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出埃及记生命读经 · 第122篇

祭司的衣服（七）

The priestly garments (7)
1读经： 出埃及记二十八章六至十四节；三十九章二至九节。
1Scripture Reading: Exodus 28:6-14; 39:2-9
2出埃及记二十八章九节、十节说：“要取两块红玛瑙，在上面刻以色列儿子的名字；六个名字在这块宝石上，六个名字在那块宝石上，都照他们生来的次序。”十二节继续说：“要将这两块宝石，安在以弗得的两条肩带上，为以色列人作记念石；亚伦要在两肩上，担他们的名字，在耶和华面前作为记念。”这两块宝石的尺寸必须非常接近人的肩部。这是很有可能的，因为它们是安在以弗得的两条肩带上。我相信这两块红宝石是平的，形状不是长椭圆形，就是长方形。每块必须大到能彀把以色列儿子的名字刻在上面。
2Exodus 28:9 and 10 say, “And you shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth.” In verse 12 the record goes on to say, “And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.” The two onyx stones must have been very close in size to the size of a man’s shoulder. This would be quite likely, since they were put on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. I believe that these two onyx stones were flat and either oblong or rectangular in shape. Each of them had to be large enough for six of the names of the children of Israel to be engraved on it.
3肩带位于以弗得的前幅与后幅在肩上相连的地方。以弗得的这一部分必须比其它的地方还要厚、还要坚固。再者，因为肩带和以弗得是同一片，我们就不该认为肩带和以弗得是分开的。这些肩带和以弗得是一个整体，把两幅连在一起。肩带很坚固，能彀承担红宝石。以弗得要承担这么重的宝石，肩带就必须厚重而坚固。
3The shoulder-pieces were located at the place where the front and the back parts of the ephod came together, where they were joined at the shoulder. This part of the ephod must have been thicker and stronger than any other part. Furthermore, because the shoulder-pieces were of one piece with the ephod, they should not be regarded as separate from the ephod itself. These pieces were one with the ephod as a whole and, joining the two parts together, they were strong enough to bear the onyx stones. In order for the ephod to bear such heavy stones, it was necessary for the shoulder-pieces to be thick and strong.
4我们已经看见，以弗得表征基督与祂的两种性情─神性与人性。基督这两种性情调在一起，为着承担神的彰显，就是金子所表征的，又承担人的彰显，就是麻所表征的。基督也承担祂属天、君尊和救赎的彰显，这些分别由蓝色、紫色、朱红色来豫表。这个彰显便成了承担红宝石的材料。
4We have seen that the ephod typifies Christ with His two natures, divinity and humanity. The two natures of Christ are mingled to bear the expression of God, signified by the gold, and the expression of man, signified by the linen. Christ also bears the expression of His heavenliness, kingship, and redemption typified respectively by the blue, the purple, and the scarlet. It is such an expression that becomes the material that bears the onyx stone.
红宝石表征信徒
Onyx stones signifying the believers
5大祭司的肩上所承担的两块红宝石表征甚么？这些红宝石表征信徒，包括我们在内。有些人听见这话会说：“也许你是一位在主里年长的弟兄，就是红宝石所豫表的。但我的确不是，我得救的时间很短，没有红宝石的外观。反之，我有泥土或尘土的外观。”也许这是你的光景，但只要你重生了，你里面至少就有一点点的红宝石。倘若你里面没有红宝石的成分，你就没有兴趣来听这样的信息。你爱主、追求主、愿意听这样的话语，就强而有力地证明，在你里面至少有一些红宝石。最终，所有的泥土都要变化成为红宝石。
5What is signified by the two onyx stones borne upon the shoulders of the high priest? These onyx stones signify the believers, including us. When some hear this, they may say, “Perhaps you as an older brother in the Lord are signified by the onyx stone. But I certainly am not. I have been saved for only a short time. I do not have the appearance of an onyx stone. On the contrary, I have the appearance of clay or dust.” Perhaps this is your situation. Nevertheless, as long as you have been regenerated, there is at least a small amount of onyx stone within you. If you did not have the element of onyx stone in your being, you would have no interest in hearing this kind of message. The very fact that you love the Lord and are seeking Him and that you want to hear this kind of word is a strong indication that there is at least some onyx stone in you. Eventually, all the clay will be transformed into onyx stone.
