四月十三日

我以我的良人為一袋沒藥……（歌1:13）

用沒藥來形容耶穌是很好的，因為沒藥貴重、芳香、清爽，有醫治、保全、消毒的功效，並且也可用以獻祭。但為什麼用“一袋沒藥”（一袋或譯一捆）來比他呢?第一，因為豐盛：他並不是一點點，他乃是滿滿的一袋；他並不是一枝或一朵，而是一捆。基督可以滿足我一切的需要，所以我當趕快為主使用。第二，把我們所愛的主比作“一袋”，是因為繁多：因為在基督裡不是只能滿足我們一種需要，而是“神本性一切的豐盛，都有形有體地居住在基督裡面”。我們所需要的一切都在他裡面。耶穌身兼眾長。你看有多麼希奇——他是先知、祭司、君王、新郎、朋友、牧人。再看他的生、死、復活、升天、再來，看他的德性，柔和、勇敢、舍己、慈愛、忠實、純真、公義——無論在那裡他都是一袋沒藥。他是一袋珍藏的沒藥——不是散漫地撒在地上任人踐踏，乃是捆起來，放在袋中的沒藥。我們必須把他當作我們的至寶，我們必須以他的話語、以他的命令為貴，我們必須把我們對他的思念和認識用鎖鑰緊緊保藏起來，免得魔鬼從我們偷去什麼。我們的耶穌更是一袋特殊的沒藥：這表示區別的意思，分別的恩典。在創世之先，他就為他的民把自己分別出來，並且他只把他的香氣賜給那與他有交通的人、與他有密切關係的人。凡被主允准來到他的隱秘處的人有福了，因為主為他把自己分別出來。凡能說“我以我的良人為一袋沒藥”的人是蒙愛而快樂的人。

April 13

"A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me." --Song of Solomon 1:13

Myrrh may well be chosen as the type of Jesus on account of its preciousness, its perfume, its pleasantness, its healing, preserving, disinfecting qualities, and its connection with sacrifice. But why is He compared to "a bundle of myrrh"? First, for plenty. He is not a drop of it, He is a casket full. He is not a sprig or flower of it, but a whole bundle. There is enough in Christ for all my necessities; let me not be slow to avail myself of Him. Our well-beloved is compared to a "bundle" again, for variety: for there is in Christ not only the one thing needful, but in "Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," everything needful is in Him. Take Jesus in His different characters, and you will see a marvellous variety--Prophet, Priest, King, Husband, Friend, Shepherd. Consider Him in His life, death, resurrection, ascension, second advent; view Him in His virtue, gentleness, courage, self-denial, love, faithfulness, truth, righteousness-- everywhere He is a bundle of preciousness. He is a "bundle of myrrh" for preservation--not loose myrrh tied up, myrrh to be stored in a casket. We must value Him as our best treasure; we must prize His words and His ordinances; and we must keep our thoughts of Him and knowledge of Him as under lock and key, lest the devil should steal anything from us. Moreover, Jesus is a "bundle of myrrh" for speciality. The emblem suggests the idea of distinguishing, discriminating grace. From before the foundation of the world, He was set apart for His people; and He gives forth His perfume only to those who understand how to enter into communion with Him, to have close dealings with Him. Oh! blessed people whom the Lord hath admitted into His secrets, and for whom He sets Himself apart. Oh! choice and happy who are thus made to say, "A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me."