The Rod and the Staff

Psalm 23:2 gives us one of the most tender and overlooked images in Scripture: “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
In this episode, Pastor Tony Myers explains why sheep must lie down in order to digest what they eat — and why we are much the same. Left to ourselves, we rarely come to a full stop. We keep moving, consuming, chasing what looks “green,” even when it isn’t truly life-giving.
The Shepherd does not merely invite us to rest. He makes us lie down. What feels like interruption is often loving care. What feels restrictive is often protection.
This teaching explores why true rest is essential for spiritual health and how learning to be still becomes one of the clearest ways we come to know God more deeply.
For more biblical resources and teaching from Pastor Tony Myers, visit rodstaff.org.
 

We live in one of the wealthiest nations in history—and yet one of the most discontented. How can that be?
In this episode of Rod & Staff, Pastor Tony Myers explores Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This bold statement confronts our modern obsession with more—more comfort, more control, more success, more approval—and exposes why our desires so often leave us empty.
Drawing from Scripture, pastoral experience, and voices like the Apostle Paul, C.S. Lewis, and Paul Tripp, this teaching explains why contentment is not natural, not promoted by the world, and not easily learned. Contentment is a mystery that reshapes our desires and redirects our satisfaction away from “bigger and better” toward Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
When the Lord truly becomes our Shepherd, our wants begin to change—and our satisfaction shifts from temporary things to lasting joy in Christ.
For more biblical resources and teaching from Pastor Tony Myers, visit RodStaff.org.

Psalm 23:4 links “comfort” with the shepherd’s rod and staff—but how can correction and guidance comfort us? Pastor Tony Myers explains that without a genuine relationship with God, correction feels threatening and guidance feels restrictive.
 
In this teaching, comfort is redefined as a spiritual release—like pressure applied to a knot that finally lets go. God uses His rod and staff to press on the places we’re “knotted up,” leading to repentance, faith, and freedom. 
 
The episode also connects discipline with love: Hebrews 12 reminds us God disciplines the ones He loves, because He refuses to be indifferent toward His children. 
 
For more biblical resources and teaching from Pastor Tony Myers, visit RodStaff.org.

The Lord Is My Shepherd: Known, Loved, and Led by God
This episode explores the deeply personal opening words of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Pastor Tony Myers unpacks the significance of the word “my” and what it reveals about belonging, identity, and relationship with God.
Listeners are reminded that they were created not for isolation or independence, but for relationship—with God and with His people. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep by name, cares for them individually, and invites them into a life of trust and community.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why the word “my” is central to the comfort of Psalm 23
How God designed us for belonging, not independence
The personal nature of shepherding in biblical times
What Jesus means when He says He “calls His sheep by name”
How being known by God brings security, identity, and peace
Scripture:
Psalm 23:1John 10:3, 27
For more biblical resources and teaching from Pastor Tony Myers, visit rodstaff.org.

The Tools of the Shepherd: How God Guides and Protects Us
Pastor Tony Myers explains the significance of the shepherd’s two primary tools—the rod and the staff—and how each reflects God’s heart toward His people. These tools reveal God’s authority, His discipline, His protection, and His tender guidance.
Through this episode, you’ll gain a clearer picture of the Good Shepherd who not only defends His flock from danger but lovingly leads them toward wholeness and safety.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
The biblical meaning of the rod and the staff
How God uses discipline as an expression of love
The difference between God’s protection and His guidance
What shepherds historically understood about caring for sheep
How the Good Shepherd leads us through life with strength and tenderness
Scripture:
Psalm 23:1–4John 10:1–15
For more biblical resources and teaching from Pastor Tony Myers, visit rodstaff.org.

Psalm 23: An Invitation to the Shepherd’s Care (Series Introduction)
In this opening episode, Pastor Tony Myers introduces The Rod and the Staff podcast and the heart behind this series on Psalm 23. Listeners are invited into a deeper understanding of God’s shepherding care—His comfort, His presence, and His intentional relationship with His people.
Discover what to expect from this series and how the imagery of the rod and the staff reveals God’s protection, provision, and promise toward His flock.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why Psalm 23 remains one of the most beloved passages in Scripture
The meaning behind the podcast title, The Rod and the Staff
How God’s shepherding imagery shapes our understanding of His care
What this Psalm 23 series will explore in the episodes ahead
How to prepare your heart to meet the Good Shepherd in this study
Scripture:
Psalm 23
For more biblical resources and teaching from Pastor Tony Myers, visit rodstaff.org.