Middletown transcript., 1915-04-17
LESSON FOR APRIL ls
THE SHEPHERDS PSALM.

LESSON TExT-Psalm n
GOLDEN TEXT-Ths Lord b my shep-
herd.-Ps. 23:L
This is the most famous Of the
shepherd kings writings. Probably
written in his later life, he borrOws
his figure from the experience of his
youth. The relation Of the lamb to
David is type to him OF his rela-
tions 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 Chron. 10:
1920. The word Psalm" Is from the
Greek, and first meant q stringed in
strument. The Hebrew title of this
book Is Praises" OF 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
large group are Messianic.
To fully study this, the sweetest OF
all psalms, we must consider 1t verse
by verse.
~ my Shepherd" The lamb fs
David. The Shepherd is Jehovah. The
time is mans natural time on earth.
The rest is in the future. This Shop
herd so provides that the lamb shall
not want" 1t is his business to care
for his sheep. We are the sheep.
Jesus is the Shepherd, and his sheep
obey his voice John 1914, 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 (a) he bought
me; (b) 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 flOcks, know
them by name, and keep constant
NiBI dBdlllSl ln6 udHBbA Vi hOOA olA
wild beasts. The Lord is an indivtd-
ual 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 Tie down
in pastures Of tender grass" he also
causes us to walk beside waters Of
quietness." He makes us to lie down
81 ba -, nnlA
providing at the same time both food
and drink. Gods word ls the rich
est pasturage for the sheep OF the
Great Shepherd.
(3) "He restoreth my sOul." The
Shepherd revives our faintness. II
the lamb is too weak, he carries It In
his bosom" until 1t is revived. Many
are the ways he reviVes us A word.
a sentence, a paragraph, or an expert
ence will ofttimes restore the sick,
weary, sorrowful or sin-bufreted child
of God. He also leads-Temember he
does not drive-and his paths are
paths OF pleasantness and Of peace.
His paths are right tracks," not tho
delusive ones of sin. We cannot
walk in these paths without hts leader
ship, without his strengthening rest.
without the invigorating food and
drink which is provided for US by the
Good Shepherd. Jehovah does all OF
this for His names sake" not be-
cause OF our merit, though Of course
he does guard and help his people
for their own sakes, but they have q
stronger security because of what he
is himself.
az "Yea though ! walk" Just as
every need has been and will be pro-
vided for (Phil. 4:19) even so win
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 nfe's experiences that are shroud-
ed by thick, impenetrable darkness.
for the Christian does not always walk
in paths of light. Sometimes we scarce
ly 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 a substance. for the
sting of sin has been removed Il
Cor. 15:54-5O. 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
lisa 1872; Rom. s:31; Heb. 1861
The rod was used for defense and
the staff for climbing, and the east
ern shepherd still carries both. The
stan is symbolic of the scepter-our
Shepherd is also Sovereign (Acts 2:
36). The written word, kind friend.
or remembered promise may be the
rod and stan of God.
(5) "My cup runneth over" Here
the figure changes. Jehovah is now
the bountiful host. What a repast he
has spread! David as a shepherd and
as a fugitive from Saul knew the pinch
of hunger and the satisfaction of eat
ing in peace, in the very presence OF
his enemies, man and beast. They
that are Christ's have enemies (John
1 1919; II Tim. S:12). but as our Host
he has spread banquet in their very
presence while the world goes on
feeding upon the husks. He also anoints
our heads with the "oil of giadness.' -
the Holy Spirit (Acts 1888; John
2:20, q R. W. For the ancient feast
this amounting was an essential prep
aration.
Following It his cup was fFIed "a