es? While he is my shepherd, I shall not want.--Yea, though I
walk through those valleys of death-shade, I will fear no evil; for he
is with me; his rod and his staff they comfort me."

The shepherd carried with him two instruments--the staff, for his own
support, and to attack a beast or robber; and the crook, or rod. By this
crook, the shepherd guided a sheep in a dangerous pass, placing the
crook under the sheep's neck, to hold him up and assist his steps. When
a sheep was disposed to stray, the shepherd could hold him back with his
crook. When the sheep had fallen into the power of a beast, the crook
assisted in drawing him away. A good sheep loved the crook as much as
the staff,--to be guided, as well as to be defended. Both of the
shepherd's instruments were a great comfort to the sheep, while passing
through a frightful and dangerous valley.

The interpretation usually given to the words, "thy rod and thy
staff"--as though they meant "thy gentle reproofs and thy severe
rebukes"--is erroneous. A sheep would hardly tell his shepherd that his
chastising rod, and the heavy blows of his staff, comforted him. The
meaning is, It is a comfort to me to feel the crook of thy rod helping
me in trouble, and to know that thy staff is my defence against wild
beasts.

* * * * *

Through fear of death, many who are truly the followers of Christ, are,
nevertheless, all their lifetime subject to bondage. On whatever
mountains, into whatever pastures, and by whatever streams, their
Shepherd leads them, they know that there is a valley into which they
must go down, and the imagined darkness and horrors of the place make
them continually afraid.

A fear of death, without doubt, is frequently permitted, as a means of
religious restraint. Some, who have wondered at this trial all their
life long, find that its influence is great in keeping them near to the
Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. If a flock could reason, no doubt
the shepherd would make use of the fears of the sheep, in many
instances, to keep them from going astray. If one of them were inclined
to wander, it would be natural for the shepherd to caution that sheep
against the dark valley, warning him of its terrors, and making him feel
how necessary it would be to have a shepherd there, with his crook and
staff. It may be that apprehensions with regard to death are the most
powerful means, with some, of keeping them from going astray, and