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出埃及记生命读经 · 第115篇

点灯和祭司的衣服（二）

The lighting of the lamps and the garments for the priesthood (2)
1读经： 出埃及记二十七章二十节至二十八章五节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 27:20—28:5
七 聚会为着点灯
Meeting to light the lamps
2历代以来，特别是从改教起，基督徒一直争辩如何聚会这件事。各宗各派和各种基督徒团体都以他们特有的方式来聚会。例如，长老会的聚会方式就与浸信会的不同。你聚会的方式又如何呢？正当的聚会方式与旧约圣所里点灯的豫表有关。我们绝不该认为点灯是一件微不足道的事。在豫表里，点灯至少暗示着正当的聚会方式。
2Throughout the centuries, especially since the Reformation, Christians have been debating the matter of how to meet. The various denominations and Christian groups all meet in their particular way. For example, the Presbyterian way of meeting is different from the Baptist way. What is your way to meet? The proper way of meeting is related to the Old Testament type of lighting the lamps in the Holy Place. We should never think that lighting these lamps is an insignificant thing. In typology, the lighting of the lamps at least implies the proper way to meet.
3点灯总是在会幕里进行的。帐幕不但是神的居所，也是聚会的地方。因此，帐幕是神的居所，也是以色列人聚会的所在。
3The lighting of the lamps always took place in the tent of meeting. The tabernacle was not only God’s dwelling place; it also was a place of meeting. Hence, it was a place both for God’s dwelling and for the meeting of the children of Israel.
4点灯与神子民的聚集有关。倘若有人问我们在教会生活里如何聚会，我们就该回答说，我们以点灯的方式来聚会。正当的基督徒聚会就是点灯，每逢我们为着教会的聚会聚在一起时，就必须点灯。不但如此，我们在会中所作的每一件事，都该使灯照耀，唱诗、作见证都必须是灯的照亮。
4The lighting of the lamps is related to the meeting of God’s people. If we are asked in what way we meet in the church life, we should reply that we meet in the way of lighting the lamps. To meet properly as Christians is to light the lamps. Whenever we come together for the church meetings, we need to light the lamps. Furthermore, everything we do in the meetings should cause the lamps to shine. All the singing of hymns and the giving of testimonies must be the lighting of the lamps.
八 需要属灵的经历
The need for spiritual experience
5在圣所里一同聚会点灯，包含了我们基督徒生活属灵经历的每一方面。它包含了我们经历基督是三一神的具体表现，经历神圣的性情，经历耶稣拔高的人性，在神面前、在祂的见证面前焚烧且发光，此外，还经历神的灵是由橄榄树的果子榨出来的油，经历那位经过了道成肉身、为人生活、钉十字架和复活等过程的基督。此外又包含了我们穿上祭司的衣服，就是基督的彰显。
5Meeting together to light the lamps in the sanctuary comprises every aspect of our spiritual experience in the Christian life. It includes our experience of Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God, our experience of the divine nature, our experience of the uplifted humanity of Jesus that burns to give light before God and before His testimony, our experience of the Spirit of God as the oil pressed out of the fruit of the olive tree, and our experience of Christ in His process with the steps of incarnation, human living, crucifixion, and resurrection. Furthermore, it includes our wearing the priestly garments, that is, our expression of Christ.
6我们已经指出，要有资格在圣所里点灯，就必须有祭司衣服的每一项物件。如果我们有祭司袍，而没有以弗得或胸牌，我们就不彀资格，因我们缺了基督的彰显。由于这种缺欠，有些参加聚会的人就无法点灯。
6As we have pointed out, in order to be qualified to light the lamps in the Holy Place, we must have every aspect of the priestly garments. If we have the priestly robe but not the ephod or the breastplate, we are not qualified, for we are lacking in the expression of Christ. Due to such a lack, certain ones who attend the meetings are not able to light the lamps.
