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There's a problem loading this menu at the moment. Learn more about Amazon Prime. Get to Know Us. Amazon Music Stream millions of songs. Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands. Amazon Business Service for business customers. Amazon Second Chance Pass it on, trade it in, give it a second life. But where else do we find a whole Psalm expressive of personal confidence, joy, and triumph, from beginning to end? God's people have their seasons of darkness and their times of rejoicing. David himself having sometimes been a shepherd, as himself confesseth when he saith, "he took David from the sheepfold from following the sheep," etc.
Whatsoever David was to his flock— watchful over them, careful to defend them from the lion and the bear, and whatsoever thing else might annoy them, careful of their pasturage and watering, etc. The doctrine is plain; the reasons are, first, because true grace makes no object amiss to gather some gracious instruction: And secondly, it must needs be so, for such are guided by God's Spirit, and therefore are directed to a spiritual use of all things.
Satan deals seemingly sweet, that he may draw you into sin, but in the end he will be really bitter to you.
Blogger , inspiration , righteousness , Understanding , Wordpress clarity Leave a comment. God creates all things in Divine Mind first, which is involution. Popish clergymen are called the "inhabitants of the sea," Revelation These are not " green pastures ," but a parched and blasted heath. Book He Restores My Soul: Old Testament New Testament. Shall one of thy courage quail, that could make a mock at the threatenings of the Almighty God?
Christ, indeed, is seemingly bitter to keep you from sin, hedging up your way with thorns. But he will be really sweet if you come into his flock, even notwithstanding your sins. Thou lookest into Christ's fold, and thou seest it hedged and fenced all about to keep you in from sin, and this keeps thee from entering; but, oh!
Christ, indeed, is unwilling that any of his should wander, and if they be unwilling too, it's well. And if they wander he'll fetch them in, it may be with his shepherd's dog some affliction ; but he'll not be, as we say, dogged himself. No, he is and will be sweet. It may be, Satan smiles, and is pleasant to you while you sin; but know, he'll be bitter in the end. He that sings syren-like now, will devour lion-like at last. He'll torment you and vex you, and be burning and bitterness to you. O come in therefore to Jesus Christ; let him be now the shepherd of thy soul. And know then, he'll be sweet in endeavouring to keep thee from sin before thou commit it; and he'll be sweet in delivering thee from sin after thou hast committed it.
O that this thought—that Jesus Christ is sweet in his carriage unto all his members, unto all his flock, especially the sinning ones, might persuade the hearts of some sinners to come in unto his fold. Verse 1 first clause. The word comprehendeth all duties of a good herd, as together feeding, guiding, governing, and defending his flock. The same thing is affirmed of Christ, or rather indeed Christ affirmeth the same thing of himself, "I know them, and they follow me.
Yea, doubtless, he that hath numbered the stars, and calleth them all by their names, yea, the very hairs of our head, taketh special notice of his own children, "the sheep of his pasture," that they may be provided for and protected from all danger. Secondly, a good shepherd must have skill in the pasturing of his sheep, and in bringing them into such fruitful ground, as they may battle and thrive upon: Thirdly, a good shepherd, knowing the straying nature of his sheep, is so much the more diligent to watch over them, and if at any time they go astray, he brings them back again.
This is the Lord's merciful dealing towards poor wandering souls Fourthly, a good shepherd must have will to feed his sheep according to his skill: How earnest is Christ with Peter, to "feed his sheep," urging him unto it three several times! Fifthly, a good shepherd is provided to defend his flock The Lord is every way provided for the safety and defence of his sheep, as David confesseth in this Psalm verse 4 , " Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Sixthly, it is the property of a good shepherd, that if any of his sheep be weak and feeble, or his lambs young, for their safety and recovery he will bear them in his arms.
The Lord is not wanting to us herein. And lastly, it is the property of a good shepherd to rejoice when the strayed sheep is brought home. The Lord doth thus rejoice at the conversion of a sinner. I saw him lame one just now. Not altogether unlike the good Shepherd. Indeed I never ride over these hills, clothed with flocks, without meditating upon this delightful theme. Our Saviour says that the good shepherd, when he putteth forth his own sheep, goeth before them, and they follow.
