Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-04-20
TAE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Lord My shepherd. - rs c3;f-0.
Lesson for April ez. 1899.

aue.
LESSON NOTES.
l. THE Lord is my shepherd" Made
visible 70 us in this relation by Jesus
Christ, who is 'thc good Shepherd"
John 10: lilo. 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 tho shepherd and his flock
union OF attachment and tenderness.
Try tn feel how Christ is like n 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 10y his own jeopardy, and
then we have reached some notion of
the love which Jesus meant 10 repre-
sent, that eternal tenderness which
bends over us-infnitely lower though
we bc in nature and knows the name
of each, and the trials Of each, and
thinks for each with separate solici
tudc. and gave Himself for each with
a sacrifice AS special aud . love as per-
soual - il in the whole worlds wilder
ness were mono other but that one" Il
shall not want" See Deut. 20: SO.
Or, perhaps, 81 cannot want" rs de-
scribing not only the present expert
ence. but as expressing confidence for
all time to come.
=. lie malseth me to lie down in
green pastures" Pasture grounds OF
fresh, tender. soft grass where one lies
Mt ease, and rest and enjoyment arc
combined more especially an
| oasis, i. e, the meadow land of the
desert. There are times when "A man
needs 90 lie still. like the earth under
spring pain, letting the lessons of cx.
pcricucc and the mcmorics of the word
Of God sink down 20 the very roots OF
his lifc' aud I'LL the deep reservoirs OF
his soul. They are not always
| lost days when his hands arc not busy;
! they are growing days. And for this side
OF u mans life the Great Shepherd pro-
vidcs in His green pastures. "IIc lead
eth me beside the still waters" Wa
tcrs of rest, rcst-giving waters. or, per-
haps, waters OF resting places. Not
quiet waters, which would bc stagnant.
in distinction from the mountain tor
rents, rushing through ravincs, carry
ing away vegetation, dangerous in win
ter and dry in summer.
HE rcstoreth my soul" This means TO
bring the soul back again to itself to
bring the soul that has become unlike
itself once more into a condition of
equilibrium, and therefore To inspire
with new life HE guidcth me i'm the
paths OF Righteousness" In right tracks.
rs opposed to dclusivc 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 salSes. 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 staff" seems
merely explanatory of tho first. In
Aech. li:' 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 rave
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
their enemies. They comfort me:' We
must not miss the force OF the good old
word comfort" II means far moro
than simply to console. 1t signifies to
tone up the whole nature, to strengthen
man so that all his energies can be
brought TO bear
o. Thou prcparest Tor spreadesO a
table before me in the presence OF mine
enemies lie 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 wrcstlcs against the
rulers Of the darkness of this world.
against spiritual wiclScdncss in high
places. But with the whole armor of
God upon him, he can perform his daily
duties IN perfect security. Thou
anointcst my head with oil." IL Is an
act of great respect TO pour pcrfuncd
oil ON the head Of distinguished guest
In the east no entertainment could bc
'''' ttAA's ~ fnN' y t'tls tlH 9 Sc " re
bath does for rcfrcshmcnt. Ointment
to the Jews was q symbol OF JOY; SO too
it was in Egypt
g. surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me:' The Hebrew word trans
lated surely more often means only;
l. e. goodness and mercy only-nothing
'lsc-will follow me. The goodness and
mercy will follow him; lac need not scel,
anSiously for them as IN Elusive bless.
ing, as the child seeks i'm vain for the
rainbow; but they viii pursue him. and
ovcrtasc him, IL only he is a true sheen
Of the Good Shepherd "And I will
dwell in the house of Tho Lord forever
The house Of jehovah might refer pri.
marily TO the tabernacle. as later To- the
temple. And II So. that Ia which Inc
looked forward was access TO God I'm
His sanctuary. and the blcsscdncs. of
communion with Him there Eut IS
there mo- more than this? no anticioa.
ton Of more perfect and abiding
bicascdncss iu the cvcrlaatiug sanctuary
above
AN AGE OF PROGRESS.
a SEAMLESS boat. made from ia,