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出埃及记生命读经 · 第112篇

帐幕的外院子（三）

The court of the tabernacle (3)
1读经： 出埃及记二十七章十四至十六节，十九节。
1Scripture Reading: Exodus 27:14-16, 19
2在本篇信息中，我们来到帐幕外院子的门。我们也许认为门是外院子最简单的一面。然而，我们开始来看这件事的时候，发现它非常不简单。本篇信息有些点在观念上对我们大家来说，也许是相当新的。
2In this message we come to the gate of the court of the tabernacle. We may think that the gate is the most simple aspect of the outer court. However, when we begin to consider this matter, we find that it is not simple at all. Some of the points in this message may be quite new in concept to us all.
十二 门的外观
The appearance of the gate
3我头一件事就是要使你们对于门的外观有一个印象。我们研读旧约里的豫表，必须 注意内涵和外表。出埃及记里的豫表有这两方面─内涵的方面和外表的方面。比方说，燔祭坛有一个外表。此外，网、环子和杠便是祭坛的内涵。在前面论到外院子的信息中，我们看见了外院子的内涵和外表。
3The first thing I wish to do is to give you an impression related to the appearance of the gate. In studying the types in the Old Testament, we need to pay attention both to the contents and to the appearance. The types in the book of Exodus have these two aspects — the aspect of the contents and the aspect of appearance. For example, the altar of burnt offering has a certain appearance. Furthermore, the grating, the rings, and the poles are the contents of the altar. In the previous messages concerning the outer court, we saw the contents and the appearance of the outer court.
4帐幕外院子的门，就像任何一种建筑物一样，有一个特殊的外观。建筑物的正门有一种引人注意的外观，帐幕也是这样。人从远处走进帐幕的时候，就能彀看见外院子的门。这个门有些东西代表神建造的外表。人对于帐幕和外院子的头一个印象，就是门和挂在门两边的帷子。
4The gate of the court of the tabernacle, like the entrance of any kind of building, has a particular appearance. The front gate or door of a building bears an appearance that attracts people’s attention. This was also true of the tabernacle. When someone approached the tabernacle from a distance, he could see the gate of the outer court. With this gate there was something representing the appearance of God’s building. The first impression one would have of the tabernacle and the court was that of the gate and the hangings on the two sides of the gate.
5要记住外院子正面的描述并不困难。前面宽五十肘，有十根柱子。门的两边各有麻作的帷子，长十五肘。出埃及记二十七章十四节、十五节说：“门这边的帷子要十五肘；帷子的柱子三根，带卯的座三个。门那边的帷子也要十五肘；帷子的柱子三根，带卯的座三个。”十六节描述门和帘子：“院子的门当有帘子，长二十肘；要拿蓝色、紫色，朱红色并捻的细麻，用绣花的手工织成；柱子四根，带卯的座四个。”（另译。）我们来看帐幕外院子的正面时，应当注意到三和四这两个数字。门的两边各有三根柱子和三个带卯的座。此外，每边各有三个空间，由十五肘长的细麻帷子所遮盖。十五这个数字是由三乘五组成的，表征基督所担负的责任符合三一神的要求。每边有三根柱子和三个带卯的座，这件事实表征根基和立场都符合三一神。此外，二既然是见证的数字，门的两边就表征一个见证。 我们已经看见，门的本身长二十肘。四个入口有四个空间，有四根柱子和四个带卯的座。二十这个数字是由四乘五组成的，表征基督为着人─受造之物─来担负责任。四个入口和四根柱子、四个带卯的座表征门从地的四极（角）向着人是敞开的。（参看二七2，4。）
5It is not difficult to remember the description of the front of the court. The front side was fifty cubits in width and had ten pillars. On each side of the gate was a hanging of linen fifteen cubits long. Exodus 27:14 and 15 say, “And the hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. And for the second side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.” Verse 16 describes the gate with its curtain: “And for the gate of the court there shall be a curtain of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.” As we consider the front of the court of the tabernacle, we should pay attention to the numbers three and four. On each side of the gate, there were three pillars and three sockets. Furthermore, on each side there were three spaces covered by a hanging of linen fifteen cubits long. The number fifteen, composed of three times five, signifies the responsibility borne by Christ matching the requirements of the Triune God. The fact that there were three pillars and three sockets on each side signifies that both the base and the standing matched the Triune God. Moreover, the two sides of the gate signify a testimony, since two is the number of testimony. As we have seen, the gate itself was twenty cubits in length. There were four spaces for the four openings, and there were four pillars and four sockets. The number twenty here, composed of four times five, signifies Christ bearing the responsibility for men, the creatures. The four openings with the four pillars and the four sockets signify the gate being open toward men from the four ends (corners) of the earth (see 27:2, 4).
