Points in the Natural Picture to be brought out.
1. Some points in the natural history of the hart—different names given to the animal—swiftness of foot—where generally lives. 2. Frequently hunted. 3. Where to flee to in a mountainous country, as Judea, when pursued—hills or valleys. 4. Heat, drought, dust—effect on the animal, particularly after running—thirst. 5. Running about seeking for water—increasing—not merely a drink, but a brook, where it may plunge in as well as drink. 6. Why, then, a brook, and not stream?—picture out a brook. 7. Brooks more likely to be found in plains—but animal pursued there. 8. The hart, heated and thirsty, therefore pants—what is panting? 9. Has the hart ever bathed in water brooks before? If not, would it have panted and longed for it? The full picturing out of these points (even in the incomplete and imperfect manner that can be done on paper) would greatly exceed our limits. The natural picture or condition of the hart being visible to the minds of the children, the analogy to the circumstances in which David was placed will appear, viz., pursued by his enemies, and especially by his own son, Absalom—fleeing to the mountains for safety—away from the sanctuary, etc., etc. He, no doubt, on seeing the harts near him panting and seeking for water brooks, mournfully and longingly expressed himself: "So panteth my soul after thee, O God."
Teacher.—I must tell you, children, before we commence our lesson, that it is supposed this psalm was written by David, who was obliged to flee from his enemies to the land of Jordan, and that when there he probably took up his abode in the mountains, away from the public worship of ... God's house, and seeing the harts running ... Where? about the hills, and panting for thirst, most likely induced him to use the ... What metaphor or emblem did he use? Look at your books. David says: "As the hart panteth after the ... water-brooks (read on, children), so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
The first thing we must speak about in this picture is the ... hart. What is a hart? Can you tell me any other names given to the hart? Stag—deer—gazelle—roe. Very right; these are the names given to ... this animal, or ... species.
Well, the name of this animal or ... species, is called ... the hart. Is it a slow or quick moving animal? Swift. It runs ... very swiftly. What countries do harts chiefly live in? Mountainous countries. Why do you think so? The Bible says, "Like a young roe upon the mountains." And a young roe is ... a young hart. Well, that is one proof that they live in the mountains; but can they live in the plains? Yes, sir; they live in plains in gentlemen's parks, which are sometimes ... plain, or nearly ... level. Very well; but when allowed to roam and run about freely and ... naturally, they ... prefer the mountains. Is the hart spoken of in the psalm supposed to live in a warm or cold country, think you? A warm country. Why? ... Bring down the map, children, and show the country or countries you suppose to be meant. (The map of Palestine is presented.) Point out those parts you think harts live in. You think the Psalmist means ... the mountainous parts of Palestine. And Palestine is ... What sort of a country? Mountainous country, and ... very hot. Now, we must get smartly on. The hart lives in ... a hot country, and in the mountainous parts of ... a hot country. How does the sun shine? Over head, nearly perpendicular, and, therefore, the great part of the year the ground must be ... very hot and dry. In what state will the soil be? Parched and dusty. And in mountainous countries, where the sun is very hot, what happens to the streams or brooks? The brooks dry up. It is then a dry and ... thirsty land, and where ... no water is. If you turn in your Bible to Job vi. 15, it is said: "And as the stream of brooks they pass away,"—showing that the brooks in that hot climate are ... very apt to pass away, or ... dry up.
Tell me, children, what you mean by panting? Show me what panting is? This boy thinks it is simply opening the mouth. (Take nothing for granted.) Have you ever seen a dog walking in a very hot and dusty day, after having run a long way? Yes, sir; it opens its mouth. Does it simply open its mouth, as this boy did? It pants, this way. It feels uneasy. Why uneasy? Because it is weary and thirsty. Weary and thirsty from ... the heat; and a thirsty dog, that is weary and very ... hot, would—what would it wish? To have a drink, or, perhaps, to ... plunge in the brook. Of what had the hart drank before? The brooks. Well, the hart having both drank of ... the brook, and ... plunged in the brook before, longed and ... panted to do so again. In this sad condition, therefore—heated and ... thirsty, and running about, ... panting—how would the hart feel? Would he be satisfied to lie down? No, sir; very anxious. And what more? Longing and panting for water. Not at rest, because it ... felt—the ... want of something it could not get at ... that time; and that was ... the water brooks.
Now, let us look at the verse, and see in what state or ... condition the hart is supposed to be. Repeat it, if you please, each word, separately, slowly, and distinctly. "As, the, hart, panteth, after, the, water, brooks." What is a brook? A clear stream—not a muddy, stagnant ... pool. Do you think the hart had drank of a brook before? Yes; else it would not have panted for it. What makes the hart so very thirsty? Because it runs about the hills, where there is no water. And as the hart opens ... its mouth, and ... pants for water, and runs about, it raises the ... What do you think it raises? The dust into its mouth. And what does the dust do? Increases its thirst, and causes the hart to long more for ... the brooks—which are now ... dried up—or, perhaps, at a ... great distance. What would you expect the hart to do were it to reach a brook? Drink plentifully—and, also, ... plunge into the water. Why? To cool and ... refresh itself. The application, or spiritual lesson, is by recalling the hart, on the mountains, hunted by dogs, shot at by arrows, hot and thirsty, panting for water brooks, for a plunge-bath, and drink. So, David fleeing on the mountains for life, pursued by enemies, longing for safety, and for the public worship of God at Jerusalem, panting for the Lord's house, where God's law was read, and the true God was worshipped, etc. He desired, longed for, panted, prayed for God, the living God. Children, do you so long for, and pant after God, the living God? etc., etc.
Another form of pictorial teaching is, after questioning the lesson out of the scholars, and then in again, and explaining all the words, etc., to paint imaginary pictures of the events described in the lesson. Thus, in a lesson from Matt. xiv. 22-33, taught by the Rev. Edward Eggleston, of Chicago, he said to the first pupil: "Carrie, suppose that you were a painter with your canvas before you, what picture would you draw from the 22d verse?" She replied, "Christ sending his disciples and the multitudes away." "Mary, what from the 23d verse?" "Christ on the mountain, alone, in prayer." "Jane, what from the 24th verse?" "The ship tossed with the waves." "Lily, what from verse 25?" "Jesus walking on the sea." The next, "Peter sinking, Jesus saving;" and then, "The sea calm, all safe in the ship, worshipping Jesus." From these the lessons drawn are "Secret prayer," "Looking to Jesus for help in danger," "Not seeking danger," and that "Jesus is God," to control the wind and waves. The doctrine is the Divinity of Christ: "Of a truth, thou art the Son of God."
"Pictorial Teaching," by Hartley and Groser, on Illustrative Teaching, further illustrates these subjects.