HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4).
You will recall at your grandparent’s house the walking stick, cane or staff were placed in a particular corner of the house. Among them was a ‘switch’ for the unruly ones. It was the norm for dads to take the cane or the best he had to match his Sunday evening best when he took the stroll to visit the family. Oh, how I missed those days and long for the re-introduction. In this, I have frequently been reminded that the Word of God is a staff.
During many seasons of discouragement and impending danger is upon us, this verse is strength and support, “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.”(Psalm 112:7) was a staff to walk with many dark days.
When death took away your loved ones and left us almost heartbroken, you find another staff in the promise that “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
When your health is impaired, and you want to exile yourself, not knowing whether you will be permitted to return to your home and work again, take this staff which never failed, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
In times of special danger or doubt, when human judgment has seemed to be set at nought, I have found it easy to go forward with this staff, “For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.”(Isaiah 30:15) And in emergencies, when there has seemed to be no adequate time for deliberation or for action, I have never found that this staff has failed me, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:15)
“I had never known,” said Martin Luther’s wife, “what such and such things meant, in such and such psalms, such complaints and workings of spirit; I had never understood the practice of Christian duties, had not God brought me under some affliction.” It is very true that God’s rod is as the schoolmaster’s pointer to the child, pointing out the letter, that he may the better take notice of it; thus He pointeth out to us many good lessons which we should never otherwise have learned. Many of my Caribbean brothers and sisters will know that sparing the rod spoils the child as is evident in our world today.
“God always sends His staff with His rod.”
“Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” (Deuteronomy33:25).
Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on a stony path He will provide us with strong shoes, and He will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well. Therefore, my brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow readers God will not send you to a place where He will not protect you nor care for or about you. Just trust Him and lean not on your own understanding.