6帘子本身表征救赎的基督是我们进入神建造的入口。蓝色表征属天的东西；紫色表征君尊的东西；朱红色表征救赎的东西；捻的细麻表征均匀的东西，有坚韧的为人生活；绣花的手工表征圣灵组织的工作。
6The curtain itself signifies the redeeming Christ as our entrance into God’s building. The blue signifies something heavenly; the purple, something royal; the scarlet, something of redemption; the fine twined linen, something even and of a strong human life; and the work of an embroiderer, the constituting work of the Holy Spirit.
7在这里我们强调三和四这两个数字。两边各有三组的三：三根柱子，三个带卯的座和三个空间。门内有四组的四：四根柱子，四个带卯的座，四个空间和四个入口。
7Here we are emphasizing the numbers three and four. On each side there were three groups of three: three pillars, three sockets, and three spaces. In the gate there were four groups of four: four pillars, four sockets, four spaces, and four openings.
十三 解释这幅图画
Interpreting the picture
8现在我要请你们解释这幅图画。帐幕正面和帐幕门口的意义何在？事实上，属灵的字母既然在我们眼前，解释这幅图画就不需要多少技巧。四表征受造之物，三表征在复活里的三一神。两边各有三这个数字，表征一个见证。门口有四这个数字，表征受造之物。因此，每边有三这个数字表征神，而中间有四这个数字表征人─受造之物。这意思是说，三一神是由人来背负的，或说人来背负三一神成为一个见证。外院子正面的外观乃是人背负着三一神成为一个见证。这是非常有意义的。
8Now I would ask you to interpret this picture. What is the significance of the front side of the tabernacle with the gate? Actually, it does not require very much skill to interpret this picture, since the spiritual alphabet is right before our eyes. Four signifies the creature, and three signifies the Triune God in resurrection. The two sides, each with the number three, signify a testimony. In the entrance we have the number four, signifying the creatures. Therefore, on each side we have the number three signifying God, and in the middle we have the number four signifying man, the creature. This means that the Triune God is borne by man, or that man bears God as a testimony. The appearance of the front side of the outer court is that of man bearing the Triune God as a testimony. This is very meaningful.
9现在我们必须看见，我们所背负的这位三一神成为一个见证，这见证是与人有关的。说得更恰当一点，祂就在人里面。我们所背负的这位三一神成为一个见证，不再只是三这个数字的本身，而是三与四这个数字，也就是三与四联合。这指明我们背负在人里面的三一神成为一个见证。没有疑问，这里主要的数字是三，四这个数字是附属的。神同着人，或神在人里面，乃是我们所背负的一位，成了一个见证。
9Now we must see that this Triune God whom we bear as a testimony is involved with man. Rather, He is in man. The very Triune God whom we bear as a testimony is no longer just the number three itself, but the number three with the number four, that is, three joined to four. This indicates that we bear the Triune God in man as a testimony. No doubt, the main number here is three. The number four is subordinate. God with man, or God in man, is the One we bear as a testimony.
10现在我们必须继续来看，为甚么帐幕的门前描绘出这一幅图画。关于这一点，约翰十六章八至十一节很有帮助。这些经文论到实际的灵，说：“祂既来了，就要叫世人为罪、为义、为审判，自己责备自己；为罪，是因他们不信我；为义，是因我往父那里去，你们就不再见我；为审判，是因这世界的王受了审判。”约翰十六章当然是十四章和十五章的延续，并且是连接十七章的，这四章是并行的。如果我们对这四章有正确的认识，我们就会看见它们是描述神成为一个见证。此外，这几章里的神乃是与 人有关的三一神。在约翰福音这一段话里，主耶稣说到父、子、灵。这三位乃是一。凡相信基督的人都在三一神里面被成全为一。（约十七23。）因此，在这几章里面，我们看见三一神与人有关，而且人背负着三一神成为一个见证。
10Now we must go on to see why such a picture is portrayed at the front of the gate of the tabernacle. In this regard, John 16:8-11 is helpful. Speaking of the Spirit of reality, these verses say, “He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer behold Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.” Chapter sixteen of John is, of course, a continuation of chapters fourteen and fifteen and is itself followed by chapter seventeen. These four chapters go together. If we have the proper knowledge of these chapters, we shall see that they depict God as a testimony. Moreover, God in these chapters is the Triune God involved with man. In this portion of the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. These three are one. All those who believe in Christ are to be perfected into one in the Triune God (John 17:23). Hence, in these chapters we see the Triune God involved with man and man bearing the Triune God as a testimony.
