The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-16

written in his later life, he borrows his figure from the experience of his youth. The relation of the lamb to David is a type to him of his rela- tions to God. IsraeFs 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 I Chron. 15: 15-24). The word Psalm" is from the Greek, and first meant stringed in- strument. The Hebrew title of this book is Praises" Of the 150 psalms David is expressly credited with 73
 To fully study this, the sweetest of all psalms, we must consider it verse by verse.
 (D My Shepherd" The lamb is 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" It is his business to care for his sheep. We are the sheep. Jesus is the Shepherd and his sheep obey his voice (John 10:4, 5. 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 pr in the time of storm.
 (2) He leadeth me-" "The Lord is my Shepherd because (a) he bought me; (b) he feeds me; Co 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; now they feed their fiocks, know them by name, and keep constant vigil against the danger of flood and wild beasts. The Lord Is an individ- nal shepherd, interested in the one as we'll 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 uuietness." He makes us to lie down at times and he knows where to lead. providing at the same time both food and drink.
 (3) "He restoreth my soul" The Shepherd revives our faintness. If the lamb is too weak, he carries it "in his bosom" until it is revived. Many are the ways he revives us. word, 8 sentence, a paragraph, or an exper1- ence will ofttimes restore the sick, weary, sorrowful or sin-buffeted child of God. He also 1eads-remember he does not drive-and his paths are paths of pleasantness and of peace. His paths are right tracks" not the delusive ones of sin. We cannot walk in these paths without his leader ship, without his strengthening rest, without the invigorating food and drink which is provided for us by the Good Shepherd.
 (4) "Yea though l walk" Just as every need has been and will be pro- vided for (Phil. 4:19) even so will every fear be banished. The flock has passed beyond the tender grass and "waters of quietness" into new and strange experiences, into the "valley of deepest darkness" not alone the experience of physical death but all of life's experiences that are shroud- ed by thick, impenetrable darkness for the Christian does not always walk in paths of light. Sometimes we scarce Iy see the Shepherd, but we may al- ways hear his voice. Dark valleys may lie between two excellent pas turage grounds even as Bunyan sug- gests in Pilgrims Progress Death is a shadow, not substance, for the sting of sin has been removed q Cor 15:54-5D. Why not fear? For thou art with me" and he is stronger than any possible enemy. There are dangers which we cannot cope With, but as he is with us i've are able.
 (5) My cup runneth over." Here the figure changes. Jehovah IS now the bountiful host. What repast he has spread! David as shepherd ana as a fugitive from Saul knew the pinch of hunger and the satisfaction of eat ing in peace, in the very presence or his enemies. man and beast. They that are CnTlSI ; udNO OhOAhiSS \"oANAA 15:19: II Tim. 3:12), but as our Host he has spread a banquet in their very presence while the world goes on feeding upon the husks. He also anolnts our heads with the ''oil of gladness, the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:3S; l John 2:20. 27 R. VI. For the ancient feast this amounting was an essential prep aration.
 (6) "I shall dwell forever" Goodness and mercy pursue the psalm ist in marked contrast with the calam- ity and the angel of judgment which follow the wicked CPS. 35:6; 14O:1D. There is a perpetuity of blessing as we'll as the penalty of sin. The psalm ist leaves the feast for his dwelling house which shall abide ito length If days" This is to be interpreted in it's fullness only by the New Testa- ment (John 14:1-3; Thess. 4:16, ID.
 Everlasting fellowship, communion and companionship with the Chief Shepherd, the great Shepherd of the