Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-04-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR APRIL IS
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READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
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Text Of the Lesson. rs. XNIII-Mem-
DRY Verses, rs. XXIII-Goldcn
Text. rs. NXIII, documentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. VI. Stearns.

10 many people is ms farreaching as
any and viii have It's complete fulfill
ment only III the kingdom when lsa.
Xl, 10. IL; Jer. xiii. >. q: Eek. xxxvii.
2l2S. shall be fulfilled in the eyes of
all nations. with every other prediction
concerning lsraefs future glory. All
the true shepherds and shepherdesses
Of the Bible are suggestive OF Christ
and Israel. with some reference also
to Christ aud His church. He is pri-
marily the Shepherd Of Israel. leading
Joseph like Il flock. dwelling between
the caerubim FPS. Xxx. H. 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
X. ii. -. 81 Ps. C. -. He is the
Great Shepherd risen from the dead.
by whom God works I'm His people
that which is well pleasing I'm His sight
CHeb. xiii 20. 2ll. 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 Il Pet. V, Id
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 meditation of Him shall be sweet:
| will be glad i'm the Lord" (Song V, 16;
Ps. civ. 81. The sequences OF Scrip
ture are most interesting and helpful
studies. and In Psalm xii. xiii.
XIV. we have one of the most wonder
full Ps. xii tells very fully Of His
sufferings. as If written by an eye.
witness. speaks of His hands and feet
pierced. His garments divided and lots
cast upon His vesture. and quotes some
Of the very words flung ut Him as He
hung upon the cross. but IL 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
dying in their stead, bearing their sins
in His own body ana received Him rs
their own Saviour Gal H. 20; Pet,
ii. "a; John 1. l.; Eph. |. Il. ~ 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
FPS. xxXiv. 8. 10; lxxxiv. II. Rom. viii.
80. 1t is 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 FPS. ii. margin), such
would He have us enjoy always If 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" FPS.
Xxi. 11-16). Although none Of His
sheep can ever perish, they may wan
der and need restoration. as when Da-
lost sheep; seek thy servant" or. again.
Restore unto me the joy OF Thy saliva
ton" 0ps. cXfX. 1TG: Ii. l2G 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.
1.
death" Is just one word and is found
ten times In Job, four times i'm the
Psalms and four times III the prophets.
1t 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. Il will
fear no evil" for to the child of God
death Is always gain and very far
better phil /. Il. 23l. Death is never
spoken Of as the coming of Christ for,
although death brings gain to the be-
lever. il Is always an enemy, the last
enemy TO be destroyed Il Cor. XIV, 26,.
In life or death. If 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 Deut.
XXI, 8; lisa. XII, 10. 10; Heb. xiii. 81.
The table in the presence of enemies
will have great fulfillment at the be-
ginning OF the next age, when He Will
come in glory for Israels deliverance
1t will then be a feast OF fat things,
when He will take away the rebuke
OF His people from off all the earth
lisa. XIV. go. For the believer there
Is always feast. and we may be day
by day satisfied with the fairness Of
His house and drink OF the river of His
pleasures IFS. xxxvi. 81. IL Is a 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 for others. but
how few seem 10 overflow. Some one
has said that with the Lord going be-
fore John X. A. and with goodness and
fpIIouyfpcr tVnpl.. IA xr.a aro On rod