This is true to the letter. They are so tame and so trained that they follow their keeper with the utmost docility. He leads them forth from the fold, or from their houses in the villages, just where he pleases. As there are many flocks in such a place as this, each one takes a different path, and it is his business to find pasture for them. It is necessary, therefore, that they should be taught to follow, and not to stray away into the unfenced fields of corn which lie so temptingly on either side.
Any one that thus wanders is sure to get into trouble. The shepherd calls sharply from time to time to remind them of his presence. They know his voice, and follow on; but, if a stranger call, they stop short, lift up their heads in alarm, and, if it is repeated, they turn and flee, because they know not the voice of a stranger. This is not the fanciful costume of a parable, it is simple fact.
I have made the experiment repeatedly. The shepherd goes before, not merely to point out the way, but to see that it is practicable and safe. He is armed in order to defend his charge, and in this he is very courageous. Many adventures with wild beasts occur, not unlike that recounted by David 1 Samuel They not unfrequently attack the flock in the very presence of the shepherd, and he must be ready to do battle at a moment's warning.
I have listened with intense interest to their graphic descriptions of downright and desperate fights with these savage beasts. And when the thief and the robber come and come they do , the faithful shepherd has often to put his life in his hand to defend his flock. I have known more than one case in which he had literally to lay it down in the contest. A poor faithful fellow last spring, between Tiberias and Tabor, instead of fleeing, actually fought three Bedawin robbers until he was hacked to pieces with their khanjars, and died among the sheep he was defending.
Some sheep always keep near the shepherd, and are his special favorites. Each of them has a name, to which it answers joyfully, and the kind shepherd is ever distributing to such, choice portions which he gathers for that purpose. These are the contented and happy ones. They are in no danger of getting lost or into mischief, nor do wild beasts or thieves come near them.
The great body, however, are mere worldlings, intent upon their mere pleasures or selfish interests. They run from bush to bush, searching for variety or delicacies, and only now and then lift their heads to see where the shepherd is, or, rather where the general flock is, lest they get so far away as to occasion a remark in their little community, or rebuke from their keeper. Others, again, are restless and discontented, jumping into everybody's field, climbing into bushes, and even into leaning trees, whence they often fall and break their limbs.
These cost the good shepherd incessant trouble. The shepherds led their flocks forth from the gates of the city. They were in full view, and we watched them and listened to them with no little interest. Thousands of sheep and goats were there, grouped in dense, confused masses. The shepherds stood together until all came out. Then they separated, each shepherd taking a different path, and uttering as he advanced a shrill peculiar call.
The sheep heard them. At first the masses swayed and moved, as if shaken by some internal convulsion; then points struck out in the direction taken by the shepherds; these became longer and longer until the confused masses were resolved into long, living streams, flowing after their leaders. Such a sight was not new to me, still it had lost none of its interest. It was perhaps one of the most vivid illustrations which human eyes could witness of that beautiful discourse of our Lord recorded by John, "And the sheep hear the shepherd's voice: And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: The shepherds themselves had none of that peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habits.
They looked more like warriors marching to the battle-field—a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or ironheaded club in the hand. Such were the equipments; and their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment. Absence is when something is not present; indigence or want , is when a needful good is not present.
If a man were to walk, and had not a staff, here were something absent. If a man were to walk, and had but one leg, here were something whereof he were indigent. It is confessed that there are many good things which are absent from a good person, but no good thing which he wants or is indigent of. If the good be absent and I need it not, this is no want; he that walks without his cloak, walks well enough, for he needs it not.
As long as I can walk carefully and cheerfully in my general or particular calling, though I have not such a load of accessories as other men have, yet I want nothing, for my little is enough and serves the turn. As they say of fools, they can propose more questions than twenty wise men need to answer. They in James 4: This asking was but a lusting: God will see that his people shall not want; but withal, he will never engage himself to the satisfying of their corruptions, though he doth to the supply of their conditions.
It is one thing what the sick man wants, another what his disease wants. Your ignorance, your discontents, your pride, your unthankful hearts, may make you to believe that you dwell in a barren land, far from mercies as melancholy makes a person to imagine that he is drowning, or killing, etc.
