Books
出埃及记生命读经 · 第147篇

金香坛（一）

The golden incense altar (1)
1读经： 出埃及记三十章一至五节；三十七章二十五至二十八节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 30:1-5; 37:25-28
2我们已经有许多篇信息讲到二十九章，现在我们来看三十章里面一个美妙的东西─金香坛。（三十1～5。）
2After so many messages on chapter twenty-nine, we come now to a wonderful matter in chapter thirty — the golden incense altar (30:1-5).
3研读旧约里的豫表，尤其是出埃及记和利未记里的豫表，最困难的就是如何把这些豫表应用到我们日常的基督徒生活中。在道理上研读这些豫表，或是懂得这些豫表并不太难，但要实际地把这些豫表应用到我们基督徒的日常生活中，就需要相当的经历了。
3In studying the types in the Old Testament, especially in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, the most difficult thing is to see how to apply these types to our daily Christian life. It is not so difficult to study the types in a doctrinal way or to understand them in a doctrinal way. But to apply these types in a practical way to our daily life as Christians requires a certain amount of experience.
祭司的事奉开始的地方
The place where the priestly service begins
4论到香坛，我愿意题出一个问题：为甚么按着出埃及记的顺序，这么晚才把香坛启示出来？我们读二十五章就晓得，帐幕里首先题到的是约柜，然后陆续说到桌子、灯台，以及帐幕本身的建造。我们读二十五章、二十六章的时候，也许会希奇为甚么这一段没有题起香坛。此外，二十七章是描述铜祭坛和帐幕的外院子；二十八章是说到祭司的衣服；二十九章是论到祭司的成圣。事实上，出埃及记二十九章是论到祭司的食物。因此，二十八章是说到祭司的衣服，二十九章是说到祭司的食物。在这一切之后，三十章一至五节才有金香坛的描述。所以香坛是帐幕最后启示出来的一项器具，是在帐幕以及帐幕其余的器具并祭司的装备启示出来之后，才加以描述的。换句话说，惟有在帐幕以及帐幕其余的器具都启示出来以后，香坛才来到。
4Regarding the incense altar, I would like to ask this question: Why is the incense altar revealed so late in the sequence in the book of Exodus? From reading chapter twenty-five we know that the first item in the tabernacle to be mentioned is the ark. The record then goes on to speak of the table, the lampstand, and the building of the tabernacle itself. As we read chapters twenty-five and twenty-six, we may wonder why there is no mention of the incense altar in this section. Furthermore, chapter twenty-seven describes the bronze altar and the court of the tabernacle; chapter twenty-eight speaks of the priestly garments; and chapter twenty-nine is concerned with the sanctification of the priests. Actually, Exodus 29 is concerned with the priests’ food. Thus, chapter twenty-eight talks about the clothing of the priests, and chapter twenty-nine, their food. It is after all this that we have the description of the golden incense altar in 30:1-5. Therefore, the incense altar is the last item revealed of the furniture within the tabernacle. It is described after the revelation of the tabernacle with the rest of its furniture and the equipping of the priesthood. In other words, the incense altar comes in only after the tabernacle with all the rest of its furniture has been revealed.
5我们已经看见，香坛是在论到祭司的成圣这一章以后才描述出来的。当祭司有了衣服和食物，双手被充满的时候，他们就豫备好要来事奉神。到了二十九章末了，帐幕及其器具都豫备好了，祭司体系也豫备好了，现在乃是圣别的事奉开始的时候。但这圣别的事奉、祭司的事奉该由那里开始呢？有些人也许以为祭司的事奉该由燔祭坛开始，而不是由香坛开始。然而，根据出埃及记里神圣的记载，这个事奉是开始于金香 坛，就是第二座坛。
5We have seen that the incense altar is described after the chapter concerning the sanctification of the priests. When the priests have their clothing and their food, their hands are filled, and they are ready to serve God. By the end of chapter twenty-nine the tabernacle with its furniture is ready, and the priesthood is also ready. Now is the time for the holy service to begin. But with what should this holy service, this priestly service, begin? Some may think that the priestly service ought to begin at the altar of burnt offering, not at the incense altar. However, according to the divine record in Exodus, this service begins at the golden incense altar, which is the second altar.
