Books
出埃及记生命读经 · 第105篇

燔祭坛（二）

The Altar of Burnt Offering (2)
1读经： 出埃及记二十七章一至八节；三十八章一至七节；四十章六节，二十九节；希伯来书十三章十节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 27:1-8; 38:1-7; 40:6, 29; Heb. 13:10
2我在前一篇信息里指出，要了解出埃及记里祭坛的记载很不容易。这段记载有些方面很困扰人。出埃及记二十七章五节说到“坛四面的围腰板以下”。要决定怎样来繙希伯来字的围腰板很不容易。英文钦定本繙成四围，其它的版本繙成边，还有的版本繙成端或缘。围腰板是用来支持东西的，它也是一种保护。有些圣经学者认为围腰板是在祭坛外面。按他们的领会，供职的祭司站在祭坛四面的围腰板上。那些持有这种观点的人用利未记九章二十二节说，亚伦“献了赎罪祭…就下来了”。他们也指出历代志下三十章十六节说，祭司站在“自己的地方”，就是站在围腰板上。因此，他们以这两节为根据，认为边或围腰板是在祭坛外面，是供职的祭司能彀站立的地方。
2In the foregoing message I pointed out that it is not easy to understand the record in Exodus concerning the altar. Certain aspects of this record are very puzzling. Exodus 27:5 speaks of “the ledge of the altar beneath.” It is difficult to decide how to translate the Hebrew word for ledge. The King James Version says compass, another version says border, and still other versions speak of a margin or rim. A ledge serves to hold something and is a protection. Some students of the Bible think that the ledge was outside the altar. According to their understanding, the ministering priests stood on the ledge which went around the altar. Those who hold to this view appeal to Leviticus 9:22, a verse which says that Aaron “came down from offering of the sin offering.” They also refer to 2 Chronicles 30:16, saying that the priests stood in “their place,” that is, on the ledge. Therefore, with these two verses as their basis, they understand the border or ledge to be outside the altar and to be a place where the ministering priests could stand.
十 铜网
X. A BRONZE GRATING OF NETWORK
3围腰板是甚么？到底安置在那里？这些问题不容易解答。不过，我确实相信，围腰板是在祭坛里面。四节说：“要为坛作一个铜网；在网的四角上，作四个铜环。”根据第五节，网达到“坛的半腰”。祭坛高三肘，长五肘，宽五肘。铜网在祭坛里面，在祭坛半腰的高度从这边到那一边向横面延伸。柴摆在网上，而祭牲摆在柴上。柴和祭牲焚烧的时候，灰就从铜网掉到坛的底层。此外，五节也清楚地告诉我们，网安在坛四面的围腰板以下。这一节的结构很不寻常，但希伯来文的确是说：“在坛四面的围腰板以下。”网在围腰板以下的事实指明，围腰板不可能在祭坛外面。网不但是在围腰板下面，也是在围腰板正下方。如果围腰板在外面，坛内的网怎能在围腰板正下方呢？因此，我的确相信围腰板是在祭坛里面。
3What was the ledge, and where was it located? These questions are not easily answered. I am quite sure, however, that the ledge was inside the altar. Verse 4 says, “And you shall make for it a grating, a network of bronze; and you shall make upon the net four rings of bronze upon its four ends.” According to verse 5, the network was to reach “unto the half of the altar.” The altar was three cubits high, five cubits long, and five cubits wide. The grating, the network of bronze, inside the altar stretched horizontally from side to side at the middle of the height of the altar. The wood was placed upon this grating, and the sacrifices were put upon the wood. As the wood and the sacrifices burned, the ashes fell through the grating to the bottom of the altar. Furthermore, verse 5 tells us clearly that the grating was put under the ledge of the altar beneath. The composition of this verse is rather unusual, but the Hebrew does say “under the ledge of the altar beneath.” The fact that the grating was under the ledge indicates that the ledge could not have been outside the altar. The grating was not only under the ledge; it was beneath the ledge. If the ledge had been outside, how could the grating inside the altar have been beneath the ledge? Therefore, I believe definitely that the ledge was inside the altar.
