The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-11-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER Is.

Subject: David's Trust in God, Psalm 2s
Golden Text, Psa. 23, l. Memory
Verses, 1-e-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.
I. The Shepherd and His sheep Tvs. l-4):
!, "My Shepherd" Christ is the great
Shepherd and His followers are the sheep.
As q shepherd, l. 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
Shepherd of Israel, and Israel as His flock.
The title of shepherd is also applied to
rulers, and in particular to David. Christ
applies the title to Himself John 10: !;
compare Heb. l3: 20; Pet. 2: 25). 10 ap-
preciate the force Of the image it is neoes.
sary to understand the difference between
the modern shepherd and the Oriental
shepherd of olden times. In that land
there IS, a strong attachment between the
lations exist between the good Shepherd
and His flock. On the other hand there 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.
fidence 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. 8: 81. With Jehovah for
my shepherd and guardian; whose hand
rests on all the. sources of supply, l can
lack no temporal or spiritual good. When
John Fletcher was asked by George Ill. II
he would accept ,preferment in the church
as an acknowledgment for an able. and
timely paper he had written on American
affairs, he returned the respectful but char.
acteristic reply, "Sire, I want nothing but
more grace" 8,
.. ITO lie down." The divine Shepherd
gives rest to the weary. The wicked are
filled with unrest lisa. 81: 20, 2ll, but
Christ promises soul rest to those who
come to Him Matt. II: 2s.3O). Green
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 luxur:ant pasture. From this
the one who follows the divine guide lisa:
IS: III. He leadeth me-" The Oriental
shepherd never drives his flock as we do,
but goes before them. Jesus never asks
us to 20 where He does not go, or to do or
to suffer anything He has not done or snf-
fered.: Be is the perfect example: His
going before means ever better things.
"Still waters" Literally, waters of rest;
not gently flowing streams, but streams
where rest and refreshment may be found
lisa. So: lS). But 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
which the soul is filled when it enters into
communion with God.
8. "Restoreth my soul" He bringethl
hack nv soul. as sheep that had strayed
Matt is: y. l3; i Pet. 2: 25). The word
for ''restoreth' means "to return" bring
back" or. 6guratively, 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
sagacity 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 perverslty
(Psa. l25: 81. For His names sake" 10
display the glory of His grace, and not on
account of any merit in me:
4. Shadow of death" Being SO near to
death that its shadow falls over him, Tor
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 gorges
through which David. was sometimes
obliged to lead his hocks, though at the
hazard Of death froR 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 galfs of sorrow when as
sured of the supporting presence and Pro 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
of immortality The Christian knows that
tke hand which guides us, into the dark
valley will guide up through it and up out
of it. "Rod and-staff." 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 sthey followed
gladly and fear.essiy wherever he led: .
II. The Host and His guest Tvs. 5, 81. =
.Prcparest table" The figure is changed
Jehovah is now described as the host who
bountifully entertains the psalmist at dis
table, and provides him 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 GARNER
portion of the psalm. Mine enemies: Je,
hovah had prepared this banquet for David
rs. mark of special honor and favor, and
this in the presence OF his enemies, who
looked on, but were not invited to partaKe
This was David's answer to those who IN
his affliction had said. There lss no help
or him in Cod" God hath forsaken him. .
"Anointest:" The. reference IS to the an
ointings which were the regular accom-
paniment of an Oriental banquet, not te
the kingly amounting for which a different
word is used. Amounting. with oil was an
emblem of the baptism. of the Holy Spirit
"Cup runneth over. The overHowlng cup
suggests fulness of blessing: Jehovah is
a bountiful provider and is able to abund
T g. "surely." Only" R. ", margin
Nothing but goodness and mercy shal \,
pursue me: What contrast to the lot o. .
the wicked man, pursued by the angel Of
Judgment (Psa. IS: G., hunted by calam
ity" GAO: lD. Goodness and mercy;
Goodness and mercy are the staple viands
of the feast, and give favor and virtue to
all the rest. Man needs goodness to sup
plv all his wants and mercy to cancel al
his sins. will dwell."' These words are
to be understood figuratively. The psalm
list expected to dwell in Gods immediate
presence forever. Forever" Here is q
suggestion of the closest intimacy with
God and the eeaseless enjoyment Of His fa