Rod and Staff
Today this phrase from Psalm 23 lodged into my heart and mind.
The Lord who is my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) carries with Him both the rod and the staff.
The rod is a shepherd’s hands-on weapon against all enemies and medium of correction, should a sheep kick up its heels at him or others.
The staff he carried pointed the way, drew the sheep both away from danger and closer to himself. It could be used as an instrument of rescue, as well.
David sees The Lord working in his life in all these ways and as he surveys his journey through life, to him, it all adds up to “comfort”.
I used to help out on Monday nights at MSDF (Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility) in downtown Milwaukee.
We held Bible studies and church services and special holiday outreaches.
I found out in talking to the staff that 80% of the (mostly) young men there did not even know who their father was.
In speaking with the men, it became clear to me they were fundamentally NOT there because they loved committing crime. Their crimes were a doorway into belonging, brotherhood, acceptance, protection and purpose: “Comfort” in life.
This made sharing The Gospel very easy in one sense— when I would share I pointed them to a different source of ‘comfort’— a different shepherd than the peer model they had only known.
Through Christ , I appealed to the guys to join a new family — the family of God. I shared with them that they could be “born again” into this family and that The One who had made them and held real comfort for their hearts and minds— their Heavenly Father— was right there with them and was desperately wanting to welcome them into His Heart and Home.
When that message was received the hardest exteriors melted away revealing disenfranchised, lonely, frightened and confused boys.
It’s true that ‘jailhouse religion’ is a real thing. That’s why we were always careful to disciple the men that they had come to The Good Shepherd of their souls in full surrender to Him as LORD:
1Pe 2:24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."
1Pe 2:25 For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
It was imperative for these young born again babes in Christ to UNDER-STAND that they now needed to STAND-UNDER their Shepherd’s Rod and Staff.
Otherwise, the enemy and the poisoned waters of selfishness and the desert ground of sin, would swallow them up before they knew it.
I say all of that to remind myself of the same thing:
That my comfort in life only extends as far as the length of The Shepherd’s Staff and and that He proves His Love for me by His Discipline of me:
Heb 12:4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Heb 12:5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Heb 12:6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."
Heb 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
Heb 12:8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Heb 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
Heb 12:10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.
Heb 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Heb 12:12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
Heb 12:13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Heb 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Heb 12:16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Heb 12:17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
In my Bible, Hebrews chapter 12 is perhaps the most well warn passage.
Why?
Because it is the path to My Father’s Office. It has doubled as a ‘wood shop of discipline’ at times; a fireside room of discussion; and ER in serious and sudden moments… et. al.
But it has always been My Shepherd, My Lord Jesus Christ… that by His Staff led me there.
Right now, in fact, in my life— my Heavenly Father in the auspices of Hebrews 12, is showing me how to better embrace my sufferings as His Loving and Wise discipline.
Yesterday, I came across a video clip of a sermon shared by John Piper that reinforced this in my heart and mind:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HsxnhUTZp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
If you are suffering in life right now— I recommend you take five minutes and hear what John had to say on this subject.
Anyway— life is a journey and for me I have learned to never wander beyond the swing of My Shepherd’s rod and the swipe radius of His Staff. Any ground… even an inch beyond, is the enemy’s ground and the slippery path of selfishness.
Heavenly Father— I am at Your Office Door again this morning.
The Staff of My Shepherd pointed me here.
As I talk again to You about Hebrews 12, I want to let You know that I am listening. My ears and heart are open. Show me The Way.
“For Your Glory”…. because that is The Way Marker; I know— my only “comfort” in this life.
Amen.