4祭坛是用皂荚木包上铜作成的。祭坛上的火要不断地焚烧。火的热气不会透过表面的铜，使里头的皂荚木烧焦么？当然是会烧焦的。因这缘故，我相信围腰板保护祭坛 的四壁，隔开铜网上火的热气。
4The altar was made with acacia wood overlaid with bronze. The fire on the altar was to burn without ceasing. Does it not seem that the heat of the fire would pass through the bronze covering and cause the acacia wood inside to become charred? To be sure, this would have been the situation. For this reason, I believe that the ledge protected the four walls of the altar from the heat of the fire on the grating.
5圣经没有告诉我们，围腰板是用甚么材料作成的。不过我相信，它定规是用铜作的。因此，我相信在铜网上面和四壁周围，有一个铜的围腰板，保护四壁隔开火的热气。五节说，铜网不但在围腰板下面，也在围腰板正下方，原因可能就在这里。
5The Bible does not tell us of what material the ledge was made. I believe, however, that it must have been made of bronze. Therefore, I believe that above the grating and around the four walls there was a ledge of bronze protecting the walls from the heat of the fire. This may be the reason verse 5 says that the grating was not only under the ledge, but also beneath the ledge.
6有一位著者认为网实际上是在祭坛底层，中间达到壁的四面。此外，这位著者还认为坛立起来的时候，是安置在两堆泥土上，好让空气流通。然而，这样的解释其中臆测太多了。但如果你问我空气如何进入，我就必须回答说，我不知道，因为圣经没有告诉我们这个细节。
6One writer has suggested that the network was actually at the bottom of the altar and reached halfway up the sides of the walls. Moreover, this writer supposes that when the altar was set up, it was placed on two heaps of dirt to allow air to reach the fire. However, such an interpretation involves too much guesswork. But if you would ask me how the air could get in, I would have to answer that I do not know, for the Scripture does not give us this detail.
7祭坛有一些困扰人的问题，这件事实有属灵的意义。祭坛实际上应当是很容易描述的，比其它的器具还要容易描述。但我们已经指出，祭坛的描述相当使人困扰。祭坛虽然很简单，却很难了解。这件事的意义乃是我们不可能完全了解基督十字架的奥秘。不错，新约启示出十字架，清楚地告诉我们基督钉在十字架上。在林前一章保罗用“十字架的话”这个词来告诉我们，十字架的话就是神的能力，（18，另译，）但我们无法完全领略基督救赎的奥秘。五十年前，我刚刚进入这个职事里时，我多次想要释放十字架的信息，然而我每次起来说话时，都没有多少可说的，原因乃是基督的十字架很难述说。
7The very fact that the altar has certain puzzling elements has a spiritual significance. The altar should actually be very easy to describe, easier to describe than the other items of furniture. But as we have pointed out, the record concerning the altar is rather puzzling. Although it is simple, it is nevertheless hard to understand. The significance of this is that it is not possible for us to understand thoroughly the mystery of the cross of Christ. Yes, in the New Testament the cross is revealed. We are told clearly that Christ was crucified, and in 1 Corinthians 1 Paul uses the expression “the word of the cross,” telling us that the word of the cross is the power of God (v. 18). But we are unable to apprehend the mystery of Christ’s redemption thoroughly. When I first came into the ministry fifty years ago, I tried many times to give messages on the cross. However, each time I rose up to speak, I did not have much utterance. The reason was that it is very difficult to speak about the cross of Christ.
8你能彀透彻述说基督的十字架么？当然，你能彀宣告十字架是基督钉死的地方。你也能彀说，基督在十字架上担当了我们的罪，我们与祂一同钉在十字架上，甚至魔鬼也在十字架上被除灭了。但基督之死的奥秘呢？连多年教导圣经的人也发觉很难述说基督包罗万有之死的奥秘。基督徒也许在礼拜堂的顶端安装了一个十字架，有些人甚至戴着一个十字架。可是，他们无法透彻地述说十字架。我们能彀在新约里读到十字架或基督钉十字架的经文。然而，我们读过这些经文以后，仍然无法完全领略基督之死的奥秘。基督的死是极大的奥秘。因为基督的死这么奥秘，我们就无法透彻地加以描述。
8Are you able to speak about the cross of Christ in an adequate way? Of course, you can declare that the cross was the place where Christ was put to death. You can also say that on the cross Christ bore our sins, that we were crucified with Him, and that even the Devil was destroyed on the cross. But how about the mystery of Christ’s death? Even those who have been teaching the Scriptures for years will find it difficult to speak concerning the mystery of Christ’s all-inclusive death. Christians may place a cross on top of their places of worship, and some may even wear a cross. However, they cannot speak about the cross adequately. We can read the verses in the New Testament which refer either to the cross or to Christ’s crucifixion. Nevertheless, after reading these verses, we still are not able to apprehend the mystery of Christ’s death thoroughly. The death of Christ is a great mystery. Because it is such a mystery, we do not have a way to describe it adequately.
