Psalms 23

I was looking forward to WIN on Tuesday night..praying for the church camp as well as the opportunity to listen to Rev David Holdaway. What he shared that night left a deep impression on me.

The life of David is a classic example of how God deals with those he loves and truly he has earned the distinction of being "one after God's heart". Throughout his life, it has never been a bed of roses...even after he was anointed by Samuel as the next King of Israel, he has to go through the school of hard knocks before he ascended the throne. Even then, he has been brought low through sin in his life. The psalms that David wrote gave us a glimpse into the emotions and struggles he went through at each trial. Psalm 23 shows us the unique relationship David has with God, his Shepherd and his total trust and faith in Him in good times as well as trying times.

As Rev Holdaway shared on Psalms 23, one verse stands out to me " Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me ". It had never occurred to me why the rod and staff are mentioned separately as both are used interchangeably throughout the Bible.

The rod stands for correction, but even the chastening of our God is comforting. Chastening assures us that we are yet the subjects of our Shepherd's love. "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." Heb. 12:6. "Now chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. 12:11. In view of the chastening process we can even "joy in tribulation."

The staff stands for support, or something to lean upon in the time of weariness. Our loving Shepherd shares His staff with us and supports us in times of sorrow or trial. This staff may well stand for the unfailing precious promises of the Bible. What a staff to lean upon! Men's promises may fail, but the promises of our Lord can never fail.

For those out there who are suffering trials right now, Psalm 23 is really a wonderful passage to meditate, ponder and claim on. Let it be to us what David had experienced....to know the Shepherd intimately so that we can echo truly from our hearts "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want..."