7你知道在圣所里点灯是甚么意思么？点灯就是发出光来。有些亲爱的弟兄姊妹在聚会里一开口说话，我们就觉得亮光渐渐升起，黑暗渐渐消失。这样发出光来的人的确有祭司的衣服，就是基督的彰显。在圣所里有多少光，在于我们穿上基督作为祭司衣服来点灯的资格有多少。我们要点灯，就必须彰显基督，也必须经历神的具体表现、神圣的性情、耶稣的人性，和基督的灵带着道成肉身、为人生活、钉十字架和复活的元素。这些元素都必须是我们基督徒生活的成分。如果情况是这样的话，我们就有资格在神的圣所里点灯了。
7Do you know what it means to light the lamps in the sanctuary? To light the lamps is to give off light. When some dear ones open their mouths to speak in the meeting, we all have the sense that the light is ascending and that the darkness is vanishing. Those who shine forth light in this way are surely those with the priestly garments, the expression of Christ. How much light there will be in the sanctuary depends on the extent to which we are qualified to light the lamps by wearing Christ as the priestly garments. In order to light the lamps, we must express Christ, and we must have the experience of the embodiment of God, the divine nature, the humanity of Jesus, and the Spirit of Christ with the elements of incarnation, human living, crucifixion, and resurrection. All these elements need to be the ingredients of our Christian life. If this is the case, then we are qualified to light the lamps in the sanctuary of God.
九 清橄榄油
Pure olive oil
8我们来到聚会里点灯的时候，也许对基督是三一神的具体表现缺少真实的经历，我们对神圣的性情和基督的人性，也可能缺少经历。此外，我们也许没有基督之灵的油。反之，我们想要以橄榄油以外的东西来点灯。有时候，有些圣徒祷读并呼求主耶稣的名，却没有橄榄油。他们没有基督这棵橄榄树的油，却有某种劣等来源的油。如果有人轻率地祷读或呼求主，他就定规不是以清橄榄油来点灯的。有些圣徒听见这些话，也许会感到失望说：“现在我觉得我祷读、呼求主名和赞美主的方式被定罪了。从现在起，我要在聚会中静默不语，我不要用橄榄油以外的油。”我们用不着灰心，但我们必须被炼净。青年弟兄们，你们必须承认，有时候你们呼喊“赞美主”，里面却没有橄榄油。我们必须用那灵的清橄榄油来合式地赞美主。
8When we come to the meetings to light the lamps, we may be short of the real experience of Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God. We may also be lacking in the experience of the divine nature and the humanity of Christ. Furthermore, we may not have the oil of the Spirit of Christ. Instead, we may try to light the lamps with something other than olive oil. Sometimes in the pray-reading of certain saints and in their calling on the name of the Lord Jesus, there is no olive oil. They do not have the oil which comes from Christ as the olive tree, but they have oil from some inferior source. Should someone pray-read or call on the Lord in a light way, he certainly is not lighting the lamps with pure olive oil. When some saints hear this word, they may be disappointed and say, “Now I feel condemned for the way I pray-read, call on the Lord’s name, and shout praises to the Lord. From now on I’ll be silent in the meetings. I don’t want to use oil that is not olive oil.” There is no need for us to be discouraged, but there is the need for us to be purified. Young brothers, you must admit that sometimes when you shout, “Praise the Lord!” there is no olive oil in your shouting. We need to praise the Lord in a proper way, with the pure olive oil of the Spirit.
9我不赞同有些祷读、呼求或呼喊，把不纯而天然的成分带进来。纯正、圣洁的祷读不该搀杂着轻率和戏笑。每当有这样的搀杂，黑暗就代替了亮光。我们在聚会中无论发表甚么，都必须有清橄榄油，这是惟一在圣所里焚烧而发光的油。以天然的方式来祷读、呼求或呼喊绝不会使神圣的光上升，也不会光照其他的圣徒。
9I do not agree with pray-reading, calling, or shouting that brings in some impure, natural element. The pure and holy pray-reading, calling on the Lord’s name, and praising should not be mixed with lightness or joking. Whenever there is such a mixture, there is darkness instead of light. Whatever we utter in the meetings must be with the pure oil of the olive tree. This is the only oil that will burn to give light in the Holy Place. Pray-reading, calling, or shouting in a natural way never causes the holy light to ascend, and it never enlightens the other saints.