6就帐幕而论，有两座坛：外院子里的燔祭坛，就是第一座坛；以及圣所里的金香坛，就是第二座坛。在神看来，祭司的事奉是开始于香坛，就是把祷告献给神的地方。我信默想祭司的事奉是由香坛开始这件事的重要性，对我们的基督徒生活会非常有帮助。
6With respect to the tabernacle, there are two altars: the altar of burnt offering in the outer court, the first altar, and the golden incense altar in the Holy Place, the second altar. In the sight of God, the priestly service begins at the incense altar, at the place where prayers are offered to God. I believe that it will be very helpful to our Christian life to dwell on the importance of the priestly service beginning at the incense altar.
香坛的位置
The location of the incense altar
7为了使你们对香坛的意义有深刻的印象，我要请你们留意本篇信息所附的帐幕图表。外院子的入口朝东，就是向日出之地。燔祭坛和洗濯盆就在外院子里。帐幕是个长三十肘，宽十肘，高十肘的建筑，分为两部分：圣所，长二十肘，宽十肘；至圣所是个长、宽、高皆为十肘的立方体。桌子在圣所北面，灯台在南面。整个帐幕的焦点─约柜─是在至圣所的里面。但香坛安置在那里呢？在圣所里，与隔开圣所和至圣所的幔子非常接近。
7In order to be impressed with the significance of the incense altar, I would ask you to pay attention to the diagram of the tabernacle printed with this message. The entrance to the outer court is on the east, toward the sunrise. The altar of burnt offering and the laver were in the outer court. The tabernacle, a structure thirty cubits long, ten cubits wide, and ten cubits high, was divided into two parts: the Holy Place, measuring twenty cubits by ten cubits, and the Holy of Holies, a cube ten cubits in length, width, and height. The table was on the north side of the Holy Place, and the lampstand was on the south side. The ark, the focal point of the entire tabernacle, was in the Holy of Holies. But where was the incense altar located? It was in the Holy Place, very close to the veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
8事实上，圣经里说到香坛的位置时有些含糊不清，很难说它究竟是在幔子外面，还是在幔子里面。有关香坛的位置，旧约和新约的说法显然是有差别的。出埃及记三十章六节说，香坛是放在“幔子之前”，就是在幔外。这清楚指出，香坛是放在幔子外面的圣所里，并非在幔内的至圣所里。但希伯来九章四节却说，至圣所有香坛。所以许多基督教教师和圣经学者，都认为定规有甚么差错或误解；其实不然！根据许多点看来，这明显的差别是很有属灵意义的。
8Actually there is some ambiguity in the Scriptures regarding the location of the incense altar. It is difficult to say whether it was outside the veil or within the veil. Regarding the standing place of the incense altar, there is apparently a discrepancy between the mentioning of it in the Old Testament and that in the New Testament. Exodus 30:6 says that the incense altar was put “before the veil,” that is, outside the veil. This indicates clearly that the incense altar was put in the Holy Place, which was outside the veil, not in the Holy of Holies, which was within the veil. But Hebrews 9:4 says that the Holy of Holies has the incense altar. Therefore, many Christian teachers and Bible readers have thought that some error or misconstruction must somehow have occurred. But it is not so! The apparent discrepancy has a very spiritual significance according to a number of points.
9首先，旧约记载香坛的位置时，暗指香坛和见证的柜有顶密切的关系。见证的柜上头有蔽罪盖，是神与祂的百姓相会的地方。（出三十6。）旧约的记载甚至说，把香坛安在“见证的柜前”，没有题起香坛和见证的柜之间分隔的幔子。（出四十5。）
9First, the Old Testament record of the incense altar’s standing place implies the closest relation of the incense altar to the ark of testimony, over which is the propitiation-cover, where God meets with His people (Exo. 30:6). The record even says that the incense altar is set “before the ark of the testimony,” without mentioning the separating veil that stands between them (Exo. 40:5).