十四 福音的基本原则
Basic principles of the gospel
11如果我们对基督的救赎有更深的经历，我们就不会肤浅地来传福音。反之，我们传福音会使听见的人晓得他们必须悔改，并且成为那些背负三一神来作见证的人，就是 背负着与人有关的三一神。我们传福音的时候必须说：“你愿意悔改、愿意相信主耶稣么？你现在愿意接受祂作你的救主么？倘若你愿意悔改、相信主，并接受祂作你的救主，你就必须成为背负三一神来作见证的人。你必须晓得，这才是接受福音的目的 。”如果人悔改不是为着这个目的，那么他就不该想进入帐幕外院子的门。这是福音的基本原则。
11If we have a deeper experience of Christ’s redemption, we shall not preach the gospel in a superficial way. Instead, we shall preach the gospel in a way that will cause the listeners to know that they need to repent and become those who bear the Triune God as a testimony, bearing the Triune God who is involved with man. In our gospel preaching we need to say, “Do you intend to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus? Will you now receive Him as your Savior? If you intend to repent, believe in the Lord, and receive Him as your Savior, you must become a person bearing the Triune God as a testimony. You must realize this is the purpose of receiving the gospel.” If a person does not repent for this purpose, then he should not try to enter the gate of the court of the tabernacle. This is a basic principle of the gospel.
12根据约翰福音十五至十七章来看，相信主耶稣并进到祂里面是有条件、有细节的。然而，我们悔改的时候，几乎没有一个人晓得这些条件或细节。我的确没有听过这些。因为我们有这个缺失，我们就必须回头补上一些属灵的功课，这些属灵的功课是我们在基督徒生活的起头就该学会的。因这缘故，我在本篇信息中实在是传讲福音的基本原则。
12There are terms, conditions, of believing in the Lord Jesus and entering into Him, according to chapters fifteen through seventeen of the Gospel of John. However, at the time of our repentance, hardly any of us knew of these terms or conditions. I certainly was not told anything about them. Because we have this shortage, we need to go back and make up certain spiritual lessons that we should have learned at the very beginning of our Christian life. For this reason, in this message I am actually preaching the basic principles of the gospel.
13有些人也许认为这种对福音的领会太深了，大多数的人无法领略。其实一点也不深。如果它看起来太深了，乃是因着今天肤浅的传福音。这样的传讲会破坏神所赐给我们领会属灵事物的才能。初信的人所能彀领会的比我们所知道的还要多。
13Some may think that this understanding of the gospel is too deep for most people to understand. Actually, it is not deep at all. If it appears to be too deep, it is because of today’s shallow gospel preaching. This kind of preaching spoils our God-given talent to understand spiritual things. A new believer is able to understand much more than we realize.
14小学教育年限的延长，是青年人能领略许多事物能力的例证。我读小学的时侯，认为有些问题很难懂。但今天小孩子在一年级所学的东西，我以前到了更高的年级才学到。我们以为高年级才能彀了解的东西，事实上，比较年幼的孩子就能彀学会了。同样的原则，今天许多福音的传讲太低浅了，使别人对福音的领会也非常肤浅。初蒙恩的人只晓得福音的初步，如果你想要多教导他们一些有关福音的事，他们也许会说太深了。其实你不过是多说了一些字母，也许是L、M 、N，来完成所有的字母。今天的传福音多半只给人头三个属灵字母─A、B、C，但圣经上的传福音包含了所有的属灵字母。然而，好些多年作基督徒的人还没有学会所有的字母。从属灵方面说，他们不晓得X 、Y 、Z这些字母所表征的意义。
14The changes in elementary education over the years illustrate the capacity of young ones to understand many things. When I was in elementary school, the concept was that certain matters were very difficult to understand. But today children learn things in first grade that I did not learn until later grades. Things that we thought could only be understood later in school can actually be learned by younger children. In the same principle, much of today’s preaching of the gospel is too shallow and gives others a very superficial understanding of the gospel. The newly converted ones know only the ABC’s of the gospel. If you try to teach them something more regarding the gospel, they may say that it is too deep, when what is presented actually is simply more letters to complete the alphabet, perhaps the letters, L, M, and N. Most of today’s gospel preaching gives people only the first three letters of the spiritual alphabet — A, B, and C. But the preaching of the gospel in the Bible contains all the letters of the spiritual alphabet. However, many who have been Christians for years have not yet learned all the letters in the alphabet. Spiritually speaking, they do not know what is signified by the letters X, Y, and Z.
15基本的福音包含了帐幕外院子的门所表征的事。不要以为这些事不是福音的一部分。一个罪人悔改、相信主耶稣，并接受祂作救主，目的何在？他作这些事的目的该是为着进入神的建造。但我们得救的时候，几乎没有一个人听过这样的话。今天在基督徒中间，也缺少这样的观念。但如果我向罪人传福音，我会告诉他们必须进入神的建造。神在宇宙中独一的事业乃是要得着一个建造，这是神永远的旨意。因此，神救恩 的目的乃是要把我们带进祂的建造里。
15The basic gospel includes the matters signified by the gate of the court of the tabernacle. Do not think that these matters are not part of the gospel. For what purpose should a sinner repent, believe in the Lord Jesus, and receive Him as Savior? He should do these things for the purpose of entering God’s building. But hardly any of us heard such a word when we were saved. We were never told that the goal of salvation is to bring us into God’s building. Among Christians today, there is a lack of such a concept. But if I were preaching the gospel to sinners, I would tell them that they need to enter into God’s building. God’s unique enterprise in the universe is to have a building. This is God’s eternal purpose. Thus, the purpose of God’s salvation is to bring us into His building.
