Evening journal., 1915-04-17
aIEHovAH is MY SHEPHERD" !"


Psalm %. April Is.
The Heavenly Shepherds Interest in
His Flock-His Sheep Shall Not Lack.
He Gives Them Rest-He Feeds Them
He Refreshes Them With the Water
of Life-He Restoreth My Soul-He
Leadeth Me-Even Through the Dark
Valley | viii Fear No Evil Goodness
and Mercy Ever
"Jchovah is my Shepherd" Psalms % l..
Only Gods people. in covenant rela-
tionship with Him, can properly appre-
ciatc this Psalm and apply its gracious
sentiments TO themselves. The Psalmist
! David could do this, because he belonged
( To the favored nation taken into cove
nant relationship with God at Mount
Sinai. Perfect obedience 60 that Cove
nant and its Law would have been re-
wardcd with everlasting life. But, as the
/ Apostle explains. this was impossible.
"l}y the deeds Of the Law shall no flesh
/ be justified in Thy sight"
Comparatively few Jews even did
/ their best to live up 10 the requirements
1 of the Laws but the Prophet David ew-
IDENTIFY was ono of these; for the Lord de-
clarcd him "a man after His own heart"
When he made failures, he confessed
them, rcpcntcd, received his punishment,
and rcioiced in restoration TO Divine
favor. striving the more thereafter TO
maintain his fellowship with God
Jesus and His Church, however, arc
more particularly the sheep of jehovah
/ flock than were the lsraelitcs of the
! Jewish Age: for the relationship of the
Jews was through Moses, while that OF
the Church is through Christ and the
superior Covenant ccntercd in Him.
whoever would be the Lords sheep must
make this Covenant of Sacrifice. Psalm
$3.50
Moreover. as the Jews could come only
through their mediator. Moses, so We
can enter this higher sheepheld only
through Christ. Once having come into
the shecpfold, we have Gods Message
saying; IAN things are yours; for ye
are Christs, and Christs is Gods
What this means is described in this
Psalm.
All Wants Abundantly Supplied.
The lords sheep, abiding in Him. will
have every need supplied. This may not
mean greater earthly wealth, name
fame or luxury. The Lords sheep arc
New Creatures. spirit beings, temporar
ily dwelling in the flesh like other peo-
pie. but really waiting for their change
20 be completed in the First Resurrec
tion. The Lords blessings TO Natural
Israel were earthly; but His blessing,
to Spiritual Israel are spiritual iavors
"No good thing will lie withhold" from
thesc-yca, not even chastisements an'
sorrowful experiences that may be nee
ossary for their spiritual development.
This Psalm assures Us that, as TIN
Lords sheep. We shall be provided viii
green pastures and cool, refreshing
waters OF Truth. Moreover. we shal
have the peace of God as implied IN th
J suggestion that the sheep lie down u
5 the green pastures. But alas Som
b sheep arc continually getting into diff
, Guilty. because. gostlikc, they wander Of
into the desert, straying far from th
Shepherd and attempting TO feed them
selves on the indigestiblc things of th
present life. on which no spiritual ma
ture can thrive.
Yet even such straying sheep th
Shepherd will not leave, but goes aite
them With His rod lie beats OIL th
wolves that would iniure; and with th
crook of His staff lie carefully assist
the cntangled sheep out from amOngs
the cares of this life, the decctfulness o
riches. and the besetments OF sin am
Satan. Many of the Lords flock thu
] can sing; "He restoreth my soul"-H
me again TO appreciate how much bet