Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-04-21


The Lord MY shepherd. n'
The lesson for Sunday, April "a, may
be found In Psalms 23s1-6.
INTRODUCTORY.
This psalm stands between the psalm
OF the cross (-My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?") and the psalm
OF the crown G. The earth Is the Lord's")
We call IL the psalm OF the shepherd
crook. 1t represents beautifully and
consolingly the kept path OF those who
reach forth from cross to crown, guided
and cOmfoIted on the way by the ROD
and staff OF q compassionate shepherd
The psalm has distinct marks of David {
authorship. Himself a shepherd, he
could appreciate what shepherd care
means. Fleeing, possibly, at this time
from Absalom he felt the need OF help.
And he has touched here the deepest
wants and longings OF the human heart.
To how many soul, walking in the
shadows, have these sacred sentences
come as sweetest balml And it Is good
song for the sunshine, too.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Shepherd. From the verb to feed.
The Douay translation seems very un-
happy here; The Lord ruleth mel
shall not want. Here the Douay is
palmer: shall want nothing. The verb
means TO be cut off, to lack.
He maketh me. Here follow the par
ticulars of that fulless limited at In the
first verse.-Lie down, used also at Jer.
33: IL. Suggestive of rest and salts
faction.-In green pastures. Literally
meadows Of young grass. The word
green Is from the verb to sprout.-
Still waters. Literally, waters of rest
or repose.
Restoreth. First meaning to turn or
return. Same word translated convert
| ing In the last lesson, Ps. 10: Coon
vertinG the soul. ")-Righteousn
Douay: justice.-His names sake.
Name, in the Scripture, refers, in gen.
eral, to character.
Through the valley, or in the valley.
Shadow of death. One word in the
Hebrew: Thick darkness, but COM
pounded OF two words, shade and death.
Variously applied in Scripture to a
prison, Ps. 1O7: 10, calamity, Ps. A: -,
distress, Job 16: 16; Jer. 2: 6.-Fear
no evil. More accurately, not fear
evil.-Thou art with me. The per-
sonal prpnouns are emphatic here.
| Troubles bring us closer to God.--
Rod. Symbol OF authority, here shep-
herds crook.-Staff. Root-meaning
/ u,
They comfort. They is emphatic.
The first meaning of comfort is to pity.
Prepared table. Literally and graph
ically, settest table, from the verb to
set in order. Prov. 8: 2 Furnished her
table. My cup runneth over, or
satiateth. First meaning, drink to the
full. The Douay rendition is curious:
My chalice which inebriateth me; how
goodly it Isl" taking in part of the fol-
lowing verse;
Goodness and mercy shall follow me,
or pursue me, as in chase. God 6
people are pursued of his goodness even
unto the gates OF the city.-Forever.
Literally length Of days, l. e., endless
days; placed. 1t would seem, in partial
contrast with days of my life. Good
ness and mercy while life lasts here be-
low, but an abode with God farther and
beyond, in the everlasting kingdom OF
the Father.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
The Lord is my shepherd; 1 shall not
want. Logical premise and conclusion
The Lord is a shepherd; he is my shep-
herd; therefore l shall not want. Have
you made this process of faith your
own? These Scriptures will only mean
something for us, in a sense, be inspired
|
sonal. Translate them into your own
word and thought and life. The Lord
is my shepherd, lisped the little child
"and. and doesn't want any sing else.
Can you say the same? The Bible has
not reached you and me, until we car
put it for ourselves into somewhat sim
liar personal speech. He is my shep-
herd. Is he yours? l want nothing
| more or better. Do YOU?
He restoreth my soul. Over and over
In this life, and after the valley Of the
shadow with the full vigor and strength
OF the resurrection life. And all this
for his name sake We know the
name: Wonderful, Counselor, the
mighty God, the everlasting Father, the
Prince of Peace" A restorative name
indeed; in 1t is wrapped all the recuper'
alive energies of the universe, the riches
OF wisdom and power. We ought a
once to beIrealizing this divine re-en'
forcement; we are the people Of the re-
stored soul. Made to lie down in green
pastures-some one has said that only
few sheep lie down, their posture be-
tokening fullness and contentment. Is
that the impression we are making or
the world? Do they see us to be ever.
restored souls! Only thus can we say
will do thee good, for the Lord hath
spoken good concerning Israel"
Thou preparest table before me In
the presence of mice enemies. Where
is that but here' II is in this world thai
we are in the presence Of our enemies
for "the carnal mind is enmity against
God. Marvel not that the world hate
you. But right here in this world, as il
to rebuke our enemies all about us, the
Lord spreads us a table. David found
it so; every trustful soul is thus re.
warded. And he who lacks table spread
in this life lacks just so much OF giving
due glory to God among men of this
world. Il have glorified thee on the
earth, Christ could say. Il have mani
tested thy name unto the men which
thou gavest me out of the world.
Gods name means humbl ness. but 1
also means blessing. Are we testifyinl
to the world of the God of all comfor
and blessing? Happy homes, happy
hearts, happy voices and faces-thost
are a part OF the Spirits witness to the
Christ.
Next Lesson-"The Prayer of the Pen
itent." Ps. 81: 1-13.
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