Psalm 23:4-6

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 23:4-6

On our trip a few years ago, I remember learning about the shepherd and their staff.  The staff had a hook on the end and was used to draw the sheep in.  Perhaps there were disobedient sheep that needed discipline, but it wasn't used for smacking them.  Instead, they were drawn in close and corrected in a loving and close way.  This is in contrast to it being used as a weapon to fend off predators such as wolves.  I'm not entirely sure, but I guess this is in reference to his protecting of his sheep and his disciplining in love of the sheep.  In any case, it is supposed to be comforting and God's protection and discipline is comforting.  Sure, we may not always want or desire discipline at first, but we must recognize that it is a good thing for us.  Just look at what it says in Hebrews 12.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”
 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:3-11

Discipline is a good thing.

Moving on, a table is prepared before the psalmist.  More interesting is the fact that this is in the presence of his enemies.  God is doing a good thing to the psalmist for all his enemies to see.  You can imagine that his enemies do not delight in this, but God does it anyway.  Anyway, this psalm ends on a high note with a lot of really good things happening for the psalmist.  This is in contrast to the valley of the shadow of death earlier.  In any case, it is a well known psalm and one that can bring comfort in times of need.