Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-04-16

Thh is the most famous of the
shepherd kings writings. Probably
written in his later life, he borrows
his figure rom the experience of his
youth. The relation Of the lamb to
David is a type to him Of his relar
lions to God. Israel's greatest poet
had ample time for meditation In the
days Of his youth as he followed the
occupation of shepherd. His playing
On the harp is famous and he made
the first official use of music in the
worship of Jehovah (see l Chron. Is:
1920. The word Psalm" is from the
Greek, and first meant a stringed In
strument. The Hebrew title Of this
book is Praises" or the $50 psalms
David Is expressly credited with 70.
Praise OF God Is the central theme OF
all. Thanksgiving. trust, prayer and
triumph each receive expression, and
G large group are Messianic.
To fully study this, the sweetest of
all psalms. we must consider It verse
by verse.
ID my Shepherd" The lamb 10
David. The Shepherd Is Jehovah. The
time Is mans natural time on earth
The rest Is in the future. This Shep-
herd so provides that the lamb shall
not want" II is his business to care
for his sheep. We are the sheep
Jesus is the Shepherd. and his sheep
obey his voice John 1854. 81. We
shall not want for food. for drink, for
grace, for quietness. for companion
ship, for guidance and for welcome
back TO the fold at the end Of the day
or in the time OF storm.
(2) "He leadeth me-" "The Lord is
my Shepherd because (ae he bought
me; OBJ he feeds me; (c) he leads me-"
Robertson. To fully comprehend
the deep significance of this psalm we
must try to know the land OF Palestine
and the habits of eastern shepherds;
how they feed their focks. know
them by name, and keep constant
vigil against the danger OF food and
wild beasts. The Lord Is an individ-
ual shepherd. interested in the one
as well as the whole, and as such at
tends to each individuals need. He
provides a place for us to "lie down
In pastures of tender grass" he also
causes US to walk beside waters OF
q~uietness.' He makes us to lie down
at times and he knows where to lead,
providing at the same time both food
and drink. Gods word is the rich
est pasturage for the sheep OF the
Great Shepherd.
(3) HE r~estoreth ny soul" The
Shepherd ~revives our faintness. II
the lamb is too weak, he carries It "fn
his bosom until 1t is revived. Many
are the ways he revives us. A word,
a sentence. a paragraph. or an expert
ence will Outlines restore the sick
weary. sorrowful or sin-buffeted child
of God. He also leads-remember he
does not drive-and his paths ar,
paths OF pl~easantness and of peace
His paths are fright tracks," not the
deIusive ones Of sin. We cannoi
walk In these paths without his leader
ship, without his Strengthening rest
without the ~invigorating food anC
drink which is provided for us by the
Good Shepherd. Jehovah does all o
this for Ellis names sake" not be
cause Of our merit, though OF cours,
he does guard and help his peop1,
for their own sakes. but they have {
stronger security because Of what h
Is himself.
(4) "Yea though ! walk" Just Al
every need has been and will be pro
vided for (Phil. 4:19) aver so will
every fear be banished. The flock hai
passed beyond the tender grass" ant
waters OF quietness" into new an
strange experiences. into the vale,
Of deepest darkness" not alone tn
experience OF physical death but al
OF life's experiences that are shroud
cd by thick. impenetrabie darkness
for the Christian does not always wall
IN paths OF light. Sometimes we scarce
Iy see the Shepherd. but we may a.
ways hear his voice. Dark valley
may lie between two excellent pas
turage grounds even as Bunyan sus
gests In Pilgrims Progress. Deaf
In a shadow. not a substance. for tn
sting OF sin has been removed {
Cor. 15:54-57). Why not fear? "Fo
thou art with me" and he Is stronge
than any possible enemy. There ar
dangers which we cannot cope will
but as he is with us I'VE are able
Elsa 43:2; Rom. S:31; Heb. 1876
The rod was used for defense an
the stan for climbing, and the cas-
ern shepherd still carries both. TIL
star is symbolic OF the scepter-ou
Shepherd is also Sovereign (Acts 2
36). The written word. kind frien,
or remembered promise may be tn
rod and stan OF God.
(5) my cup runneth over" Her
the figure changes. Jehovah is no
the bountiful host. What q repast h
has spread David as a shepherd an
az a fugitive from Saul knew the pine
OF hunger and the satisfaction of ca
ing In peace. in the very presence {
his enemies. man and beast. The
that are Christ's have enemies (Joh
1919: II Tim. 3:12). but as our Hot
he has spread a banquet in their yer
presence while the world goes g
feeding upon the husks. He also anoin.
our heads with the coil of gladness
the Holy Spirit (Acts 1928: I job
1870, 81 r. W. For the ancient fea
this amounting was an essential pre-
aration.
Following 1t his cup was filed
overlooking.
Only the overlooking life can blei
others.
Our Joys. our spiritual Joys
Christ, are given in abundance tn
we may overflow to others.
10y ~ shall dwell forever
Goodness and mercy pursue the psalr
list In marked contrast with the caIar
fly and the angel OF Judgment whiC
follow the wicked FPS. 1855; 14O:11
There is a perpetuity Of blessing
we'll as the penalty OF sin. The psal,