"Tell Me, by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1859

"Tell Me,

By J. Clarke

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?" Song of Solomon, i, 7.

Allusion is here made to pastoral life, and the strong desire of a faithful friend to find a beloved companion, and to spend the leisure hour of noontide heat with him, while the flock reposed in safety; a very fit illustration of the desire of the true child of God to find the Saviour, and his beloved flock; "for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?"

Jesus speaks of the church as the flock, and of himself as the Shepherd of the sheep. He says, I am the good Shepherd. John x, 11. David uses the same figure. Ps. xxiii. "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters." "He is altogether lovely, the chiefest among ten thousand." To him the saint aspires for consolation; all the desires of the heart center in him and his.

"Where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon, for why should I be as one that turneth aside." If we can find his flock, if we can be where his flock is resting from noontide heat, where his sheep find the cool gushing spring, the fountain of refreshing waters, we will certainly find the Shepherd there, and then, O what rivers of joy, of peace, flow on! Yes, there is peace, there is pure and solid bliss.

Tell me where my Shepherd feeds his flock at noon, that I may find my beloved, for why should I be as one that turneth aside? O, why should I turn aside by the flocks of thy companions? No other flock will satisfy the christian's longing desire; he must view his Saviour's face; no other will do. An hireling will they not follow, nor a stranger; for they know not the voice of strangers.

Long years of darkness and gloom have obscured the true light, and almost vainly has the burning desire, the ardent longing to find the Shepherd and his flock, been put forth. The flock has been scattered upon the mountains in the cloudy and dark day, but Jesus has set his hand the second time to gather them. Still they are separated for the present in many places, and still the cry is, "Tell me where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon, O thou whom my soul loveth."

Soon, O beloved saint, if thou art faithful to thy trust, soon wilt thou know where thy Saviour, thy Shepherd, rests his flock. J. CLARKE.