Psalm 23 - Week 2 (v4)
Psalm 23:4
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Jesus, Our Companion
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Psalm 23:4 〰️ Jesus, Our Companion 〰️
Continuing in David's famous poem, we're halting this week with a singular verse. It reads,
"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,
they comfort me." (v4)
While we could spend a whole year on this passage alone, this week, we'll zero in on two overarching messages in this passage: 1) With God with us, we have nothing to fear, and 2) God's rules, discipline, and boundaries are for our protection. With that in mind, let's dive in!
In v4, we're again presented with Shepherd/sheep language. As you'll remember from last week, David was a shepherd in his younger years before becoming king of Israel (1 Sam. 17:34-35). Just as the shepherd protects the sheep from danger, so does the LORD with us. Over time, the herd learns to trust their shepherd and follow him. The shepherd leads the flock to places of provision and rest (v2-3) and is a source of comfort and protection. The sheep know they do not need to fear when their shepherd is around, just as the LORD protects us (Deuteronomy 31:6). But this is not to say that we do not wander or attempt to sin, straying from the shepherd or venturing out on our own. This is where our LORD uses loving correction to return us to Himself.
The second half of v4 says, "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Here we see the LORD's "rod" and "staff," or His "shepherd's crook" (MSG) as the source of our comfort. Interestingly, these two tools are still used by shepherds today.
1. The rod is "a crafted club whittled from solid wood, often featuring an enlarged knob at the end. To use the rod defensively, simply lob the club toward a predatory animal to scare it away." The shepherd will "toss it near sheep [straying] from herd movement," allowing the shepherd to encourage a sheep to return to the herd without abandoning the herd entirely.¹
2. The use of this staff (crook) is twofold for us as God's sheep. Firstly, it serves as a tool for correction and retrieval. A shepherd uses the crook to extend his reach, grabbing the sheep by the neck and pulling them back to the herd. Our LORD uses the rod and staff to correct us and draw us back to Him, away from danger.
Sheep rarely (if ever) like having their neck pulled and yanked back, especially if there is something they want or desire, but the shepherd knows better and protects them from what they don't know will harm them. Similarly, we dislike how God's laws and boundaries dictate how we interact with culture, live our lives, and follow Him, but God knows what is best for us. If we knew what God does about life, morality, culture, and obedience, we would desire His will. Just as a parent sets a curfew (and grounding) to protect their children from kidnappers and drunk drivers, our LORD gives us laws and corrections to protect us from the lions and bears of sin and temptation.
In discussion, we'll go through some questions that discuss God's comforting presence and what it means to grow to love and appreciate God's boundaries and corrections of us. We'll close with an open-ended question worth considering and sitting on throughout the week. Growing to love and desire the LORD's correction comes with sanctification and maturity in Christ. Our prayer and desire is that, as a church, we would grow toward Jesus and desire His loving correction and boundaries that He has in place for our benefit and His glory.
Discussion Questions
Read all of Psalm 23 together. Read it twice, doing so slowly and mindfully.
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
What does this passage say about God's presence?
What is the "valley of the shadow of death" in this passage? How does that translate to us today?
Read Acts 1:8 (see also 1 Cor. 3:16 if you'd like). How can this inform the way we read and now interpret this week's passage in Psalm 23?
In this passage, what does David say comforts him, and what do you think that means?
How do rules and boundaries provide comfort and safety for us? (e.g., your parents give a curfew to protect you from the dangers of being out late at night) What are some examples you can think of?
We'll close with a rhetorical question. (No need to answer it out loud in the group, but you can if you want!) What would it look like for us to grow in our appreciation and love of God's boundaries and correction in our lives, even when it denies us of something we want?
1. https://goneoutdoors.com/how-to-throw-a-kunai-knife-13674222.html