1 J. E. Hellier, Life of David Hill, 72,
^ A. C. Benson, The, Leaves of the Tree, 206.
Good Guidance.
Literature.
Brooks (P.), The Spiritual Man, 281.
Burns (J. D.), Memoir and Remains, 293.
Clarke (G.), From the Gross to the Grown, 16.
Cooke (G. A.), The Progress of Revelation, 105.
Culross (J.), God's Shepherd Gare, 74.
DuflF (R. S.), The Song of the Shepherd, 81.
Finlayson (T. C), The Divine Gentleness, 223.
Freeman (J. D.), Life on the Uplands, 63.
Gray (W. H.), Our Divine Shepherd, 1.
Griffin (E. D.), Plain Practical Sermons, ii. 230.
Howard (H.), The Shepherd Psalm, 46, 55.
Hunt (A. N.), Sermons for the Ghristian Year, i. 199.
Jerdan (C), Pastures of Tender Grass, 37.
Jowett (J. H.), in The Presbyterian (Canada), Sept. 1, 1910.
Knight (W. A.), The Song of 0\ir Syrian Guest, 1.
McFadyen (J. E.), The City with Foundations, 201.
„ „ Ten Studies in the Psalms, 23.
McNeill (J.), Regent Square Pulpit, i. 241. Mamreov (A. F.), A Day with the Good Shepherd, 44. Matheson (G.), Thoughts for Lif^s Journey, 21. Newbolt (W. C. E.), Penitence and Peace, 77. Parker (J.), City Temple Pulpit, vii. 270. Smith (G. A.), Four Psalms, 1. Stalker (J.), The Psalm of Psalms, 57. British Congregationalist, Feb. 27, 1908 (Jowett). Christian World Pulpit, xii. 5 (Sainton) ; xxi. 387 (Haines) ; Ixv. 232
(Parker). Expository Times, iii. 329 ; xix. 51. Sunday Magazine, 1892, p. 378 (Dale).
49«
Good Guidance.
He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. — Ps. xxiii. 3.
1. " He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." There is an insinuating and pervasive calmness in the very words, and the leisureliness of the long vowels induces something of the serenity which breathes through the entire Psalm. We cannot read them at a gallop. The words are gracious sedatives, and minister to the fretful and irritable spirit. And therefore it is well to have such restful passages ready at hand. Some people have little medicine chests which they carry about on their journeys, and to which they can turn in moments of sudden ailment or accident. And would it not be possible for us to have an analogous ministry for the spirit? — words for times of panic, moral sedatives when we are inclined to become feverish ; spiritual refreshers and restoratives? Just to repeat them to ourselves very quietly is a helpful means of grace.
And yet, although the words are very restful, this particular passage is descriptive of life which is " on the move." We are on the open road. We are in the midst of the ministry of change. We are leaving one thing for another. The tents have been struck, and we are on the march. We must not forget what immediately precedes the words of our meditation. That is ever the difficulty of any expositor who seeks to sever a portion of this Psalm from the whole. Every part belongs to every other part. It is dependent upon every other part for its true interpretation. If we cut out a bit it will bleed. So we must take it in its vital relationships. Look back to what precedes it. " He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." How rich is the significance ! It speaks of treasure, and leisure, and pleasure ; it is a combina- tion of sustenance and rest. It is a stretch for the weary limbs
428 GOOD GUIDANCE
amid fat and juicy nutriment. " He leadeth me beside the still waters." Again, how rich is the significance! We are led by the waters of stillness where there are no dangerous floods, where the cattle can stand knee-deep on the feverish day, and slake their thirst. And so this is the environment of our text, a steeping, nutritive rest. And what is the purpose of the rest ? It is just that we might be prepared for a more valiant walk in the " paths of righteousness." We have been taken to the field of rest in order that we may be equipped for the roads of activity.
Oh, splendour in the east!
Oh, glory in the west! Who is it knows the least
Of all your joy and rest ?
Oh, yellow spring-time leaves,
Ob, golden autumn corn, Sweet glow of summer eves,
Red light of wintry morn !
Mute snow upon the lands,
Glad sunshine of the Springs —
Who is it understands As ye do, silent things —
How good it is to do.
How sweet it is to rest ? God gave us both, who knew,
Not we, which gift was best.^
2. This is, according to the Authorized Version, the second time the word " lead " occurs in this Psalm ; but it is with a totally different signification. The Authorized Version gives no hint of any change of meaning, but the Eevisers have substituted the word " guide " for " lead " as an indication that the distinction should be noted. The fact is that the word translated " leadeth " in the first case implies something done for the Psalmist. He is catered for, provisioned. The Septuagint says "fostered" or " nurtured," so that the reference is primarily to the meeting of physical needs ; whereas the Hebrew word which lies behind the second word " leadeth " implies something done i% the Psalmist. ^ Mrs. Stanford Harris.