Post by kiwi on Dec 2, 2009 1:44:41 GMT -5
SONG OF OUR SYRIAN GUEST – N.A. Knight, Boston~ January 1904
I give my word that this story's message about the Psalms meaning is straight from David's land. We had such a guest and he told us these thing. from out of the life of his people, as we sat together one night, N, A, Knight, Boston~ January 1904. "Faduel Moghabghab", said our guest, Accent the u and drop the g 's.
He was a man of winsome mind, this Syrian guest of ours, and the spirituality of his culture was as marked as the refinement of his manners, We shall long remember him for the tales he told that evening of his home in Ainsehalta on the slope of the Syrian mountains, but longest of all, what he said about the memory of his youth about the shepherd song. "It, was out of the shepherd life of my country", he remarked, "That there came long ago that sweetest religious song ever written --- the 23rd Psalm."
He said with a serious and pensive face, "Ah, so many things are familiar but are strange to you in America". He went on to say, "So many things in the life of my people, the same now as in the days of old, have been woven into words of the Bible and into conceptions of religious ideas as expressed there, You of the Western world, not knowing These things as they are there, often misunderstand what is written, or at least fail to get a correct impression of it."
"Tell us some of these", I said. After mentioning several instances, he went on. "And there to the shepherd Psalm. I find it is taken among you as having two parts, the first under the figure of shepherd life, the second turning to the figure of a banquet with a host and guest ." Someone remarked, "Yes, we have talked about that and have even said that we wished the wonderful Psalm could have been finished in the figure of shepherd life, "It does 94, said he, with keen interest I asked him how we might see it as a shepherd Psalm throughout, "It is all a simple shepherd Psalm", he began. "See how it runs through the round of shepherd life front first word to last." He quoted, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," There is the opening strain of it's music in that chord, In that chord is sounded the keynote which is never lost 'till the plaintive melody dies away at the song's end. All that follows is that thought put into varying light, Each is distinct and tells something too precious to be merged and lost." He said, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, nourishment and rest, he leadeth me beside still waters," The Scene changes and so does the meaning. You think here of quietly flowing streams, so you get one more picture of rest: but you miss one of the finest scenes in a shepherd life. All through the days roaming, the shepherd keeps one thing in mind - he must lead his flock to a drinking place, The refreshment of good water makes the coveted hour of all the day; the spot where it is found amid the rough, waterless hill and the plains is the crowning token of the shepherds thoughtfulness. When at last the sheep are "beside the still waters, "how good it is, after the dust and heat of the sheep's walks."
"Would you get the shepherd's meaning here? Then remember that streams are few in the Bible countries, The shepherd's do not rely upon them. Even when a streams are found, their beds and banks are usually broken and their flow rough. Sheep are timid and fear a current of water, as they well may, for they are easily carried down-stream because of their wool.
"Poor things, how do they ever get a drink exclaimed a listener. The sheep would indeed find it hard to obtain water to drink, were it not that the shepherd sees to that. Listen and I will tell you how said he. "There are wells and fountains all through the vast regions where the flocks roam, and in some parts there are cisterns, though the sheep like living water best. The shepherd knows where these drinking places are found, all through the treeless countries where streams are few. It is a fine sight to see the shepherds bring their flocks "beside the still waters" at some well of fountain, while the wide silent country over which they and many other sheep have wandered, spreads all around them, and the full expanse of the sky arches over them.
The shepherd makes a certain sound; all his sheep lie down and are quiet. Then he fills the drinking troughs. The bubbling of the fountain, or the current, if it is by a stream is no longer there to trouble the sheep. They can now drink undisturbed. This is the delicate meaning of the word, "still." As the Hebrew words put it = "He leadeth me beside the waters of quietness."
Then the waiting sheep hear a whistle or a call, they never misunderstand, they know their shepherds voice and never respond to the wrong shepherd, if several flocks have come together. And strangest of all, the sheep come up by groups, the shepherd makes them understand. So in groups he leads them until they stand "beside the still waters." And oh, how they drink with the shepherd standing near. But I must tell you of one or more scenes that come to my mind as I read the words, "He leadeth me beside the still waters" – it would be a beautiful picture if someone could paint it.
