Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

— Psalm 23:4

Being a shepherd in ancient times was not a glamorous career choice. It was a hectic life, full of danger and stress, not to mention that sheep are not the most intelligent of God’s creatures.

Even so, the life and rhythm of a shepherd were remarkable. In Psalm 23, for example, we read about the shepherd’s rod and staff. These were very necessary pieces of equipment for the shepherd’s many tasks. The rod (like a club) was used to fend off predators, and the staff was used as a guide and reminder to the sheep along the trail. When traveling through a hilly region with steep dropoffs, the shepherd would walk alongside the sheep, using the staff as a guardrail so that they wouldn’t stumble and fall. And during early-morning or late-evening trips, when the sunlight was gone and the path was dark, the shepherd would tap his rod against the face of a rock wall, producing a sound that would echo from the front of the flock all the way to the back. It was a way to remind the sheep that the shepherd was still there, assuring them that they were safe and secure.

The Bible often compares us with sheep, describing the Lord as our faithful shepherd, who by his grace and compassion guides us with this rod and staff, gently reminding us that we are safe and secure in his care.

Great Shepherd, thank you for all the ways you provide for us each day. Help us to be attentive and to hear you calling us as you safely guide and lead us. Amen.