Shepherding has been going on for thousands of years.  It's the responsibility of the shepherd to make sure the sheep have lands to graze in and also calm waters to drink in.  The shepherd is also responsible for protecting the sheep from predators.

The rod is a weapon used to beat back predators who would try to eat the sheep. The staff is a guiding instrument used to direct the sheep.

In the picture of the right, there is a rod in the shepherd's left hand and a staff in the shepherd's right hand. There's also a rifle, but this is a modern invention and would not have been used by Biblical shepherds.

This psalm is called "A Psalm of David."  Before becoming king, David's job was being a shepherd for his family's animals.

What qualities do you think it takes to be a good shepherd? Why might God be compared to a shepherd?  Does He have some similar qualities?

Why does the poem say we don't have to be afraid in the valley of the shadow of death?

You need: cotton balls, paper and crayons, popsicle stick

Make some sheep out of cotton balls.  Take a piece of paper and draw some green grass and still water. Now put the paper in the middle of a table.

Now, throw the sheep up in the air over that table and see where they land.  If they fall on the floor, throw them again so they land on the table.

Now, get a popsicle stick.  This is your shepherd staff.  Try to herd all the sheep onto the green grass.  You can't touch the sheep.  You can only move them with the popsicle stick.  When you get them all on the paper, you win.