QUESTION: What is a staff used for today? What was it used for in ancient times?
Today a staff may be used for walking. But in ancient times, the staff was a critical component and instrument of correction and protection. The shepherd's staff is the most popular of all the staffs and was used to keep the sheep in line. He would use it in a variety of ways. Sometimes he would just hold it out to one side so they could see it and would go in the opposite direction. At other times he would poke them in the side so they would do what he wanted them to do. And still at other times he would have to use the staff as a weapon to ward off predators that wanted to take advantage of his flock. In the same way, the Father uses His staff, His Holy Word, to guide, poke, chastise, and protect us. His staff was a symbol of power and authority.