The Rod and Staff

Psalm 23  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

When we usually think about a rod, the last thing that comes to our mind is comfort. The crooked end of the shepherds staff doesn’t present too much comfort either when you stop and think about it.
They are symbols of a shepherd. Just as we can identify policemen, firemen, paramedics, by their uniform; or a painter, carpenter, or a brick mason by their tools. A rod and a staff identifies a shepherd. The rod and staff are 2 distinctly different instruments. Today we want to look at both and see how they pertain to us.

The Rod:

First we would notice that no 2 are alike. Each boy aspiring to be a shepherd would receive instructions on how to make a rod. But the boy would craft his own. It would be designed to suit his size, strength, and personality. The shepherd to be would go out, find a young sapling, dig it up, remove the root ball-now the sapling has enlarged base which he would carefully trim it into a ball. He would smooth down the rest of the rod, and maybe fashioning a grip on the other end. The rod would be perfectly balanced; it becomes an extension of his arm & hand, and it can be thrown with deadly accuracy. The rod has become his main weapon for defense of both himself and the flock.

A Symbol:

The rod became an extension of the shepherd, it became the symbol of his strength, power, his authority in any situation. He would use the rod to tap his wayward sheep, so it could be used for discipline and correction. The rod is a symbol of God’s Word. The Scriptures are an extension of God’s thoughts, will, & intentions for us.
2 Tim.3:16

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We live in confusing times..What you believe is true may not be true for me. Many are twisting the truth to fit their own narrative. What is truth? What is right? Only thing right & true is God’s Word, or God’s rod. Some one once said: This book will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this book.

3 Uses for the shepherd’s rod

1. Passing under the rod

As the sheep would enter the sheepfold at night, the shepherd would stand by the entrance with rod in hand. He used it to stop the sheep, then he used it to move the wool around to examine each sheep. He would be checking for wounds, ticks, diseases. He’s parting the wool, looking in every nook & cranny.This is called passing under the rod.
Ezek. 20:37

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant

2 thoughts: 1) The shepherd is telling the sheep: you cannot pull the wool over my eyes. 2) If we are the sheep, why do we try to pull the wool over God’s eyes? Why aren’t we open enough to let Him examine us?
Psalm 139:23-24

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart:

Try me, and know my thoughts:

24  And see if there be any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting

2. An instrument of discipline

As we have learned, sheep love to wander. If they are getting to close to the edge of a cliff, or going toward poisonous plants, or perhaps another danger, such as a snake; the shepherd would send the rod whistling through the air.
Again 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us the Bible is for correction and instruction in righteousness.

Hebrews 4:12

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is the Word of God that that comes swiftly to our hearts with a surprising suddenness to correct us when we go astray, It is the Spirit of the living God, using the Living Word, that convicts our conscience of right conduct.

3. An Instrument of protection

The shepherd also used the rod to drive off predators like coyotes, wolves, Mt. lions, bears, & stray dogs. Who are our enemies?
John 10:10

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11

Thief=Satan & false teachers
John 10:5

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers

Strangers= Religious fakers
John 10:12

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Hireling-unprepared for service
Wolf-Satan
How did Jesus deal with the situation? Matthew 4, Temptation of Jesus, every time Satan tempted Him; He responded “It is written.” That is by the Word, we can use the same tactic today. By the way all 3 of his quotes are from Deuteronomy, considered by may scholars as the weakest Book in the Bible. Yet it defeated Satan.

The Staff

Just as the rod is a symbol of authority, discipline, & defense. The stall speaks of concern & longsuffering.
A symbol of the shepherd, they carried it everywhere. It was a long crooked stick, that was also hand made by the owner. Can’t you just see a shepherd out in a meadow, maybe slightly elevated, leaning on his staff, looking over his flock? It’s a picture of peace, comfort, and contentment. Just as the rod is a picture of the Word of God, the staff is a picture of the HS. The shepherd used his staff in 3 ways.

1. To catch sheep.

If one had fallen into a tight place, or down a ledge, or even in water, the shepherd using the hook around the sheep's neck would lift them to safety.
The staff being used to reach out & catch individual sheep, young or old, & draw them to the shepherd.
In our Christian life, don’t we find the HS, the Comforter, drawing us together into fellowship one with another?

Revelation 22:17

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take sthe water of life freely.

This is a 2 step process:
Conviction: John 8:9a 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience,
We may be in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and even doing the wrong thing; but, God uses His staff of conviction to draw back into the safety of His flock.
Restoration: 1 John 1:9 &Titus 3:5

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by vthe washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Washing is also translated as bathe; regeneration may be translated as rebirth or new age, and renewing is renewal.
Now putting all this together, when God reaches His staff of conviction down for us, we confesss our sin, and by His mercy He bathes us a in His righteousness so that we may have a fresh start.

2. To Draw Sheep Together

If a lamb becomes separated from their mother, the shepherd uses his staff to pick up the lamb and return it to its mother, using the staff emelinates any opportunity for human sent to get on the lamb.
The shepherd also uses the staff to assemble the sheep, to keep them gathered together. Sometimes he is even able to sit down beside them.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

3. To Guide Sheep

The shepherd will use the straight end of the staff to guide the sheep along, he just gently presses the staff against the side of the sheep and nudges it along.

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

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9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience,

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