Feeding the Kids Beside the Shepherds' Tents
Zion's Advocate, Vol. 44, No. 7, July 1905.
Willow Hill, Ill., May 22, 1905.Very Dear Brother Daily:--I would like very much for you to give your views on the eighth verse of the first chapter of the Song of Solomon. "If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents." I have heard some ideas on this, and would be very thankful if you would write us your views in the Advocate, especially on "feeding the kids beside the Shepherds' tents."
A reader of your much esteemed paper,
J. Doty.
The book of the Song of Solomon is highly figurative and allegorical. The love, union, and communion between Christ and his church are set forth by a variety of lively metaphors, in which are also presented the several different frames and circumstances of his children in this life. In the second verse of this chapter the church or bride is represented as addressing Christ in the most affectionate manner and tender appeals. "Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine." The fullness of the grace of Christ, and the oil of gladness with which he is anointed above his fellows, are represented in the third verse as the savor of good ointments poured forth, on account of which the virgins are caused to love him. Dr. Gill thinks these are young converts, perhaps not yet members of the visible church. "Draw me," the church is represented as saying. "We will run after thee," she continues, referring to herself and the virgins. Her desire is granted, for she says, "The king hath brought me into his chambers." Gladness and rejoicing is then experienced by the church and virgins, in which there is a sweet remembrance of his love. Then addressing the daughters of Jerusalem or virgins, she exclaims, "I am black, but comely, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon." She views herself in her depravity as being black as the tents of Kedar, but in the eyes of Christ as comely as the curtains of Solomon through the comeliness of his righteousness imputed to her. In the seventh verse an acknowledgment is made of having kept the vineyard of others and having neglected her own, by reason of which it seems that her Lord has withdrawn his presence. The earnest inquiry is then made: "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?" The noon of temptation, affliction, persecution, and sore trial, is doubtless meant. The companions are those who profess to be the friends of Christ, but are really heretics and false professors who draw disciples away after them.
In reply to this urgent appeal, Christ says to her, "If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth," &c. "If thou know not," might be translated, "Seeing thou knowest not." Her lack of knowledge of where he was feeding his flock and making them rest at noon, is clearly implied in her appeal to him. How often are the saints unable to find the dear Saviour and enter into his presence! Hungry and weary, they long to know where he feeds his flocks and makes them to rest at noon, that they too may feast upon the manna his gracious hand affords and lie down beside the still waters of his love. "Go thy way forth," is the instruction of Christ, "by the footsteps of the flock." By the flock is meant the true flock or followers of Christ, and by their footsteps is meant the ordinances and services they observe as he has directed them. Christ will be found with a blessing wherever his people are found walking in his steps. Any of his wandering ones may find him and that blessing by going forth by the footsteps of that flock.
"Feed thy kids," Christ then says, "beside the shepherds' tents." The shepherds are the true ministers of the gospel, who are represented as living in tents, indicating that they have no permanent dwelling upon earth, but are serving the great Shepherd above in caring for his sheep by watching over them and feeding them. They live in the service they render and the gospel they preach. Jesus has promised to be with them always, even unto the end of the world. So his hungry, weary children will find him and the food and rest they seek by going their way forth by the footsteps of the flock and beside the shepherds' tents. Kids are young goats, by which the poor weak converts are represented, indicating their unseemly appearance in the eyes of the world. No doubt such are meant as need special encouragement from the church and ministers.
If we get near the tents of the Lord's under-shepherds, we will find the footsteps of the flock. The weak and trembling ones can there be fed upon the sincere milk of the word. O those dear footsteps, why should any of his children, the sheep of his pasture, ever desire to stray from them? They are called old ruts by the world, with a spirit of scorn and contempt, but they mark out the path in which Jesus has walked and in which he has led his faithful people in all ages. The eager devotees of worldly honor and praise presume to improve upon these precious footsteps, but let their presumption be spurned by the true followers of the Lamb. The shepherds' tents are where the gospel feast is spread, to which the flock, even the kids, are invited.
"I have been there and still would go,
Tis like a little heaven below."
By those tents his little ones of all ages past have been fed. There is a supply there still for the hungry and thirsty, and that supply is provided for all time to come, and will never be exhausted. It is all without money or price, so it can be bought by the poorest of the poor. There is found pure wine to stimulate and milk to nourish. Money is often spent for that which is not bread and labor for that which does not satisfy. After the money is spent and the labor is performed, the weak ones are not fed and satisfied with living food. Come, then, ye weary, hungry, thirsty ones, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Let the kids be fed beside the shepherds' tents.
Around all the churches there are little children of God, some of them young in years and very timid. They need to be fed, and should be encouraged to come into the visible fold where they can be more fully cared for. It is necessary for the sheep to go their way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and draw near the shepherds' tents, that those little ones may be enticed there. When the sheep are wandering from those footsteps, the little lambs (kids) are led astray.
The ancient footsteps form a well beaten path. It is the only safe way in which to go. It leads us through the green pastures and beside the still waters. When any get tired of that way, and try to seek some path which they imagine is more pleasant, they bring trouble upon themselves and upon the cause of their great Shepherd. A desire for popularity has induced many to depart from the pathway. The footsteps of the flock has always been an unpopular road, and those who faithfully walk there can never be popular with the world. The devotees of worldly honor are sure to be dissatisfied with that road and will try to bend it to meet the world's approbation if they don't leave it.
J. R. D.
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