10我们需要十字架在我们里面作工。清橄榄油就是经过了道成肉身、钉十字架并进入了复活的油，在这油里没有搀杂，没有天然的成分。当然我们在聚会里必须释放，也必须满了喜乐，有时候我们甚至会欢笑。但我们的释放、享受和欢笑必须一直带着清橄榄油。
10We need the cross to work in us. The pure olive oil is oil that has passed through incarnation and crucifixion, and has entered into resurrection. In this oil there is no mixture, no natural element. Certainly we need to be released in the meetings and also full of joy. Sometimes we may even laugh. But our release, enjoyment, and laughter must always be with pure olive oil.
11每当我们聚在一起成为教会的时候，这个聚会就是在神的居所里面，记住这一点是非常要紧的。我们的聚集就是一个圣所，因此，我们的举止不该像在运动场上一般。我们必须记得，我们是在圣徒圣洁的聚集里。我们的聚集既是神的圣所，就必须在圣所─就是在会幕里点灯。当然，我们在其中聚集的物质建筑物并不是圣所，我们的聚集才是圣所。无论我们在室内聚会，或在露天聚会，我们的聚集就是圣所。因这缘故，我们不该以天然或世俗的方式来聚会。我们在聚会里所作的每一件事─我们的说话、唱诗、赞美、呼求、呼喊、祷读，都必须使圣洁的光上升。这就是在神的圣所里点灯，以致亮光把黑暗吞灭了。
11Whenever we come together to meet as the church, that meeting is in God’s dwelling place. It is very important to remember this. Our gathering is a sanctuary. Therefore, we should not behave as if we were in a stadium. We need to remember that we are in a holy gathering of the saints. As those whose gathering is the sanctuary of God, we need to light the lamps in the sanctuary, that is, in the tent of meeting. Of course, the physical building in which we meet is not the sanctuary, or the Holy Place; it is the gathering which is the sanctuary. No matter where we may meet, in a building or in the open air, our gathering is the Holy Place. For this reason, we should not meet in a natural way or in a secular way. Everything we do in the meeting — our speaking, singing, praising, calling, shouting, pray-reading — must cause the holy light to ascend. This is to light the lamps in God’s sanctuary so that the light may swallow up the darkness.
十 在见证之柜前
Before the testimony
12出埃及记二十七章二十一节说：“在会幕中见证之柜前的幔外，亚伦和他的儿子，从晚上到早晨，要在耶和华面前经理这灯；这要作以色列人世世代代永远的定例。”（另译。）本节说到“在会幕中见证之柜前的幔外”。我们仍然需要点灯的原因，是因为我们多半还没有在至圣所里面。我们的聚集是在圣所里；不是在至圣所里。这意思是说，幔子仍然把至圣所和圣所隔开。幔子后面有放着律法的约柜，称为见证的柜。“在见证之柜前”这个片语的意思就是在约柜里的律法之前。即使我们在圣所里有光上升，我们仍然是在圣所，还没有在至圣所里。但我们在圣所里，指望进入至圣所。即使我们仍在圣所里，也是在见证之柜前。我们盼望将来要进到至圣所里。我们在见证之柜前的幔外点灯，盼望幔子将来会除去。因此，每逢我们在神的圣所里一同聚集，我们就带着进入至圣所的盼望来点灯，使亮光上升。一旦我们进到至圣所里，神的荣耀就要取代在圣所里上升的光。这就是有祭司体系的资格来点灯。我们必须具备这些资格，好在见证之柜前，盼望进到至圣所里。我们由点灯就能彀看见通往至圣所的路。
12Exodus 27:21 says, “In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall set them in order from evening until morning before Jehovah; it shall be a statute forever for their generations by the sons of Israel.” This verse speaks of “outside the veil which is before the testimony.” The reason we still need the lighting of the lamps is that, for the most part, we are not yet in the Holy of Holies. Our gathering is in the Holy Place, not in the Holy of Holies. This means that the veil still separates the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. Behind the veil there is the ark with the law, called the testimony. The phrase “before the testimony” means before the law in the ark. Even though we have the light ascending