10第二，根据美国标准本，列王纪上六章二十二节说，“属内殿的香坛”。这里的“内殿”意思是神说话的地方，表明至圣所，其中有见证的柜并蔽罪盖，神就在那里和祂的百姓说话。故此旧约已经指明，香坛是属于至圣所的。（虽然香坛是在圣所里，其功用却是为着至圣所里见证的柜。在赎罪日，香坛与见证之柜的蔽罪盖，都要洒上同样的赎罪之血─出三十10，利十六15～16。）所以出埃及记二十六章三十五节题到圣所里只有桌子和灯台，而没有香坛。
10Second, according to the American Standard Version, 1 Kings 6:22 says that the incense altar “belonged to the oracle.” “Oracle” here means the speaking place of God; it denotes the Holy of Holies, in which was the ark of testimony with the propitiation-cover, where God spoke to His people. Thus, the Old Testament indicated already that the incense altar belonged to the Holy of Holies. (Though it was in the Holy Place, its function was for the ark of testimony in the Holy of Holies. On the day of atonement, both the incense altar and the propitiation-cover of the ark of testimony were sprinkled with the same blood for atonement — Exodus 30:10; Lev. 16:15-16.) Hence, in Exodus 26:35 only the table and the lampstand are mentioned as being in the Holy Place. There is no mention of the incense altar.
11第三，香坛是与祷告有关的。（路一10～11。）在希伯来书里我们看见，祷告乃是进入至圣所，（来十19，）来到施恩的宝座前，就是至圣所里见证之柜上面的蔽罪盖所表征的。我们的祷告常常开始于我们的心思，心思是我们魂的一部分，由圣所所表征的。但我们的祷告应当把我们领进灵里，这灵就是至圣所所表征的。由以上各点，希伯来书的作者就必须把香坛看作是属于至圣所的。希伯来九章四节不是说，金香坛“在”至圣所里，不像二节说，灯台和桌子“在圣所里”，乃是说至圣所有金香坛，因为金香坛是属于至圣所的。这个观念，和希伯来书所著重的点完全符合，就是我们应当竭力从魂（由圣所所表征）进到灵里（由至圣所所表征）。
11Third, the incense altar is related to prayer (Luke 1:10-11), and in Hebrews we see that to pray is to enter the Holy of Holies (Heb. 10:19) and to come to the throne of grace, signified by the propitiation-cover over the ark of testimony in the Holy of Holies. Our prayer often begins with our mind, which is part of our soul, signified by the Holy Place. But our prayer should usher us into our spirit, signified by the Holy of Holies. Due to all these points, the writer of Hebrews had to reckon that the incense altar belongs to the Holy of Holies Hebrews 9:4 does not say that a golden incense altar is in the Holy of Holies, as the lampstand and the table are in the Holy Place in verse 2. It says that the Holy of Holies has a golden altar, since it belongs to the Holy of Holies. This concept fits the whole emphasis of the book of Hebrews — that we should press on from the soul (signified by the Holy Place) to the spirit (signified by the Holy of Holies).
神行政的中心
The center of God’s administration
12根据帐幕和外院子的图表来看，约柜乃是焦点。然而，在实行上，中心乃是香坛。这指明基督代求的生活，乃是神圣实施、神圣行政的焦点。在宇宙中有个东西，可以称之为神的经营、神的行政、神的实施。我们可以用不同的名词来描述这一件事：经营、行政、实施、分赐、运行、管理。这些名词都可当作是指一件事的同义词。这意思是说，神的经营、神的分赐、神的行政、神的管理、神的运行、神的实施，都是指同一件事说的。神并不闲懒，神是一位有目的的神。祂有一个目的，而祂正在运行、作工、行动、分赐、行政。这个帐幕的图表非常正确、详尽地描绘出神在宇宙中的行政和经营。
12According to the diagram of the tabernacle and the outer court, the ark is the focus. However, in actual practice the center is the incense altar. This indicates that Christ’s interceding life is the center of the divine practice, the divine administration. In the universe there is something that may be called God’s economy, God’s administration, God’s practice. We may use different terms to describe this one matter: economy, administration, practice, dispensation, move, government. All these terms may be regarded as synonymous, as referring to the same thing. This means that God’s economy, dispensation, administration, government, move, and practice all refer to the same thing. God is not idle: He is a God of purpose. He has a purpose, and He is moving, working, acting, dispensing, administrating. This diagram of the tabernacle is a very accurate and detailed picture of God’s administration, God’s economy, in this universe.
