John Trapp on Psalms 23:4

Verſ. 4. Yea though I walk thorow the valley of the ſhaddow of death] In the moſt dark and dangerous places, where there is Luctus ubique, pavor, & plurima mortis imago, thoſe dark places full of cruelty, Pſal. 74.20. where Wolves wait for mee. Though I walk (not ſtep) thorow (not croſſe) the valley (not a dark entry only) of the ſhaddow of death (the darkeſt ſide of it, death in its moſt hideous and horrid repreſentations) I will not fear; for I fear God, and have him by the hand; I muſt needs bee Tutus ſub umbra leonis, ſafe by his ſide, and under his ſafe-guard. It God be for us, who can be againſt us?

For thou art with mee] Hence my ſecurity; ſee a promiſe anſwerable to it, Joh. 10.28. Chriſt is not to loſe any of his ſheep, Joh. 17.12. Having therefore this Ark of Gods Covenant in our eyes, let us chearfully paſſe the waters of Jordan, to take poſſeſſion of the promiſed land. Cur timeat hominem homo, in ſinu Dei poſitus, ſaith a Father?

Thy rod and thy ſtaff] Hee purſueth the former Allegory; Shepheards, in driving their flocks, have a rod or wand in their hand, wherewith they now and then ſtrike them; and a ſtaff or ſheep-hook on their necks, wherewith they catch and rule them. Of Chriſts rods and ſtaves, ſee Zach. 11.7. &c. fooliſh Shepheards have only forcipes & mulctram, Zach. 11.15. R. Solomon, by rod here underſtandeth afflictions, by ſtaff ſupport under them, a good uſe and a good iſſue.

They comfort mee] Gods rod, like Aarons, bloſſometh; and like Jonathans, it hath hony at the end of it.