9另一件使人困扰的事与祭坛里面的铜网有关。在网的四角上，有四个铜环。然而，这些环子是为了穿杠用的，是用来抬坛的。（三八5。）网是在里面，而环子在外 面。那么，环子怎么能连在网上呢？我们清楚地晓得，环子是在网的四角上，而环子必须在祭坛外面。不然，杠就无法穿在环子内。环子怎样能在祭坛外面，却连在网上，真令人不解。
9Another puzzling matter is related to the grating, or the network, within the altar. The grating has four rings at its four ends. However, these rings are also for the poles used in carrying the altar (38:5). The grating is on the inside, but the rings are on the outside. How, then, could the rings be attached to the grating? We are told clearly that the rings are upon the four ends of the network, and the rings must be outside the altar. Otherwise, the poles could not be put into the rings. It is puzzling how the rings could be attached to the network and yet be outside the altar.
10如果只有祭坛的四壁，而没有坛内的铜网，祭坛就是空的。祭坛的意义完全在于铜网和四个环子。不错，环子是为着祭坛的行动，但环子在坛内连在网上。没有铜网，就没有环子；没有环子，祭坛就无法行动。这引我们到一件非常重要的事情上：没有铜网，我们就无法有用来焚烧祭牲的火。因此，为着焚烧祭牲和祭坛的行动，铜网和四个环子都是不可少的。
10If there were only the four walls of the altar without the grating inside the altar, the altar would be empty. The significance of the altar depends completely on the grating, the network, with the four rings. Yes, the rings are for the move of the altar, but they are connected to the grating inside the altar. Without the grating, there would be no rings, and without the rings, the altar could not move. This brings us to a very important matter: Without the grating there would be no way to have the fire used in burning the sacrifices. Thus, both for the burning of the sacrifices and for the move of the altar, the grating with the four rings is necessary.
11我们可以把铜网和环子比喻为我们身体的内脏。我们的内脏比皮肤、头发还要重要。同样的原则，铜网是祭坛重要的部分。如果把铜网挪开了，祭坛就成了空的箱子，毫无用处。祭坛的内容乃是铜网与环子。
11We may compare the grating and the rings to the inward parts of our physical body. Our inward parts are more vital than our skin and hair. In the same principle, the grating is the important part of the altar. If the grating were removed, the altar would become an empty box, not useful for anything. The content of the altar is the grating with the rings.
12找出铜网的意义是很重要的。网是用铜作的，在豫表里，铜表征神公义的审判。网是用铜作的，意义也该是这样。在前一篇信息里我们指出，祭坛应当与人有关，因为祭坛是用皂荚木包上铜作成的。这表征基督成为人，在十字架上死了，为我们担当神的审判。十字架不仅仅是一样东西；十字架更是与人有关，正如豫表十字架的祭坛，是用皂荚木作成，这件事实所指明的皂荚木是豫表主耶稣的人性。因此，十字架与人有关，而这人就是基督。
12It is important to find out the significance of the grating. The grating was made of bronze. In typology, bronze signifies the righteous judgment of God. This should also be the significance of the grating being made of bronze. In the foregoing message we pointed out that the altar should be related to a person, for it was made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. This signifies that Christ became a man to die on the cross to bear the judgment of God for us. The cross is not merely a thing; it is related to a person, as indicated by the fact that the altar, a type of the cross, was made of acacia wood, which signifies the humanity of the Lord Jesus. Therefore, the cross is related to a person, and this person is Christ.
13坛内的铜网表征神的审判达到基督里面的各部分。神在我们的代替─基督─身上的审判不单单是外面的。神审判的圣火不但是在基督外面，也在基督里面焚烧。这是诗篇二十二篇所表明的，这篇诗论到基督在十字架上受苦。十四节说：“我如水被倒出来；我的骨头都脱了节；我心在我里面如蜡镕化。”这表明基督担当神审判的时候， 这个审判达到祂的心，达到祂里面的各部分。祂的骨头脱了节，而祂的心在祂里面镕化。这意思是说，神在基督身上的审判，里面所经历的比外面所经历的更多。
13The bronze grating within the altar signifies that God’s judgment reached the inward parts of Christ. God’s judgment upon Christ as our Substitute was not merely outward. The holy fire of God’s judgment was not just outside of Christ, but also burned within Him. This is indicated in Psalm 22, a psalm concerning the sufferings of Christ on the cross. Verse 14 says, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” This indicates that when Christ bore God’s judgment, that judgment reached His heart, His inward parts. His bones were out of joint, but His heart melted in His inward parts. This means that God’s judgment upon Christ was experienced more inwardly than it was outwardly.
