With Shepherd’s Staff He guides the sheep,
Upon narrow path in Love He keeps
Each little lamb within His flock,
Each ewe and ram, He is their Rock.
With tender Love He wields this rod,
With power above, their shield, their God.
By gentle thrusts He guides them home,
Though Him they trust, they’re prone to roam.
To wayward sheep this rod may pain,
But the Shepherd keeps them all the same
Within the sight of His watchful eye,
When dark the night, He keeps them nigh.
Thrusting here and prodding there,
In trusting Him this trait they share.
Though staff may smart, it’s for their best,
His Love imparts a joyful rest.
No child sees a rod as they should,
But all the while it’s for their good.
The father who loves his son will correct,
Though it may bother them both, it is to protect.
To guide in love, but with heavy hand.
One day above we will understand
That God cares so deep for each and all
Of His sheep that He prods and calls.
So, though His staff may cause some pain,
It’s not His wrath, but for our gain.
Oh, blessed Shep, lead me now home,
By staff I’m kept within thy zone,
Safe from sorrow and lion and bear.
I’ll see tomorrow within Your care.
I sing Your song with loudest bleat.
Your staff I long for my comfort it keeps.
Tertius
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
A note about “Comfort Zone”: I never enjoyed getting a whipping from my dad when I was a kid, whether by his belt or switch, and I do not enjoy God’s discipline now whether a guilty conscience or however other means He employs. But my dad’s discipline he doled out when I was a child made me who I am today, and my heavenly Father’s discipline He doles out now will make me what I am yet to be. Though it may sound strange I take comfort in it all, trusting in God’s knowledge and my lack of knowledge (in the big picture) as the source of my comfort letting faith overrule the pain. Hebrews 12:5-11