I started this short series about the good shepherd and analyzing the book of Psalms 23. I had explained in a little way what verses 1 to 3 of that chapter means. If you will like to read it, kindly click on @seyiodus and you will get to see it on the blog and other series as well that you might be interested in. So let's continue from where I stopped.
Psalm 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.
Verse 4
What is the valley of the shadow of death?
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me
Any problems that you might be going through or that might surface in the future is what it means there. Not only that, but the shadow of death also means trials and temptations that might make you fall into sin and sin means eternal death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23
This verse is telling us that we should not be afraid of whatever challenges we are facing and whenever we found ourselves in front of temptation. We should be strong because we have a Shephard that will help us out of that situation if we leave it all at His hands (Jesus Christ).
Then the psalmist goes on and said
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me
What is the rod and staff that comforts?
- The rod means the punishment of God on his own children that disobey him. There is no sin committed that does not have its own punishment and anytime we do something wrong unconsciously and we repent, God punishes us as a father will punish his own child for doing wrong which might bring a disgrace to him and his teachings, so that we can know that what we did was wrong and not to do so again.
My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. - Hebrews 12:5-8
- Then he comforts us and direct us with His Word to lead us not into that sin again but to retrace our step back and continue in the knowledge of Him; which is the staff. The Word of God is our pathfinder and when we meditate on it, it leads us to eternal life.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. - Hebrews 12:9-11
Most people only want the part of the comfort but not the chastisement of God. We should always have comfort in it because it is the assurance that we are of God.
Here is where I am going to stop if you have something to add or you have a question, kindly drop it in the comment section.
Thanks for reading and stay blessed.
Shalom.