Up in the mountain sides of Lebanon, where my kinsman have long been shepherds, often there are no regular drinking places, such as well and fountains on the plains. But as the shepherd heads his sheep over the rough slopes he finds many a spring and see it's rivulet noisily running down a crevice. The sheep cannot drink from the leaping stream. What does he do? He finds a suitable nook or turn in its course; he wells it up with a little dam and so holds the water until it forms a little pool. Then right there on the open hills, he leads his sheep beside the still waters. I know of nothing more fitting to picture a shepherd's care of the ones who trust him, than that scene up there on the mountain side.
"He restoreth my soul". You know, he said turning to me, that soul means life or oneself in the Hebrew writings. Then addressing us all he went on. "There are perilous places for the sheep on all sides, and they seem never to learn to avoid them. The shepherd must ever be on the watch. And there are private fields and sometimes gardens and vineyards here and there in the shepherd country. If the sheep stray into them and be caught there it is forfeited to the owner of the land. So "He restoreth my soul:, means the shepherd, brings me back and rescues me from fatal and forbidden places.: Restores me when wandering is the way it is put in one of our hymns,: I interposed. :Ah sir, that is exactly it:, he answered. :Restores me when wandering."
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake." Often have I roamed thru the shepherd country in my youth and seen how hard it is to choose the right path for the sheep; one leads to a precipice, another to a place where the sheep cannot find the way back, and the shepherd was always going ahead, leading them in the right paths, proud of his good name as a shepherd. Some paths that are right paths still head thru places of deadly perils.
"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death", is the way the Psalm reads of touches this fact in shepherd life. This way of naming the valley is very true to our country. I remember one near my home called, "The Valley of Robbers", and another "The Ravine of the Ravin". You see "The Valley of the Shadow of Death," is a name drawn from my country's old custom.
"For thou art with me." And how could more be put into few words? With the sheep it matters not what the surroundings are, nor how great the perils and hardships, if only the shepherd is with them they are content. To show how much the shepherd's presents counts for the welfare of the sheep, I can think of nothing better than the strange thing I tell you of. It is quite beyond the usual care on which the flock depends on fondly.
Sometimes in spite of all the care that the shepherd and his dogs exercise, a wolf will get into the midst of the flock. The sheep are wild with fright. They leap and run and make it impossible to get at the foe in their midst, who at that very moment may be fastening his teeth in the throat of a member of the helpless flock. But the shepherd is with them. He knows what to do even at such a time. He leaps to a rock or a hillock that he may be seen or heard. Then he lifts his voice in a long call, something like a wolf cry – oah! Oah! On hearing this, the sheep remember the shepherd, they heed his voice and strange to tell, the poor, timid creatures, which were helpless with terror before, instantly rush with all their strength into a solid mass. The pressure is irresistible, the wolf is overcome, and frequently he is crushed to death, while the shepherd stands there on the rock crying Oah! Oah!
"I will fear no evil for thou art with me." "Thy rod and thy staff " – this is also true to life, the double expression covers the whole round of protecting care, for the shepherd carries a crook for guiding the sheep and a weapon suitable for defending them – the rod and the staff – one for aiding them in places of need along the peaceful ways, and the other for defense in perils of robbers and wild beasts."
And what shall we say of the next words, "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me'? Ah! Sir, you should see the sheep cuddle near the shepherd, to understand that word; they comfort me – the shepherd call, "Ta-a-a-a-ho-o and the answering pattering of feet as the sheep hurry to him, are fit sounds to be chosen out of a noisy world, to show what comfort God gives to souls, who heed His voice – and those sounds have been heard in my country this day as they were the day this shepherd Psalm was written."
Now is where you drop the shepherd figure and put in a banquet and so lose the fine climax of completeness in the shepherds care. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." In the same hushed voice in which he quoted these words he added, "To think the shepherds highest skill and heroism should be lost from view as the Psalmist begins to sing of it – and only an indoor banquet thought of"!
Again he sat a little while in quiet, then he said, "The word here for table means simply something spread out, and so a prepared meal however is set forth. There is no higher task of the shepherd in my country than to go from time to time to study places and examine the grass and find a good and safe feeding place for his sheep. All his skill and often-great heroism are called for.