You tell me that a godly man wants these and these things, which the wicked man hath; but I tell you he can no more be said to " want " them than a butcher may be said to want Homer, or such another thing, because his disposition is such, that he makes no use of those things which you usually mean. But one thing is necessary, and that he hath chosen, namely, the better part.
And therefore if he have nothing at all of all other things, he does not want , neither is there anything wanting which might make him rich enough, or by absence whereof, his riches should be said to be deficient. A body is not maimed unless it have lost a principal part: When we say, there is nothing wanting to such-and-such a creature or thing that a man hath made, we mean that it hath all that belongs necessarily to it. We speak not of such things as may be added for compliments or ornaments or the like, such as are those things usually wherein wicked men excel the godly. Even so it is when we say that a godly man wanteth nothing.
For though in regard of unnecessary goods he be "as having nothing," yet in regard of others he is as if he possessed all things. He wants nothing that is necessary either for his glorifying of God being able to do that best in and by his afflictions , or for God's glorifying of him, and making him happy, having God himself for his portion and supply of his wants, who is abundantly sufficient at all times, for all persons, in all conditions. The confidence in the former case, appears to the natural man to be hard and difficult, if not unreasonable and impossible: It requires, however, no lengthened argument to prove that he who relies on the promise of God for the supply of his temporal wants, possesses an infinitely greater security than the individual who confides in his accumulated wealth.
The ablest financiers admit that there must be appended to their most choice investments, this felt or expressed proviso—"So far as human affairs can be secure. Since then no absolute security against want can be found on earth, it necessarily follows, that he who trusts in God is the most wise and prudent man. Who dare deny that the promise of the living God is an absolute security?
If he grant unto us great things, shall we distrust him for small things? He who has given us heavenly beings, will also give us earthly blessings. The great Husbandman never overstocked his own commons. Is it not, indeed, the bleating of Messiah's sheep, " I shall not want? Our Shepherd the All-sufficient! There is a peace and fulness of expression in this little sentence, known only to the sheep. The remainder of the Psalm is a drawing out of this, " I shall not want. May we not say, " The Lord is my Shepherd?
How can we want, when united to him! Our wealth is his riches and glory. With him nothing can be withheld. Eternal life is ours, with the promise that all shall be added; all he knows we want. Our Shepherd has learned the wants of his sheep by experience, for he was himself "led as a sheep to the slaughter.
The timid sheep has nothing to fear; fear not want, fear not affliction. His struggles and his poverty were known to all; but his own declaration was, that he never wanted what was absolutely necessary. The days of his greatest straits were the days of his most signal and timely deliverances. When old age benumbed the hand of his industry, the Lord extended to him the hand of charity. And often has he gone forth from his scanty breakfast, not knowing from what earthly source his next meal was to be obtained.
But yet with David he could rely on his Shepherd's care, and say, "I shall not want;" and as certainly as he trusted in God, so surely, in some unexpected manner was his necessity supplied. Yon shepherd is about to lead his flock across; and as our Lord says of the good shepherd—you observe that he goes before, and the sheep follow. Not all in the same manner, however. Some enter boldly, and come straight across.
These are the loved ones of the flock, who keep hard by the footsteps of the shepherd, whether sauntering through green meadows by the still waters, feeding upon the mountains, or resting at noon, beneath the shadow of great rocks. And now others enter, but in doubt and alarm.
Far from their guide, they miss the ford, and are carried down the river, some more, some less; and yet, one by one, they all struggle over and make good their landing. Notice those little lambs. They refuse to enter, and must be driven into the stream by the shepherd's dog, mentioned by Job in his "parable. That weak one yonder will be swept quite away, and perish in the sea. But no; the shepherd himself leaps into the stream, lifts it into his bosom, and bears it trembling to the shore.
