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 comfort me. Psalm 23:4, TLV
A Rod and Staff Comfort? It’s interesting how commentaries differ on the symbolism of the “rod and staff.” From comparisons to Moses’s rod — a walking stick GOD uses mightily — to an iron rod of authority and discipline. The staff is also depicted as the iconic shepherd’s hook, used to pull rams by the horns when they are trapped in thickets or are off the path.
For me, as one of The Good Shepherd’s flock, I see the wisdom of each commentary. But how are tools meant to keep us in line or disciplined, a comfort?
Fearless is Not Always Good
As a parent, when my daughter was a baby and crawled toward a hot oven door — yes, back then oven
doors were hot — I had to move her to safety quickly. She wasn’t afraid she could be burned. For her it was a disruption of her goal. It may have felt like correction — hence the fussing as I redirected her — but I knew better, because I was saving her from great discomfort. She didn’t know to fear.
Fight or Flight or Paralyzed
Fear has a way of making us do things we wouldn’t normally do. Some have the physiological reaction to fight or flight. It’s a response to stress, characterized by an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, elevation of glucose levels in the blood, and redistribution of blood from the digestive tract to the muscles. (Ew.) These changes are caused by activation of the sympathetic nervous system by epinephrine (adrenaline). That activation prepares the body to fight the cause/person of our fear or flee from the perceived threat.
Another reaction is to freeze and not do anything. Meanwhile the danger approaches.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m afraid, I want a Protector to guide me through the fear. Because I need a guide to instruct me whether I should fight or run. Or pick me up and carry me because I can’t move on my own.
Likewise, sometimes I don’t have the good sense or maturity to even know that I should fear an evil — that is especially important for my Shepherd to have my back.
Whether correction or comfort or redirection, I leave that up to Him, because He is my Shepherd and I want for nothing when I stay close to Him.
