Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-19
THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD.
Psalm, 23.1-6.
Golden text: THE Lord Is my
shepherd: l shall not want
Psalm. 23.1.
BY REV. HUGH L. STEVENSON.

That lesson serves as an introduction
to this weeks, when the Shepherd
psalm. that most men learned in their
childhood. Is the subject for our con-
sheraton. This nightingale among
the psalms" supplies humanity with
comfort, consolation and courage by
it's message Of trust in the Lord when
the problems Of lift test ones faith.
1t occupies its place as a classic in
religious literature, because it has
portrayed the experiences Of great
SOUL who amid the darkness OF life
was drawn so close to God that he
learned that the Lord was his shep-
herd
1t reflects the tremendous influence
of his early shepherd life upon the
author, who the lesson committee
evidently believes by assigning it a
place here in the series of Sunday
school lessons 20 have been David.
1t expresses the deep religious ex-
perience of the psalmist, who. in his
trials as a shepherd, learned the
truths that he speaks of in this most
personal of all the psalms. The first
personal pronoun occurs seventeen
times in it's six verses. The psalm
may well be studied by considering
the personal experience of the psalm
list. My shepherd. sufiiciency. repose,
refreshment. restoration. leadership,
fort. provision, Anniversaries. amounting
abundance. attendants. life and eter-
nifty, emphasizes the personal element
in religion which Is so beautifully
set forth in this psalm. In fact, this
gives it the power to suggest to every
reader personal application suited
to their individual needs.
1t is the most difficult of all the
psalms to analyZe or comment upon
so that several different themes have
been found in this psalm that touches
the human heart of the world. Some
guide and host. Others insist that it
presents the Lord as shepherd and
host The Interpretation given by DR..
Knight in his charming story of The
Song Of Our Syrian Guest" preserves
the psalms unity of thought, that
Jehovah is my shepherd"
Palestine is the land of the shep-
herd. Everywhere throughout the
land the tourist sees the solitary fig
ure of the shepherd with his flock.
Abraham was a shepherd and his de-
scendants today in the Promised Land
are shepherds. No better figure could
have been selected than that of the
shepherd to bring home to Israel the
truths of Gods relation to them as
individuals and nation. 1t not only
portrays the land of Canaan. but 1t
also pictures the Christ, who is the
know the comfort that comes from
knowing Jesus, as the Good Shep-
herd must not separate this psalm
from one that precedes 1t and the one
that follows it. Unless the Lord is
accepted as ones personal Savior
as set forth in the preceding psalm
and as the coming king. as out
lined in the twentyfourth psalm
the satisfaction and joy of knowing
him as the Shepherd will not be Sc
cured.
those who have God as their Shep-
herd. His resources are unlimited.
McLaren suggests that David wrote
this psalm late in life. for there IS
fullness Of experience about it and a
tone of subdued, quiet confidence
which speaks OF heart melloWed by
years and of faith made sober by
many trials" Jehovah never failed
him. The Lord has an inexhaustiblc
supply to provide for all our needs.
David learned this lesson when keep
ing his fathers flock by his commu-
MON with the Lord. When he was
exposed to the jealousy of Saul and
the rebellion of Absalom. Jehovah
supplied his wants. as David had sup
piled those of his flock. If men would
put their faith in Christ and do His
will they would never want, for with
the gift OF Jesus to men God will also
freely give all things to those who
trust Him.
All need the shepherding care of the
Lord, because. like sheep, all have
gone astray. Twenty-seven times Je-
novah's relation as a personal shep-
herd is referred to in this psalm. The
writer to the Hebrews speaks of the
risen Lord as the Great Shepherd. who
arose from the dead Peter speaks OF
Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. who is
coming again. The worlds greatest
need today is His presence, protection
and peace. The acceptance of Jesus
Christ as the shepherd of their souls
by every individual will prove to be
the end of humanity's spiritual and
physical poverty. If the world would
turn in it's distress and darkness to
Him, the Lord would direct them to
the green pastures. where they would
find plenty. The times when men are
shut in are hours that God provides
for spiritual communion. Power for
His service is frequently restored.
when. obedient to His command. we
are still and come to know that He is
God.
Travelling through the Holy Land,
one sees upon every hand and in all
sections the shepherd going before
his sheep and goats. selecting the
path for his flock. His reputation
honor and standing depend upon the
care of the f1ocks. He leads them in
safety to the pasture, and on the re-
turn to the fold, even when they do
not recognize the danger that threat
defiles and valleys. where the shadows
and grottoes give the enemies of the
flock, as we'll as of the shepherds
tribe. an opportunity to hide and
spring suddenly upon them in mo-
ment when they are unconscious of
their danger.
The club and crook which the shep-
herd usually carried to destroy the
beasts that threatened the flock. as
well as a means of personal protec-
ton, suggested to the psalmist how
God would protect him by His power
from all danger. knight. in his in
depreciation. gives a view of the
shepherds life that shows his fore
sight, skill and bravery in protecting
his flock by preventive measures
them from poisonous plants. wild
animals and snakes. so that he feeds
them in the midst of their enemies
with safety. Returning to the fold
at night. the shepherd looks over his
flock and pours oil over their bruises
grace of salvation to our wounded
souls until we are filled with the joy
of salvation and safely sheltered in
the fold.
The nesting of the flock around the
shepherd at night. and frequently in
the shepherds home. revealed the
absence of any who had strayed or
stumbled from the path while he was
leading them home. 1t recalled the
hours when he had left the fold or
his home to hunt amid the darkness
and the storms for the lost or lame
sheep and how he had sought until
he found the wandering sheep and
brought them back in safety to the
fold just as Gods goodness seeks
and His grace saves men today.
The Great Shepherd is seeking out
those who are lost today through