Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-11-11
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson VlI-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. IS, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Ps. xxIiI--Memory
Verses, the Whole Psslm-GoIden
Text, Ps. xiii, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. .. M. Stearns.

/ bOu Oh Jesse, Ine Iudu WIN was raise
I'D on high, the anointed Of the God {
Jacob, and the sweet psalmist Of L
rael," and notice In verse 2 frol
whence he received his messages, 18th
spirit Of the Lord spake by me, an
His word was in my tongue" Th
tongue and the pen were Davids, bu
the messages were the Lords by Hi
spirit. See also Elk. Nv, II; Jer. /, rs
Eek lii, 10, IL; John xii, 40, and not
how the prophets and even our Lor
Himself received their messages froI
God the Father. The spirit of Chris
In the prophets had mainly twOfOl
theme, the suffering Of Christ and tn
| glory that should follow Il Pet. l, IL
and In no psalm are these more full.
l set forth than in Ps. xxi. written u
If by an eyewitness and giving some o
the very words He uttered on the cross
(verse u, yet pointing on to His resur
rection Kingdom and glory. saying
The kingdom is the Lords, and He u
the governor among the nations
(verse 29.
The psalm for today seems to refel
to the millennial glory Of Israel ant
yet was the personal experience Of
David and may be that Of each indi
vidual believer. David knew we'll the
life Of a shepherd and what it meant
to care kindly for the sheep. and even
to put his life In danger for them, as
when he delivered one Of his lambs
from a lion and bear and slew them
both q Sam. xvii, 1896. AS he thought
Of. his care of his flock he could look
up to the living God, the Lord of hosts,
and say, Jehovah Is my shepherd"
and as he knew that his sheep were
safe and well cared for under his
watchful care, so he was sure that he
was even better cared for by his shep-
herd, the stone Of Israel Gen. xix, "a;
Ps. Xxx, u. Hear the Lords own
words in this connection in John X, IL:
Il am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep"
Think of Him also as great shepherd
living in us and working in us to will
and to do Of His good pleasure (Heb.
Kill, 20, 21). Then see Il Pet. v, Ia
where as the chief shepherd He will
reward those who for Him feed His
flock. All the blessedness comes from
being able to say My Shepherd.
We may know oil the facts about
Him and believe all that He says He
is and has done and will do, but If
there Is no personal appropriation there
Is no benefit The soul must be able to
say My Redeemer, My Lord, My Shep-
herd. Then we can rest in Rom. viii
80. and know Of surety that we shall
not want, for there is no want to
them that fear Him and live uprightly
before Him Cps. xxxiv, 8, 10; lxxxiv,
III. Lying down is restful, and green
pastures speak Of satisfaction; satisfied
and restful. He satisfeth the hungry
soul. There is such q thing as abiding
prov. xix, 23), and yet there
we awake in His likeness FPS. xvii.
l5). In Him dwelleth all the fullness
Of the Godhead (Col. l, 10; ii, 81, and If
we are not filed full In Him the diff
Guilty Is with us and not with Him.
Not only rest and fullness. but quiet
ness of soul, is ours also in Him (verse
2, margin). He Is "The Lord our
DER. xiii, g.. and the |
work Of righteousness is peace, and |
he service Of righteousness is quiet !
ness and assurance forever. When |
He giveth quietness, who then can |
make trouble? lisa. xxi, II; Job |
lxxiv, 29.) Like sheep we are prone |
o wander. and straying sheep must |
De sought. for they do not return of
heir own accord; therefore David said:
I have gone astray like lost sheep.
seek thy servant ops. cxix. 100.
His sheep can never perish. but may
ose the joy of salvation hence the
mayer, Restore unto me the joy Of
Thy salvation" John x, %; Ps. Ii, ~.
Being righteousness itself, He can lead
My In paths of the same. and this He
loeS, as He does all else, not for our
axes, but for His Names sake Verse
I; John Ii, II; Eek. xxxvi, 22). Let
's say: Lord, | place my hand In
'hine and will not murmur nor repine.
content whatever lot | see, since It's
ny God that leadeth me-" Our whole
re here Is lived in the shadow Of
cath, for 1t is always true as David
aid elsewhere, There Is but a step be
ween me and death" q Sam. Xxx. 81.
tut He is with us every day and all
be way, and nothing can touch us
Mess He permit 1t. and If He allows
cath to touch us 1t will be gain, a
cry far better absent from the body.
resent with the Lord"
A table in the presence of his enemies
'as many a time David's experience
lille fleeing from Saul and Absalom.
will be Israels In millennial days
will be ours as far as we need ii. and
is for Gods glory. Our future as be
evers is all told In verse 6. God is
we, and love Is kind. and therefore
Ie cannot permit anything that Is not
wing kindness as He sees it. however
may look to us. Here we may dwell
! Him and He in US John xiv. %; xvii,
}; II Cor. vi, 1919, and by and by it
I'LL be for every child of God "for-
yer with the Lord" and with Him on
Us throne q Thess. ", IT; Rev. iii,
y. May we ever hear His voice as In
a. kill. 1. 2; Xviii, II; John xiv. %.
kI2a