The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-04-22

49,
re r.srd NJ shsphssA. Ps. sssi-ef
Lsssss for April -. tDos.
ooLDsn zrxr-The Lord y ny shepherd. 8
shall not vant-Ps. e3:L
AuTnoR-ProhAbiy David. - STATED u -
title
LEssoS NOTES.
I. 1.-THE Lord Is my shepherd" Mads
visible 70 Us In this relation BY Jesus
Christ, who Is ''the good Shepherd"
John 10: i-l0. To understand al tho
force Of this image, we must rcmern-
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
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--ininitcly lower though
we be in nature-and knows the nalnc
Of each. and the trials OF each, and
thinks for each with a separate solicit
tude and gave Himself for each with
| a sacrifice as special and a love rs per-
sonal as il In the whole worlds wilder
ness were none other but that one" II
| shall not want" Sec Deut. 81; SO.
| Or. perhaps, II cannot want" as de-
scribing not only the present expert
cnce. but as expressing confidence for
| all time to come.
| .. "Hc malxeth me to lie down in
green pastures" Pasture grounds OF
| fresh, tender. soft grass where one lies
| ut ease. and rest and enjoyment ara
| combined more especially an
oasis, /. e.. the meadow land Of the
desert. There are times when q man
needs to lie still. like the earth under .
spring pain. letting the lessons Of cx-
perience and the memories Of the word
Of God sink down to the very roots OF
his life, and ill the deep reservoirs Of
his soul. They arc not always
lost days when his hands are not busy;
they are growing days. And for this side
Of q mans life the Great Shepherd pro-
vidcs in His green pastures. 'Iie lead
eth me beside the still waters" Wa
ters Of rest, rcst-giving waters, or. per-
haps, wnters 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.
He rcstoreth my soul:" This means %
bring the soul back again to itself. 20
bring the soul that has become unlike
itself once more into condition Of
equilibrium. and therefore to inspire
with new life He Ruideth me in the
paths Of righteousness" Inright tracls,
rs opposed t. 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 10 ask IL Tor
our own salxes. hut because He loves
to guide us. because IL Is His nature "a
| help us, because lie would not be truG
| TO Himself and His promises, unless He
guided US thus.
} Thy rod and thy staff" The second
Of the words rod and STAR seems
, merely explanatory OF the first. In
Zech. il:7 the shepherd has two slaves;
one 70 lead the flock and the other "a
defend il. The shepherd invariably
carries staff or rod with him when he
goes forth TO feed his flock. II Is often
bent or hooked at one end, which gave
rise 70 the shepherds crook in the hand
Of the Christian bishop. With this stan
! he rules and guides the flock to theiz
green pastures. and defends them from
their enemies ssThey comfort me-" We
, must not miss the force Of the good old
I. word comfort" Il means far more
than simply to console. II signifies q
tone M the whole nature. to strengthen
a man SO that all his energies can b
brought TO bear.
5. Thou prcparest Tor spreadest)
I table before me In the presence OF mint
, enemies:" lie can sit down and eat y
. perfect security. though surrounded By
|, enemies. Enemies Of every kind, botl
I worldly and spiritual. are around tn
I Christian. He wrestlcs against tn
: rulers Of the darkness Of this world
/ against spiritual wickedncss In higi
I places. But with the whole armor o
! God upon him, he can perform his daily
I duties in perfect sc :urity. "Thos
! anointest my head with OIL" Il II -
= act OF great respect 20 pour perfumc(
Z oil on the head Of . distinguished guest
\ In the east no entertainment could b
4 without this. and Il served, 8 elsewher'
!. bath does, for refrcshment. Ointmcn
= 20 the Jews was symbol Of Joy; 90 %
4 II was ia Egypt
d 9. "Surcly goodness and mercy shal
= follow me-" The Hebrew word trans
: lated .'surcly" more often means only
a |. e. goodness and mercy only-nothinI
: clse--will follow me. The goodness an
y mercy will follow him; he need not secl
anxiously for them as en- Elusive bless
A. inn, as tho child seeks In vain Tor %
u rainbow; but they will pursue him, an
"a overtalxc him. il only he Is true shcc
" Of the Good Shepherd. And wi
Z. dwell in the house Of the Lord forever:
II The house Of jehovah might refer pr
- marily 70 the tabernacle, Is later TO "a
=. temple. And II 50, that 70 which \
IN (t00 4