What is your favorite source of comfort? In my household, at least, comfort is often found in books, hot baths, “comfort food,” and a small blue blanket with a doggy head. A shepherd’s rod and staff probably would not make our top ten list, even if they did belong to God. Yet in Psalm 23, David tells us he found comfort in the rod and staff of the Lord, his Shepherd. As he walked even “through the valley of the shadow of death,” he had no cause to fear because his loving Lord protected him with his rod, and kept him in line with his staff. Note that this description of the Lord as shepherd hints at Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who “will rule [the nations] with a rod of iron” (Rev. 19:15: the Greek words there for “rule” and “rod” are the same as those for ‘shepherd” and “rod” in Ps. 23 in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament).
Many people find comfort in the 23rd Psalm’s promises of God’s present and future provision and protection. Use today’s prayer time to seek His comfort through these familiar words. Pray that we, the members and leaders of Town North, will find comfort in following our Shepherd who leads and rules, and that we too will be comforted by His rod and staff.
Ps. 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.4 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.5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus,” vss. 1, 4
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art
Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
