not overcome that old serpent, the Devil? Do we
not overcome the dragon, that old serpent, the Devil and Satan, the
accuser of the brethren day and night--do we not overcome him by the
blood of the Lamb?

Whichever of these meanings may be adopted as indicating the teaching of
this verse, we may be certain that the truth the Psalmist desires to
express is this: That God gives His children victory over all their
foes, and makes them more than conquerors over all their enemies. Thus
shall we "eat our meat in peace and quietness, and nothing shall make us
afraid." "Why do the heathen rage?... He that sitteth in the heavens
shall laugh"--and so shall we.

On the Rock of Ages founded,
Who can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou mayes't smile at all thy foes.

--_Rev. John Newton_

"=_Thou Anointest My Head with Oil: My Cup Runneth Over_="

A shepherd must needs be a physician also. In the belt of the shepherd
medicines are always carried. Sheep are very susceptible to sicknesses
of many kinds, particularly fevers. Ofttimes at night as the sheep
passed into the fold the shepherd's knowing eye would detect that one or
another of them was sick and feverish. Perhaps it had been bitten by a
serpent or torn by some wild animal. He would take the feverish sheep
and plunge its head into clear, cold water, plunging the head so far
into the pail that the water would run over, or anoint the bruise with
mollifying ointment. Doubtless David is thinking of this experience of
his shepherd life.

Or, again, David may be referring to the bountiful water supply provided
for the sheep and applying it to the rich provision God has made for the
believer. Not only is there grace enough for oneself, but with the
believer as a channel, an abundance for others.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find!

--_Charles Wesley_

This is the wonderful truth taught by Jesus in the Temple: "Now on the
last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If
any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me,
as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living
water." Here we see how the believer may come to Christ for the
quenching of his own thirst, and then draw on, or drink more deeply of,
Christ for the quenching of the thirst of others. "Thou, O Christ, art
all I want, mo