New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-06-18

1880
DEVOTIONAL READING Eek. 81
Il-I6.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL = John 10
lis.
PRIMARY ~TOPIC-IIow COG takes car,
Of us.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Shepherd Psalm
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Trusting God for Everything.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND Dull TOPIC
Our Divine Shepherd.
This is a lesson so simple that &
child Of tender years can understand
The teachers work will be mainly t,
point out the riches of its content, moi
10 explain difficulties. The position
Of the Psalm determines its value. II
is preceded by the Psalm of the
Gross. only those who are under the
power of the cross cun claim its
promises. There are no green pas.
lures to those who have not seen
Christ on the cross.
The relationship Of the Lord TO his
children Is set forth in this Psalm as
I. The Divine Shepherd tvv. Id.
The teacher should thoroughly IA
miliarize himself with the life and
service of a shepherd. AS our shep-
herd,
/. He feeds his sheep wv. /, p.
The green pastures" are for nourish-
ment. The Lord always provides food
for his W sheep, both temporal ana
spiritual. He gives us our daily
bread. but our highest and best food
is Christ, the Bread sen down from
heaven for our souls (John 6:5S), of
which if we eat we shall live forever.
?. He gives rest ". -. He not only
gives food, but he maketh his sheep
TO lie down. When the sheep have
been satisfied with food they lie dow
10 rest. Our finite natures require
rest-we cannot go on forever, 50 the
Divine Shepherd has arranged rest
ing places on the way. twO of which
are night and the Sabbath. How sweet
they both are to The Child of God
Sometimes he makes US to take en-
forced rest. 1t is most comforting to
know that when he makes us lie down
ii is IN the green pastures, not on the
dusty road or the rocky mountain side.
Our shepherd sometimes leads us over
steep and rocky roads. but this is in
order that we may reach the spots of
green pasture.
3. He keeps the sheep In safety ".
-. He restores our souls. The rest
by the still water results in The
restoration Of bodily and spiritual
strength. In the times of quiet he re-
stores the spiritual life by the feeding
upon God through his Word and means
of grace. The restored soul Is led
into the paths of righteousness, that
Is, IN the performance of labor for
him. We have been saved not merely
lor u pleasure, but. that we might
do his good pleasure, that is, his work.
We are saved TO serve.
4. lie guides the sheep in times of
danger ". -. He goes with his own
through danger and trials. There is
no night so dark or sea 50 stormy but
what we a hear the voice of the
Divine Shepherd saying, BE not
il Is l." May We have ears to
8. lie comforts his sheep in sorrow
". -. The roo was used by the
shepherd to count his sheep. Passing
under the shepherds rod was the sign
Of ownership. Such acknowledgment
would greatly comfort, even though
the rod was the instrument which
the sorrow. The conscious
ness that it was laid on by the low.
ing shepherds hand would turn the
rod which smote to a staff to lean Lpon.
u. The Divine Host wv. 5, %.
!. He spreads a table in the sight
Df our enemies ". 50. Though dan
gers are on every hand. the enemies
and scheming. the mighty
shepherd provides a feast for his own
q their sight. We can sit down TO
hat feast with the assurance that no
me can disturb us.
:. He anoints our heads with oil ".
y. OIL Is a symbol of joy. There
hould be no sad faces among Christ's
'wn.
3. Goodness and mercy perpetualiy !.
ollow ". 81. These are Gods two
lngels which encamp round about ,
hose that fear him. They hold back A.,
enemies from overtaking US: we ,
an feast at Gods banquet table. /,
wen when the days seem dark and )
come thick and fast. Gods ,
oodness and mercy still follow. =
4. Eternally dwelling with God ". ,
They shall no more go out from /,
is presence. He who hath begun n /,
God work in us shall complete n /,
the day Of redemption. MAY 8
one take this Psalm for himself n
nd make Christ his own personal n
hepherd!