6我们天然的人有两方面；神创造的方面和堕落的方面。我们这些天然的人有一部分是神所造的，另一部分是因着堕落而有的。出于人堕落的东西必须被除掉，而出于神创造的东西必与我们同在，而且被变化。因此，神在我们身上的工作完成了两件事， 一面是摇动、消除堕落的方面；另一面是拔高并变化我们与神创造有关的各方面，好成为宝石。当然，要消除堕落的素质，变化且拔高创造的素质，是需要时间的。然而好些在教会生活里多年的人，都经历到堕落素质的消除，以及受造素质的变化。结果 今天这些圣徒在基督里比几年前有分量多了。有些堕落的素质除去了，也有相当多神所创造的素质被拔高且变化成为宝石了。
6With our natural being there are two aspects: the aspect of God’s creation and the aspect of the fall. Part of our natural being is the creation of God. Another part is of man’s fall. That which has its source in the fall of man will be shaken away, and that which comes from God’s creation will remain with us and be transformed. Therefore, God’s work on us accomplishes two things. On the one hand, it is shaking away, removing, the fallen aspect; on the other hand, it is uplifting and transforming the aspect of our being that is related to God’s creation to become precious stone. Of course, it takes time for the fallen element to be removed and the created element to be transformed and uplifted. Nevertheless, many of those who have been in the church life for a number of years have experienced the shaking off of the fallen element and the transformation of the created element. The result is that these saints are much weightier in Christ today than they were several years ago. Some of the fallen element has been removed, and quite an amount of God’s created element has been uplifted and transformed into precious stones.
7我们不该怀疑以弗得肩上的红宝石就是表征我们的这件事实。有一天，我们要完全变化成为红宝石。我对自己、对众圣徒有十足的盼望，最终我们都会成为纯粹而完全的红宝石。在新天新地的新耶路撒冷里，所有在基督里的信徒都要成为宝石。
7We should not doubt the fact that we are signified by the onyx stones on the shoulders of the ephod. One day, we shall be fully transformed into onyx stone. I have the full expectation both for myself and for all the saints that eventually we shall be onyx stones in a pure and complete way. In the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and the new earth, all the believers in Christ will be precious stones.
金槽
Plaited settings of gold
8然而，本篇信息主要的点不是论到变化，而是论到红宝石如何安在肩带上。红宝石如何与肩带相连？出埃及记二十八章十一节说：“要用刻宝石的手工，仿佛刻图书，按着以色列儿子的名字，刻这两块宝石，要镶在金槽上。”我们已经看见，繙作“金槽”的希伯来字也就是金子编织的细工、金子编织的槽、金子编成的镶座。镶嵌红宝石的金槽形状并不简单，而是打成非常美丽的图案。我们不该以为这些镶座仅仅是金子承放宝石的凹处。不，金子乃是打成细致的镶座。
8The main point in this message, however, is not related to transformation. It is related to how the onyx stones were placed on the shoulder-pieces. How were the onyx stones attached to the shoulder-pieces? Exodus 28:11 says, “With the work of a stone engraver, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall make them enclosed in settings of gold.” We have seen that the Hebrew words rendered “settings of gold” also mean plaited work of gold, plaited settings of gold, filigree settings of gold. The gold into which the onyx stones were put was not simple in shape. Rather, it was plaited into a very beautiful design. We should not think of these settings merely as sockets of gold formed to hold the precious stones. No, the gold was plaited into a filigree setting.
9这些细致的金槽表征我们如何连于、系于、束于主耶稣身上。这些金槽描绘出主的神性经过了种种的过程和许多的苦难。主耶稣所经历的苦难使祂成为美丽的金槽，来 托住我们这些宝石。
9These filigree settings of gold signify how we are attached, fastened, held, to the Lord Jesus. These settings portray the Lord’s divinity after it has been processed and has passed through many sufferings. The sufferings experienced by the Lord Jesus caused Him to be formed into a beautiful setting to hold us as the precious stones.
10如果我们没有以弗得和细致的金槽这个豫表所提供的图画，就不会单由新约的明言晓得我们是如何连于主耶稣的。新约指明我们由主的能力所保守，圣经这么说，我们也这么信。但你曾经想到主耶稣是把我们保守在美丽的金槽里么？我们连于祂乃是连得非常美丽的。
10If we did not have the picture afforded by the type of the ephod with the filigree settings, we would not know simply by the plain words in the New Testament how we are held to the Lord Jesus. The New Testament indicates that we are held by the power of the Lord. The Bible says this, and we believe it. But have you ever imagined that the Lord Jesus is holding us in beautiful settings of gold filigree? We are being held to Him in a very beautiful way.
11我们必须花时间来祷读出埃及记二十八章的这些经文，并与别人一同交通，这样会帮助我们更加珍赏主。我们愈看见主的美丽、愈珍赏主的美丽，我们就愈坚固地连于祂，并凭着祂。
11We need to take time to pray-read these verses in Exodus 28 and fellowship with others concerning them. This will help us to appreciate the Lord more. The more we behold the Lord’s beauty and appreciate it, the more steadily shall we be fastened to Him and by Him.
