The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 167

him as " the Shepherd and Bishop of . . . souls." 3. As the ,C,hepherd Jesus came to seek ancl save the lo~t. B:is missi~n. on earth.was emphatically for thi;, He regards men as his wealth, m which be reJ01ces; and 1f they are not under his lovincr care he misses them-be is conscious of somethin~ lacking (Luke xv. 4-6). 4. He °1-.as risen and ascended up on high as the great Shepherd of the sheep.(Heb. xiii. 20). 6. He now appoints under-shepherds to ca1·e for the flock. (Acts xx. 28.) 6. As the chief Shepherd, he will again appear. 'l.'hen he will gather in and gather home all the flock (1 Pet. v. 4). 7. O'Tlly as he gathers men to himself as their Shepherd do they find safety and rest, (1 Pet. ii. 25.) Till then they are homeless wandere;s perpetually in danger of stumbling "over the dark mountains." 8. When men retur~ to him they find all they need in his Shepherd-care. (Ps. xxiii.) 9. This Shepherd-care is/or each a, well as/or all. Ea.eh one may say, "He loved me, and gave himself up for me;" "The Lord is my Shepherd." Let us not forget to note the Shepherd's individualizing care. II. GoD's SHEPHERD-CARE EXERCISED m ACT. The points of detail are set forth in this psalm with exquisite tenderness and beauty,1 1. Repose. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." In such a restless age as this, there is no thought which a believer has greater need t-0 appropriate than this (see Mark vi. 31). As physically we must find time for sleep, however severe the pressure of work, so spiritually we must find time for repose. And God's gracious arrangements are planned with a view to this. "He maketh me," etc. The good Shepherd says, "I will give you rest." When he gets back the wandering sheep he lays it on his own shoulders (Greek, see Luke xv. 5). The Master never expects his servants to be always on the stretch. He tells them to" rest awhile;" and if they are heedless of this kind monition, he will himself call them out of the rush into the hush of life. It would be well if some Christians thought more of rest in Christ; their work would be richer in quality even if less in quantity. 2. Refrtshment. "Still waters; " literally, "waters of rest," or refreshment. The believer has no craving thirst: he can ever drink of the living stream, and therewith be refreshed (see John iv. 10; Rev. vii 17). Dropping the figure, the truth here conveyed is that there shall be a constant supply of the gra.ce of Christ, and of the Spirit of Christ (cf. John vii. 37-39). 3. Restoration. (Ver. 3.) This may either mean renewing the strength when worn down, or bringing back after wandering. We need not omit either thought, though the latter seems principally intended. 4. Leadership. (Ver. 3.) "Paths of righteousness," i.e. straight paths. This follows on the restoration. Having recalled him from "by-paths," the good Shepherd will lead him in the right way. 'l.'he sheep can wander wide easily enough, but if they are to be kept in the right way, that can be only through the Shepherd's care. God guides by (I).his Word; (2) his provi1lence; (3) bis Spirit. Sometimes, indeed, the way may be dark, even as death itself; still it is the right way (Pa. cvii. 7; Ezra viii. 21-23). 5. .A living presence. "Thou art with me" (ver. 4). This means," Thou art continually with rue," not merely with me in the darkness, but with me always. The sunshine of the living presence of a Guide, Help, Friend, Saviour, is always on the believer's path; and if the mingling of unbelief with faith did not dim the eyesight, he would always rejoice in it. 6. Discipline. (Ver. 4.) The rod and staff are special emblems of the Shepherd's care in tending and rulin"' the flock. The Shepherd chides us when we rove, and uses sometimes sharp meas~res ere be recalls us. .A.nd this comforts us I Even so, The disciplinary dealings of our God are among our greatest mercies, 7. Ample provision. (Ver. 6.) The riches of God's love and life are the provisions on which we feed, and on which souls can grow and thrive; an,d these supplies ~re mini~tered to the soul t~rough the invisible channels of God a grace, even while enemies prowl around. Yea, we are entertained as guests at the Fathe~s b,iard.. The anoi~ting oil is the token of the ri~ht royal welcome which the Host delights to give! So rich, so abuudaut, are the mercies and joys which are vouchsafed, that onr "cnp runneth over" I III. Tms SHEPHERD-CARE OF Goo IS ACCEPTED, AND IN IT TIII!: NEEDY ONE 1 Bishop Perowne's notes on this psalm are of special interest o.nd value. Abundanoe of illu~rations from Oriental customs will also be found in Dr. Thomson's ' Land and the Book,' and Van Lennep's • Bible Customs in Biblo Lands.' Dr. Stoughton and others have developed with great beauty the ltia.chings of thv psalm. Wo have space for only the b£.rest outline. PB, XXIII, 1-6,] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 169