…your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

When I wrote about “rest satisfied,” that’s “I shall not want.” God working all things together for good; that’s “goodness and mercy shall follow me.” I wanted to look at the comfort of the rod and staff. I see this as the Lord’s keeping.

The comfort of the rod is God defending us. I have a defense. I have a strong tower to keep me from harm. Jesus Himself keeps the evil one from touching us. I’ve mentioned 1 John 5:18 before. It says, “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” I don’t have to fear getting trapped by sin or deception because Jesus keeps me. I put myself in His hands, and He protects me. He keeps me.

The comfort of the staff is God’s guidance. A verse I find comforting about this is Psalm 31:3. “…for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me.” If God is leading and guiding me for His name sake, then there’s no worry about Him not doing it. There’s no fear of losing the path. He keeps me in His way, again because I’ve given myself to Him. I bear His name, so for his name sake He leads and guides me. He keeps me.

I have the comfort of His keeping.