13我们来研究香坛的时候，乃是来研究宇宙中最大的事，再没有甚么比这件事更中心的了。虽然我们不是从政者，但我们的确是属天的政治家。不但如此，我们还在研究宇宙的“政治”，就是神的政治。至圣所里的约柜乃是中央政府，是我们属天的华盛顿特区；香坛则可视为我们天上的白宫。这意思是说，每一件事都是由这个神圣的中心所执行、推动、实行出来的。基督的代求就是神的白宫。基督代求的生活、祷告的生活，乃是神行政的中心。
13When we study the incense altar, we are studying the greatest matter in the universe. There is nothing more central than this. Although we are not politicians, we surely are heavenly statesmen. Furthermore, we are studying universal “politics,” that is, God’s politics. The ark in the Holy of Holies is the central government, our heavenly Washington, D.C. The incense altar may be regarded as our heavenly White House. This means that everything is executed, motivated, and carried out from this divine center. The intercession of Christ is God’s White House. Christ’s interceding life, His prayer life, is the center of God’s administration.
14启示录乃是一卷神行政的书、神圣执行的书，这卷书启示出神的宝座以及神在全宇宙中的行政。然而，实际上，执行中心并不是宝座，而是启示录八章里的香坛。启示录八章三节说：“另有一位天使拿着金香炉，来站在祭坛旁边；有许多香赐给祂，要和众圣徒的祈祷一同献在宝座前的金坛上。”众圣徒的祈祷要在这坛上献给神，并且基督的香要加在这些祈祷里面。众圣徒的祈祷和基督的香一同升到神面前的时候，神就执行了祂行政的政策。
14The book of Revelation is a book of God’s administration, a book of divine execution. This book reveals the throne of God and the administration of God throughout the universe. However, the executing center actually is not the throne; the executing center is the incense altar in Revelation 8. Revelation 8:3 says, “And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and much incense was given to Him that He should add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” On this altar the prayers of the saints are offered to God, and Christ’s incense is added to these prayers. When the prayers of the saints ascend to God with the incense of Christ, God executes the policies of His administration.
团体基督的祷告生活
The prayer life of the corporate Christ
15基督的祷告生活乃是神在地上执行祂行政的中心，启示录八章指明了这件事。但有些人读启示录八章时也许会说：“我们在启示录八章看不见基督的祷告，只能看见众圣徒的祷告。”然而，众圣徒与基督原是一。启示录八章里的祷告不再仅仅是个别基督的祷告，而是成了团体基督的祷告。在香坛前所进行执行的事上，众圣徒与基督的确是一。因此，我们在本篇信息中说到基督的祷告生活，意思就是团体基督的祷告生活。
15The prayer life of Christ is the center of God’s execution of His government on earth. Revelation 8 indicates this. But some who read chapter eight of Revelation may say, “In Revelation 8 we cannot see Christ’s prayer. We can see only the prayers of the saints.” The saints, however, are one with Christ. The prayers in Revelation 8 no longer are merely the prayers of the individual Christ, but have become the prayers of the corporate Christ. In the matter of the execution that takes place at the incense altar, the saints truly are one with Christ. Therefore, when we speak in this message of the prayer life of Christ, we mean the prayer life of the corporate Christ.
