(continued from 4-16-19 post)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Dark valleys, steep precipices, unknown places; these are frightening not only to timid sheep, but to humans as well. When sheep are directed to enter such places they will resist unless their shepherd encourages them with a calm voice. If a shepherd shouts the sheep will not obey. A good shepherd reassures his flock that he is with them always, that he knows the way, and they can trust him to not leave them.
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Shepherds carry with them two simple tools: a staff that has on it either a large hooped crook used to collect a sheep around the neck, or a small bent crook used to grab them by the legs. Staffs keep sheep from going astray, and draw them close to the shepherd.
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| leg staff |
A rod is a club shaped piece of wood, like a small baseball bat, used to throw at other animals that might harm the sheep.
One tool is used for offense, to restrain a wayward lamb. The other is used for defense, to protect sheep from harmful intruders.
Even if a shepherd never has to use either tool, knowing that he has the tools and is willing to use them provides comfort to the sheep.
The staff is also used to keep the shepherd stable in his own journey. He will use it to gently rub or scratch his sheep. These signs of affection calm the sheep and endear the shepherd to them.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in GREEN PASTURES
He leadeth me BESIDE THE STILL WATERS
He RESTORETH my soul
He leadeth me in the PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS for HIS NAME’s sake.
Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the SHADOW OF DEATH, I will fear no evil, for thou are with me
Thy ROD and thy STAFF, they comfort me….
So far the story unfolds like this:
I’m a lamb, and the Lord is my Shepherd. I want for nothing more. He takes me to a green pasture, then to still waters. I fall over on the edge of the water. He restores me to my upright position. He then leads through a narrow passageway, making sure I stay on the path so no one else can claim me. We end up in a deep, dark valley, and though I would normally be SCARED TO DEATH, I’m not, because his rod and his staff comfort me and protect me.
In pondering how the Shepherd completely owns his sheep, dedicates himself to their care, and defends them against evil, I am reminded of a scene in the movie Schildler’s List. Oskar Schindler finds out the Jewish women who worked at his factory have been taken and loaded onto a cattle car. Oskar runs to the train station, only to find out that the train has already left for a concentration camp. He asks for their return. The Nazi commander tells him he can have another carload tomorrow, and the workers will be fresh. But Schindler insists on these specific women, who belong to the families of his workers.
“You should not get stuck on names and lists”, the Nazi tells him.
But Schindler insists: “These are mine! You cannot have them, they are mine!”
In the deepest part of me I hear my divine Advocate defending me, insisting, against the odds I have created for myself, that I cannot be taken.
I am His.
I cannot be replaced.
I have a name, and it is on His list.
And in that insistent declaration, I am undone.
And in that insistent declaration, I am undone.
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| ... for Thou are with me. |
