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good results。 When the suitor was required to render service to secure his
bride； a hasty marriage was prevented； and there was opportunity to rest the
depth of his affections； as well as his ability to provide for a family。 In
our time many evils result from pursuing an opposite course。 It is often the
case that persons before marriage have little opportunity to become
acquainted with each other's habits and disposition； and； so far as everyday
life is concerned； they are virtually strangers when they unite their
interests at the altar。 Many find； too late； that they are not adapted to
each other； and lifelong wretchedness is the result of their union。 Often
the wife and children suffer from the indolence and inefficiency or the
vicious habits of the husband and father。 If the character of the suitor had
been tested before marriage； according to the ancient custom； great
unhappiness might have been prevented。
Seven years of faithful service Jacob gave for Rachel； and the years that he
served 〃seemed unto him but a few days； for the love he had to her。〃 But the
selfish and grasping Laban； desiring to retain so valuable a helper；
practiced a cruel deception in substituting Leah for Rachel。 The fact that
Leah herself was a party to the cheat； caused Jacob to feel that he could
not love her。 His indignant rebuke to Laban was met with the offer of Rachel
for another seven years' service。 But the father insisted that Leah should
not be discarded； since this would bring disgrace upon the family。 Jacob was
thus placed in a most painful and trying position； he finally decided to
retain Leah and marry Rachel。 Rachel was ever the one best loved； but his
preference for her
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excited envy and jealousy； and his life was embittered by the rivalry
between the sister…wives。
For twenty years Jacob remained in Mesopotamia； laboring in the service of
Laban； who； disregarding the ties of kinship； was bent upon securing to
himself all the benefits of their connection。 Fourteen years of toil he
demanded for his two daughters； and during the remaining period； Jacob's
wages were ten times changed。 Yet Jacob's service was diligent and faithful。
His words to Laban in their last interview vividly describe the untiring
vigilance which he had given to the interests of his exacting master： 〃This
twenty years have I been with thee； thy ewes and thy she…goats have not cast
their young； and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten。 That which was torn
of beasts I brought not unto thee； I bare the loss of it； of my hand didst
thou require it； whether stolen by day； or stolen by night。 Thus I was； in
the day the drought consumed me； and the frost by night； and my sleep
departed from mine eyes。〃
It was necessary for the shepherd to watch his flocks day and night。 They
were in danger from robbers； and also from wild beasts； which were numerous
and bold； often committing great havoc in flocks that were not faithfully
guarded。 Jacob had many assistants in caring for the extensive flocks of
Laban； but he himself was held responsible for them all。 During some
portions of the year it was necessary for him to be constantly with the
flocks in person； to guard them in the dry season against perishing from
thirst； and during the coldest months from becoming chilled with the heavy
night frosts。 Jacob was the chief shepherd； the servants in his employ were
the undershepherds。 If any of the sheep were missing； the chief shepherd
suffered the loss； and he called the servants to whom he entrusted the care
of the flock to a strict account if it was not found in a flourishing
condition。
The shepherd's life of diligence and care…taking； and his tender compassion
for the helpless creatures entrusted to his charge； have been employed by
the inspired writers to illustrate some of the most precious truths of the
gospel。 Christ； in His relation to His people； is compared to a shepherd。
After the Fall He saw His sheep doomed to perish in the dark ways of sin。 To
save these wandering ones He left the honors and glories of His Father's
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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 und