that the rod is for protecting the sheep from the external enemy while the staff is used for protecting the sheep from themselves. 

Reflection

•    What enemies are you asking the Lord to defend you from today?
•    How can the Great Shepherd come to your aid?
•    Are you willing to step back and allow the Lord to be your defender and warrior?
•    Are you struggling to accept the correction of the Lord?
•    Has the Great Shepherd’s staff moved you off the course you once thought was right and true?
•    Where is the Lord leading you today?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you for loving me enough to use both your rod and staff in my life. Thank you for defending me from the attacks I am aware of and from those that I cannot see. Likewise, thank you Lord for your loving correction. Your staff is for my good. Help me to own that truth today. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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