All safely over, how happy they appear! The lambs frisk and gambol about in high spirits, while the older ones gather round their faithful guide, and look up to him in subdued but expressive thankfulness. Now, can you watch such a scene, and not think of that Shepherd who leadeth Joseph like a flock; and of another river, which all his sheep must cross? He, too, goes before, and, as in the case of this flock, they who keep near him "fear no evil. With eye fastened on him, they scarcely see the stream, or feel its cold and threatening waves. Not only he hath " green pastures " to lead me into, which shows his ability, but he leads me into them , which shows his goodness.
He leads me not into pastures that are withered and dry, that would distaste me before I taste them; but he leads me into " green pastures," as well to please my eye with the verdure as my stomach with the herbage; and inviting me, as it were, to eat by setting out the meat in the best colour.
A meat though never so good, yet if it look not handsomely, it dulls the appetite; but when besides the goodness, it hath also a good look, this gives the appetite another edge, and makes a joy before enjoying. But yet the goodness is not altogether in the greenness. No, my soul; the goodness is in being "green pastures ," for now they perform as much as they promise; and as in being green they were a comfort to me as soon as I saw them, so in being green " pastures " they are a refreshing to me now as soon as I taste them.
As they are pleasant to look on, so they are wholesome to feed on: And now see the great goodness of this Shepherd, and what just cause there is to depend upon his providence; for he lets not his sheep want this neither, but " he leadeth them besides still waters ," not waters that roar and make a noise, enough to fright a fearful sheep, but waters " still " and quiet; that though they drink but little, yet they may drink that little without fear.
May he not lead them in, and presently take them out again before their bellies be half full; and so instead of making them happy, make them more miserable? No, my soul; the measure of this Shepherd's goodness is more than so. He not only leadeth them into green pastures, but " he makes them to lie down " in them —he leads them not in to post over their meat as if they were to eat a passover, and to take it in transita , as dogs drink Nylus; but, " he makes them to lie down in green pastures ," that they may eat their fill and feed at leisure; and when they have done, " lie down " and take their ease, that their after-reckoning may be as pleasing as their repast.
Leni spiritu non durf manu —rather by an inward sweet influence to be led , than by and outward extreme violence to be forced forward … Touching what kind of cattle, to very good purpose, Jacob, a skilful shepherd, answereth Esau who would have had Jacob and his flocks have kept company with him in his hunting pace , Nay, not so, sir, said Jacob, it is a tender cattle that is under my hands, and must be softly driven, as they may endure: In ordinary circumstances the shepherd does not feed his flock, except by leading and guiding them where they may gather for themselves; but there are times when it is otherwise.
Late in autumn, when the pastures are dried up, and in winter, in places covered with snow, he must furnish them food or they die. In the vast oak woods along the eastern sides of Lebanon, between Baalbek and the cedars, there are there gathered innumerable flocks, and the shepherds are all day long in the bushy trees, cutting down the branches, upon whose green leaves and tender twigs the sheep and goats are entirely supported. The same is true in all mountain districts, and large forests are preserved on purpose. Realise the constant presence of the Shepherd of peace.
Verse 2 last clause. The sheep have been eating in these pastures ever since Christ had a church on earth, and yet they are as full of grass as ever.
The sheep have been drinking at these streams ever since Adam, and yet they are brim full to this very day, and they will so continue till the sheep are above the use of them in heaven! During our stay at Arban, the color of these great plains was undergoing a continual change. After being for some days of a golden yellow, a new family of flowers would spring up, and it would turn almost in a night to a bright scarlet, which would again as suddenly give way to the deepest blue.
Then the meadows would be mottled with various hues, or would put on the emerald green of the most luxuriant of pastures. The glowing descriptions I had so frequently received from the Bedouins of the beauty and fertility of the banks of the Khabour were more than realised. The Arabs boast that its meadows bear three distinct crops of grass during the year, and the wandering tribes look upon its wooded banks and constant greensward as a paradise during the summer months, where man can enjoy a cool shade, and beast can find fresh and tender herbs, whilst all around is yellow, parched, and sapless.
The Spirit of God, who is a most free agent, and who is himself the source of liberty, will come into the heart of the believer when he will, and how he will, and as he will. But the effect of his coming will ever be the realisation of some promise, the recognition of some principle, the attainment of some grace, the understanding of some mystery, which is already in the word, and which we shall thus find, with a deeper impression, and with a fuller development, brought home with power to the heart.
