Spare the Rod!

You have heard the saying, "spare the rod and spoil
the child" but in Psalm 23 we read:

"I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Our little group has been discussing this psalm and
last week we looked at the rod and the staff in
Strong's Concordance. The group was split over
whether the rod was for correction or for the killing
of a beast, the kind you meet in a dark valley.

Rod: Stick for fighting, Correction
Staff: Support, Sustenance
Comfort: To strengthen, invigorate, to cheer
enliven, to console, assist , encourage, to
ease and quiet. To give hope. 

The phrase above is so terribly important. David
claims he fears no evil, he is not afraid, because
God is with him, that God's rod and staff bring
comfort. How, in what way?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thankfulness Corner:
Sparkling jewels coming off early morning grass