14很少基督教的传道人释放信息，论到基督在十字架上受苦内里的各方面。传讲基督受苦的人，多半是论到祂受苦外表的各方面。我再说，基督不但在外面担当神的审判，也在里面担当神的审判。事实上，祂里面所受的苦比外面所受的苦还要多。网不是在祂外面，而是在祂里面。因此，神审判的圣火焚烧的地方，乃是在主耶稣里面的各部分。
14Not many Christian preachers have given messages concerning the inward aspect of Christ’s sufferings on the cross. Most of those who preach about the sufferings of Christ speak about the outward aspect of His sufferings. To repeat, Christ bore God’s judgment not only outwardly, but also inwardly. In fact, He suffered more inwardly than He did outwardly. The grating was not outside of Him; it was in Him. Therefore, the place where the holy fire of God’s judgment burned was in the inward parts of the Lord Jesus.
十一 在网的四角上有四个铜环
XI. FOUR RINGS OF BRONZE UPON THE FOUR ENDS OF THE GRATING
15我们已经指出，在网的四角上，有四个铜环。在豫表里，这些环子是指希伯来九章十四节所说永远的灵：“何况基督藉着永远的灵，将自己无瑕无疵献给神，祂的血岂不更能洗净你们的良心，除去你们的死行，使你们事奉那永生神么？”（另译）基督的血大有功效，因祂藉着永远的灵将自己献给神。网上的环子所表征永远的灵，乃是基督的十字架有功效的根源。永远的灵就是基督十字架的能力、力量。离了永远的灵，基督的救赎就没有功效，无法满了能力和力量。我再说，永远的灵就是基督救赎的能力、力量和功效。
15We have pointed out that at the four ends of the grating, the network, there were four bronze rings. In typology these rings refer to the eternal Spirit spoken of in Hebrews 9:14: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Christ’s blood is effective because He offered Himself to God through the eternal Spirit. The eternal Spirit, typified by the rings on the network, is the source of the efficacy of Christ’s cross. The eternal Spirit is the power, the strength, of the cross of Christ. Apart from the eternal Spirit, the redemption of Christ could not be effective; it could not be powerful and full of strength. Again I say, the eternal Spirit is the power, the strength, the efficacy, of Christ’s redemption.
16如果我们把四个铜环从网子上挪去，网子就会掉下来。网是由四个环子固定在祭坛上的。这满有属灵的意义。我们也许会谈论十字架，谈论基督在十字架上的死，以及 我们已经与基督一同钉在十字架上；但没有那灵的话，这一切谈论都是枉然。离了永远的灵，基督的死就没有功效。我们晓得基督救赎的功效和能力是在于永远的灵，这是极其要紧的。
16If the four bronze rings had been taken away from the grating, the grating would have fallen down. It was held to the altar by the four rings. This is full of spiritual significance. We may talk about the cross, about the death of Christ on the cross, and about the fact that we have been crucified with Christ. But without the Spirit, all this talk would be vain. Apart from the eternal Spirit, the death of Christ is not effective. It is very crucial that we realize that the efficacy and power of Christ’s redemption depend upon the eternal Spirit.
17如果祭坛没有四个环子，网就无法留在原处，那么祭坛就没有甚么内容了。不但如此，祭坛也无法行动。因此四个环子是极其要紧的。因着四个环子，网就能彀固定在祭坛的半腰处。因着四个环子，祭坛就能彀扛抬。虽然环子对祭坛这样重要，但它们却不是祭物。基督自己才是祭物，而这祭物拯救和行动的能力是在那灵里面。没有环子，网就失去了它的功效，十字架就没有拯救的能力，祭坛也失去了行动的力量。
17If the altar did not have the four rings, the grating could not stay in place. Then the altar would not have any content. Furthermore, there would be no way for the altar to move. Thus the four rings are very crucial. Because of the four rings, the grating could be held in place at half the height of the altar. Because of the four rings, there was a way for the altar to be carried. But although the rings were so important to the altar, they were not the sacrifice. Christ Himself is the sacrifice, but the saving and moving power of this sacrifice is in the Spirit. Without the rings, the grating would lose its effectiveness. There would be no power in the cross to save, and there would be no strength for the move of the altar.