金炼
Chains of gold
12我们已经看见，红宝石镶在美丽的金槽里。现在我们必须接着来看，这些可爱的金槽如何连在以弗得的肩带上。出埃及记二十八章十三节、十四节说：“要用金子作二槽。又拿精金，用拧工仿佛拧绳子，作两条炼子，把这拧成的炼子搭在二槽上。”这些经文表明金槽是由金炼系在肩带上。这些金线形成拧在一起的金炼。这些金绳把金槽里的红宝石系在肩带上。在这里有三项：肩带、金槽里的红宝石，以及用来把金槽和肩带系在一起的金绳。这描绘出主的神性成了连系的金绳。基督在祂的神性里必须经过一个过程，才能成为这样的金绳。
12We have seen that the onyx stones were placed into beautiful settings of gold filigree. Now we must go on to see how these lovely settings were connected to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. Exodus 28:13 and 14 say, “And you shall make settings of gold, and two chains of pure gold, twined you shall make them, a work of cords; and you shall put the chains of cords upon the settings.” These verses indicate that the settings are joined to the shoulder-pieces by chains of gold. The chains of golden cords were formed of golden threads twined together. These cords of gold fastened the onyx stones in the golden settings to the shoulder-pieces. Here we have three items: the shoulder-pieces, the onyx stones in the golden setting, and the golden cords used to fasten together the settings and the shoulder-pieces. This portrays the Lord’s divinity becoming a golden fastening cord. Once again, it was necessary for Christ in His divinity to pass through a process in order to become such a golden cord.
13我们读新约的时候，看不出主连系的力量和能力的美丽、细致。但我们查考出埃及记二十八章里以弗得和肩带、金槽、金绳的图画时，就能彀看见。红宝石系在肩上，就形成了我们所说的肩带。我们已经指出，肩带是以弗得的一部分，因此是用同样的材料作成的。
13From reading the New Testament we cannot see the beauty, the filigree, of the Lord’s fastening strength and power. But we can see it by considering the picture of the ephod with the shoulder-pieces, settings, and golden cords in Exodus 28. When the onyx stones were fastened to the shoulder-pieces, they formed what we may call the shoulder plates. We have pointed out that the shoulder-pieces were part of the ephod and therefore were made of the same materials.
藉着主的彰显连于祂
Held to the Lord by His expression
14主耶稣有力量来担负我们这些红宝石，这个力量是来自祂神性与人性的相调和，其中有神的彰显、人的彰显，以及主属天、君尊和救赎的彰显。我们就是藉着这种奇妙的彰显连于主耶稣的。如果宇宙中没有这样的彰显，就没有甚么能彀担负我们或使我们连于基督的了。宇宙中惟一能彀保守我们并使我们连于基督的，乃是基督的彰显，就是由金子、麻、蓝色、紫色、朱红色作成的以弗得所描绘的。我要强调，这就是基督是神，又是人，带着属天、君尊和救赎的彰显。
14The Lord Jesus has the strength to bear us as the onyx stones. This strength comes from His divinity mingled with His humanity and having the expression of God, of man, and of the Lord’s heavenliness, kingship, and redemption. We are held to the Lord Jesus by such a marvelous expression. If there were not such an expression in this universe, there would be nothing that could either bear us or fasten us to Christ. The only thing in the universe that can hold us and also fasten us to Christ is the very expression of Christ portrayed by the ephod made of gold, linen, blue, purple, and scarlet. I want to emphasize the fact that this is the expression of Christ as both God and man with His heavenliness, kingship, and redemption.
15我们天天吃食物，并由食物得着滋养。然而，我们多半不晓得食物里面有甚么丰富，来滋养我们、加强我们、供应我们的需要，甚至杀死我们里头的病菌。我们只知道食物是维持生命所不可少的。因此，我们吃了食物，也享受了食物。然而，营养学家对于食物作了科学的研究，非常了解食物的成分。他们不但吃食物、享受食物；同时也晓得食物的成分。我们可以用这件事来当作一个简单的例子，说出我们有连于基督并蒙基督保守的经历，却不晓得祂连系的力量和能力和能力里面所包含的是甚么。
15Day by day we eat food and are nourished by it. However, most of us do not know what are the riches in the food that nourish us, strengthen us, supply us with what we need, and even kill the germs within us. We only know that food is necessary to maintain life. Therefore, we eat it and enjoy it. However, dietitians have made a scientific study of food and know much about its ingredients. They not only eat food and enjoy it; they also understand something of its constituents. We may use this as a simple illustration of the fact that we may have the experience of being fastened to Christ and held by Him without realizing what is contained within His fastening strength and power.
