I’m a city girl. I was born in a city and know little of what life is like on a ranch or farm or even a small village. Yet the Bible often uses illustrations related to agrarian life: sowing and harvesting, vines and vineyards, sheep and shepherds. These illustrations were ones God’s people could relate to for most people lived off the land and knew the work involved. Even today, just outside the city of Jerusalem, the hills are dotted with sheep and their shepherds. When our family toured Israel, we got to meet shepherds and learned about their nomadic life as they herd sheep from one hill to the next.
Psalm 23 is a psalm that is beloved by many and is one I memorized as a child. Midway through, it says: “Even 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” (v.4). I remember visiting a place in Israel referred to as “the valley of shadow of death.” It was a dark valley that sojourners often traveled on their way to the city of Jerusalem, a place where thieves often took advantage of travelers. Seeing that valley helped put this passage in perspective for me.
In Psalm 23, the shepherd’s rod and staff are a comfort in the dark valley. A shepherd was known to carry a staff to use in keeping and guarding his sheep. As our shepherd, God comforts us with his rod and staff. Here are just a few ways we find comfort in God’s staff:
He uses his rod to rule: A shepherd used his rod to rule over the sheep. He told them where to go; he was their master who led them from one grazing hill to another. Likewise, God is our ruler; he reigns over all things. He governs our life. He determines where we go. He is the one we look to for guidance and wisdom. When we go through dark valleys, he leads us. He shows us the direction to take. He warns us away from dangerous paths. And we can trust him to bring us through the valley and to the other side.
He uses his rod to count: A shepherd often used his rod to count his sheep as they walked by him. Likewise, our Father chose us in Christ to be a part of his flock and he knows each of us by name. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). When we wander from God, he goes to whatever lengths necessary to bring us back to him, “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” (Matthew 18:12). When we walk through dark valleys and lose our way, we can rest assured that our shepherd will never lose us. He will seek us and find us and bring us back to himself.
He uses his rod to guide: A shepherd used the crook of his rod to pull back sheep when they wandered from the flock. He also used it to chastise them. When they were slow or distracted, he used the rod to prod them. So the Lord does with us. As the writer to Hebrews 12:5-6 said, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Sometimes our dark valleys are places where the Lord brings us for purposes of training or discipline. We can trust that he does so out of love. He desires that we grow and mature. His rod is a tool used to guide us into greater holiness.
He uses his rod to protect: The shepherd also used his rod to protect his sheep from wild animals. So too, God protects us from evil. Some valleys are so dark it seems as though God has forgotten us. It can be tempting to doubt his love and goodness. We can wonder if we’ll ever see the light of day. We can fear being lost forever. Psalm 23 teaches us that we can have confidence that our shepherd will never leave us or forsake us. There is nothing and no one that can keep us from his love. He will keep us from all evil (see Romans 8:38-39). He will ensure we make it safely home to him.
While I am a city girl, I know what it’s like to wander and stray from where I belong. I know what it’s like to need guidance and direction. And I know what it’s like to walk through dark valleys of life. I am a sheep in need of a good shepherd. God is my Good Shepherd who protects and keeps me in his care.
Even when I walk through the darkest valleys.
Photo by Antonello Falcone - The Wiseman on Unsplash
