7. The Shepherd's Rod

My Hearts Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 7

The Shepherd's Rod

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23. 4.

What significant words: "Rod, staff, and comfort''! The staff is used to gently guide the sheep and is a symbol of the shepherd's presence. The rod, on the other hand, is used to discipline the sheep, in order to get them to go where they belong. It is easy to see how the Psalmist could find comfort in the shepherd's staff. But notice, he says that the rod also gives comfort. He even mentions that first. If he had said, "Thy rod I have learned to endure, and thy staff comforts me," his words would better fit the experience of many.

Notice the setting of this testimony. It is a continuation of the verse that has brought strength to many a dying saint, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Even when entering the shadow of death, the rod of God can be a comfort. Many are the children of God who suffer and go through real testings at such a time. Friend, if you have already entered that valley, may you not misunderstand the Good Shepherd if He uses the rod now for the last time. The valley may seem long and dark, but take courage, and say with the Psalmist, "Thou art with me." The very fact that you are conscious of the rod proves His presence, ''for whom the Lord Loveth he chasteneth'' (Hebrews 12. 6). Wherefore, "Regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of Him." Rather, pray for grace to say with the Psalmist, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." The rod can either cause you to faint, or be a means of giving you comfort.

The rod never feels like comfort. It is easy to misunderstand our Lord when He uses it. It provides a good opportunity for the devil to whisper wrong interpretations. But a Christian must live by faith, and not by feelings. "All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness'' (Hebrews 12. 11). Notice it says, "all chastening.'' If we walk by feelings at a time of chastening we are undone, for no chastening seems joyous. Then, mark the word "seemeth." To frail human beings, prone to walk by feelings and not by faith, chastening seems grievous. At such a time let us not squirm and complain and ask, "Why did this have to happen to me? God promises an "afterward" when "peaceable fruit of righteousness'' is borne. If we trust Him when He uses the rod, we will later have this harvest of peaceable fruit.

What then should be our attitude toward the rod? First of all, thank God for it. "Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience'' (James 1. 2-3). Remember, "If ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons'' (Hebrews 12. 8). If we reverence our earthly fathers who punished us, shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12. 9). May the three words, "be in subjection," be our guiding motto in times of darkness. Then we shall be able to say with the Psalmist, "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."