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)

Following God may take you through the valley of the shadow of death, but he protects us from danger using two tools: a rod and a staff. A rod is a long spear for fighting off external enemies like wild animals or thieves and a staff is what you see in Christmas plays where it's a stick with a hook on one end. This tool protects the sheep from their internal enemy themselves. Which tool do you think has more use? Thieves and wolves are rare, but a sheep can never escape itself. Sheep are curious animals with bad memories and poor eyesight so they need more protection from themselves than from external enemies. Our Good Shepherd protects us, sometimes even from ourselves. Our Good Shepherd protects us and draws us near to himself, which is good news for us all because he is where the joy is.