十五 神福音的目标
The goal of God’s gospel
16今天神的建造是甚么？神的建造就是教会。神的经营、神的救恩、神的救赎乃是要把我们带进祂的建造─教会里。这不是我特别强调的，这乃是圣经所强调的。基督自己强调这件事，祂尽力帮助别人来认识祂。根据马太十六章，有一天，祂问门徒说：“你们说我是谁？”彼得承认祂是基督，是活神的儿子时，主就接着说到教会：“我还告诉你，你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上，阴间的门不能胜过她。”（太十六18，另译。）认识基督的目的是要把我们建造到教会里。不但如此，在使徒行传我们看见有好几千人得救，目的乃是为着兴起并建造众教会。然后到了罗马书，保罗指明我们罪人已经得称为义，从亚当里迁到基督里，如今照着灵生活行动，好成为完全长成的儿子，作为合式的肢体，建造到身体里面。因这缘故，罗马书末了有众地方教会。这是神启示的终极目标，也是神福音的目标。根据保罗的说法，全本罗马书就是神的福音。因此，进到神的建造里面，乃是神救恩的目标。
16What is God’s building today? God’s building is the church. God’s economy, salvation, and redemption are to bring us into His building, the church. This is not my particular emphasis; it is the emphasis in the Bible. Christ Himself emphasized this. He tried to help others to know Him. According to Matthew 16, one day He asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” When Peter confessed that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord went on to speak concerning the church: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). The purpose of knowing Christ is that we may be built into the church. Furthermore, in the book of Acts we see that thousands were saved for the purpose of the raising up and the building up of churches. Then in Romans Paul indicates that we sinners have been justified, transferred out of Adam into Christ, and are now walking according to spirit so that we may become full-grown sons to be proper members built up in the Body. For this reason, at the end of the book of Romans we have local churches. This is the ultimate goal of God’s revelation and also the goal of God’s gospel. The entire book of Romans, according to Paul, is the gospel of God. Entering into the building of God, therefore, is the goal of God’s salvation.
17进到神的建造里面就是得救。我们在神的建造之外，便是失丧的。但我们一悔改，相信了主耶稣，我们便进到神的救恩里，也进到神的建造里。从起头的时候，我们就该晓得，进到神的建造里面，便是背负与人有关的三一神，好成为一个见证。这就是今天我们所该作的。我再说，这种观念并不深，这是二十六个属灵字母的一部分，是我们在起头的时候就该学会的。然而，我们没有受到教导，也没有去学习。
17To enter into God’s building is to be saved. When we were outside the building of God, we were lost. But when we repented and believed in the Lord Jesus, we came into God’s salvation and also entered into God’s building. From the very beginning, we should have realized that to enter into the building of God is to bear the Triune God involved with man as a testimony. This is what we all should be doing today. Once again I say that this concept is not deep. As part of the twenty-six letters of the spiritual alphabet, it is something we should have learned at the beginning. However, we were not taught this, and we did not learn it.
十六 神救恩的字母
The alphabet of God’s salvation
18五十多年前，我学了一些希腊字母，但那时候我没有学得很好。我有些困扰，譬如说，希腊字母r和小写的英文字母y很相像。再者，大写的英文字母Y看起来有点像希腊字母的Υ。今天许多信徒学习神救恩的字母，就好像我多年前学习一些希腊字母一样。一方面，他们的确好像懂得一些希腊字母；另一方面，他们却像对希腊字母和英文字母混淆不清的人一般，也许把小写的英文字母y当作小写的希腊字母r。比方说，他们会以为文化的某些方面与神的救恩是一样的。这就好比说，大写的希腊字母H和大写的英文字母H是一样的，或说，小写的英文字母p与小写的希腊字母ρ是一样的。
18More than fifty years ago, I learned some letters of the Greek alphabet, but at that time I did not learn them very well. I had trouble, for instance, with the Greek letter gamma (γ), which resembles a lower case y in the English alphabet. Also, an upper case y (Y) in the English alphabet looks somewhat like an upper case upsilon (Υ) in Greek. Today many believers have learned the alphabet of God’s salvation in much the same way I learned part of the Greek alphabet years ago. On the one hand, they are like those who do know some Greek letters. On the other hand, they are like those who confuse Greek and English letters, perhaps taking a lower case English y for a lower case Greek gamma. For example, they may think that certain aspects of our culture are the same as God’s salvation. This can be compared to saying that an upper case Greek eta (Η) is the same as an upper case English h (H), or that a lower case English p is the same as a lower case Greek rho (ρ).
