How do we apply this valley experience to our lives and day to day growth in the Lord Jesus as our Good Shepherd.
Ty for taking the time to share with all of us
ur sister
sandy
2007-10-01 12:51:24 · 19 answers · asked by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In His winter years Jacob who was transformed to become Israel said that God has shepherded Him all His days to this day. As He got older he leaned heavier on His Shepherd's staff. He saw the Lord as His support even as he aged in life and experiences of Life.
I truly appreciate this picture in the old testament of such a transformed person as Israel.
2007-10-01 12:58:10 · update #1
Well to my knowledge a Rod is used for discipline and a staff for protection. (Of the sheep)
I guess in our everyday lives when we acknowledge God's discipline as his love for us AS WELL as His protection for us..we'd be in a lot better shape. A lot of people scorn rebuke and discipline. Yet the psalmist here in this scripture says.."Thy Rod AND thy Staff comfort me."(Psalm 23:4) We understand how a Staff may comfort...but a rod? For discipline? Clearly this person here understood the importance of the Rod as well as the staff and appreciated God's discipline as well as His protection. For God's discipline is given to help us grow.
And He disciplines those whom He loves, because the bible says God chastens those whom He loves. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
Perhaps if we appreciated all of the love He shows us in many ways...we'd have a better relationship with our Father because we'd be having the one He totally desires from us.
For us to give our entire lives over to Him and allow him to shape and mold us into whom He wants us to be.
Very good question indeed. For you made me realize some things. Thank you Warrior Bride :)
2007-10-02 01:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by BLI 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The "rod" was the shepherd's crook, the staff with a rounded hook on the end, so he/she could hook it around the sheep and pull it along. The "rod" in the 23rd Psalms represents the sign of power over evil, because the Shepherd could direct the evil whichever way he wanted with the hook of the law of God. The "staff" is a simple walking stick. It was used for a couple of things, most of which was leaning in the field while watching the flock. But it was also used as a weapon against the wolves and other predators that preyed on the sheep. It was usually thicker and made of a harder wood, like Lebanon wood or oak. It also had a thick knob on the end, so the Sheppard could give a good whack to the predator, hopefully killing it in one blow. It was a symbol of protection and security. Thy rod and staff then symbolizes power over evil, and protection, security. Interestingly, Moses’ Sheppard crook was cast down and became the serpent, and so one can derive the rod as a symbol of faith too.
2007-10-01 16:36:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The staff was an instrument (walking stick?) to help the sheppard walk/climb the hills and had a curved shape at the top. If a sheep falls in a cliff or something, the sheppard could reach her with the hook end to bring her up. Also if one sheep was getting away from the path the sheppard would tap her with the staff to guide her back into place.
It is a symbol for the Lord help and guidance.
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The rod was a heavier/stronger wood weapon if compared to the staff. I imagine it as a big beisball bat but not smoothly shaped. The shepard would use the rod to defend the sheep from wolves or any other attacking predator.
It is a symbol of the Lord's protection over us.
2007-10-01 13:03:18 · answer #3 · answered by Darth Eugene Vader 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thy Rod And Thy Staff
2016-10-01 06:22:00 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This refers to the shepherds and their taking care of sheep. I am sure the rod is to fight off predatory animals. The crook of the staff may have been to hook around the sheep to pull them out of a pit, or whatever. So Jesus protests us with the rod, driving away our enemies, and He picks us up with the staff.
2016-03-13 06:37:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the rod and staff
represent his protection and guidance in our lives
the rod is used to protect
by driving away what may harm us
and can be used to protect us from
ourselves ( spare the rod spoil the child)
the staff was more of a guiding influence
to direct us from afar from the dangers we
may not see and pull us back on the
right path if we stray
the shepherd, rod and staff
can be likened to the holy trinity
father son and holy spirit
shepherd rod and staff
the shepherd being GoOoD
the rod being the presence of
his son sent to protect and chastise us
from the dangers we are constantly facing
the staff being the holy word both used
as a guide and support not only for the herd
but for the shepherd himself who often relys
on the staff to direct us rather than direct intervention
wP
2007-10-01 14:39:17 · answer #6 · answered by Warriorpoet 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The rod was used as a method of correction and the staff was used to direct the sheep where they had to go. It was also used to fight off enemies such as wolves.
No matter how frightening or scary or threatening things are, we have no need to fear because the Lord is with us.
2007-10-01 12:56:48 · answer #7 · answered by utuseclocal483 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sis,
Let's consider the shepard. His staff (hooked end) is to grab sheep from a pit or crevice in the rocks, the rod is for protection (a weapon of sorts) against enemies to the flock.
Consider God. His staff is the Holy Spirit that guides us daily and keeps us pucked from the hands of the enemy. His rod is representative of the Word of God, the bible, that aids us in our instruction and standards of life that protect us, as a weapon, daily.
Hugs!
2007-10-02 09:26:01 · answer #8 · answered by hugskisses4707 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The staff is the sign of the shephard, it is the shephard's symbol, livelihood, sheep-guiding tool. It is a s symbol of an instrument by which man can carry out his work.
When the staff is thrown down and it turns into a snake. God is showing that even though man has fashioned him/herself as his her own shepheard, the truly great things /miracles occur hwhen man surrenders his tools to god, and does his/her work with God in mind.
In this case the power of god's capabilities are seen in the transformation of the staff into a snake.
2007-10-01 12:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by Rishi M 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They are both ALMOST the same tools. A rod has a knob on one end, and a staff is somewhat longer with a curve. People want to claim that the rod is a disciplinary tool...BUT...a shepard does not hit or beat his flock with a rod (or a staff for that matter). He GUIDES the sheep with it. and protects the flock from predators with his staff...so...in the 23rd psalm, 'Thy rod and thy staff...they comfort me' means that you can take comfort in God's ability to guide and protect.
2007-10-01 12:58:30 · answer #10 · answered by Lisa E 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