16此外，我们必须晓得，每当我们在灵里祷告的时候，基督就在我们的祷告中祷告。新约说到在主的名里祷告，在主耶稣的名里祷告，就是在基督里祷告。我们这么祷告，其实就是基督在祷告。举例来说，假设你到银行去，以另一个人的名义办理一笔交易，银行会尊重你的名，还是你所代表之人的名？当然，银行不会承认你的名，反而会承认你所代表之人的名。实在说来，因着你代表那个人，你就是那个人，因你是在他的名里行动。照样，我们在基督的名里祷告，就是在祂里面祷告；而我们在祂里面祷告，其实就是基督在祷告。祂在我们里面祷告，在我们的祷告中祷告。在神看来，众圣徒和众教会所有正当的祷告都是基督的祷告，也都是基督代求里的一部分。
16Furthermore, we need to realize that whenever we pray in the spirit, Christ is praying in our praying. The New Testament speaks of praying in the Lord’s name. To pray in the name of the Lord Jesus is to pray in Christ. When we pray in this way, Christ is actually the one praying. For example, suppose you go to a bank to carry out a transaction in the name of another person. Will the bank honor your name or the name of the person you represent? To be sure, the bank will not recognize your name; instead, it will recognize the name of the person represented by you. In a very real sense, because you are representing that person, you are that person, for you are acting in his name. In like manner, when we pray in Christ’s name, we pray in Him. Also, when we pray in Him, Christ is actually the one praying. He prays in us; He prays in our prayer. In the sight of God, all the proper prayers of the saints and of the churches are prayers of Christ and are included as part of Christ’s intercession.
一卷代表的书
A representative book
17圣经是一本图画的书。就整体来说，圣经里所描绘的图画正符合帐幕和外院子的图表。在圣经里有一卷书可看作是代表全本圣经的，这卷代表的书就是约翰福音。
17The Bible is a picture book. The picture portrayed in the Bible as a whole corresponds to the diagram of the tabernacle and the outer court. There is one book in the Bible that can be regarded as representing the entire Bible. This representative book is the Gospel of John.
18圣经开头的话是：“起初…。”约翰福音的开始也非常类似。创世记一章一节告诉我们，神创造天地。约翰福音说到话与神同在，话就是神，一章三节说：“万物是藉着祂而存有的，离了祂，这些已存有的没有一样能存有。”（另译。）已存有的万物都是藉着祂而存有的。因此，约翰福音里有创造的记载。
18The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning....” The Gospel of John begins in a way that is very similar. Genesis 1:1 tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. Speaking of the Word, which was with God and which is God, John 1:3 says, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being which has come into being.” Everything that has come into existence has come into being through Him. Thus, in the Gospel of John we have the matter of creation.
19旧约说了很多帐幕的事，我们在约翰福音里也看见了帐幕：“话成了肉身，支搭帐幕在我们中间。”（约一14，另译。）约翰福音里所记载的乃是帐幕，在这卷福音里，耶稣基督自己就是神的帐幕。
19The Old Testament has much to say about the tabernacle. We also find the tabernacle in the Gospel of John: “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14). The record in John is a record of the tabernacle. In this Gospel Jesus Christ Himself is God’s tabernacle.
20施浸约翰论到主耶稣，说：“看哪！神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。”（约一29。）这里有祭坛。约翰三章有洗濯盆，因为这一章是论到藉重生而有的洗净。因着重生是一种洗净，提多书三章五节就用了“重生的洗”这个词。这种把我们洗净的重生， 就是洗濯盆。
20Speaking of the Lord Jesus, John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Here we have the altar. In chapter three of John we have the laver, for this chapter speaks of the washing that comes through regeneration. Because regeneration is a kind of washing, Titus 3:5 uses the expression “the washing of regeneration.” This regeneration that washes us is the laver.
21我们由约翰一章里的祭坛和三章里的洗濯盆往前，就来到六章里的陈设饼桌子。三十三节里有桌上的饼：“因为神的粮，就是那从天上降下来赐生命给世界的。”
21As we go on from the altar in chapter one of John and the laver in chapter three, we come to the showbread table in chapter six. The bread on this table is in verse 33: “For the bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”
22灯台是在第八章，在十二节主耶稣说：“我是世界的光；跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。”所以我们有帐幕、祭坛、洗濯盆、桌子和灯台。
22The lampstand is in chapter eight. In verse 12 the Lord Jesus says, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Therefore, we have the tabernacle, the altar, the laver, the table, and the lampstand.