19把文化的各方面和神的救恩混为一谈的人，还没有彻底学会神救恩的字母。他们懂得一些称义、重生和赦免的事，但他们也懂得许多文化的事。结果，他们不知不觉就把文化的一些方面和神的救恩搀杂在一起，并且把人的文化和神的救恩混为一谈。不但如此，有人论到神某些方面的救恩时，他们也深信自己能彀了解。其实他们一点也不了解，他们还把神的事与天然的观念以及浸透他们的文化素质混为一谈。这就好比把小写的希腊字母ν认为是小写的英文字母v一样。我用希腊字母和英文字母的例子来指出，我们必须认识神救恩的全部字母。
19Those who confuse aspects of culture with God’s salvation have not learned thoroughly the alphabet of God’s salvation. They know something about justification, regeneration, and forgiveness. But they also know many things of their culture. As a result, they unconsciously mix certain aspects of their culture with God’s salvation and confuse human culture with the salvation of God. Furthermore, when someone speaks about a certain aspect of God’s salvation, they may be very confident that they understand. Actually, they do not understand at all and have confused something of God with their natural concept and the cultural elements that have saturated them. This can be compared to thinking that a lower case Greek nu (ν) is a lower case English v. I use this illustration of Greek and English letters to point out our need to know the complete alphabet of God’s salvation.
20我们在帐幕外院子前面所看见的，乃是表征人背负着与人有关的三一神成为一个见证。每当人悔改、相信并进入神的救恩里面时，就该晓得他乃是进到神的建造里面，这个建造就是神的见证。帐幕的整个范围，包含帐幕本身和外院子在内，乃是三一神 以及祂所拣选、所救赎之人的组成。因此，这就是神的见证。神是被人证实的一位，而我们是祂的见证人。因此，从神那一面说是见证，从我们这一面说是作见证。背负三一神成为一个见证，乃是由帐幕外院子的门所表征的。
20What we see signified at the front of the court of the tabernacle is man bearing as a testimony the Triune God involved with man. Whenever a person repents, believes, and enters into God’s salvation, that person should realize that he is entering into God’s building and that this building is God’s testimony. The entire realm of the tabernacle, including the tabernacle itself and the outer court, is a constitution of the Triune God with His chosen and redeemed people. Therefore, it is God’s testimony. God is the One testified, and we are those testifying Him. Thus, from God’s side, it is a testimony. From our side, it is a matter of bearing the testimony. This bearing of the Triune God as a testimony is signified by the door, the gate, of the court of the tabernacle.
21不论那一种建筑物的门或入口乃是表明那栋建筑物的目的。比方说，银行的门口清楚地指明，那个建筑物是一家银行。照样，运动场的门口又有一种不同的外观，指明是通往运动场的大门。学校的门口也是这样。循此原则，帐幕外院子的门也有一个特殊的外观：它表征人背负着与人有关的三一神好成为一个见证。如果我们能彀铭记神的救恩这一部分的字母，本篇信息就会有所帮助。
21The gate or entrance of any building expresses the purpose of that building. For example, the entrance of a bank indicates clearly that that building is a bank. Likewise, the entrance of a stadium has a different kind of appearance, indicating that it is a gateway into a stadium. The same is true of the entrance of a school. In keeping with this principle, the gate of the court of the tabernacle also has a particular appearance: it signifies man bearing as a testimony the Triune God involved with man. If this part of the alphabet of God’s salvation can be impressed upon us, this message will have been helpful.
十七 铜─基本材料
Bronze, the basic material
22我们已经看过了门的外观，现在让我们继续来看，产生这种外观的基本材料是甚么？这里的基本材料是铜。帐幕外院子的柱子和带卯的座都是用铜作的。我们已经指出，铜是表征神的审判。照约翰十六章八节来看，实际的灵来了，就要叫世人为罪、为义、为审判，自己责备自己。无论是谁要进到神的建造里，都必须完全受到审判。他必须通过铜门，就是审判之门。虽然柱子用麻遮盖着，但麻不是外院子的基本材料。基本材料乃是铜，表征神公义的审判。
22Having considered the appearance of the gate, let us now see what is the basic material used to produce such an appearance. The basic material here is bronze. Both the pillars and the sockets for the court of the tabernacle were made of bronze. Bronze, as we have pointed out, signifies God’s judgment. According to John 16:8, when the Spirit of reality comes, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Whoever would enter into God’s building must be fully judged. He must pass through the bronze gate, a gate of judgment. Although the pillars are covered with linen, linen is not the basic material of the court. The basic material is bronze, signifying the righteous judgment of God.
