The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-04-14
LESSON FOR APRIL 18
THE SHEPHERDS PSALM.

LESSON TEXT-Psalm q.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord is my Shep-
herd.-Ps. 23:1.
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 1 Chron. Is:
1920. The word Psalm is from the
Greek, and first meant stringed in
strument. The Hebrew title of this
book is Praises" OF the $50 psalms
David is expressly credited with 73.
To fully study this, the sweetest of
all psalms, we must consider it 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" 1t is his business to care
for his sheep. We are the sheep.
Jesus is the Shepherd, and his sheep
obey his voice (John 1874, So. 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 Ieadeth 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
vigil against the danger of flood and
wild beasts. The Lord is an individ-
ual shepherd, interested in the one
as well 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
quietness." 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
~ he
a sentence, 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
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 I walk" Just as
every need has been and will be pro-
vided for (Phil. AID 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
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 shadow, not a substance, for the
sting of sin has been removed q
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"
(5) "My cup runneth over" Here
the figure changes. Jehovah is now
has spread David as a shepherd and
as 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
1919; II Tim. 3:12), 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 gladness,"
the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:SS; John
2:20, 81 r. W. For the ancient feast
this amounting was an essential prep
aration.
(6) al shall dwell forever"
Goodness and mercy pursue the psalm
ist in marked contrast with the calanl-
ity and the angel of judgment which
follow the wicked Cps. 35:6; 140:11).
There is a perpetuity of blessing as
well as the penalty of sin. The psalm
ist leaves the feast for his dwelling
house which shall abide ito length
of days" This is to be interpreted
In its fullness only by the New Testa-
ment (John 1913; 1 Thess. 4:16, I'D.
Everlasting fellowship, communion
and companionship with the Chief
Shepherd, the great Shepherd of the