23我们在约翰福音甚么地方能看见约柜呢？约柜是在十四、十五、十六章，这三章把至圣所启示了出来。这里我们看见，我们能彀进到神里面，进到神所在的地方。这三章也说到基督的死而复活。基督藉着死而复活，豫备了一条路，使我们进入至圣所，就是进入神自己的里面。
23Where in the Gospel of John do we find the ark? The ark is in chapters fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen, three chapters that reveal the Holy of Holies. Here we see that we can enter into God, into the place where God is. These chapters also speak of Christ’s death and resurrection. By His death and resurrection Christ has prepared the way for us to enter into the Holy of Holies, that is, to come into God Himself.
24在约翰十七章能彀看见香坛，这一章有基督代求的祷告。四福音记载了主耶稣在其它场合的祷告，但对基督祷告的记载，却不如约翰十七章里的那样充分、绝佳并美妙。众圣徒和众教会都必须由约翰十七章来学习如何祷告，这一章里的祷告乃是团体基督祷告的范本和榜样。因此，我们都必须学习在主耶稣的名里这样来祷告。然而，我的意思不是说，我们仅仅该背诵约翰十七章里所记载的祷告。反之，我们必须学习在主的名里，以祂所祷告的方式来祷告，约翰十七章里的祷告应当成为我们的祷告。
24The incense altar can be found in John 17. In this chapter we have Christ’s prayer of intercession. The four Gospels record other occasions when the Lord Jesus prayed, but no record of Christ’s prayer is as adequate, excellent, and marvelous as that found in John 17. All the saints and all the churches need to learn how to pray from John l7. The prayer in this chapter is a model, a pattern, of the prayer of the corporate Christ. Thus we all must learn to pray this prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus. I do not mean, however, that we should merely recite the prayer recorded in John 17. Rather, we must learn to pray in the Lord’s name in the same way He prayed. The prayer in John 17 should become our prayer.
香坛的功效
The effectiveness of the incense altar
25如果不是因着香坛，没有人会到燔祭坛这里来，没有人会悔改，到祭坛这里来承认他的罪。香坛那里的祷告推动了罪人到燔祭坛这里来。因着这个祷告，有一天我们悔改了。你晓得你悔改的原因么？你所以会悔改，乃是因着香坛─天上的白宫─发布了一则消息，激励你悔改。因此，没有香坛，燔祭坛就不能尽功用，也没有人会悔改。
25If it were not for the incense altar, no one would come to the altar of burnt offering. No one would repent and come to the altar to confess his sins. It is the prayer at the incense altar that motivates sinners to come to the altar of burnt offering. Because of this prayer, one day we repented. Do you know the reason you repented? You repented because the incense altar, the heavenly White House, sent forth a message urging you to repent. Thus, without the incense altar, the altar of burnt offering cannot function, and no one can repent.
26有些人也许有悔改的经历，然而还没有得着重生；所以需要香坛那里更多的祷告。元首基督或身体教会必须祷告说：“父阿，看看这些人，他们已经悔改了，然而还没有得着重生。父阿，赦免他们的罪，并且重生他们。”由香坛所发出进一步的祷告，结果就推动别人来到洗濯盆这里，他们要投入洗濯盆中，并且在那灵里受浸。
26Some may have the experience of repentance, but they may not yet be regenerated. Thus, there is the need of more prayer at the incense altar. Either Christ Himself as the Head or the church as the Body needs to pray, “O Father, look at these people. They have repented, but they have not yet been regenerated. Father, forgive their sins and regenerate them.” As a result of further prayers from the incense altar, others will be motivated to come to the laver. They will want to plunge into the laver and be immersed in the Spirit.