18基督的死远超过我们所能领会的。基督的死是一个奥秘。我们不该以为我们能彀领略得完全，因为我们办不到。
18The death of Christ is far beyond our understanding. Christ’s death is a mystery. We should not think that we can comprehend it in full, for we have no way to do so.
19虽然我们无法完全领略基督在十字架上之死的奥秘，但我们的确晓得救赎是藉着永远的灵完成的。你知道为甚么今天传讲基督的死常常没有能力？因为在这种传讲里面缺了永远的灵。基督藉着永远的灵，将自己当作赎罪祭献上。所以因着那灵，祂在十字架上所完成的，就有能力、有功效。但如果我们传讲基督的十字架，而没有那灵，我们就没有能力感动别人，摸着他们的心和他们的灵。这必须是永远之灵的工作。
19Although we cannot fully understand the mystery of Christ’s death on the cross, we do know that redemption was accomplished through the eternal Spirit. Do you know why the preaching of Christ’s death today is often powerless? It is because in this preaching there is a lack of the eternal Spirit. Christ offered Himself as the sin offering through the eternal Spirit. Therefore, because of the Spirit, what He accomplished on the cross is powerful and effective. But if we preach the cross of Christ without the Spirit, we shall not have the power to move others, to touch their heart and their spirit. This must be the work of the eternal Spirit.
20出埃及记二十七章没有详细地说到围腰板，却很清楚地描述四个环子。然而，这些环子怎么能在坛内连在网上，而本身又在坛的外面，这多少有几分奥秘。这表征那灵虽然真是显明的，但那灵也是奥秘的。那灵在外面是显明的，但在坛内却与某样东西相连。环子在祭坛外面，然而它们在坛内却是连在网上。
20In Exodus 27 the ledge is not spoken of in detail. But the four rings are clearly described. Nevertheless, it is somewhat mysterious how these rings could be connected to the grating inside the altar and yet themselves be outside the altar. This signifies that although the Spirit is truly manifest, it is also mysterious. The Spirit is manifested outwardly, but it is connected to something inside the altar. The rings were outside the altar, yet they were connected to the grating inside the altar.
21我们无法完全领略基督的死。一方面，那灵是显明的；另一方面，那灵是奥秘的，因祂联于基督的救赎。四个环子表征永远的灵，连在网上，网表征基督救赎的内涵。这指明圣灵联于基督救赎的内涵。如果我们真有基督的救赎，我们也就有那灵。那灵联于这个实际。换句话说，如果我们有四个环子，我们就有了网。如果我们有永远的灵，我们也就有基督完全的救赎。
21The death of Christ cannot be fully understood by us. On the one hand, the Spirit is manifest; on the other hand, it is mysterious, for the Spirit is connected to Christ’s redemption. The four rings signifying the eternal Spirit are connected to the grating, which signifies the inner content of Christ’s redemption. This indicates that the Holy Spirit is connected to the inner content of Christ’s redemption. If we have the redemption of Christ in reality, then we also have the Spirit. The Spirit is connected to this reality. In other words, if we have the four rings, we have the grating. If we have the eternal Spirit, we also have the full redemption of Christ.
22为着出埃及记二十七章里的图画，我满了感谢。由这幅图画我们可以看见，永远的灵乃是联于基督完全的救赎。网是甚么？网就是基督救赎的内涵。四个环子是甚么？四个环子乃是豫表永远的灵，使基督的救赎有功效，并且是基督十字架行动的能力。十字架的话所以有能力，乃是因着它联于永远的灵。然后我们在经历中就有网和四个环子，就是基督的救赎联于永远的灵。
22I am very thankful for the picture in Exodus 27. Through this picture we can see that the eternal Spirit is linked to the full redemption of Christ. What is the grating? The grating is the inner content of Christ’s redemption. What are the four rings? The four rings are the type of the eternal Spirit, who makes Christ’s redemption effective and who is the power for the move of the cross of Christ. The word of the cross is powerful because it is joined to the eternal Spirit. When we preach the cross with the redemption of Christ, this preaching must be connected to the eternal Spirit. Then in our experience we shall have a grating with four rings, the redemption of Christ connected to the eternal Spirit.
