Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-04-15

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 a type 10 him Of his rela-
tons 10 God. lsraels greatest poet
had ample time Tor 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 lsee | Chron. 10:
1920. The word Psalm" is from the
Greek. and first meant q strinGed i'll
strument. The Hebrew title Of this
book is Praises or the $50 psalms
David is expressly credited with q.
To fully study this, the sweetest OF
all psalms. we must consider II verse
by verse.
~ 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 II is his business to care
for his sheep. We are the sheep.
Jesus is the shepherd, and his sheep
obey his voice John 1874, 81. We
shall not want for food. for drink, for
grace. for Q%uietness. for companion
ship. for guidance and for welcome
back to the fold al 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: th) he feeds me tc) 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 flood and
Wild beasts. The Lord is an individ-
ual shepherd. interested in the II
as we'll as the whole. and as such at
tends 10 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.
~ 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. A word.
a sentence. a paragraph, or an expert
ence will ofttimes restore the sick,
weary. sorrowful or sin-buffeted child
of God. He also leads-remember he
does not ~drive-and his paths are
paths of pleasantness and OF peace.
His paths are right tracks, not the
delusiye 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 | walk" Just as
every need has been and will be pro.
yided for phil. 4:1D even so VIII
every fear be b~anished. 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 bv 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
NAV lie between two excellent pas
turage grounds ven as Bunyan sug
gests in Pilgrims Progress. Deatf
Ia a shadow. not a substance, for the
sting OF sin has been removed q
Cor. 15:54.50. Why not fear? Fol
! 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 we are able
(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 ant
as a fugitive from Saul knew the pinch
OF hunger and the satisfaction of eat
ing in peace. in the very presence o
his enemies. man and beast. The.
that are Christ's have enemies (Johr
| 1919: II Tim. 3:12), but as our Hos
he has spread a banquet in their yer!
presence while the world goes OF
feeding upon the husks. He also anoint'
an - II- -.