一月二十日

亞伯是牧羊的（創4:2）

亞伯是牧羊的，所以他分別為聖，叫他的行事榮耀神；並且他用血在自己的壇上獻為祭物，因此耶和華就看中了亞伯和他的供物。這很清楚，很顯然地是表明我們的主。像日出時的一線曙光，雖不能照出大地的一切，但卻清楚顯明太陽要出來了。當我們看見牧人，也是一位祭司亞伯給神獻上馨香祭物的時候，就叫我們想到主，他把自己獻給耶和華，這是神所最看重的。亞伯無端地被他哥哥所恨，我們的救主也是這樣；屬肉體的人自然恨那被神接受使人得恩的人，並且一直到他流了血才肯罷休。亞伯被打死了，他的血濺了他的壇，並且用他自己的血獻為祭物；主耶穌因被仇恨而被殺，但是在神的面前卻成了祭司。“好牧人為羊捨命”，當我們看到他被人恨惡而受死，並以己血灑了壇角時，讓我們為他痛苦吧！亞伯的血會向神說話。“耶和華說……你兄弟的血有聲音從地裡向我哀告。”耶穌的血更能說話，它所發出來的勝利的聲音並非要神報復，而是憐憫。站在我們好牧人的壇前比在什麼地方都寶貴！看他在祭壇那裡成了被殺的祭司，我們就能聽到他對他全群的羊說出平安的話來，乃是使良心平安，使猶太人和外邦人和睦，使人與他所頂撞的造物主和好，永遠與被血所洗的人說和睦的話。在時間方面說亞伯是第一位牧人，但在我們的心中卻要把耶穌放在我們所尊重的首位上。保護群羊的大牧人啊！當我們看到你為我們被殺的時候，我們——你草場上得羊要稱頌你。

January 20

"Abel was a keeper of sheep." --Genesis 4:2

As a shepherd Abel sanctified his work to the glory of God, and offered a sacrifice of blood upon his altar, and the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering. This early type of our Lord is exceedingly clear and distinct. Like the first streak of light which tinges the east at sunrise, it does not reveal everything, but it clearly manifests the great fact that the sun is coming. As we see Abel, a shepherd and yet a priest, offering a sacrifice of sweet smell unto God, we discern our Lord, who brings before His Father a sacrifice to which Jehovah ever hath respect. Abel was hated by his brother--hated without a cause; and even so was the Saviour: the natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed. Abel fell, and sprinkled his altar and sacrifice with his own blood, and therein sets forth the Lord Jesus slain by the enmity of man while serving as a priest before the Lord. "The good Shepherd layeth down His life for the sheep." Let us weep over Him as we view Him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of His altar with His own blood. Abel's blood speaketh. "The Lord said unto Cain, 'The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.'" The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! to see Him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear His blood speaking peace to all His flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men. Abel is the first shepherd in order of time, but our hearts shall ever place Jesus first in order of excellence. Thou great Keeper of the sheep, we the people of Thy pasture bless Thee with our whole hearts when we see Thee slain for us.