The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-04-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Lord My shepherd. - Ps. 23'1-e.
Lesson for April "a, 1899.


Lesson for April "a, 1892.
GOLDEN TExT.-The Lord is my Shepherd. |
shall not want.-Ps. 23l.
AUTHoR--Probably David, as stated in the
title
LESSON NOTES.
1. "The Lord is my Shepherds" Made
Christ, who is 'the good Shepherd"
John 10: 1-16. To understand all the
force of this image, we must remem-
Der what the Syrian shepherd was, how
very unlike our modern shepherd BE
meath the burning skies and the clear
starry night of Palestine, there grows
up between the shepherd and his flock
a union of attachment and tenderness.
Try to feel how Christ is like shep-
herd by imagining what the lonely
Syrian shepherd must feel toward the
helpless things which are the compan-
ions of his daily life, for whose safety
he stands in jeopardy every hour, and
whose value is measurable to him, not
by price, but by his own jeopardy, and
then we have reached some notion of
the love which Jesus meant to repre-
sent, that eternal tenderness which
bends over us-infnitely lower though
we be in nature-and knows the name
of each, and the trials of each, and
thinks for each with a separate solicit
tude, and gave Himself for each with
sacrifice as special and love as per-
sonal as if in the whole worlds wilder
ness were none other but that one" II
shall not want" See Deut. 2:7; $50.
Or, perhaps, 81 cannot want" as de-
scribing not only the present expert
ence, but as expressing confidence for
all time to come.
2. "He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures" Pasture grounds of
fresh, tender, soft grass where one lies
at ease, and rest and enjoyment are
combined :. more especially an
oasis, i. e., the meadow land of the
desert. There are times when man
needs to lie still, like the earth under a
spring pain, letting the lessons of ex-
perience and the memories of the word
of God sink down to the very roots of
his life, and fill the deep reservoirs of
his soul. They are not always
lost days when his hands are not busy;
they are growing days. And for this side
of mans life the Great Shepherd pro-
vides in His green pastures. "He lead
eth me beside the still waters:" Wa
tiers of rest, rest-giving waters, or, per-
haps, waters of resting places. Not
quiet waters, which would be stagnant,
but gently flowing among green fields,
in distinction from the mountain tor
rents, rushing through ravines, carry
ing away vegetation, dangerous in win
ter and dry in summer.
E.He restoreth my SOUL" This means to
bring the soul back again to itself, to
bring the soul that has become unlike
itself once more into condition Of
equilibrium, and therefore to inspire
with new life. HE guideth me in the
paths of righteousness" In fright tracks,
as opposed to delusive tracks which
lead nowhere. Those which lead to the
right goal. For His names sake" Not
because of our deserts or claims. We
could not have the face to ask it for
our own sakes. But because He loves
to guide us, because it is His nature to
help us, because He would not be true
to Himself and His promises, unless He
guided US thus.
"Thy rod and thy staff" The second
of the words rod and st;<f" seems
merely explanatory of the first. In
Zech, III the shepherd has two slaves;
one to lead the flock and the other to
defend it. The shepherd invariably
carries staff or rod with him when he
goes forth to feed his flock. 1t is often
bent or hooked at one end, which gave
rise to the shepherds crook in the hand
of the Christian bishop. With this staff
he rules and guides the flock to their
green pastures, and defends them from
fheir enemies. They comfort me-" We
aust not miss the force of the good old
word comfort" 1t means far more
than simply to console. 1t signifies to
tone up the whole nature, to strengthen
q man so that all his energies can be
brought to bear.
8. Thou preparest Tor spreadest) a
table before me in the presence of mine
enemies:" He can sit down and eat in
perfect security, though surrounded by
enemies. Enemies of every kind, both
worldly and spiritual are around the
Christian. He wrestles against the
rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high
places. But with the whole armor of
God upon him, he can perform his daily
duties in perfect security. Thou
anointest my head with oil" 1t is an
act of great respect to pour perfumed
oil on the head of distinguished guest.
In the east no entertainment could be
without this, and it served, as elsewhere
bath does, for refreshment Ointment
to the Jews was a symbol of joy; so too
it was in Egypt.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me-" The Hebrew word trans
lated surely" more often means only;
i. e. goodness and mercy only-nothing
else-will follow me. The goodness and
mercy will follow him; he need not seek
anxiously for them as an Elusive bless
ing as the child seeks in vain for the
rainbow; but they will pursue him, and
overtake him, if only he is true sheep
of the Good Shepherd. "And | will
dwell in the house of the Lord forever
The house of Jehovah might refer pri.
marily to the tabernacle, as later to the
temple. And if so, that to which he
looked forward was access to God in
His sanctuary, and the blessedness OF
communion with Him there. But is
there no more than this? no anticipa.