The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-11-11
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
November is.
Subjects Davld's Trust In God, Psalm IL
Golden Text, Pss. 23. Memory Verses.
i6-Commeniary on Days Lesson.

I. The Shepherd and His sheep Tvs. LAY
/, "My Shepherd" Christ is the great
Shepherd and His followers are the sheep
As shepherd, /. Christ leads the sheep,
2. Supplies every lack. 8. Guards and
keeps them. 4. Supports them in times OF
trouble. Jehovah is often spoken of as the
The title of shepherd is also applied to
rulers, and in particular to David. Christ
applies the title to Himself John 10: / ;
compare Heb. 10: 20; ! Pet. .: 25). To ap
preciate the force of the image it is neces
sary to understand the difference between
the modern shepherd and the Orientn
shepherd of olden times. In that land
there IS a strong attachment between the
shepherd and his flock. Equally tender re-
lations exist between the good Shepherd
and His flock. On the other hand thcre is
an unfathomable affection, and on the
other calm, unlimited confidence "Shall
not want" The language is partly of ex
perience in the present and partly Of con.
tidence for the future. So of Israel, look
ing back on the wandering in the wilder
ness they had lacked nothing (Deut. 9: y,
and looking forward to the promised land
the promise was that they would lack
nothing (Deut s: 81. With Jehovah for
my shepherd and guardian, whose hand
rests on all the sources OF supply, / can
lack no temporal or spiritual good When
John Fletcher was asked by George III. if
he would accept preferment in the church
az an acknowledgment for an able and
timely paper he had written on American
affairs he returned the respectful but char
acteristic reply, Sire, want nothing but
more grace"
gives rest to the weary. The wicked are
filed with unrest lisa. 81: 90. 2l), but
Christ promises soul rest to those who
~ faIA 4
pastures, Pastures of budding or tender
grass. The original word denotes the ten.
der shoots (Deut. 80: q as distinguished
from the ripe grass, which is expressed by
another word. Hence. this grass afforded
delicious and luxuriant pasture. From this
we see that soul satisfaction is promised
the one who follows the divine guide lisa.
IS: lD. "He leadeth me-" The Oriental
shepherd never drives his flock as we do,
but goes before them. Jesus never asks
lis to go where He docs not go, or to do or
to suffer anything He has not done or suf
fered, He is the perfect example, His
"Still waters" Literally waters of rest;
not gently flowing streams, but streams
where rest and refreshment may be found
lisa. 80: lS). Eut others think it has ref
erence to the quietness of the waters. In
either case the figure is most beautiful and
suggests the quiet and peacefulness with
communion with God.
8. "Restoreth my SOUL" He bringeth
back my soul, as a sheep that had strayed
Matt. IS: ~, 10; Pet. 2: 25)s The word
for "restoreth" means "to return" bring
back" or, fgurativeiy, Convert" Of all
animals the sheep is least able to defend it.
self, either by resistance or flight; is most
given to wander away, and has the least
sagaeity in finding its way back to the fold.
Paths of righteousness" Right paths are
opposed to intricate and unsafe ways, and
to ways of disobedience and perversity
(Psa. l25: 81. For His names sake" To
display the glory of His grace, and not on
account of any merit in me.
A. Shadow of death" Being so near to
death that its shadow falls over him, for
he is not far from the substance that has
come up with the shadow. The valley OF
the shadow of death seems to have been
suggested by those deep mountain sorses
through which David was sometimes
obliged to lead his focks, though at the
hazard OF death from the wild beasts.
When the walks Of duty lie in the midst of
dangers which fall around like shadows,
then, says the psalmist, will fear no evil.
Such confidence has he in. his Shepherd.
Fear no evil" The soul fears not to en-
ter the sunless CULTS of sorrow when as
sured Of the supporting presence and pro.
tecting care of the good Shepherd. The
darkness of death is but shadow, after
all The trusting soul enters the gloomy
gorge only to emerge into the brighter day
the. hand which guides us into the dark
valley will guide up through it and up out
of it. Rod and-statf." The emblems of
the office of the shepherd and his protec-
tion of the sheep. The rod and staff seem
to be two names for one instrument, which
was used to drive away wild animals, to
direct the sheep, and for the purpose of
staff on which to lean The shepherd
walked before his flock, ready TO protect
them from assault, and they followed
gladly and fearlessly wherever he led
II. The Host and His guest Tvs. 5, o., 8.
Jehovah is now described as the host who
bountifully entcrtains the psalmist at His
table, and provides him a lodging in His
own house. as Oriental monarchs enter
tanned those to whom they wished to show
special favor. Although the image is
changed, yet we have substantially the
same IDEAS as those given in the earlier
portion of the psalm, hMine enemies" Je-
hovah had prepared this banquet for David
IS a mark of special honor and favor, and
this in the presence OF his enemies, who
looked on, but were not invited to partake.
his affiiction had said. "There is no help
for him in God;p God hath forsaken him."
"Anointest:" The reference is to the an
ointings which were the regular accom-
paniment of an Oriental banquet, not to
the kingy amounting for which different
word is used. Amounting with oil was an
emblem of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
"Cup runneth over" The overfowing cup
suggests fulness of blessing Jehovah is
a bountiful provider and is abe to abund'
6. Surely" "only" r. ". margin.
Nothing but goodness and mercy shall
pursue me. What contrast to the lot of
the wicked man, pursued by the angel Of
Judgment (Psa 35; 6),, hunted by calam:
ity" GAO: ny. Goodness and mercy"
Goodness and mercy are the staple viands
of the feast, and give flavor and virtue to
all the rest. Man needs goodness to sup
ply all his wants and mercy to cancel all
his sins. "Will dwell" These words are
to be understood iguratively. The psalm
ist expected to dwell in Gods immediate
presence forever. Forever" Here is a
suggestion of the closest intimacy with
God and the ceaseless enjoyment of His ia.