From the 23rd Psalm, the word "comfort" in this context is worth a remark. As a herdsman I can relate to the analogy of being God's sheep in His flock. Everyday the herdsman takes the flock to the pasture and the the water that they need to thrive. He keeps the predators away. Still, the rod is what the sheep fear. It is what he drives them with. Pokes them with to get their attention, whacks them across the back with to make them behave. The sheep don't know where they are going. The rod is the sign from the Shepard that a sheep needs to change his/her direction for their own good. An animal first introduced to the herd first learns that the rod must be respected or it will cause problems. Before a sheep could be comforted by such an instrument it has to come to realize that the Shepard knows what He is doing and must be obeyed, especially when sheep's own opinion is to go in a different direction.
Do you recognize the rod of the good Shepard in your life? Does it comfort you?
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