There are many poisonous plants in the grass and the shepherd must find and avoid them. The sheep will not eat certain poisonous things. But there are some, which they will eat, one kind of poisonous grass in particular. A cousin of mine once last 300 sheep by a mistake in this hard task.
Then there are snake holes in some kinds of ground, and if the snakes were not driven away, they bite the noses of the sheep. The shepherd sometimes burns the fat of hogs along the ground to do this. Sometimes shepherds find grounds where moles have worked their holes under the surface – snakes lie in these holes with their heads sticking up ready to bite the grazing sheep. The shepherds know how to drive them away as they go along ahead of the sheep.
And around the feeding ground, which the shepherds prepare, in holes and caves in the hills, there are jackals, wolves, hyenas and panthers too, and the bravery and skill of the shepherd are at the highest pint in closing up the den with stones or slaying the wild beasts with his long bladed knife. Of nothing do you hear the shepherd boasting more proudly than of their achievements in this part of their care of the flocks.
And now he exclaimed with a beaming countenance and suppressed feeling, as if pleading for recognition of the lone shepherd bravest act of devotion to his sheep. "And now do you not see the shepherd in that quaint line, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies?" "Yes" I answered, "and I see that God's care of a man out in the world is grander thought than that of seating him at an indoor banquet table." "But what about anointing the head with oil and the cup running over?" "Go on my friend."
"Oh there begins the beautiful picture at the end of the day. The Psalmist has sung of the whole round of the day's wanderings, all the needs of the sheep, all the care of the shepherd. Now the Psalm 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 stands, turning 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 inspects them one by one as they pass 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 the thorns. And here comes one that is not bruised but simply worn and exhausted, he bathes it's face and head with refreshing olive oil, and he takes the large two = handled cup and dips it brimming full from the vessel provide for that purpose, and he lets the weary one drink. There is nothing finer in the Psalm than this. God's care is not for the wounded only, but for the worn and weary also.
Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. And then the day is done. The sheep are snug within the fold. What contentment, what rest under the starry sky. Then comes the thought of deepest repose, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." And so we called it, "The Song of our Syrian Guest."
I give my word that this story's message about the Psalms meaning is straight from David's land. We had such a guest and he told us these thing. from out of the life of his people, as we sat together one night, N, A, Knight, Boston~ January 1904. "Faduel Moghabghab", said our guest, Accent the u and drop the g 's.
He was a man of winsome mind, this Syrian guest of ours, and the spirituality of his culture was as marked as the refinement of his manners, We shall long remember him for the tales he told that evening of his home in Ainsehalta on the slope of the Syrian mountains, but longest of all, what he said about the memory of his youth about the shepherd song. "It, was out of the shepherd life of my country", he remarked, "That there came long ago that sweetest religious song ever written --- the 23rd Psalm."
He said with a serious and pensive face, "Ah, so many things are familiar but are strange to you in America". He went on to say, "So many things in the life of my people, the same now as in the days of old, have been woven into words of the Bible and into conceptions of religious ideas as expressed there, You of the Western world, not knowing These things as they are there, often misunderstand what is written, or at least fail to get a correct impression of it."
"Tell us some of these", I said. After mentioning several instances, he went on. "And there to the shepherd Psalm. I find it is taken among you as having two parts, the first under the figure of shepherd life, the second turning to the figure of a banquet with a host and guest ." Someone remarked, "Yes, we have talked about that and have even said that we wished the wonderful Psalm could have been finished in the figure of shepherd life, "It does 94, said he, with keen interest I asked him how we might see it as a shepherd Psalm throughout, "It is all a simple shepherd Psalm", he began. "See how it runs through the round of shepherd life front first word to last." He quoted, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," There is the opening strain of it's music in that chord, In that chord is sounded the keynote which is never lost 'till the plaintive melody dies away at the song's end. All that follows is that thought put into varying light, Each is distinct and tells something too precious to be merged and lost." He said, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, nourishment and rest, he leadeth me beside still waters," The Scene changes and so does the meaning. You think here of quietly flowing streams, so you get one more picture of rest: but you miss one of the finest scenes in a shepherd life. All through the days roaming, the shepherd keeps one thing in mind - he must lead his flock to a drinking place, The refreshment of good water makes the coveted hour of all the day; the spot where it is found amid the rough, waterless hill and the plains is the crowning token of the shepherds thoughtfulness. When at last the sheep are "beside the still waters, "how good it is, after the dust and heat of the sheep's walks."
