Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-05-28
The lord onr Shenhnrd

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not
want 1t seems next to impossible for the
most casual reader of the Psalms of David
and, indeed, of all the Bible poets, to pass un-
noticed the simple, yet frequent and forcible
manner, in which they illustrate the sacred
truths they inculcate. Indeed the scriptures
abound with imagery, often the most grand
and gorgeous Of which we can have any con-
cepton. And then ON the other hand, as in
the Psalm from which the verse before us is
taken, scenes of the most rustic simplicity are
made to convey truths the most comforting
ana blessed that the soul of the christian
could desire. . The Lord as my Shepherd."
IheSe are gracious words. Who that has anv
claim to the title Of christian can read them
without feeling his faith grow stronger-his
hope brighter-his love enkindle, in view of
the truth 50 beautifully, yet so strongly assert
ed that the Lord Jehovab-the God Of heaven
and earth Is he who, never slumberino. watch
eth where his people dwell. He, who hath
his way IN the whirlwind, and the clouds are
dust Of his feet
Who plants his footsteps on the sea-
And rides upon the storm"
lie, who IS King Of kings and Lord of lords
condescends with all the fidelity and watch
fuiness OF an humble shepherd to guard and
defend those who are SO unspeakablv happv
as to be numbered among the sheep of his
pasture"
But the language Of the PsaImst acquires
/ additional force when viewed in its personal
application. The Lord is not only the shep-
nerd OF his people IN gencr0i sense, but he
Is the protector, friend and guide Of each
lamb OF the hock The Lord is MY shepherd.
( says David. Herein is the consolation and
hope OF the christian. God careth for him
IndjridHaiiH, personaliy-nav, even soparticu-
ally that the very .. hairs Of his head are all
numbered" But this is Included in the Ian
, guage which Immediately follows as a certain
7 conclusion Of the fact 50 confidently assumed.
I The Lord Is my Shepherd shalt not tcart.
/ SHALL NOT WANT. With what confidence
J and assurance must he have uttered these
/ words. As he himself when Il lowlv shep-
/ herd boy, he watched his fathers flock, had
/ anticipated every want, supplied every neces-
slty, and shielded from every danger his ten
der charge-so with the assurance that the
( Lord is his shepherd he is ready TO conclude
/ without the shadow Of doubt that he {" shall
not want any good Nay, though as in his
/ own experience there came Il lion and took
q lamb out of the fock' bat he delivered
! him out Of his mouth and slew the spoiler
/ 50 he shall Acrer ,c0Rt the presence and as
/ sistance Of his almighty Shepherd to succom
him from the roaring lion who walketh about
seeking whom he may devour. In his wan
/ dcring through the desert he may sink deep
IN horrible pit and miry clay, but he shall
nat 1rom Il present helper to set his feet upon
rock and establish his goings. IT'S thus the
christian ever feels. and he may we'll exclaim,
though storms Of adversity lower thick around
+ me l shall not want delverance from the
raging blasts. Temptations may assail, the
world may allure, the enemies of the cross
: may persccutc and destroy, but I shall not
'ra,d strength for each trying hour, power to
resist each false allurement, and grace unto
! the end sufficient to enable me to come off
conqueror, and more than conqueror, through
Christ who has loved me- Such may be the
language of the child of God Who would
not wish to be able to say the . Lord is my
Shepherd" when such is the portion-the
strong consolation-the nccitd6ie certainty
that he - shall not rant"