patriarchs and prophets-第47章
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house。 He says； 〃I will seek that which was lost； and bring again that which
was driven away； and will bind up that which was broken； and will strengthen
that which was sick。〃 I will 〃save My flock； and they shall no more be a
prey。〃 〃Neither shall the beast of the land devour them。〃 Ezekiel 34：16； 22；
28。 His voice is heard calling them to His fold； 〃a shadow in the daytime
from the heat； and for a place of refuge； and for a covert from storm and
from rain。〃 Isaiah 4：6。 His care for the flock is unwearied。 He strengthens
the weak； relieves the suffering； gathers the lambs in His arms； and carries
them in His bosom。 His sheep love Him。 〃And a stranger will they not follow；
but will flee from him； for they know not the voice of strangers。〃 John
10：5。
Christ says； 〃The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep。 But he that
is an hireling； and not the shepherd； whose own the sheep are not； seeth the
wolf coming； and leaveth the sheep； and fleeth； and the wolf catcheth them；
and scattereth the sheep。 The hireling fleeth； because he is an hireling；
and careth not for the sheep。 I am the Good Shepherd； and know My sheep； and
am known of Mine。〃 Verses 11…14。
Christ； the Chief Shepherd； has entrusted the care of His flock to His
ministers as undershepherds； and He bids them have the same interest that He
has manifested； and feel the sacred responsibility of the charge He has
entrusted to them。 He has solemnly commanded them to be faithful； to feed
the flock； to strengthen the weak； to revive the fainting； and to shield
them from devouring wolves。
To save His sheep； Christ laid down His own life； and He points His
shepherds to the love thus manifested； as their example。 But 〃he that is an
hireling； 。 。 。 whose own the sheep are not；〃 has no real interest in the
flock。 He is laboring merely for gain； and he cares only for himself。 He
studies his own profit instead of the interest of his charge； and in time of
peril or danger he will flee； and leave the flock。
The apostle Peter admonishes the undershepherds： 〃Feed the flock of God
which is among you； taking the oversight thereof； not by constraint； but
willingly； not for filthy lucre； but of a ready mind； neither as being lords
over God's heritage； but being ensamples to the flock。〃 1 Peter 5：2； 3。 Paul
says； 〃Take heed therefore unto yourselves； and to all the flock； over the
which the Holy
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Ghost hath made you overseers； to feed the church of God； which He hath
purchased with His own blood。 For I know this； that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you； not sparing the flock。〃 Acts 20：28； 29。
All who regard as an unwelcome task the care and burdens that fall to the
lot of the faithful shepherd； are reproved by the apostle： 〃Not by
constraint； but willingly； not for filthy lucre； but of a ready mind。〃 1
Peter 5：2。 All such unfaithful servants the Chief Shepherd would willingly
release。 The church of Christ has been purchased with His blood； and every
shepherd should realize that the sheep under his care cost an infinite
sacrifice。 He should regard them each as of priceless worth； and should be
unwearied in his efforts to keep them in a healthy； flourishing condition。
The shepherd who is imbued with the spirit of Christ will imitate His
self…denying example； constantly laboring for the welfare of his charge； and
the flock will prosper under his care。
All will be called to render a strict account of their ministry。 The Master
will demand of every shepherd； 〃Where is the flock that was given thee； thy
beautiful flock？〃 Jeremiah 13：20。 He that is found faithful； will receive a
rich reward。 〃When the Chief Shepherd shall appear；〃 says the apostle； 〃ye
shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away。〃 1 Peter 5：4。
When Jacob； growing weary of Laban's service； proposed to return to Canaan；
he said to his father…in…law； 〃Send me away； that I may go unto mine own
place； and to my country。 Give me my wives and my children； for whom I have
served thee； and let me go： for thou knowest my service which I have done
thee。〃 But Laban urged him to remain； declaring； 〃I have learned by
experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake。〃 He saw that his
property was increasing under the care of his son…in…law。
Said Jacob； 〃It was little which thou hadst before I came； and it is now
increased unto a multitude。〃 But as time passed on； Laban became envious of
the greater prosperity of Jacob； who 〃increased exceedingly； and had much
cattle； and maidservants； and menservants； and camels； and asses。〃 Laban's
sons shared their father's jealousy； and their malicious speeches came to
Jacob's ears： He 〃hath taken away all that was our father's； and of that
which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory。 And
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Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban； and； behold； it was not toward him as
before。〃
Jacob would have left his crafty kinsman long before but for the fear of
encountering Esau。 Now he felt that he was in danger from the sons of Laban；
who； looking upon his wealth as their own； might endeavor to secure it by
violence。 He was in great perplexity and distress； not knowing which way to
turn。 But mindful of the gracious Bethel promise； he carried his case to
God； and sought direction from Him。 In a dream his prayer was answered：
〃Return unto the land of thy fathers； and to thy kindred； and I will be with
thee。〃
Laban's absence afforded opportunity for departure。 The flocks and herds
were speedily gathered and sent forward； and with his wives； children； and
servants； Jacob crossed the Euphrates； urging his way toward Gilead； on the
borders of Canaan。 After three days Laban learned of their flight； and set
forth in pursuit； overtaking the company on the seventh day of their
journey。 He was hot with anger； and bent on forcing them to return； which he
doubted not he could do； since his band was much the stronger。 The fugitives
were indeed in great peril。
That he did not carry out his hostile purpose was due to the fact that God
Himself had interposed for the protection of His servant。 〃It is in the
power of my hand to do you hurt；〃 said Laban； 〃but the God of your father
spake unto me yesternight； saying； Take thou heed that thou speak not to
Jacob either good or bad；〃 that is； he should not force him to return； or
urge him by flattering inducements。
Laban had withheld the marriage dowry of his daughters and had ever treated
Jacob with craft and harshness； but with characteristic dissimulation he now
reproached him for his secret departure； which had given the father no
opportunity to make a parting feast or even to bid farewell to his daughters
and their children。
In reply Jacob plainly set forth Laban's selfish and grasping policy； and
appealed to him as a witness to his own faithfulness and honesty。 〃Except
the God of my father； the God of Abraham； and the fear of Isaac； had been
with me；〃 said Jacob； 〃surely thou hadst sent me away now empty。 God hath
seen mine affliction； and the labor of my hands； and rebuked thee
yesternight。〃
Laban could not deny the facts brought forward； and he now
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proposed to enter into a covenant of peace。 Jacob consented to the proposal；
and a pile of stones was erected as a token of the compact。 To this pillar
Laban gave the name Mizpah； 〃watchtower；〃 saying； 〃The Lord watch between me
and thee； when we are absent one from another。〃
〃And Laban said to Jacob； Behold this heap； and behold this pillar； which I
have cast betwixt me and thee； this heap be witness； and this pillar be
witness； that I will not pass over this heap to thee； and that thou shalt
not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me； for harm。 The God of
Abraham； and the God of Nahor； the God of their father； judge betwixt us。
And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac。〃 To confirm the treaty； the
parties held a feast。 The night was spent in friendly communing； and at the
dawn of day； Laban and his company departed。 With this separation ceased all
trace of connection between the