23我们要进到神的建造里，就必须晓得，我们所是的一切、我们所有的一切、我们所作的一切，以及我们所能作的一切，都必须受审判。这意思是说，好的东西和坏的东西都必须受审判。我们的好行为和坏行为都必须受审判。照样，我们的恨、我们的爱、我们的骄傲、我们的谦卑，以及我们所有的美德，也必须通过神的审判之门。
23We who would come into the building of God must realize that everything we are, everything we have, everything we do, and everything we are able to do must be judged. This means that good things as well as bad things must be judged. Our good behavior and our bad behavior both need to be judged. In like manner, our hatred and our love, our pride and our humility, along with all of our virtues, must pass through the gate of God’s judgment.
24通过铜门就好比通过航空公司的关卡检查站。无论谁要通过这一站，都必须接受检查。照样，如果我们要进到神的建造里，也必须通过审判之门，并且在我们所是、所有，并所作的一切事上，都经历神的审判。
24Passing through the bronze gate can be compared to passing through the checkpoint in an airline terminal. Anyone who would pass through that point must be examined. Likewise, if we would come into God’s building, we must pass through the gate of judgment and experience God’s judgment on everything we are, have, and do.
25我们听见福音、悔改的时候，没有人告诉我们这件事。我从来没有听说我必须受审判，我的全人、我的行为、我的说话、我的行事和我的才干，都必须经过神的审判。结果，我就带着天然生命和才干一些好的方面进到所谓的教会里。我相信我们许多人都曾这么作。有些人进到教会生活里，甚至带着许多没有经过审判的世俗之物。这就是有了用铜以外的基本材料作成的门。但帐幕外院子的门乃是铜门，就是审判之门。如果我们还没有彻底经历这种审判，我们就必须补上这一课，并且经过铜门。
25When we heard the gospel and repented, we were not told anything about this. I never heard that I needed to be judged, that my being, my behavior, my speaking, my doings, and my ability needed to pass through God’s judgment. As a result, I brought certain good aspects of my natural life and ability into the so-called church. I believe many of us did this. Some even came into the church life and brought with them a number of worldly things that had not been judged. This is to have a gate made with something other than bronze as the basic material. But the gate of the court of the tabernacle is a bronze gate, the gate of judgment. If we have not experienced this judgment in a thorough way, we must make up this lesson and pass through the bronze gate.
十八 背负神的义
Bearing God’s righteousness
26外院子的彰显是细麻，表征神的义。我们受了审判以后：就背负起神的义。因此，我们所背负的不是天然的美德或外表的行为，而是神的义。这也是福音的基本真理。我们在传福音的时候必须宣告说：“罪人哪，这世上的人哪，你们必须受审判。当你们一切的事，好的、坏的都受了审判时，你们就要背负神的义。”
26The expression of the outer court is linen signifying the righteousness of God. After we have been judged, we bear God’s righteousness. Therefore, what we bear is not our natural virtue or our outward behavior — it is the righteousness of God. This also is a basic truth of the gospel. In preaching the gospel we need to declare, “Sinners, people of this world, you need to be judged. When everything about you, both good and bad, has been judged, you will bear the righteousness of God.”
27神的义怎么能彀与我们相连呢？照出埃及记二十七章里的豫表来看，神的义乃是藉着银钩和杆子与我们相连。这指明基督的救赎是出于神的审判，而这个救赎乃是保守的能力和联结的力量。我们这些罪人和神的仇敌怎能联于神的义呢？神的义又怎能联于我们呢？惟有藉着基督的救赎才有可能，而基督的救赎是出自神的审判。我们是堕落的人，各方面都必须受审判。但凡是神所审判的，基督便来救赎。赞美主，神的审判产生了基督的救赎！如果我们要享受基督的救赎，首先需要神的审判。
27How can the righteousness of God be linked to us? According to the typology in Exodus 27, it is linked to us by the silver hooks and connecting rods. This indicates that out of God’s judgment comes Christ’s redemption, and this redemption is the holding power and the linking strength. How can we, sinners and enemies of God, be linked to God’s righteousness? How can God’s righteousness be held onto us? This is possible only through the redemption of Christ, which comes out of God’s judgment. As fallen people, we need to be judged in every way. But whatever God judges, Christ redeems. Praise the Lord, God’s judgment produces Christ’s redemption! If we would enjoy the redemption of Christ, we first need the judgment of God.
28悔改的真义乃是我们受了审判。悔改就是审判自己、定罪自己。每当人悔改的时候 ，他就定罪自己，把自己摆在神的审判之下。这就是铜的经历。
28The true meaning of repentance is that we are judged. To repent is to judge ourselves and condemn ourselves. Whenever a person repents, he condemns himself and places himself under God’s judgment. This is the experience of bronze.
