The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson VII.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. IS, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of tho Lesson, Ps. xxiii-Memory
Verses, the Whole Psalm-Golden
Text, Pc. xiii, 1-commentary Pre-
pareo; by Rev. D. M. Stearns.

pared by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
copyright, 1905 by American Press Asociation-l
How beautiful the description OF
David in II Sam. xiii, l, David the
son Of Jesse, the man who was raised
I up on high, the anointed Of the God OF
Jacob, and the sweet psalmist OF Is
rael." and notice in verse 2 from
whence he received his messages. The
spirit Of the Lord spake by me, ana
Els word was in my tongue" The
tongue and the pen were David's, but
tile messages were the Lords by His
spirit. See also EX. iv, II; Jer. l. I-9;
Eek. LII, 10, IL; John xii. 49. and note
how the prophets and even. our Lord
Himself received their messages from
God the Father. The spirit Of Christ
in the prophets had mainly q twofold
theme, the suffering Of Christ and the
glory that should follow Il Pet l, III.
and In no psalm are these more fully
! set forth than In Ps. xii. written as
If by an eyewitness and giving some OF
the very words He uttered on the cross
(verse u, yet pointing on to His resur-
rection kingdom and glory, saying,
1.-The kingdom is the Lords, and He Is
the governor among the nations
(verse 2S).
The psalm for today seems to refer
to the millennial glory OF Israel and
yet was the personal experience OF
David and may be that Of each indi-
vidual believer. David knew well the
life of a shepherd and what 1t 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 q lion and q bear and slew them
both Il Sam. xvii, 3436). 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 we'll cared for under his
Watchful care, so he was sure that ne
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:
II am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd glveth 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.
xiii, 20, 21). Then see q Pet. v, l-g
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 all 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,
SO, and know of u surety that we shall
not want, for there is no want to
them that fear Him and live uprightly
before Him (Ps. XXXiv, 0, 10: lXXXiV,
1D. Lying down is restful, and green
pastures speak Of satisfaction: satisfied
and restful. He satisfieth. the hungry
soul. There is such d thing as abiding
satisfied prov. xix, 23). and yet there
| is O satisfaction that will be only when
we awake in His likeness (Ps. xvii.
| 15). In Him dwelleth all the fullness
Of the Godhead (Col. 1. 10; ii. 81. and If
we are not filed full in Him the dltti.
Guilty Is with US and not with Him.
| Not only rest and fullness. but quiet
ness of soul, is ours also In Him (verse
.. margin). He is THE Lord our
Righteousness" (Jer. xiii, 0). and the
work of righteousness is peace. and
the service of righteousness Is quiet
ness and assurance forever. When
He glveth quietness. who then can
make trouble? Qsa. 1Xxif, IT; Job
xxxiv, 29) Like sheep we are prone
to wander, and straying sheep must
be sought, for they do not return OF
their own accord; therefore David said:
T have gone astray like lost sheep.
Seek thy servant Cps. cxix. 1IGl.
His sheep can never perish, but may
lose the Joy Of salvation; hence the
prayer, "Restore unto me the Joy or
Thy salvation" John K. 2S; Ps. II, 12).
Being righteousness itself. He can lead
only In paths of the same, and this He
does, as He does all else, not for our
sakes, but for His Names sake (verse
3; l John Ii. -; Eek. XXXvi, 22). Let
us say: Lord. place my hand in
Thine and will not murmur nor repine.
Content whatever lot l see, since It's
my God that leadeth me-" Our whole
| life here Is lived In the shadow Of
death, for it is always true as David
said elsewhere. There is but step be-
| tween me and death" Il Sam. XX. B..
But He Is with us every day and oil
the way, and nothing can touch us
unless He permit 1t, and If He allows
death to touch us 1t will be gain.
very far better absent from the body.
present with the Lord
A table In the presence Of his enemies
was many q time David'S experience
while fleeing from Saul and Absalom.
| It will be Israel's In millennial days.
! II will be ours as far as we need 1t. and
It Is for Gods glory. Our future as be-
! levers Is all told in verse 8. God Is
love, and love IS kind. and therefore
He cannot permit anything that Is not
| loving kindness as He sees 1t. however
| it may look to US. Here we may dwell
In Him and He in US (John xiv, %; xvii.