"Would you get the shepherd's meaning here? Then remember that streams are few in the Bible countries, The shepherd's do not rely upon them. Even when a streams are found, their beds and banks are usually broken and their flow rough. Sheep are timid and fear a current of water, as they well may, for they are easily carried down-stream because of their wool.
"Poor things, how do they ever get a drink exclaimed a listener. The sheep would indeed find it hard to obtain water to drink, were it not that the shepherd sees to that. Listen and I will tell you how said he. "There are wells and fountains all through the vast regions where the flocks roam, and in some parts there are cisterns, though the sheep like living water best. The shepherd knows where these drinking places are found, all through the treeless countries where streams are few. It is a fine sight to see the shepherds bring their flocks "beside the still waters" at some well of fountain, while the wide silent country over which they and many other sheep have wandered, spreads all around them, and the full expanse of the sky arches over them.
The shepherd makes a certain sound; all his sheep lie down and are quiet. Then he fills the drinking troughs. The bubbling of the fountain, or the current, if it is by a stream is no longer there to trouble the sheep. They can now drink undisturbed. This is the delicate meaning of the word, "still." As the Hebrew words put it = "He leadeth me beside the waters of quietness."
Then the waiting sheep hear a whistle or a call, they never misunderstand, they know their shepherds voice and never respond to the wrong shepherd, if several flocks have come together. And strangest of all, the sheep come up by groups, the shepherd makes them understand. So in groups he leads them until they stand "beside the still waters." And oh, how they drink with the shepherd standing near. But I must tell you of one or more scenes that come to my mind as I read the words, "He leadeth me beside the still waters" – it would be a beautiful picture if someone could paint it.
Up in the mountain sides of Lebanon, where my kinsman have long been shepherds, often there are no regular drinking places, such as well and fountains on the plains. But as the shepherd heads his sheep over the rough slopes he finds many a spring and see it's rivulet noisily running down a crevice. The sheep cannot drink from the leaping stream. What does he do? He finds a suitable nook or turn in its course; he wells it up with a little dam and so holds the water until it forms a little pool. Then right there on the open hills, he leads his sheep beside the still waters. I know of nothing more fitting to picture a shepherd's care of the ones who trust him, than that scene up there on the mountain side.
"He restoreth my soul". You know, he said turning to me, that soul means life or oneself in the Hebrew writings. Then addressing us all he went on. "There are perilous places for the sheep on all sides, and they seem never to learn to avoid them. The shepherd must ever be on the watch. And there are private fields and sometimes gardens and vineyards here and there in the shepherd country. If the sheep stray into them and be caught there it is forfeited to the owner of the land. So "He restoreth my soul:, means the shepherd, brings me back and rescues me from fatal and forbidden places.: Restores me when wandering is the way it is put in one of our hymns,: I interposed. :Ah sir, that is exactly it:, he answered. :Restores me when wandering."
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake." Often have I roamed thru the shepherd country in my youth and seen how hard it is to choose the right path for the sheep; one leads to a precipice, another to a place where the sheep cannot find the way back, and the shepherd was always going ahead, leading them in the right paths, proud of his good name as a shepherd. Some paths that are right paths still head thru places of deadly perils.
"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death", is the way the Psalm reads of touches this fact in shepherd life. This way of naming the valley is very true to our country. I remember one near my home called, "The Valley of Robbers", and another "The Ravine of the Ravin". You see "The Valley of the Shadow of Death," is a name drawn from my country's old custom.
"For thou art with me." And how could more be put into few words? With the sheep it matters not what the surroundings are, nor how great the perils and hardships, if only the shepherd is with them they are content. To show how much the shepherd's presents counts for the welfare of the sheep, I can think of nothing better than the strange thing I tell you of. It is quite beyond the usual care on which the flock depends on fondly.