29既然神所审判的基督全救赎了，这个救赎便使受审判的人联于神的义。不但如此，这个救赎也使我们彼此相联。帐幕外院子里的柱子各自分开着站立。然而，藉着杆子，就把柱子联成一个单位。阿利路亚，凡是神所审判的，基督便来救赎；凡基督所救赎的，便藉着这个救赎联于神的义！基督的救赎使我们联于神的义，也使我们彼此相联。因此，外院子有三件重要的事：审判、救赎和义。神的义乃是为着祂见证的彰显。
29But since Christ redeems whatever God judges, this redemption will link the judged one to God’s righteousness. Furthermore, this redemption also joins us to one another. The pillars in the court of the tabernacle each stood separately. However, by the connecting rods they were joined into one unit. Hallelujah, whatever God judges, Christ redeems, and whatever Christ redeems is linked by this redemption to God’s righteousness! The redemption of Christ joins us to God’s righteousness and to one another. Therefore, with the outer court we have three important matters: judgment, redemption, and righteousness. God’s righteousness is for the expression of His testimony.
十九 铜的景象
A scene of bronze
30在我们的经历中，我们进到帐幕的外院子里，发现最醒目的成分乃是铜。我们环顾 四周，就看见六十根铜柱和六十个带卯的铜座。不但如此，二十七章十九节说：“帐幕各样用处的器具，并帐幕一切的橛子，和院子里一切的橛子，都要用铜作。”橛子是为着支持外院子的篱笆，也是为着支持帐幕的。十九节指明有两组橛子，一组是为着帐幕，另一组是为着外院子。连这些橛子也是用铜作的。燔祭坛和洗濯盆也要用铜包裹。因此，无论谁进到外院子里，都会看见铜的景象。
30When in our experience we enter into the outer court of the tabernacle, we find that the most striking element is bronze. As we look around, we see sixty pillars of bronze and sixty sockets of bronze. Furthermore, 27:19 says, “All the utensils of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pegs, and all the pegs of the court shall be of bronze.” The pegs are for holding the fence of the outer court and also for the tabernacle. Verse 19 indicates that there were two sets of pegs, one for the tabernacle and the other for the outer court. Even these pegs were made of bronze. The altar of burnt offering and the laver were also covered with bronze. Therefore, whoever came into the outer court beheld a scene of bronze.
31这种满了铜的景象描绘出神的审判。在外院子里，到处可以看见神的审判。在神建 造范围里的每样东西，都在神的审判之下。和我们有关的每件事，都必须摆在神的审判之下。我们的聪明和一切天然的才干，都必须受到审判，我们的亏欠更不用说了。
31This scene filled with bronze portrays the judgment of God. God’s judgment can be seen everywhere in the outer court. Everything in the realm of God’s building is under God’s judgment. Everything related to us must be put under God’s judgment. Our cleverness and all our natural ability, to say nothing of our shortcomings, need to be judged.
32我们已经指出，外院子里的器具、物件、橛子，以及柱子、带卯的座，都是铜作的。橛子表征站立和保守的能力。这种能力是出于铜─出于审判。如果我们要在神的建造里有坚固的根基，就必须在审判之下。如果我们要有站立的力量，也必须在神的审判之下。我们要刚强而稳固，就必须受审判。我们愈在神的审判之下，我们就愈稳固。
32We have pointed out that the utensils, the furniture, and the pegs in the outer court, along with the pillars and the sockets, were of bronze. The pegs signify the standing and holding power. This power is of bronze, of judgment. If we would have a solid base in God’s building, we must be under judgment. If we would have the standing strength, we must also be under God’s judgment. In order to be strong and stable, we need to be judged. The more we are under God’s judgment, the more stable we shall be.
二十 坚固教会生活
Stabilizing the church life
33你晓得为甚么有些圣徒进入教会生活一段时间以后，就变得摇摆不定，然后就消失了？他们摇摆不定的原因乃是没有铜橛子；他们缺少神的审判作他们的力量和定力。 圣徒从进入教会生活的那一天起，就该把自己摆在神的审判之下。然后他在教会里就会刚强而稳固。审判的确坚固了教会生活。
33Do you know why certain saints come into the church life and after a short period of time become unstable and then disappear? The reason for their instability is that they do not have the bronze pegs; they lack God’s judgment as their strength and stability. From the day a saint comes into the church life, he should place himself under God’s judgment. Then he will be strong and stable in the church. Judgment truly stabilizes the church life.
34有些弟兄姊妹批评别人、定罪别人。尤其是地方教会里的长老，时常受到批评者的定罪。那些批评人的，都不是在神的审判之下。倘若我们天天在神的审判之下，我们就不会批评别人。我们不会论断别人，也不会定罪别人。论断别人的，乃是没有受审判的人。但凡受过审判的，就不会论断别人了。
34Some brothers and sisters criticize others and condemn them. In particular, the elders in a local church are often condemned by the critical ones. Those who criticize others are not under God’s judgment. If we are under the judgment of God day by day, we shall not be critical of others. We shall not judge them or condemn them. Those who judge others are those who have not been judged. But those who have been judged do not judge others.
