The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-17
SCHOOL.
Lesson III.-Seoond Quarter, For
April 18, 1915.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Text Of the Lsssen, Pc. xxiii-Menory
Verses, Ps. xxiii-0odsn Text, Ps.
xxili, f--cemmsntary Prepared by
Rev. .. M. atsarns.
This most familiar of all the psalms
to many people 10 as farreaching as
any and will have it's complete fulfill
ment only in the kingdom when lisa.
Il 10. IL; Jer. xiii, s, 6; Esek. xxxvi.
21-2S, shall be fulfilled in the eyes Of
all nations. with every other prediction
concerning Israel's future glory All
the true shepherds and shepherdesses
Of the Bible are suggestive of Christ
and Israel, with some reference also
to Christ and His church. He Is pri-
marily the Shepherd of Israel, leading
Joseph like a flock, dwelling between
the cherubim Ps. Xxx, u. He is also
the Good Shepherd giving His life for
the sheep and giving eternal life to His
sheep. the sheep Of His pasture John
K. IL. 81, %; Ps. c, 3 He is the
Great Shepherd risen from the dead,
by whom God works In His people
that which is we'll pleasing In His sight
(Heb. xiii, 20. 21). He Is also the chief
Shepherd, who, at the resurrection Of
the just will give the crowns to those
who have won them and among others
the crown Of glory to those who have
faithfully fed the flock q Pet. v, Ia.
All the shepherds, such as Abel, ia
cob, Joseph, Moses and David, were
wondrously typical Of the Good Shep-
herd. and the women also, such as
Rachel and Zipporah, who kept sheep,
give US much to mediate upon, but all
centers upon Him who is altogether
lovely and of whom our souls say,
| my medita tion Of Him shall be sweet;
l will be glad In the Lord" (Song v, IS;
Ps. civ, 34. The sequences of Scrip
ture are most interesting and helpful
studies, and In Psalm xii, xiii,
xiv, we have one of the most wonder
ful. Ps. xii tells very fully of His
suferings, as II written by an eye
witness; speaks of His hands and feet
pierced, His garments divided and lots
cast upon His yesture, and quotes some
Of the very words flung at Him as He
hung upon the cross. but 1t also tells of
the resurrection and the kingdom.
Ps. xiii suggests Israels glory in the
millennial kingdom, and Ps XIV tells
Of the King Of glory ruling the whole
world in Righteousness.
No one can truly say "The Lord is
my Shepherd" who has not seen Him
| dvipv ty, thoir .toad baa rty,rv <ba aSv .tx,s
In His own body and received Him as
their own Saviour (Gal II, 20; Pet.
II, "a; John 1, II; Eph. 1, 8, y. Then
only can we be sure that we shall
never want any good thing, for He
who spared not His own Son will
with Him also freely give us all things
Cps. xxxiy, 9, 10; lxxxiv, IL; Rom. viii.
S0. II 10 impossible that such shep-
herd could withhold from any of His
sheep anything really good for them.
Pastures Of tender grass and waters
Of Quietness (Ps. Ii, margin), such
would He have us enjoy always IL we
would only keep close to Him and not
stray away like lost sheep. choosing
our own pasture and causing Him to
grieve over us, saying, "Oh, that my
people had hearkened unto me and
Israel had walked in my ways" (Ps.
lxxxi, lilo. Although none of His
sheep can ever perish, they may wan
der and need restoration, as when Da-
vid said, II have gone astray like a.
lost sheep; seek thy servant" or, again,
Restore unto me the JOY of Thy saliva
ton" FPS. cxix, 176; Ii, 12). He will be
glad to lead us in the paths of right
eousness IL we are only willing to be
thus led. Thus only can we foretaste
the kingdom and know something OF
its peace and quietness and assurance.
The expression "the shadow of
death" is just one word and Is found
ten times in Job, four times In the
Psalms and four times In the prophets.
It may refer to the whole time Of our
sojourn here for we may be said to
be always in the shadow of death, but
the believer can always say, 'T will
fear no evil" for to the child of God
death Is always gain and very far
better Phil. 4. 21, 23). Death Is never
spoken Of as the coming of Christ, for.
although death brings gain to the be-
lever, it is always an enemy, the last
enemy TO be destroyed q Cor. ", 28).
In life or death. II we are His, He is
always with us to guide, comfort, sus-
tain. protect US and assures us that
He will never leave us or fail us Oeut.
xxi, s; lisa. XII. 10. 13; Heb. XIII, 81.
The table in the presence Of enemies
will have a great fulfillment at the be-
ginning of the next age, when He will
come In glory for Israers deliverance.
It will then be a feast of fat things,
when He will take away the rebuke
of His people from of all the earth
(Isa. XIV, so. For the believer there
is always a feast. and we may be day
by day satisfied with the fatness Of
His house and drink of the river of His
pleasures Ps. xxxvi, 81. 1t Is re-
proach to the Lord when His people
are seen seeking satisfaction at the
worlds table, When truly anointed
with the Holy Spirit we shall so enjoy
the Lord and His fullness that there
shall be an overflow Tor others, but
how few seem to overflow! Some one
has said that with the Lord going be-
fore John K, A. and with goodness and
mercy following Verse 81 we are cared
for as only heaven can care for us.
Then to think of our forever home,