in the Holy Place, we are still in the Holy Place, not yet in the Holy of Holies. But we are in the Holy Place with a view to entering the Holy of Holies. Even though we are still in the Holy Place, we are before the testimony. We have the expectation that we shall enter the Holy of Holies. We are lighting the lamps before the testimony, which is on the other side of the veil, hoping that the veil will be taken away. Therefore, whenever we come together to meet in the sanctuary of God, we light the lamps, causing the light to ascend before the testimony, with the expectation of entering the Holy of Holies. Once we enter the Holy of Holies, the shekinah glory will replace the light we cause to ascend in the sanctuary. This is to light the lamps with the qualifications of the priesthood. We need to have these qualifications in order to be before the testimony with the expectation of coming into the Holy of Holies. By lighting the lamps we can see the way leading into the Holy of Holies, the way leading into the depths of Christ within God.
13我盼望我们都要牢记，我们在聚会里、在聚集里必须点灯，而点灯乃是祭司体系的事。在我们的聚集里，我们该使神圣的光照耀，以致黑暗消失，使我们被带到光中，盼望进入至圣所，就是神见证之柜所在的地方。也许我们仍在圣所里，但我们非常接近见证之柜，并有进到至圣所里的盼望。
13I hope that we all shall be impressed that in the meetings, the gatherings, we need to light the lamps and that lighting the lamps is a matter of the priesthood. In our gatherings we should cause the divine light to shine so that the darkness may vanish and that we may be brought into the light with the expectation of stepping into the Holy of Holies, where the testimony of God is. Perhaps we are still in the Holy Place. Nevertheless, we are very close to the testimony, and we have the expectation of coming into the Holy of Holies.
十一 看见基督不同的方面
Seeing different aspects of Christ
14在圣所里点灯的另一个原因乃是，在圣所里有光，我们才能彀看见圣所里各项不同的器具。这意思是说，我们在圣洁的领域里就能彀看见基督不同的方面。每当我们在教会的聚会里点灯的时候，就能彀看见基督的某一方面。但如果我们没有看见基督的那一方面，反而看见凡俗、天然、属世的东西，这个亮光定规有问题。我们在圣所里灯的照耀之下所该看见的，乃是基督不同的方面。因着我们的唱诗、见证、说话和分享，亮光定规会照耀，把基督不同的方面呈现出来。不但如此，我们也看见进入至圣所的路。我们在教会聚会里的经历证实，每当亮光照耀的时候，我们就看见基督，也看见进入至圣所的路。
14Another reason for lighting the lamps in the Holy Place is that when there is light in the sanctuary, we can see the different items of furniture in the Holy Place. This means that we can see the different aspects of Christ in the holy sphere. Whenever we light the lamps in the church meetings, we can see some aspect of Christ. However, if instead of seeing an aspect of Christ, we see something common, natural, or worldly, there must be something wrong with the light. What we should see under the shining of the lamps in the sanctuary is Christ in His different aspects. By our singing, testifying, speaking, and sharing, the light must shine to present the various aspects of Christ. Furthermore, we see the way into the Holy of Holies. Our experience in the church meetings proves that whenever the lights are shining, we see Christ and we also see the way to enter the Holy of Holies.