35我能彀用清洁的良心作见证，我审判自己比审判别人多多了。我受到试探要谈论别人的短处时，便察觉到里头有审判的感觉。这种内里的感觉使我晓得我并不比别人强。反之，我比别人还要糟。我相信我们许多人都有过这样的经历。受审判便把我们论断人、批评人的口封住了。但如果我们不在审判之下。我们就很容易说出批评别人、论断别人的话。 我愿鼓励你们看看外院子的景观。这是满了铜、满了神审判的景象。我们处处可见表征审判的铜：带卯的铜座、铜柱、铜橛子、铜物件、铜器具。没有审判，就没有界限、没有根基、没有站立的力量，也没有定力。
35I can testify with a pure conscience that I judge myself much more than I judge anyone else. When I am tempted to talk about the shortcomings of anyone else, I become conscious of a sense of judgment within. This inner sense causes me to realize that I am not better than others. Rather, I am worse. I believe that many of us have had this kind of experience. Being judged closes our judging, criticizing mouth. But if we are not under judgment, it will be easy for us to speak critical or judging words regarding others. I would encourage you to consider the scenery of the outer court. It is a scene filled with bronze, with God’s judgment. Everywhere we see bronze signifying judgment: bronze sockets, bronze pillars, bronze pegs, bronze furniture, bronze utensils. Without judgment, there is no boundary, no base, no strength for standing, and no stability.
二十一 审判和救赎
Judgment and redemption
36我们已经看见，基督的救赎乃是出自神的审判。救赎是由包在柱顶、柱头上的银子来表征。外院子篱笆所有的柱顶都是用银子包裹，这些柱顶用银子包裹是表征荣耀。因此，基督的救赎是出自神的审判，成了我们的冠冕、我们的夸耀、我们的荣耀。这就是银柱顶在铜柱上的意义。
36As we have seen, Christ’s redemption comes out of God’s judgment. Redemption is signified by the silver overlaying the caps, the capitals, of the pillars. All the pillars of the fence of the court were overlaid on their caps with silver. These capitals overlaid with silver signify glory. Thus, Christ’s redemption coming out of God’s judgment becomes our crown, our boast, our glory. This is the significance of the silver capitals on top of the bronze pillars.
37此外，还有银钩、银杆子，以及带卯的银座，为着帐幕竖板的榫。这表征基督的救赎成了稳固的根基，作为神建造中所有肢体的立场。这里有一幅何等美丽的图画─首先我们看见神的审判，然后看见基督的救赎。
37Furthermore, there were the silver hooks, the silver connecting rods, and the silver sockets for the tenons of the standing boards of the tabernacle. This signifies that the redemption of Christ becomes the solid foundation for the standing of all the members of God’s building. What a beautiful picture we have here! First we see God’s judgment and then Christ’s redemption.
38基督的救赎成了我们的冠冕、我们保守的能力、我们联结的力量。它也成了我们的根基，我们站在其上成为神建造的肢体。这就是神的审判带来基督的救赎，也就是铜 带来银子。
38The redemption of Christ becomes our crown, our holding power, our connecting strength. It also becomes our foundation on which to stand as members of the building of God. This is the judgment of God bringing forth the redemption of Christ, the bronze bringing forth the silver.
二十二 铜、银、金
Bronze, silver, and gold
39接着铜和银的，还有金。我们藉着铜进入外院子，然后藉着银进入圣所。在圣所里，尤其是在至圣所里，每样东西都是金作的。这表征神圣的性情是我们的分，是我们的享受，也是我们的经历。帐幕里的每样东西都是金的：金竖板、金器具、金的陈设饼桌子、金灯台以及金香炉。在至圣所里有金约柜、金基路伯和金器具。帐幕里面样样东西都是金的。因此，铜把银带来，而银又把我们带到金里。这表征每样东西都必须受审判，好得着救赎。我们蒙了救赎以后，就被带到神的性情里。这是我们的命定、我们的目的地，也是我们的分，我们的享受和经历。一旦我们被带到金里，就该留在这里。甚至我们必须摸着至圣所里的深处，与神同在，并且与神合一。
39Following the bronze and the silver, we have gold. By the bronze, we enter into the court. Then through the silver, we enter into the Holy Place. In the Holy Place, and especially in the Holy of Holies, everything is of gold. This signifies that the divine nature is our portion, our enjoyment, and our experience. Everything in the tabernacle is gold: golden boards, golden utensils, a golden showbread table, a golden lampstand, and a golden incense altar. In the Holy of Holies we have the golden ark with the golden cherubim and utensils. Everything inside the tabernacle is gold. Therefore, bronze brings forth silver, and silver brings us into the gold. This signifies that everything must be judged in order to be redeemed. Then after we have been redeemed, we are brought into the nature of God. This is our destiny, our destination; it is also our portion, enjoyment, and experience. Once we are brought into the gold, we should stay here. Even we need to touch the very depths in the Holy of Holies and to be with God, and also to become one with Him.