一月二十日
亚伯是牧羊的（创4:2）
亚伯是牧羊的，所以他分别为圣，叫他的行事荣耀神；并且他用血在自己的坛上献为祭物，因此耶和华就看中了亚伯和他的供物。这很清楚，很显然地是表明我们的主。像日出时的一线曙光，虽不能照出大地的一切，但却清楚显明太阳要出来了。当我们看见牧人，也是一位祭司亚伯给神献上馨香祭物的时候，就叫我们想到主，他把自己献给耶和华，这是神所最看重的。亚伯无端地被他哥哥所恨，我们的救主也是这样；属肉体的人自然恨那被神接受使人得恩的人，并且一直到他流了血才肯罢休。亚伯被打死了，他的血溅了他的坛，并且用他自己的血献为祭物；主耶稣因被仇恨而被杀，但是在神的面前却成了祭司。“好牧人为羊舍命”，当我们看到他被人恨恶而受死，并以己血洒了坛角时，让我们为他痛苦吧！亚伯的血会向神说话。“耶和华说……你兄弟的血有声音从地里向我哀告。”耶稣的血更能说话，它所发出来的胜利的声音并非要神报复，而是怜悯。站在我们好牧人的坛前比在什么地方都宝贵！看他在祭坛那里成了被杀的祭司，我们就能听到他对他全群的羊说出平安的话来，乃是使良心平安，使犹太人和外邦人和睦，使人与他所顶撞的造物主和好，永远与被血所洗的人说和睦的话。在时间方面说亚伯是第一位牧人，但在我们的心中却要把耶稣放在我们所尊重的首位上。保护群羊的大牧人啊！当我们看到你为我们被杀的时候，我们——你草场上得羊要称颂你。
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.
