The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, worry or fear. He ceaselessly watches over His sheep. Always watching and always ready to protect them from danger. Just as the shepherds most important duty is his life is caring for his flock. How much more our Lord cares for us. He walks before us with His staff to guide us. He leads us into green pastures and quiet places. At night as his flock sleeps he makes an enclosure of rough stones and then lays them down across the entrance. Some nights he will hide them in the cleft of the rocks and cliffs. High towers and tents are erected so the shepherd can watch over his sheep. He always has a rod in hand to drive off any danger. Meek and timid in all innocence the flock submits to their shepherd. They know his voice and follow his every command. If one would stray away the shepherd gently corrected with his rod. The rod represents a type of authority, usually that of a King. Our great Shepherd Jesus, King of Kings with all authority when we stray away, leave from following his commands, with rod and staff in hand He gently leads us back to His path of righteousness. A little lame and bruised our Shepherd lovingly cares for us as He always has. With the authority of a King, but also with the gentleness and compassion of a loving shepherd. Just as a lamb would stray from the path and not heed the shepherds calls, the shepherd would leave the others to bring one back. He would use his staff to pull or lift it from danger. Then he would take the rod in his hand and break the sheep's leg. He would bind the leg and then lift the lamb up and carry it on his shoulders until the leg healed. When healed the lamb was put down on the right path again. Only now the lamb would stay on the right path and follow the shepherd. The lamb had a slight limp and he also remembered the pain and suffering from going astray. When we take our eyes off of our Shepherd and stop listening to His voice and following Him we to suffer. We like that lamb follow our own desires thinking that the grass is greener in another pasture. So from his high tower our Shepherd searches the lowest valleys and the highest mountains for the lost and the one who has gone astray. With His rod and His staff He gently corrects us. Like the prodigal son He carries us back to the sheepfold. Broken and bruised and ashamed, yet He our Shepherd rejoices at our home coming. As He leads us this time we will remember and follow. His Word will lead us and guide us in the paths of righteousness. It will lead us through the valleys and take us across the highest mountains. He anoints us with His Holy Spirit for the journey. His word and His presence keeps all evil away. He fills us with his joy, peace and gladness, His goodness and mercy will keep us and follow us where ever He leads. Into green pastures, barren places, through the fire and the storms of life. As He leads us and we follow He will keep us and we shall surely dwell with Him forever.