16是甚么构成基督的力量，使我们能彀连于祂自己，使祂能担负我们并支持我们？我们来看出埃及记二十八章里的图画，就找着了这个问题的答案。照着以弗得的豫表来看，基督连系的力量、担负的大能和连结的能力，都是源于祂是神又是人，带着属天、君尊和救赎的彰显。用来作以弗得的材料和颜色怎样交织在一起，基督所彰显的这些方面也照样调和在一起。它们交织成为一件结实的衣服，能彀担负两块红宝石，并且把它们系在大祭司所穿以弗得的肩带上。
16What constitutes Christ’s strength to fasten us to Himself, to bear us, and to uphold us? We find the answer to this question by considering the picture in Exodus 28. According to the typology of the ephod, Christ’s fastening strength, bearing power, and linking ability are all derived from His expression as God and man with His heavenliness, kingship, and redemption. Just as the materials and colors used to make the ephod were woven together, all these aspects of Christ’s expression are mingled together. They are woven into one strong garment that can bear the two onyx stones and fasten them to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod worn by the high priest.
17我里面深处对于以弗得和肩带、红宝石、金槽和金绳的意义有很重的负担，然而，我没有言语来发表我里头所有的。人的言语不足以描述出埃及记二十八章里以弗得的图画，但是我相信，如果我们查考这幅图画，尤其是祷读这些经文并交通的话，我们就能彀领会言语所描述不来的事情。我们会看见一幅主耶稣的奇妙图画。然后我们会说：“哦，主耶稣，你是如此美丽、如此珍贵。主，你是神，又是人，是神人交织在一起。你是属天、君尊的，又是救赎者。主，我连于你，并由你来担负。赞美你！”
17Deep within I have a heavy burden concerning the significance of the ephod with the shoulder-pieces, onyx stones, settings, and golden cords. However, I simply do not have the words to utter what is in me. There are no human words adequate to describe the picture of the ephod in Exodus 28. However, I believe that if we consider this picture, especially if we pray-read these verses and have fellowship over them, we shall be able to realize something that is beyond our ability to describe in words. We shall see a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus. Then we shall say, “O Lord Jesus, You are so beautiful and precious. Lord, what a treasure You are! You are the very God and a real man woven together. Lord Jesus, You are heavenly, You are kingly, and You are the redeeming One. Lord, I am fastened to You and borne by You. How I praise You, Lord!”
相互的妆饰
Mutual beautification
18我们连于主，像宝石连在以弗得上面，就成了祂彰显中那额外的美丽，祂的彰显也成了我们蒙保守时的美丽。想想看大祭司所穿的衣服，如果把红宝石拿走，以弗得的美丽就减少了。这里有一种相互的妆饰：主是我们的美丽，我们也是主的彰显中额外的美丽。如果我们晓得，我们就会感谢主，我们竟成为祂所彰显之美丽的一部分。
18When we are attached to the Lord like stones attached to the ephod, we become an added beauty to His expression, and His expression becomes our beauty in which we are held. Consider the garments worn by the high priest. If the onyx stones were removed, the beauty of the ephod would be diminished. Here there is a mutual beautification: the Lord is our beauty, and we are a beauty added to His expression. If we realize this, we shall thank the Lord that we can be part of the beauty of His expression.
19不但如此，如果红宝石仅仅系在以弗得上，而没有镶在美丽的金槽里，它们也不彀美丽。这指明金槽成了红宝石的美丽。所以，在这里有一种相互的美丽，红宝石成了以弗得的美丽，以弗得和金槽也成了红宝石的美丽。红宝石和以弗得彼此妆饰。
19Furthermore, if the onyx stones were simply fastened to the ephod without being placed in beautiful golden settings, they would be short of beauty. This indicates that the golden filigree settings become the beauty of the onyx stones. Therefore, here we have a mutual beauty. The onyx stones become the beauty of the ephod, and the ephod with the golden settings becomes the beauty of the onyx stones. This means that the stones and the ephod beautify each other.
永远的记念
An eternal memorial
20二十八章十二节论到刻着以色列儿子名字的红宝石，说：“亚伦要在两肩上，担他们的名字，在耶和华面前作为记念。”这表明红宝石在神眼中成了记念。这些宝石成 了甚么事情的记念？它们乃是记念镶在基督里的教会，记念基督托住教会─神的赎民。这个记念要一直持续到永远。我们要系在基督身上，基督也要在神面前托住我们，作为永远的记念。今天我们就能经历并享受这件事。
20Speaking of the onyx stones on which were inscribed the names of the sons of Israel, 28:12 says, “Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.” This indicates that the onyx stones became a memorial in the sight of God. Of what were these stones a memorial? They were a memorial of the church set in Christ, a memorial of Christ holding the church, God’s redeemed people. This memorial will last for eternity. We shall be fastened to Christ, and Christ will hold us in the presence of God as an eternal memorial. Today we can experience this and enjoy it.
21这些事情我没有口才多加发表，我信圣灵曾向你们说到这一点。愿我们都得着鼓励，藉着祷读和交通来思想这一段话。
21Concerning these matters, I do not have the utterance to say more. I trust that the Holy Spirit will speak to you concerning this. May we all be encouraged to ponder this portion of the Word by pray-reading and by fellowship.