15照二十七章二十一节来看，祭司必须“从晚上到早晨”经理这灯。这里没有说到白天。在基督徒的生活中，我们是在夜晚，不是在白昼。因着我们是在夜晚，我们就需要亮光照耀，直到天亮的时候。在这黑夜的时代，因着亮光在聚会中照耀，我们就蒙了光照，更多看见基督，也更清楚地看见进入至圣所的路。
15According to 27:21, the priests were to set the lamps in order “from evening until morning.” Nothing is said here about the day. During the Christian life, we are in the night, not in the day. Because we are in the night, we need the light to shine until the day dawns. By the light shining in the meetings during this age of night, we are enlightened to see more of Christ and to see more clearly the way into the Holy of Holies.
16今天许多来参加聚会的人不晓得如何点灯，他们必须学习如何点灯来照亮聚会。一九六九至一九七一年间，我们在艾登会所的时候，早在宣布聚会开始以前，灯就点亮了。但在今天有些聚会中，宣布聚会以后，灯才点亮。不但如此，在艾登会所的那些年间，圣徒还在家里或在赴会的途中就豫备好要点灯了。在那些年间，圣徒写了许多活泼的诗歌，就如“如今基督是赐生命的灵”，这是我特别喜欢的一首，这首诗歌带来了光，许多圣徒因着唱这首诗歌而在灵里被激动起来。
16Today many who come to the meetings do not know how to light the lamps. They need to learn how to light the lamps in order to enlighten the meeting. When we were in Elden hall in the years from 1969 to 1971, the lamps were lighted long before the announced time for the beginning of the meeting. But in some of the meetings today the lamps are not lighted until well after the announced time of meeting. Moreover, during those years in Elden hall, the saints prepared to light the lamps while they were still at home or while they were on the way to the meeting. During those years, the saints wrote many living songs and hymns, such as “Now Christ is the life-giving Spirit,” one that I especially like. This song brings in light. Many saints have been stirred in their spirit by singing it.
十二 一件严肃的事
A serious matter
17在圣所里点灯是一件严肃的事，它需要一些基本的东西：灯台、灯芯和橄榄油。此外，要有油。首先必须要有带着橄榄的橄榄树。我们来看用橄榄油点灯的图画，就有一幅属灵经历的图画。我们必须经历基督在道成肉身、为人生活、钉十字架和复活里是橄榄树。基督所经过的这些方面必须成为我们的经历。这意思是说，祂的所是必须成为我们的所是。倘若我们对基督的过程没有经历，我们就不会有带着橄榄油的橄榄树，那么我们就要空手来点灯了；我们会缺少橄榄油。因此，我们必须充分经历基督。我们也需要作为三一神具体表现的灯台。我们不光在道理上需要这个灯台，在经历上也需要。此外，我们还需要有整理灯的经历，就是经理灯的经历，并有修剪灯和添满油的经历。我们已经指出，我们也需要祭司袍，就是基督的彰显。
17Lighting the lamps in the Holy Place is a serious matter. It requires certain basic things: the lampstand, the wicks, and the olive oil. Furthermore, in order to have the oil, it is first necessary to have the olive tree with olives. As we consider the picture of the lighting of the lamps with olive oil, we have a portrait of spiritual experience. If we would light the lamps, we need much experience. We need the experience of Christ as the olive tree in His incarnation, human living, crucifixion, and resurrection. These aspects of Christ’s process need to become our experience. This means that what is His must become ours. If we do not have the experience of Christ’s process, we do not have the olive tree with the olive oil. Then we shall be empty-handed when we come to light the lamps. We shall be short of olive oil. Therefore, we need the adequate experience of Christ. We also need the lampstand as the embodiment of the Triune God. We need this lampstand not merely doctrinally, but also experientially. Furthermore, we need the experience of dressing the lamps, that is, setting them in order, and also the experience of trimming them and filling them with oil. As we have pointed out, we also need the priestly robes, the expression of Christ.
