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mercy of Jehovah have followed me many years now and I thank Him for it, but sup pose they were to leave me tomorrow, next year, or even ten years from now, it would be unspeakably dreadful, but they will not. “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Now we come to the end of our pilgrimage and pass out of time into eternity. The Psalmist could hardly have understood the full meaning of his own words. Like many another prophet, he must have wondered and searched what the Spirit of Christ who was in him did signify when he thus testified beforehand of the suffer ings of Christ (see Ps. 22), and the glory that should follow (1 Pet. 1:11). These words tell us that in God’s house are many mansions (or abiding places) and else where we are told that our Shepherd has gone on to prepare a place for us, and that He will come again and receive us unto Himself, and that where He is, there we shall be also, forever with Jehovah (John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:17). What a proof we have here, and indeed, in the whole Psalm of David’s inspiration. No one can deeply and honestly ponder this Psalm and ever have a doubt again of its Divine origin. “I n the house of the L ord forever ,” will that be joy? Will that be every longing satisfied? Listen to David again (see Ps. 16:11; 17:15; 27:4; 73:25, 26). Listen to Paul (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23 R. V.). "In' the house of the Lord forever”—everlast ing fellowship and communion and com panionship with God. We say even now, “My cup. runneth over” but what shall we say then? Do the sheep ever want;? Ps. 34:9. What shall they never want? Psa. 34:10. Will the Shepherd withhold any good thing? Ps. 84:11; Matt. 6:33. Is He able to supply all need? Phil. 4:19. Is He willing? John 10:11; Rom. 8:32. Does the Shepherd give His sheep rest? Ezek. 34:14.
so ran over that worldly onlookers thought they were drunk or hysterical or something of that sort; and1 very likely people will think that about you when you are anointed with the “oil of gladness.” But at Pente cost also people found it was real and the cup of the disciples so overflowed that 3000 drank that day, and if your anointing is real, your cup is going to overflow to someone else. Some people get very happy but there is no overflow. If it was really the Lord who had anointed them there would have been an overflow to someone else: v. 6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Here we leave the feast for our earthly pilgrimage but as we go we are not unguarded, “good ness and mercy” follow, us. We need no better rearguard nor foreguard than that. There are no better shepherd dogs than “goodness and mercy,” and God’s goodness and mercy follow our every step. The He brew word translated “mercy” is the word so often translated “loving kindness” and it is so translated in the Revised Version of this verse. The Psalmist had no ques tio n about it— "surely.” How well-protected and perfectly secure we are: the Shepherd picking out the path and leading the way, the Shepherd Himself close with us as we pass through the dark valley, and His own goodness and mercy following us. There is no real peril for Christ’s sheep. Notice how long this will continue, "All the days of my life.” David took little stock in a salvation or blessing or security that lasted a few days or a few years, “All the days of my life.” The goodness and (1) Provision, vs. 1-3. How many shepherds are there? Ezek. 34:23. Just one shepherd, v. 1; Ps. 101:3. Does He own the sheep? John 10:12. Does He know the sheep? Ezek. 34:11- 12; John 10:14. What kind of a shepherd is He? John 10 : 11 . LESSON
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