Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-11-12
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR NOVEMBER Is.

MENTS FOR NOVEMBER Is.
Subject: The Lord Our Shepherd,
Psalm 23-Golden Text, Ps. 23:1
Commit the Entire Psalm
Read John 1O:1-18.
TIME.-Uncertain. PLACE.-Un-
certain.
EXPOSITION.--I. Every Want
Met, 1-3. The twenty-third Psalm is
a great depth, an unfathomable ocean
of truth. The foundation thought Of
the first four verses, Jehovah Is my
Shepherd" The figure stands for
care, protection and provision on
Gods part; trust and obedience and
following on mans part (Jno. 10:1.
18, 1929; Gen. 1918; Lu. 2:8; 5:4.
6; Acts 20:29; Isa. 53:6; Matt
$3.50. 1t Is shepherds business to
feed the sheep and lambs, and by
making Himself my Shepherd Jeho-
yah has undertaken to make 1t His
business to provide me with pasture,
to meet every need. So David con-
tinues, II shall not want" This any
one who is sure that he is one of Je-
hovah's sheep can confidently say.
Who Jehovah's sheep are Jesus plain
ly tells us (Jno. 1913, 4, 5, 2O. Je-
hovah's sheep will never lack any,
thing that it is for his real good to
have FPS. S4:11; 34:9, 10; Phil.
4:19; Matt. 6:33; Ro. 1892; He.
1876, g.. The Psalm leads on from
the general statement to specific
wants supplied. In verse we have
tour wants supplied: rest, food, drink,
leading. Literally translated, "He
maketh me to lie down in pastures Of
tender grass, He leadeth me beside
the waters Of rest" There Is two
fold rest in this verse: the passive
rest of sheep lying down on the soft,
young spring grass; the active rest Of
walking beside the waters Of rest. Is
there any other grass, food, SO easy
for true sheep of Christ to eat, so
Juicy, so delicious. so nutritious, as
that which we find in the Word Of
God? There is drink as well as food.
Jehovah leads His sheep right beside
"the waters of rest What "the
waters of rest" are Jesus tells us
(Jno. 4:14: 7:37-39). The Holy
Spirit Is the water we drink (for the
appropriateness of waters OF rest
CT. Gal. 5:22). There is guidance
also "He leadeth me-" Not only are
there still waters there, but 1t is Je-
hovah Himself who leads along the
bank This leading is continuous and
constant. He "leadeth," not driveth.
In this and the following verses there
are four experiences into which, and
in which, He leads: waters of rest; "
paths of Righteousness" Ga holy
walk); into and through darkness,
peril and testing; into His own house
forever. In verse 3 we have a fifth
want supplied: healing, or reviving.
invigorating. "He restoreth Tor. re-
viveth) my soul"
III. Every Fear Banishcd, 4. The
Lords sheep is now taken into entire
ly new experiences. No longer pas
lures of tender grass and waters of
rest, but "the valley OF the deepest
darkness" (that Is the force Of the
Hebrew phrase Shadow of death")
The Psalmist has not merely the ex-
perience of literal death In mind, but
all experiences where the darkness Is
thick and profound. Gods sheep do
not always walk in bright paths. In
the darkest valley Jehovah's sheep
have no fears. II will fear no evil"
A true trust in God banishes all fear.
under all circumstances, for all timo
| lisa. 1872; 26:3; Ps. 3:5, 6; 27:1;
46:1-3; Phil AS. 7; Ro. S:2S32).
And why not fear? "For Thou art
with me-" Not because there is no
danger, but because there Is One with
us stronger than any possible enemy.
iii. Every Longing Satisfied, 5, u.
Here the figure changes: Jehovah no
| longer appears as a shepherd, but as
| a bountiful host. "Thou preparest a
table before me'-think out all that
| He has spread before us on this table.
No banquet on earth like that. AS to
the general character of the feast
read Ps. 63:5; 8l:6. Note where we
are feasted, "in the presence of mine
enemies" Christ's own have enemies
(Jno. 1919; Q TT. S:12). but our
wonderful Host will spread US ban
quet in their very presence. That is
one OF the things that make the world
80 angry with the church: they see
what q banquet we have. while they
are feeding on husks. There is not
only feast: but also an amounting
The oil with which He anolnts our
heads is "the oil of gladness," the
Holy Spirit (Acts 1928; He. 1:9; !
Jno. 2:20, 81, r. W. He anoints
our heads with this oil, 1t flows down
over our whole person (cf. Ps. 1892
r. W. In ancient times an anoint
Ing was necessary preparation for q
feast, and the amounting with the Holy
Spirit is a necessary preparation fol
the Lords feast. The next step fol.
lows naturally, yea, inevitably-"my
cup runneth over" (or, is IAN abun'
dant drinkD. Do you know the over.
flowing cup? Now we leave the feast
for our earthly pilgrimage ". g.
But we are not unguarded, "surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me,
wish no better rear-guards, or foot.
men than those. Gods goodness and
mercy (loving-kindness) follow ouI
every step. There is no doubt about
it, Surely How well-protected and
perfectly secure we are. The Shep'
herd picking out the path before us
and again close beside us in the dark
valley, and His own goodness and
mercy following us all the way. Note
how long this will continue. Now We
come to the end of our pilgrimage
and pass out of time into Eternity
II will dwell In the house of the Lord
forever"
AN AMBIGUITY.
| mi