23祭坛随着以色列人行过旷野三十八年以上。抬祭坛的时候，坛内的火仍然烧着，祭坛上的火永不熄灭。这火不是人所点燃的，圣经告诉我们，这火是从耶和华面前出来的（利未记九章二十四节）。因此，在旷野抬祭坛的时候，属天的火不断地焚烧。祭坛一面行走，火一面焚烧。这指明人传扬基督在十字架上的救赎时，火便焚烧。祭坛到了那里，火就在里焚烧。
23For more than thirty-eight years, the altar traveled with the children of Israel through the wilderness. While the altar was being carried, the fire inside it was still burning. The fire on the altar never ceased. That fire did not come as a result of human initiative. The Bible tells us that it came from the Lord (Lev. 9:24). Thus, it was a heavenly fire that burned continually as the altar was carried in the wilderness. While the altar was moving, the fire was burning. This indicates that while the redemption of Christ on the cross is being preached, the fire burns. Wherever the altar goes, there the fire burns.
24祭坛的行动不在于火，而在于四个环子。这意思是说，祭坛的行动是藉着永远的灵。然而，焚烧是藉着火，不是藉着那灵。我们必须看见两件事同时发生：火的焚烧以及那灵的行动。祭坛上的四个环子与焚烧和行动都有关。我们已经看见，如果不是因着环子，网就无法固定在祭坛的半腰处。如果祭坛上面要有焚烧，就需要四个环子把网固定。此外，祭坛要行动，也需要四个环子。焚烧和行动都在于四个环子。
24The move of the altar does not depend on the fire; it depends on the four rings. This means that the move of the altar is by the eternal Spirit. The burning, however, is by the fire, not by the Spirit. We need to see that two things take place simultaneously: the burning of the fire and the moving of the Spirit. The four rings on the altar are related both to the burning and to the moving. We have seen that if it were not for the rings, the grating could not be held in place at half the height of the altar. If there is to be a burning on the altar, the four rings are necessary to hold the grating in place. Furthermore, in order for the altar to move, the four rings are also necessary. Both the burning and the moving are dependent on the four rings.
十二 铜网安在坛四面的围腰板以下
XII. THE LEDGE OF THE ALTAR UNDER WHICH THE GRATING OF BRONZE IS HUNG
25论到腰板，我们也可以说围腰板表征加强的能力，在神的审判之下支持基督。基督在十字架上受神审判的时候，这种加强的能力支持着祂。皂荚木用铜包裹，表征基督在祂的人性里受了神的审判。没有疑问，主耶稣钉十字架的时候，需要加强、支持、遮盖和保护。我相信坛内的围腰板就是为着这个用途。
25Concerning the ledge, we may also say that the ledge signifies the strengthening power upholding Christ under God’s judgment. Christ was upheld by this strengthening power while He was on the cross suffering the judgment of God. The acacia wood overlaid with bronze signifies Christ in His humanity under God’s judgment. No doubt, at the time of the crucifixion, the Lord Jesus needed strengthening, upholding, covering, and protection. I believe that the ledge in the altar served this purpose.
26我们已经看见，围腰板也许是来保护铜里头的皂荚木，好隔开火的热气。没有这样的保护，皂荚木的确会被透过铜所传过来的热气燃焦了。一周又一周，一月又一月，祭坛内的火不断地焚烧。除非皂荚木这样受到保护，热气是不可能不会损坏皂荚木的。因此，我相信围腰板的用途也是为着保护皂夹木。这也许是出埃及记二十七章告诉我们，铜网安在坛四面围腰板以下的原因。皂荚木能禁得起焚烧，这件事实指明基督在祂的人性里能彀禁得起神的审判。
26We have seen that the ledge probably protected the acacia wood inside the bronze covering from the heat of the fire. Without some kind of protection, the acacia wood certainly would have been charred by the heat transmitted through the bronze. The fire in the altar was burning continually, week after week and month after month. It would be impossible for the heat not to damage the acacia wood unless the wood was protected in some way. Therefore, I believe that the ledge also served the purpose of protecting the acacia wood. This may be the reason that in Exodus 27 we are told that the grating was under the ledge of the altar. The fact that the acacia wood could withstand the burning indicates that it was possible for Christ in His humanity to bear the judgment of God.