Sometimes in spite of all the care that the shepherd and his dogs exercise, a wolf will get into the midst of the flock. The sheep are wild with fright. They leap and run and make it impossible to get at the foe in their midst, who at that very moment may be fastening his teeth in the throat of a member of the helpless flock. But the shepherd is with them. He knows what to do even at such a time. He leaps to a rock or a hillock that he may be seen or heard. Then he lifts his voice in a long call, something like a wolf cry – oah! Oah! On hearing this, the sheep remember the shepherd, they heed his voice and strange to tell, the poor, timid creatures, which were helpless with terror before, instantly rush with all their strength into a solid mass. The pressure is irresistible, the wolf is overcome, and frequently he is crushed to death, while the shepherd stands there on the rock crying Oah! Oah!
"I will fear no evil for thou art with me." "Thy rod and thy staff " – this is also true to life, the double expression covers the whole round of protecting care, for the shepherd carries a crook for guiding the sheep and a weapon suitable for defending them – the rod and the staff – one for aiding them in places of need along the peaceful ways, and the other for defense in perils of robbers and wild beasts."
And what shall we say of the next words, "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me'? Ah! Sir, you should see the sheep cuddle near the shepherd, to understand that word; they comfort me – the shepherd call, "Ta-a-a-a-ho-o and the answering pattering of feet as the sheep hurry to him, are fit sounds to be chosen out of a noisy world, to show what comfort God gives to souls, who heed His voice – and those sounds have been heard in my country this day as they were the day this shepherd Psalm was written."
Now is where you drop the shepherd figure and put in a banquet and so lose the fine climax of completeness in the shepherds care. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." In the same hushed voice in which he quoted these words he added, "To think the shepherds highest skill and heroism should be lost from view as the Psalmist begins to sing of it – and only an indoor banquet thought of"!
Again he sat a little while in quiet, then he said, "The word here for table means simply something spread out, and so a prepared meal however is set forth. There is no higher task of the shepherd in my country than to go from time to time to study places and examine the grass and find a good and safe feeding place for his sheep. All his skill and often-great heroism are called for.
There are many poisonous plants in the grass and the shepherd must find and avoid them. The sheep will not eat certain poisonous things. But there are some, which they will eat, one kind of poisonous grass in particular. A cousin of mine once last 300 sheep by a mistake in this hard task.
Then there are snake holes in some kinds of ground, and if the snakes were not driven away, they bite the noses of the sheep. The shepherd sometimes burns the fat of hogs along the ground to do this. Sometimes shepherds find grounds where moles have worked their holes under the surface – snakes lie in these holes with their heads sticking up ready to bite the grazing sheep. The shepherds know how to drive them away as they go along ahead of the sheep.
And around the feeding ground, which the shepherds prepare, in holes and caves in the hills, there are jackals, wolves, hyenas and panthers too, and the bravery and skill of the shepherd are at the highest pint in closing up the den with stones or slaying the wild beasts with his long bladed knife. Of nothing do you hear the shepherd boasting more proudly than of their achievements in this part of their care of the flocks.
And now he exclaimed with a beaming countenance and suppressed feeling, as if pleading for recognition of the lone shepherd bravest act of devotion to his sheep. "And now do you not see the shepherd in that quaint line, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies?" "Yes" I answered, "and I see that God's care of a man out in the world is grander thought than that of seating him at an indoor banquet table." "But what about anointing the head with oil and the cup running over?" "Go on my friend."
"Oh there begins the beautiful picture at the end of the day. The Psalmist has sung of the whole round of the day's wanderings, all the needs of the sheep, all the care of the shepherd. Now the Psalm 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 stands, turning 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 inspects them one by one as they pass 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 the thorns. And here comes one that is not bruised but simply worn and exhausted, he bathes it's face and head with refreshing olive oil, and he takes the large two = handled cup and dips it brimming full from the vessel provide for that purpose, and he lets the weary one drink. There is nothing finer in the Psalm than this. God's care is not for the wounded only, but for the worn and weary also.
Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. And then the day is done. The sheep are snug within the fold. What contentment, what rest under the starry sky. Then comes the thought of deepest repose, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." And so we called it, "The Song of our Syrian Guest."