18许多参加聚会的人无法点灯，因为他们没有油。他们对基督没有所需要的经历，而且也缺了基督的彰显。他们没有资格像祭司一样来服事，在圣所里点灯。我们由此可见，点灯是严肃而要紧的。
18Many who attend the meetings cannot light the lamps because they do not have the oil. They do not have the necessary experience of Christ, and they are lacking in the expression of Christ. They are not qualified to serve as priests to light the lamps in the Holy Place. By this we can see that the lighting of the lamps is serious and important.
19许多年前，我受到教导说，灯台是豫表基督，油是表征圣灵，而没有强调属灵的经历。今天我们对点灯的领会主要不是在道理上的，而是与我们基督徒的经历息息相关的。在我们的经历中，我们必须成为祭司，必须有带着灯芯的灯台，还必须有油，油特别重要。这需要我们经历基督在道成肉身、为人生活、钉十字架和复活里是橄榄树。然后我们就会有点灯所需要的本质。我们惟有在经历上有了灯台、灯芯和油之后，才有资格来点灯。
19Many years ago I was taught that the lampstand typifies Christ and that the oil signifies the Holy Spirit. But there was no emphasis on spiritual experience. Our understanding of the lighting of the lamps is not mainly doctrinal; rather, it is very much related to our Christian experience. In our experience we need to be priests, we need to have the lampstand with the wicks, and we need to have the oil. The oil is especially important. This requires that we experience Christ as the olive tree in His incarnation, human living, crucifixion, and resurrection. Then we shall have the necessary substance for lighting the lamps. Only when we experientially have the lampstand, the wicks, and the oil are we qualified to light the lamps.
20除了这些经历上的事以外，我们还必须进一步经历祭司的衣服。有了这些衣服的人，才有资格来点灯。倘若我们没有这些衣服，意思就是说，我们缺少对基督的经历，也缺少基督的彰显，我们就没有资格来点灯。如果我们要点灯，而没有基督在各方面合式的彰显，就是由衣服所豫表的，我们在圣所里就会经历到属灵的死亡。这不仅仅是道理，在经历上的确是这样。许多圣徒进到聚会里，遭受到属灵的杀死，因为他们没有穿上祭司的衣服。
20In addition to all these experiential matters, we need the further experience of the priestly garments. Only those who have these garments are qualified to light the lamps. If we do not have these garments, this means that we are lacking in the experience of Christ and in the expression of Christ. If we try to light the lamps without the proper expression of Christ in different aspects typified by the garments, we shall experience spiritual death in the Holy Place. This is not mere doctrine, but is actually the case in experience. When they come into the meetings, many saints suffer a spiritual killing because they are not clothed with priestly garments.
21我们已经指出，我们在圣所里点灯的时候，就看见表征基督不同方面的器具─陈设饼桌子、灯台和香坛。因着在圣所里灯的照亮之下合式的异象，我们就看见基督不同的方面，也看见通往至圣所的路。虽然我们不在至圣所里，但我们指望进入这个内里的地方，好摸着基督更深的事。
21We have pointed out that when we light the lamps in the Holy Place, we see the furniture signifying different aspects of Christ: the showbread table, the lampstand, and the incense altar. By the proper vision under the lighting of the lamps in the sanctuary, we see the different aspects of Christ and also the way which leads into the Holy of Holies. Although we may not be in the Holy of Holies, we have the view and the expectation of entering into this inner place to touch the deeper things of Christ.
22我盼望藉著论到点灯以及祭司衣服的这些信息，我们许多人会明白信徒聚集的真义。聚会的目的就是要有合式的圣所，由合格的祭司来点灯，使我们有基督不同方面的异象，并看见进入基督与神之深处的道路。
22I hope that through these messages on the lighting of the lamps and the garments for the priesthood many of us will understand the real meaning of the gathering of the believers. The purpose of the meeting is to have the proper sanctuary with the lighting of the lamps by qualified priests so that we may have a vision of the different aspects of Christ and see the way to enter into the depths of Christ with God.