“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4. For school I have to read a book that deals with Psalm 119 and in chapter one the author talks about praising God for His laws, for His statutes. Here in Psalm 23 we see David praising God for His Rod and Staff. The Rod and Staff are used for protecting sheep, for guiding them, and for discipline. It seems strange at first to praise God for disciplining us, because that is something that is not often enjoyable, but, when we realize why God disciplines us, we should be thankful. God doesn’t just want to “get back” at His children, rather, He wants to help us grow more mature. He wants to use the discipline He gives to mold us and guide us in the future so that we won’t go through the same trouble all over again. God Loves us, and when He disciplines us, it is for our own good so that we won’t hurt ourselves, or others around us in the future. He uses discipline to remind us that we are to be living for His glory, because His Kingdom is eternal, not our life here in the flesh. God uses discipline for more good than we often give Him credit for, which is yet one more reason to praise Him. God Bless!
