speaks of the" rod and staff." "Rod," the shepherd's crook, the received emblem of authority, guidance, and discipline. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and support. (Only one word would be used of a real sheph,•rd; the two are employed for the full spiritual meaning.) .A.11 is not case and brightness in the lives which God has in his wisest, tenderest care. Divine shepherding means more than green pastures and still waters; it sometimes means " the valley of tho shadow of death." " Paths of righteousness" may be taken to include both the way of duty and the leading of God's providence. In both, the right path must he, in the higbest sense, the safe path, but it may be the path of deadly p~ril and anguish (Ps. xxxiv.19). Our blessed Lord's own path led through Gethsemane to Calvary. "The valley of the shadow of death" must not be limited to mean only the actual approach and experience of death; it may stand for any crisis of danger, suffering, or weaknes~, bodily or spiritual Travellers tell of a desolate gorge near Ispahan, "the valley of the angel of death." Through such a ravine, trackless, waterless, gloomy with overhang.ing preci- pices, where in every cleft wild beasts or robbers may lurk, the psalmist imagines himself led. But the Divine Shepherd is with him: this forbids fear. In Bunyan',; glorious dream the nlley is placed midway in Christian's pilgrimage-the image of fierce spiritual conflict (Ps. xviii. 5). The hardest trial that can befall the believer is, when tempted to doubt God's goodness, to deem himself forsaken. The answer to all doubt is, "Thou art with me" (Isa. 1. 10). The same trials are not appointed for all God's children. Faithful, whom martyrdom awaited in Vanity Fair, had sunshine. all through the valley. But there is a point to which all paths converge. If we must not limit the figure, still less must we exclude that one application common to all, that experience in which we must be absolutely alone, unless we can say, "Thou art with me." Death. Here, again, experience wonderfully varies. To some the approach of death is a valley of sunshine, not shadow, or only such as falls from a summer cloud; to some, a momentary passage-through before they know it; to some, dark and rough with long suffering; to a few ( even real Christians), gloomy with spiritual conflict. Here, then, above all, we need (both for ourselves and others) that highest application of this comforting image taught by our Lord himself (John x. 1-18, 26-29). UL THE SAVIOUR'S CONSTANT PRESENCE AND REDEEMING GRAOE. (Comp. vers. 1, 2 with John x. 9; vii. 37.) It is his to" restore the soul," to reclaim the lost sheep (Luke xv. 3-7), raise the fallen, refresh the weak, to lead in the path of duty (John viii. 12). But especially in times of urgent need is his presence to be claimed and felt. With Paul and bis companions it was a veritable valley of the shadow of death, when "all hope . . . was taken away" (see Acts xx:vii. 20, 23; again 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17). Above all, in the hour and moment of death he has passed through it; he has " the keys;" he alone can be with us. Gentle and tranquil often is the actual approach of death; weakness and unconsciousness prevent fear; but take away the gospel, take away Christ, aud who in health and strength can calmly face death, l\nd say," I will fear no LVil"? You may be an unbeliever. Suppose tho gospel nut true, it does not follow there is nothing beyond death. But the believer hae a right to say this-knows what is beyond (John xiv. 2-4; Rev. vii. 15-17).
Ver. 6.-Goodne6& and mercy. "Surely goodness," etc. 'l'hese two words, "good- ness" and "ruercy ," are to he taken together rather than over-curiously distiuguished. Yet they are not mere synonyms. Goodness is tl-.e stream, mercy the fountain; goodness the open hand of God's bounty, mercy his loving heart. "Mercy" ie not to be taken iu the restricted sense in which we often use it, as contrasted with justice- goodness to the unworthy, pardon to the guilty. It is (in the Hebrew) the same word often beautifully Englished as "loving-kindness" (e.g. Ps. cvii. 43). "Goodness" reminds us that our nature is a bundle of wants; "mercy," that our deepest, highest need can be satisfied, not by all God's gifts, but only by himself. l~aith here employs the great law of experience, and from the past infers the future. Consider (1) the wealth of hope, (2) the blessedness of certainty, expressed in these words. I. THE WEALTH OF ROPE. 1. "All the days of my life "-days to come, as in days past. The course of thought in this psalm reminds us of a path which, after crossing peaceful plains and narrow gorges, climbs the mountain, and from its top boholris the PB, UIII, -18.] 'l'HE BOOK OF PSALMS. 167