The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-05-05
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Lord MY Shepherd. = rs. 23,1-0.
Lesson for April -, 1922.
GOLDEN TExT--Thc Lord rs ny shepherd, 1
shall not want-Ps 2,l
Aur.ioR.-probaoly David. as stated in tho
title.
LESSON NOTES.
1. "The Lord Is my Shepherd" Made
visible to us in this relation by Jesus
Christ, who Is "the good Shepherd"
John 10: Lilo. To understand all the
force of this image, we must rcrnem-
Der what the Syrian shepherd w'as, how
very unlike our modern shepherd. Be
meath the burning skies and The clear
starry niglIt of Palestine, there grows
MP between the shepherd and his Gocls
Il 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-inhnitcly lower though
we be In nature--and knows the name
of each, .nud the trials of each, and
thinks for each with separate solicit
tudc and gave Himself for each with
q sacrifice as special and n love as per-
soual as if Ia the whole worlds wildcr-
ness were none other but that one" ~
shall nat want" Sec Dcut. ST; 80.
Or. perhaps, ~ cannot want" as de-
scrib:ny not only the present expert
cnce. but as expressing confidence for
all time to come.
2, 'He malseth me TO lie down in
,yrccn pasturcs:" Pasture grounds of
fresh, tender. soft grass where one lies
1T case, and rest and enjoyment are
combined more especially an
oasis. |. c.. the meadow laud of the
desert. There are times when man
needs to lie still. like the earth under
spring pain, letting the lessons of cS-
pericncc 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 Grc1t Shepherd pro-
vides in His green pastures "IIc lead
eth me beside the still watcrs:" Wa
ters of rest, rest-giviny waters. or, per-
ha2s, waters Of resting places. Not
quiet waters, which would be stagnapt,
but gently flowing among green fields,
in distinction from the mountain tor
NJ. yin
ing away vegetation, dangerous In WIN
ter and dry in summer.
"Hc restorcth my soul" This means to
bring the soul hack again to itself. to
bring the soul that Las become unlike
itself once more into q condition of
equilibrium, and therefore to inspire
with new life HE guidcth me in the
p lths OF righteousness" In right 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 clairns- We
.ould not have the face to ask 1t for
our own salscs. But because He loves
to guide US, because 1t is His nature to
to Himself and Bis promises. unless lie
|guided US thus.
''Thy rod aud thy staff" The second
of the words ''rod and STAFF seems
merely explanatory OF the first. In
zech. ll:T the shepherd has two slaves;
one to lead the fock and the other TO
defend It. The shepherd invariably
carries staff or rod with him when he
goes forth to feed his 1ocis. It Is often
bent or hooked ut one end, which gave
rise TO the shepherds crook in the hand
of the Christian bishop. With this staff
he rules and guides the 6oc's to their
green pastures. and defends them from
their enemies. They comfort mes" We
must not miss the force of the good old
word comfort It means far moro
than simply 10 console. 1t siynifios 70
tone up the whole nature, 70 strengthen
q man SO that all his energies Gun be
brought to bear.
8. Thou prepares* Tor sprcadcst) .
toble before me in the presence Of mine
enemics:" 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 wickedncss In high
places. Dut with the whole srnor Of
God upon him. he can perform his daily
duties in perfect security. Thou
anointest my head with oil:r II Is an
oct OF great rcspcct to pour pcrfumed
oil oa the head OF distinguished guest.
In the east no entertainment could be
without this. and II served, as elsewhere
o bath docs, Tor refresbmeat Ointment
TO the Jews was . symbol at Joy; 90 too
II WIS in Egypt
g. Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow mes" The Hebrew word trans
lated ''surcly- more often means only;
{ c. goodness and mercy only-nothing