The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-04-21
T.lE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Tae Lord My She pherd. - Ps. e3:1-o
Lesson for April "a fSO9

LESSON NOTES.
1. "'The Lord is my Shepherd" Mad
visible to us in this relation by Jesu
Christ, who is ''the good Shepherd.
John 10: 1-16. To understand all tn
force of this image, we must remen
Der what the Syrian shepherd was, how
very unlike our modern shepherd "B,
meath the burning skies and the clca
starry night of Palestine, there grow.
up between the shepherd and his flock
q union of attachment and tenderness
Try to feel how Christ is like q shep
| herd by imagining what the lionel,
| Syrian shepherd must feel toward the
helpless things which arc 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, bat 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-infinitely lower though
we be 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
sacrifice US special and love as per-
sonal rs if in the whole worlds wilder
ness were none other but that one" ~
shall not want" See Deut. 81; SO.
Or, perhaps, ~ cannot want" as de-
scribing not only the present export
encc, but as expressing confidence for
all time to come.
2. "Hc malSeth me to lie down in
green pastures:" Pasture grounds of
fresh, tender, soft grass where one lies
ut case, and rest and enjoyment are
combined more especially an
oasis, i. c., the meadow land Of the
desert. There are times whom man
needs to lie still. like the earth under a
spring pain, letting the lessons of cx-
poricnce 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-
vldes IN His green pastures. 'iIe lead
eth me beside the still waters:" We
tcrs of rest, rcst-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 ravinos, carry-
ing away vcgctatiol, dangerous in win
ter and dry in summer.
"lle 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 in spirc
with new life. "He guideth me in the
paths OF righteousness" In right tracks.
rs opposed to delusivc tracks which
lead nowhere. Those which lead to the
right goal. "For His names sake" Not
because of our deserts or claims. We
,ould not have the face to ask it for
'ur own salSes. But because He loves
% guide us, because it is His nature to
Ielp us, because He would not be true
% Himself and His promises, unless He
,uidcd US thus.
Thy rod and thy staff" The second
II the words rod and staff" seems
merely explanatory of the first. In |
lech. 11:7 the shepherd has two slaves;
ne to lead the flock and the other to
efend it. The shepherd invariably
arries staff or rod with him when he
ocs forth to feed his flock. 1t is often
ent or hooked at one end, which gave
ise to the shepherds crook in the hand
I the Christian bishop. With this staff
c rules and guides the flock to their
reen pastures, and defends them from
heir enemies. "They comfort mes" We
lust not miss the force Of the good old
'ord comfort" 1t means far more
ian simply to console. 1t signifies to
'ne up the whole nature, to strengthen
man so that all his energies can be
rought to bear.
8. Thou preparest Tor spreadest) a
lble before me In the presence of mine
aemies:" He can sit down and eat in
erfcct security, though surrounded by
,emies Enemies Of every kind, both
orldly and spiritual, are around the
h1stian. He wrestles against the
'lers OF tho darkness Of this world.
,ainst spiritual wickedness in high
aces. But with the whole arrnor of
cd upon him, he can perform his daily
Ities in perfect security. Thou
lointcst my head with oil:" It is an
It OF great respect to pour perfumcd
l on the head of distinguished guest.
the cast no entertainment could be
ithout this. and it served, as elsewhere
bath does, for refreshment Ointment
the Jews was symbol of joy; SO too
was in Egypt
.. Surely goodness and mercy shall
How me:" The Hebrew word trans
ted surely" more often means only;
G. goodness and mercy only-nothing ,
follow me. The goodness and
ercy will follow him; he need not seek
'xiously for them as an Elusive bless
g. as the child seeks in vain for the
inbow; but they will pursue him, and
'ertake him. If only he is true sheep
the Good Shepherd. 'And will
veil in the house Of the Lord forever" |
ne house of Jehovah might refer pri-
ar1ly 10 the tabernacle, as later 70 the