1hat it is just ~hephcrding. He leads as a shepherd leads his flock. The shepherd- figure is familiar to Scripture readers; but our \Vestern associations cannot fill the term with its best meanings and suggestions. In mountain districts, or on broad moor- bn<ls ~nd plai1;1s, we get more snitable i?lprossions of the perils of sheep, and of the cxd us1ve devotion of the shepherd to their care. I. Goo AS SHEPIIERD FOR THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE. Shepherdin.,.0 involves com- petency ?~ kuowledge of the dist.ri~t, so a~ to provide pasture and water. Apply to the prov1s1ons made for Israel when Journeying through the wilderness-manna, water, mcat. These represent our common everyday needs, which truly come by the Shep- herd's providing, arranging, and controlling. But a flock has special needs, such as arise from sickness, weather, time of lambs, etc. And so the striking figure is given us of God, " He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck." Shepherding, then-flock-leading-involves that our "God doth provide." "My God shall supply all your needs." IL Goo AS SHEPHERD FOR THE CHANGES OF ms PEOPLE. 'fhis point is specially Eastern. Flocks necessarily kept moving, changing the pasture-grounds, because of failing food and need of adjustment to different seasons. In mountain-lands the cattle are taken to the higher grounds for the summer mootbs, and brought c;Iown into the valleys again before winter sets io. Some of the changes in the circumstances of God's people are made by his providence. There never was an age of greater restlessness and changeableness than this in which we live. Some of the chan)res come through our own wills and wilfulness; and these changes try the Shepherd. Within the Shep- herd's will the sheep have their own will-freedom, in many ways, to follow their own ioclinatioo. So we have a large liberty, a measure of free-will; but it has always to be kept within the Shepherd's lines. Man's free-will must be kept well within God's will. On this side special dealing is sometimes found necessary for the sheep and for God's people. The Shepherd may require to be even roitgh in his restrainings aod restorings. III. GoD AS SHEPHERD FOR THE DANGERS OF ms PEOPLE, Illu11trate from Eastern flocks: day-dangers-such as crossing rivers, broken limbs, sudden floods down the wadics, etc.; night-dangers-need of finding sheep-cotes, gathering brushwood to top the hurriedly raised wall of the fold, watchiug against wild animals and robbers. But the sheep are not aware of, or fail to estimate, their dangers. All the burden oi watch- ing depends on the shephErd. So the dangers of God's people come from (1) what they are; (~) where they are; (3) the relation between what they are and where they are. Their Shepherd knows precisely both them and their cii-cumstances. 'l'he faithfulness of our Shepherd only meets with fitting response in our submissio? and obedience. If God is still leading bis people as a flock, two things may be unpressed on us. L Able to lead is God's attribute. 2. Willing to be led is his people's attitude.-R. T. Vers. 1-15.-li'efuge in God's ttncliangeableness. Occasion of the psalm uncertain. "The poet flees from the sorrowful present away ioto the memory of the years of olde_n times, and consoles himself especially with the deliverance out of Egypt. But it remains obscure what kiud of affliction it is which drives him to find refuge from the God now hidden in the God who was formerly manifest." J. HE PERSEVERES IN PRAYER, '.1.'IlOUGH HE HAS NO SENSE OF THE PRESENCE OB MERCY OF Goo. (Vere. 1-3.) II. WHEN HE CAN NO LONGEB PRAY, HE FALLS BACK IN THOUGHT UPON THE MEMOnIES OF THE PAST. (Vers. 4-6.) JlL lF GoD liAS FORSAKEN HIM, IT 18 SOMETHING INCONSISTENT WITH HIS NATURE A:KD COVENANT. (Vers. 7-9.) His ~romises cannot fail;_ his mercy, wh_icb is from. ever- lastin" cannot be blotted out from his nature. Ver. 10 1s of doubtful interpretation. 1v:iIE WILL CONQUER HIS DOUBTS nY REMEMllERING GoD's WONDERS WROU0IIT FO"B His PEOPLE OF OLD. (Vere. 10-15.) Because God must be unc~angcable. God redeemed his people from thtir afflictions in Egypt; therefore he will redeem them fn,m their pr1,gent afBiction.-S. Ver. 3.-Sick-bed promises. "I remembered God, and was troubled : I complained, PB. LXXVJJI, 1-72.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 123
and my apirH was overwhelmed." "Conversion during trouble difficult and unsatis- factory." Most men forget God while they are free from trouble; some remember him in trouble, and the remembrance brings an incrense of trouble. Salvation, conversion, on a sick-bed (death-bed) difficult and doubtful. I. IT IB DIFFIOULT. 1. The mind is sometimes oppressed with such fears as to prevent the exercise of faith and love. Prospect of immediate death, and the sudden light cast upon the memory. 2. The enfeebled state of the mind a.nd the pains of the body hinder us from receiving any spiritual impressions. 3. The greatness of the chancre requires all the powers of health. Painter and astronomer in a storm. II~THE REALITY OF IT IS DOUBTFUL. 1. The want of experience to prove its sound- ness. Temptation, etc. 2. 'l'he suddenness of it, without striking a blow. 3. The mind ma.y have been deeply impressed without being changed. In prospect of eternity, remembered sins would impress. Faith, love, hope, necessary to change the mind . .Address two classes. 1. '.!.'hose who have not falfilled their sick-bed promises. 2. Those who are trusting to a future sick-bed conversion.-S.