Like a shepherd for his sheep, Jesus ensures that we follow him and protects us from harm.
Rod of holiness
A rod was used by a shepherd to count his sheep. In Leviticus 27:32 we read, "every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod will be holy to the LORD." and so it is with us; God chose his children before the creation of the world [Ephesians 1:4] and those he chose will be counted as holy before God in the day of judgement.
Rods were also used to quicken the pace of dormant sheep; so too God encourages us in faithful obedience and in passionate worship of him, leading us on to more blameless and holy lives. What a comfort this gives us; that God both counts us as holy and causes us to walk in that holiness.
Rod of discipline
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father? - Hebrews 12:7
A rod was used by a shepherd to beat his sheep into obedience. The experience, though unpleasant for the sheep, was to train them to follow the shepherd and was ultimately for their safety.
It is similar in the Christian walk. In hardship our dependence on God becomes more evident. In wandering astray we learn that God is our source of safety. Whether we are on the mountaintop or walking through the darkest valley, we know that God is working to our good.
God does not withhold suffering from his children, but disciplines us in various ways in order to train us to depend on him and to recognise that Jesus is our only true guide in this life.
Staff of protection
The LORD will keep you from all harm, he will watch over your life - Psalm 121:7
Yet in all of this hardship, we will be kept from all harm. God protects us in the primary sense from his wrath against our sin by sending Jesus to pay for it on the cross, but he also protects us from harm in that he ensures that there is no temptation we face that is too strong for us to bear [1 Corinthians 10:13] and in that Jesus continually intercedes for us at the right hand of God [Romans 8:34].
Staff of comfort
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,
so also our comfort abounds through Christ. - 2 Corinthians 1:5
Though wolves and bears and lions were out to ravage the sheeps pens, the sheep need not fear provided they had a good shepherd. How much more can we be comforted by God as our shepherd! Christ has already won the victory over sin and death and so we who have the eternal God as our refuge [Deuteronomy 33:27] can be certain beyond all doubt that we are safe in his fold.
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