A CERTAIN KING found himself exiled for decades in a foreign land, another man was quarantined beyond the city limits, and still others were tossed about endlessly in deep waters. Yet, in this week's Bible Lesson, titled "God the Preserver of Man," all were saved.

Nothing speaks protection like a shepherd from Bible times. Through the mouth of Ezekiel, God, the ultimate Shepherd, makes numerous promises to His exiled people that He will seek them out, gather them together, lead them out of exile, then feed and secure them in their homeland (see Ezek., chap. 34, citation 19).

See how these promises are fulfilled in the 23rd Psalm, which is illumined in Science and Health (see p. 577, cit. 30). God is so much more than a simple shepherd. And Mary Baker Eddy lifts readers to an expanded understanding of the term shepherd by substituting the word Love, the "spiritual sense of Deity." Elsewhere she wrote: "The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty, and glory of infinite Love fill all space" (p. 520, cit. 3). In the words of Jeremiah, "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" (23:24, cit. 3); and as theologian Matthew Henry wrote 300 years ago, "No place can either include him or exclude him."

Finding safe shelter for his flock is important for a shepherd's reputation. Sheepfolds can be of stone walls or thorn bushes. Noah's ark was of gopher wood and pitch. Of course it accommodated a great variety of creatures for months and months. After the water subsided, every beast went forth out of the ark. None was lost, God being the great sustainer (see Gen., chaps. 6—9, cits. 7–10). Mrs. Eddy's explanation of ark in Science and Health observes that "... the spiritual realities of all things are created by Him and exist forever" (p. 581, cit. 12). Considering the size of the ark and the number of animals under his care, it's not surprising to discover that the Hebrew name Noah is derived from a verb meaning "to settle down, rest and give comfort." It echoes some lines from Mrs. Eddy's poem "'Feed My Sheep'":

However, some may not seem so deserving of God's care. Judah's young king Jehoiachin, for instance, did evil and spent 36 years imprisoned in exile. Yet, when rescued, he was treated royally, better than other kings (see cit. 13). Divine Love makes no distinction, but loves continuously and unconditionally. As Science and Health puts it, "Each successive stage of experience unfolds new views of divine goodness and love" (p. 66, cit. 15); and as Mrs. Eddy's poem says, "Feed the hungry, heal the heart,/Till the morning's beam."

I've found that what's unique about each Christian Science Bible Lesson is that it's not only a Bible study. It fosters individual spiritual growth, lifting the student to the realization of his or her perfect, spiritual likeness to God.

For instance, one can usually expect to find a healing by Christ Jesus. This week it's one of leprosy (see Mark 1:40–42, cit. 17). How could Jesus deliberately, fearlessly, compassionately touch this man, exposing himself to that dreaded contagion, when a normal person would have run the other way?

This Lesson answers that question, but not by doing battle with contagion. Instead, as in Psalm 91 (cit. 16), God's angels take charge, with truth after truth from Science and Health leading us to "the secret place of the most High," where no plague will "come nigh thy dwelling." Clearly, "God is everywhere, and nothing apart from Him is present or has power" (Science and Health, p. 473, cit. 26).

I feel a special kinship with the "strong tower" to which the righteous run and are safe (Prov. 18:10, cit. 15). It was in that "tower" that I once prayerfully placed my husband after hearing news reports of refugees storming and confiscating living quarters in the Middle Eastern city where he was employed. I held to the truth that no matter where in the world he was, my husband was safely sheltered till that storm had passed. God's shelters are impregnable. Later I learned that the refugees had shot the lock off the gate, but after an unheated conversation, had moved on peacefully.

Whether it's called a strong tower, an ark, a secret place, or a sheepfold, God's creation dwells "in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever" (cit. 30).

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