Popish clergymen are called the "inhabitants of the sea," Revelation The doctrine of the gospel, like the waters of Siloe Isaiah 8: The subjects experimentally treated in this verse are, first, the believer's liability to fall, or deviate even within the fold of the church, else wherefore should he need to be " restored? He will do all " for his own name's sake. Chastisement itself is blended with tenderness; and the voice which speaks reproof, saying, "They have perverted their way, and they have forsaken the Lord their God," utters the kindest invitation, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.
He " restores " it to its natural temper in affections, that was grown distempered with violence of passions; for alas! He " restores " it indeed to life, that was grown before in a manner quite dead; and who could " restore my soul " to life, but he only that is the Good Shepherd and gave his life for his sheep? Some, perhaps, may ask, why I give this sense to the passage? Why may it not signify the paths of duty, and the way of our own obedience?
Because such effects are here mentioned as never have resulted, and never can result, from any duties of our own.
These are not " green pastures ," but a parched and blasted heath. These are not " still waters ," but a troubled and disorderly stream. Neither can these speak peace or administer comfort when we pass through the valley and shadow of death. To yield these blessings, is the exalted office of Christ, and the sole prerogative of his obedience. Into the body, out of which it was even departing and fainting away.
He reviveth or comforteth me. O Lord, these " paths of righteousness ," have a long time so little been frequented, that the prints of a path are almost clean worn out; that it is a hard matter now, but to find where the paths lie, and if we can find them, yet they are so narrow and so full of ruts, that without special assistance it is an impossible thing not to fall or go astray.
In order for us to become all that we can we must direct our life energy beasts of the field, birds of the air, and fish of the sea toward spiritual things. It is not that our natural faculties are bad; it is just that we have to be master of them and not allow them to control us. All of these are in the realm of our dominion.
True dominion is over the self, never over anything external. When we establish inner authority, it is reflected in measure in our outer world. And so it is! May 10, in Uncategorized Tags: We have the opportunity to participate in the field of Divine creativity each and every day. God is constantly reaching towards us laying the beams of his chambers. We need only be receptive. Creation is the beginning of the formative activity of the mind called imagination.
This is a very creative time for us. We find ourselves bursting with inspiring ideas the animals and birds of the air. Spirit is the life force that gives these ideas life springs of life gush forth in the valleys. Food is spiritual substance bread , which can be appropriated by us to do work. But God also provides us with simple pleasures wine to cheer. There is a balance. When we submit our will moon to the service of divine ideas it becomes an instrument of inspiration marks the seasons.
Spiritual understanding provides the knowledge that is needed for creative work knows its time for setting. But once the illumination of God sun is present, they withdraw into their dormant state den. The time for human activity is in the glow of divine revelation. God provides all that we need at the right time give them their food in due season , when we are in harmony with the Divine flow.
God renews us with the breath of life you send forth the you spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the ground. When we quiet our minds in order to listen to God meditation we become instruments of Divine will pleasing to him. God creates all things in Divine Mind first, which is involution. Then those Divine ideas are given form and shape in our minds, and if we are receptive we participate in its unfoldment, and this is evolution.
We are created anew every moment of every day in Divine Mind you renew the face of the earth. The only true creative work comes from the minds of those who are open and receptive to Divine inspiration. God is in, behind, and around all things regardless of appearance. That presence is an intelligence that creates perfect order and harmony in the world. May 3, in Uncategorized Tags: Blogger , inspiration , righteousness , Understanding , Wordpress clarity Leave a comment. When we allow ourselves to acknowledge the presence and power of God in our lives, we begin the process of understanding our relationship with God.
God is in our consciousness surrounded by mystery clouds and thick darkness. Despite this mystery, we are given a clear path by the Presence and Power of the Christ within us. Once we understand our right relationship with God righteousness and constructively call the laws of Mind into action justice , we can approach the throne. Then, Spirit purifies the consciousness fire goes before him. Our minds must be cleansed of the dross those things which distract us from truth , before it can be filled with the presence of God. The process is one in which there is rapid change in the body and mind earth sees and trembles.