Bible Commentaries

Psalm 23:4

We have always associated the word "rod" with chastisement. Herein we have deprived ourselves grievously of great comfort. Will the preachers collate the passages in which the word "rod" occurs? they will find material there for a never-ending course of lectures, full of sap and encouragement and profitable gladness.

I. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Take the rod." Even Moses was nothing without the sign; Moses, greatest, strongest of lion-hearts, was only a layman when he had no rod in his hands. God always gives a sign; there is always a Divine mark; whatever it may be, it is of God's choice, and only when we hold that mantle or rod or staff are we mighty with omnipotence. The rod was in a sense the Lord Himself; the mantle was a token of the Divine presence and inspiration. The rod is done away, but the thing signified abides for ever. When Moses is called upon today to do any great work, the Lord always says to him, Take My Word, take the Bible, take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of truth. So even we, the modern and latest descendants of Moses, have our rod, our sign of commission, our seal and pledge of being no laymen in the sense of not being initiated into the mystery of the heart of God. When the Lord calls a man from sheepfold or orchard or harvest-field, He does not send him empty-handed to do His work. He says, Take the rod. Lord, what is the rod? The Book. What book? My Book; the Book of inspiration, the Book that holds in it the germs, the beginnings, of that great tree which is to overshadow the whole earth and form a cathedral of singing delight.

II. "And Elisha said unto Gehazi, Take my staff." Could not the man walk without the staff? He could not; there is a sense in which the staff makes the man; there is another sense in which the staff tries the Psalm 23:5

There are three points of resemblance between the provision made for David and the provision made for us. These are its Divine preparation, its abundance and suitableness, and its being made in the presence of our enemies.

I. The enemies in whose presence our table is prepared—human as well as natural. The harvest will not give us its blessing without a stern struggle with hostile elements.

II. The table prepared before us. This table is wisely adapted to our necessities as human beings. And what a table is thus spread for us every year! What sacred memories gather round the table thus so richly furnished!

III. The preparation of the table. The harvest is the subject of a Divine covenant engagement. Never once has the pledge given five thousand years ago been violated.

IV. The fruits of the harvest should be used in the work and for the glory of God.

—Hugh Macmillan, Harvest and Thanksgiving Services, p1.

References.—XXIII:4-6.—S. A. Brooke, Sermons, p71. J. Vaughan, Sermons (6th Series), p133. XXIII:5.—H. Bell, Sermons an Holy Communion, p77. F. Corbett, The Preacher's Year, p164. XXIII:6.—H. Woodcock, Sermon Outlines, p98. S. A. Tipple, Sunday Mornings at Norwood, p233. S. Martin, Comfort in Trouble, p70. H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit, No1848. Bishop Thorold, The Presence of Christ, p217.