Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me

W

Wan

I am sure we are all quite familiar with this quote: "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."

Personally, I have always understood the valley of the shadow of death to literally refer to man's innate and profound fear of death. Physical death. I only learned very recently that this term actually is used metaphorically to mean anything that is unknown and is potentially dangerous.

As for "they rod and thy staff", I don't know what rod refers to, but I have always understood "staff" to mean a scepter. The thing that a royal would hold, that symbolized his/her power over his/her subjects. To me, staff here alludes to the fact that God is the supreme ruler of the heavenly kingdom. If people trust in God, and that they trust that God will not lead them into danger or otherwise lead them astray, they have nothing to fear. And even in times of death, literal, physical death, people should not fear, for God is with them.

I have read that staff and rod meant a shepherd's tool that he uses to protect his sheep. This intended usage is slightly different from what I listed above but I think I am not too far off.

Anyway, even though my understanding of this verse wasn't perfect, nevertheless it's still one of my favorites. It has been around for thousands of years yet it still speaks to people's souls. Regardless how advanced medical sciences get, how long people's lives can be prolonged and how some diseases can be cured, people will always have this intense fear of death. And no medical doctors, no PhDs, can completely erase this from man's soul.
 
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Wan said:
I am sure we are all quite familiar with this quote: "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."

Personally, I have always understood the valley of the shadow of death to literally refer to man's innate and profound fear of death. Physical death. I only learned very recently that this term actually is used metaphorically to mean anything that is unknown and is potentially dangerous.

As for "they rod and thy staff", I don't know what rod refers to, but I have always understood "staff" to mean a scepter. The thing that a royal would hold, that symbolized his/her power over his/her subjects. To me, staff here alludes to the fact that God is the supreme ruler of the heavenly kingdom. If people trust in God, and that they trust that God will not lead them into danger or otherwise lead them astray, they have nothing to fear. And even in times of death, literal, physical death, people should not fear, for God is with them.

I have read that staff and rod meant a shepherd's tool that he uses to protect his sheep. This intended usage is slightly different from what I listed above but I think I am not too far off.

Anyway, even though my understanding of this verse wasn't perfect, nevertheless it's still one of my favorites. It has been around for thousands of years yet it still speaks to people's souls. Regardless how advanced medical sciences get, how long people's lives can be prolonged and how some diseases can be cured, people will always have this intense fear of death. And no medical doctors, no PhDs, can completely erase this from man's soul.
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I don’t know, but once heard something about the rod being a disciplinary tool to correct the sheep, if they went astray.
 
I’m more bothered by pain than death, but then the death I’m talking about here is just a concept.
I suppose when we hear of people facing death ( especially knowingly)their life flashes before their eyes. I really don’t know what that means but it does sound scary.

I thinks a Rod is something that is used to scare away predatory animals for Shepard’s to keep their flocks safe from harm.
 
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Choose life said:
I don’t know, but once heard something about the rod being a disciplinary tool to correct the sheep, if they went astray.
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In this case David is telling us that the rod and staff bring him comfort. This doesn't sound like God disciplining his sheep. I would need to study this passage in context. As well as the imagery of the rod and staff more.
 
I would guess that rod here is used to symbolize that God is the shepherd. That he watches over us just like a shepherd would watch over his flock.

Rod as tool to correct and discipline does not work in the context, because in the verse, the author was talking about being comforted. And being disciplined does not bring comfort.
 
Wan said:
I would guess that rod here is used to symbolize that God is the shepherd. That he watches over us just like a shepherd would watch over his flock.

Rod as tool to correct and discipline does not work in the context, because in the verse, the author was talking about being comforted. And being disciplined does not bring comfort.
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I would agree that this is what seems the best fit based on specific context. I would want to look into it further though.
 
Hello brothers and sisters;

The rod is a symbol of LOVE, however, in the Bible the rod can be misinterpreted. It's not used to spank the sheep, though all we like sheep have gone astray.

The hired shepherd used the rod as a protection against predators like a wolf. Remember, sheep aren't very smart, they stink and can wander, becoming vulnerable.

But foremost, the rod in the Bible is defined as a symbol of God's agape LOVE.

God bless you, Wan, and thank you for sharing this topic.
 
Thank you.

I always like to study the various verses from the bible. I love how they can have hidden meanings, symbolisms, and how they employ metaphors and allegories. I am quite amazed that a book that's thousands of years old still can touch people so deeply. No man-written book has ever done that.

In fact, I want to make a thread asking people to list their favorite verses from the bible and why they like them. I think it will be very fun, and also I can be introduced to more verses that I did not know before.
 
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In nz, sheep farmers use dogs and electric barbed wire fences to herd their sheep.
The farmers don't really get called shepherds, because they get the dogs to do the work of mustering the sheep for them. I think I prefer the Middle eastern way of looking after sheep where the shepherds talk with their sheep, walk with them, and guide them rather than get dogs chasing them and fencing them in paddocks.

The ones that shear the sheep go around the various farms as shearing gangs and set up in woolsheds. They are called 'fleecos'. If you want to beat the world record for shearing the most number of sheep in 9 hours you can apply here...

World Sheep Shearing Records Society - Home

World Shearing Records: To ensure that all Record attempts are scrupulously fair to past and present Shearer's, and the sheep they shear.
shearingrecords.co.nz shearingrecords.co.nz
 
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