What did the Shepherd have that brought the sheep comfort, security, consolation, compassion, and relief?

David writes, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.“ These are far from instruments of punishment, but actually sources of comfort to the sheep. Here’s how these implements comforted the flock in ancient shepherding practices and what they symbolize spiritually.

The rod was a club-like weapon, often made from a young tree branch with the root knob left intact to form a heavy head.

The Shepherd used the rod to protect the flock from wolves, lions, or bears that threatened it. The Shepherd would use his rod as a weapon to drive them away. Sheep are defenseless creatures, and knowing their Shepherd was armed and ready to defend them would have been deeply reassuring.

David killed a lion and a bear that attacked his flock. David stood between his sheep and danger.

Shepherds held their rods across the sheep pen entrance, making each sheep pass “under the rod” to be counted and examined. The shepherds counted their sheep, slowly and gently examining each one for injuries.

When the sheep wandered or even escaped toward danger, the Shepherd could use the rod to guide them back to safety. The Shepherd never leaves them.

The staff was a longer cane with a curved hook at one end. Unlike the rod, it was not used as a weapon but for gentle guidance and rescue.

The staff’s hook allowed shepherds to rescue sheep that had fallen into ravines or become entangled in thickets. Seeing the familiar staff appear for a frightened sheep would mean imminent rescue.

The Shepherd could use the staff to gently direct sheep along narrow paths, placing it against their sides to steer them away from cliff edges or dangerous terrain.

The staff would help clear a path through thick brush, ensuring that sheep wouldn’t face hidden hazards.

The rod represents God’s protection and authority. Just as the Shepherd’s rod drove away predators, God’s power protects believers from spiritual danger.

The staff symbolizes God’s guidance, support, and rescue in times of trouble.

Psalm 23 describes comfort not merely as emotional reassurance, but as the deep security of knowing the Shepherd protects, guides, and values one. Even “through the valley of the shadow of death,” the presence of these tools in the Shepherd’s hands meant the sheep were never truly alone or defenseless.

We can find comfort in knowing that God provides both protection from harm and gentle guidance through life’s journey—the perfect balance of strength and tenderness represented by the Shepherd’s rod and staff.

When we look at our Father, God, I AM, Jesus, our Shepherd, through any lens but love, we mischaracterize Him. Growing up, I viewed my parents primarily through experiences of physical discipline. That caused me to see them in a harsh light, affecting my entire concept of them. I was wrong, but it had more to do with the lens I used to see them than who they were and what they were actually doing.

So often, we see God as a harsh disciplinarian and not a loving Father. We see God as the mean old grandfather, and thankfully, we have Jesus, who can cool off the hotheaded Father.

That is the opposite of truth. It is a lie born of the Devil, who hates God. God loves us so much. He took the first steps to come to us when we sinned. God became flesh to live among us and rescue us. God, the Holy Spirit, seeks us out in the darkest shadows of sin to rescue us from its grip and bring us home.

We turn even Psalm 23 into God having a rod and staff to work us over. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Holy Spirit said, “Write this; the rod and staff comfort me.”

God can undoubtedly use the rod and staff to give us direction and show us where we are wrong, but it is the love of a doting Father, not the meanness of an angry God.

Your Shepherd has His rod and staff to comfort you. He will defend you against the enemy. Our Shepherd has even defeated death so that we will never die. He will guide you to all the places you should go. You can depend on Him to never leave you and to take you where you should go. He who began the good work in you will complete it.

If you wander, He will be with you and bring you home. If you fall, He will be there.

What a comfort we find in our Shepherd