十三 祭坛的杠
XIII. THE POLES OF THE ALTAR
27出埃及记二十七章六至七节说：“又要用皂荚木为坛作杠，用铜包裹。这杠要穿在坛两旁的环子内，用以抬坛。”杠是为着祭坛的行动。它们是用皂荚木包上铜作成的，表征基督成为人受神的审判。这些杠要穿在环子内，表征十字架的行动是藉着那灵的能力。此外，祭坛两边上面的杠是人用来抬坛的，这表征十字架的行动是藉着信徒配搭成为一个见证。
27Exodus 27:6 and 7 say, “And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood; and you shall overlay them with bronze. And its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be upon the two sides of the altar when it is carried.” The poles were for the move of the altar. They were made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze, signifying Christ as a man under God’s judgment. These poles were put into the rings, signifying the move of the cross by the power of the Spirit. Moreover, the poles upon the two sides of the altar were to be carried by men. This signifies the move of the cross by the coordination of the believers as a testimony.
28环内的杠很强地证明祭坛是要人来抬的，祭坛不可放在马车上，或由牲畜来拉。祭坛必须扛在人的肩头上。今天十字架必须由人来传扬。然而传扬十字架的人必须配搭成为一个见证。这就是主耶稣差遣门徒两个两个出去传道的原因。二是见证的数字，信徒必须配搭成为一个见证，靠着那灵的能力，抬着基督的救赎，达到地的四角。
28The poles in the rings are a strong evidence that the altar was to be carried by men. It was not to be placed on a wagon or carried by animals. The altar was to be borne on men’s shoulders. Today the preaching of the cross must be done by human beings. But those who preach the cross must do so in coordination as a testimony. This was the reason the Lord Jesus sent out His disciples to preach two by two. Two is the number of testimony. In coordination and as a testimony, the believers are to carry the redemption of Christ by the power of the Spirit to the four corners of the earth.
十四 要用板作坛，坛是空的；它的尺寸足彀容纳帐幕一切的器具
XIV. MADE WITH PLANKS TO BE HOLLOW: ITS SIZE SUFFICIENT TO CONTAIN ALL THE UTENSILS OF THE TABERNACLE
29八节说：“要用板作坛；坛是空的，都照着在山上指示你的样式作。”祭坛要用板作，坛是空的，尺寸足彀容纳帐幕一切的器具。这表征基督的十字架包含了我们对基督所有的经历。我们重生时对基督十字架最初的经历，乃是其后对基督一切经历的根基。我们对基督所有的经历，都是基于基督十字架的原则。
29Verse 8 says, “You shall make it hollow with planks; as it was shown to you in the mountain, so they shall make it.” The altar was made with planks to be hollow and of a size sufficient to contain all the utensils of the tabernacle. This signifies that the cross of Christ contains all our experiences of Christ. The initial experience of the cross of Christ at the time we were regenerated is the base of all our subsequent experiences of Christ. All our experiences of Christ are based upon the principle of the cross of Christ.
30本篇信息里的负担乃是论到那灵是为着焚烧和行动。基督在里头担当神的审判，多于在外面所担当的，这是非常有意义也是非常要紧的。不但如此，永远的灵也联于基督完全的救赎。这灵是为着里头的焚烧，并为着外头的行动。今天十字架必须藉着永远的灵以焚烧和行动的方式来传扬。我们传扬十字架的必须是活的人，在配搭里背负一个见证。然后我们才有资格抬着祭坛经过它在地上的行程。
30The burden in this message is related to the Spirit for both burning and moving. It is very meaningful and significant that Christ bore God’s judgment inwardly even more than outwardly. Furthermore, the eternal Spirit is linked to Christ’s full redemption. This Spirit is for the burning within and also for the moving without. Today the cross must be preached in the way of burning and moving through the eternal Spirit. We who preach the cross must be living persons in coordination bearing a testimony. Then we shall be qualified to carry the altar in its journey on earth.
31今天祭坛仍然被人抬着。祭坛里头有焚烧，外头在行动。赞美主，网表征基督救赎的内涵！赞美主，我们有网和环子！我们有永远的灵，为着焚烧和行动。
31The altar is still being carried today. It has the burning inwardly, and it is moving outwardly. Praise the Lord for the grating, signifying the inner content of Christ’s redemption! Praise Him also that we have the grating and the rings! We have the eternal Spirit for burning and moving.