of Our

"Oh, there begins the beautiful picture at the end of the Syrian Guest day. The psalm has sung of

the whole round of the day's wandering, all the needs of the sheep, all the care of the shepherd. Now it closes with the last scene of the day. At the door of the sheepfold the shepherd stands and 'the rodding of the sheep' takes place. The shepherd turns his body to let the sheep pass; he is the door, as Christ said of himself. With his rod he holds back the sheep while he looks them over one by one as they go into the fold. He has the horn filled with olive-oil and he has cedar-tar, and he anoints a knee bruised on the rocks or a side scratched by thorns. And here comes one that is not bruised but is simply worn and exhausted; he bathes its face and head with the refreshing olive-oil and he takes the large two-handled cup and

of Our dips it brimming full from the Syrian Guest water he has brought for that purpose, and he lets the weary

sheep drink.

"There is nothing finer in the psalm than this. God's care is not for the wounded only, it is for those who are just worn and weary. 'THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.'

“And then, when the day is done and the sheep are snug within the fold, what contentment, what rest under the starry sky! Then comes the thought of deepest repose and comfort: SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,' as they have through all the wandering of the day now ended.

"As the song dies away the heart that God has watched and tended breathes this thought of peace before

the roaming of the day is for

of Our

gotten in sleep: 'I WILL Syrian Guest

DWELL IN THE HOUSE

OF THE LORD FOR EVER.' The song is hushed, and the sheep are at rest, safe in the good shepherd's fold."

Do you wonder that ever since that night we have