The Shepherd's Rod
"I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe." Psalm 23:4
The most read Psalm in scripture is Psalm 23. Maybe even the most read portion of scripture, but don't quote me on that one. I wonder however how many of the avid readers of scripture fully understand the significance of the word picture David is painting.
David had an inside scoop on the character of God. You see... David was a shepherd. David understood the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Not only did he understand his role as a shepherd, but understood the sheep. Because of this he was able to see just how much God's relationship with his people reflected that of a shepherd with his flock.
I can identify with this word picture... because I grew up around sheep. My parents were sheep farmers (shepherds). There are so many analogies I could go into, but what really moved me in my devotional time this morning was the shepherd's rod. This picture became clear, not on the farm as a child, but when I was at Agricultural College in Olds. I learned then what a shepherd's rod or crook was used for. A crook is what a sheep handler uses to control the sheep. On the farm we used bamboo rods. But crooks have a hook on the end, and my instructor at the college showed me how he would round up lambs using the crook. It was just the right size to hook around the neck and pull the lamb closer so he could catch it. What a picture.
Especially when I go through dark valleys in life, It makes me feel safe to know that there is something pulling me back, drawing me closer to the Shepherd. Sheep like to stray. That is their nature. In hard times it's not hard to wander off. But knowing and feeling the gentle tug of the Shepherd's rod, I'm not so scared.
The most read Psalm in scripture is Psalm 23. Maybe even the most read portion of scripture, but don't quote me on that one. I wonder however how many of the avid readers of scripture fully understand the significance of the word picture David is painting.
David had an inside scoop on the character of God. You see... David was a shepherd. David understood the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Not only did he understand his role as a shepherd, but understood the sheep. Because of this he was able to see just how much God's relationship with his people reflected that of a shepherd with his flock.
I can identify with this word picture... because I grew up around sheep. My parents were sheep farmers (shepherds). There are so many analogies I could go into, but what really moved me in my devotional time this morning was the shepherd's rod. This picture became clear, not on the farm as a child, but when I was at Agricultural College in Olds. I learned then what a shepherd's rod or crook was used for. A crook is what a sheep handler uses to control the sheep. On the farm we used bamboo rods. But crooks have a hook on the end, and my instructor at the college showed me how he would round up lambs using the crook. It was just the right size to hook around the neck and pull the lamb closer so he could catch it. What a picture.
Especially when I go through dark valleys in life, It makes me feel safe to know that there is something pulling me back, drawing me closer to the Shepherd. Sheep like to stray. That is their nature. In hard times it's not hard to wander off. But knowing and feeling the gentle tug of the Shepherd's rod, I'm not so scared.
posted by Ruby Voigt | 5:21 AM
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