Thy Rod and Thy Staff,They Comfort Me - (Psalm 23 part 2)

The first third of the 23 psalm talks about how our God, our Holy shepherd, provides for us.  He takes care of our needs.  The second third of the 23rd psalm focuses a little more on how our God protects us.
Verse 4  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil".
Lets take this verse apart for a minute.
The first thing that we understand is that we will, at some point in our lives, walk, live, or stand in a situation that isn't good.  That's life.  It will happen if we live long enough, and it is God's will that we have a long life and prosper.  We know that King David was probably writing about one of the times that he was in danger because of his enemies when he wrote this psalm, but we don't have to be in that kind of danger in order to feel as though we are in the midst of trouble.  For us, a dark valley can mean losing someone whom we dearly love, or losing a job, or home, or finding out that you have a very serious illness.  The good news comes at the end of that sentence.  It can make you stand strong in the midst of your own personal storm.
"I will fear no evil"
This part of the sentence is a reminder that hurtful, frightening things do happen, BUT we don't have to be afraid.  That is so reassuring.  For a believer it means that someone else is going to do the heavy lifting for us.  Someone else is going to solve our problem, calm our fear, heal our body, and wipe away our tears.
The next line is "For you are with me".
It is a natural reaction to be sad when we are in sorrowful situations, to be angry when we see or experience wrong doing, or to be afraid when we are in dangerous situations.  The good news is that we can face our struggles and walk right through them. We don't have to be afraid because we serve a mighty God who is always with us.  He is our guard and our guide. His word says that He will neither leave us, nor forsake us.  He tells us through scripture that He is with us even to the ends of the world.

"Your Rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Every shepherd had a staff and rod in those days.  The staff had a hook shape on the end that the shepherd would use to put around the neck of a sheep and pull them back if they were to travel too far in the wrong direction.  It was long enough to be used to help a sheep who was in distress, or separate two sheep or rams who were having trouble with each other.  Today His staff is represented by His Word.
     The rod of a shepherd was used to fend off an enemy.  A shepherd could use it to beat back a predator and to keep it away from the sheep.   He will still keep our predators away.  People may form weapons against us, but they won't be successful in coming against us.
The "rod and the staff" are today, an example that shows us that God can and will bring us back from straying too far in the wrong direction and that he will protect us from our enemies if we stay in his 'flock'..   If you notice small children who are out with their parents, they are snuggling in their father’s arms or hugging their mother’s necks.   It’s because the “rod and staff” of their parents (their words, rules, arms, voice, proximity to the children) comforts them.  That’s how we can feel with our “Father” in heaven.  We can feel safe because his rod and his staff comfort us.  Today it is His word that protects us and His promise  and His Holy Spirit which comfort us.  Those are his "rod and his staff".