“Thy rod and Thy staff — this also is true to life; the double expression covers the whole round of protecting care. For the shepherds carry a crook for guiding the sheep and a weapon suitable for defending them, the rod and the staff; one for aiding them in places of need along peaceful ways, the other for defense in perils of robbers and wild beasts. This saying describes with the ease of mastery how much those words mean, Thou art with me.
“And what shall I say of the next words, Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me? Ah, madam, you should see the sheep cuddle near the shepherd to understand that word, They comfort me. The shepherd’s call ‘Ta-a-a-a, ho-o-o,’ and the answering patter of feet as the sheep hurry to him, are fit sounds to be chosen out of the noisy world to show what comfort God gives to souls that heed his voice, and those sounds have been heard in my country this day as they were the day this shepherd psalm was written!”