27今天许多圣徒灵里饥饿，在安那翰我们有负担祷告，使这些饥饿的人来到陈设饼桌子这里从基督得着餧养。许多人虽然饥饿，却不愿意到基督这里来享受祂作生命的供应。今天地上有亿万的基督徒，但有多少人在桌子前从基督得着餧养呢？绝大多数的人连一小篮的食物都没有，更不用说一桌的食物了。由此我们看见，需要香坛那里更多的祷告，好推动信徒来到圣所里的桌子前，享受基督作生命的供应。
27Today many saints are starving spiritually. In Anaheim we have the burden to pray that these hungry ones will come to the showbread table to feed on Christ. Although many are starving, they are not willing to come to Christ to enjoy Him as their life supply. Of the millions of Christians on earth today, how many are feeding on Christ at the table? The vast majority do not even have a small basket of food, much less a table. By this we see there is the need of much more prayer at the incense altar so that the believers will be motivated to come to the table in the Holy Place to enjoy Christ as their life supply.
28我晓得愈过会有愈多的信徒逐渐走上主恢复的道路。虽然现在人数还是不多，进展也很缓慢，但这是一个无可否认的事实，有更多主的百姓要来到祂的餐桌前。我接到圣徒的许多谢函，告诉我说，他们如何因着生命读经的信息得了滋养。不久以前，我得知哥斯达黎加有一处教会，这是位于中美洲的一个国家。我接到一封由首都圣约瑟寄来的信，告诉我该城有一处教会，邻近地区也有寻求主的人。这些地方的圣徒很宝贵从主的话里所得着的滋养，他们正在主的桌子前坐席。元首基督以及许多教会都在为这件事祷告。
28I have learned that gradually more and more believers are taking the way of the Lord’s recovery. The number is still small and the progress is slow, but it is an undeniable fact that more of the Lord’s people are coming to His dining table. I have received many letters of appreciation from saints telling me how they have been nourished through the Life-study Messages. Not long ago I learned that there is a church in Costa Rica, a country located in Central America. A letter from the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose, informed me that there is a church in that city and seeking ones in nearby localities as well. The saints in these places appreciate the nourishment they receive from the Word. They are dining at His table. Christ the Head and so many of the churches are praying for this.
29在天上的白宫所进行的祷告，不但使信徒藉着主的话得着滋养，也使他们得着光照。光总是随着陈设饼桌子而来。在圣所里，我们首先来到桌子前得着滋养，然后来到灯台前得着光照。约翰福音里的顺序也是一样，约翰六章有餧养，而约翰八章有光。我们得了餧养，就必得着光。然而，众圣徒若要得着餧养和光照，就必须在香坛那里为此献上祷告。
29Prayer is going on in the heavenly White House not only that the believers will be nourished through the Word, but also that they will be enlightened. Light always comes after the showbread table. In the Holy Place first we come to the table to be nourished and then to the lampstand to be enlightened. The sequence is the same in the Gospel of John. In John 6 we have the feeding, and in John 8 we have the light. When we are fed, we shall receive light. However, if the saints are to be fed and enlightened, there must be prayer for this offered at the incense altar.
30我们在圣所里经历了餧养和光照之后，就必须进入至圣所来摸着神的见证。在主的恢复里，我们不是仅仅关心执行一项工作，我们在这里乃是为着实现神的见证。实在说来，我们不是在一个工场上作工，而是在至圣所里摸着见证。然而，有些教会还没有进到至圣所里接触神的见证。反之，他们还在圣所里陈设饼桌子面前，这些教会需要更多的祷告。我很关心这些人，他们还在圣所里陈设饼桌子面前，还没有进到至圣所里摸着帐幕的中心点，就是神的见证。为此需要有更多的祷告，我信在香坛那里正献上这样的祷告。
30After we experience the feeding and the enlightening in the Holy Place, we need to enter into the Holy of Holies to touch God’s testimony. In the Lord’s recovery we do not care merely to carry out a work; we are here for the carrying out of God’s testimony. In a very real sense we are not in a field laboring; rather, we are in the Holy of Holies touching the testimony. However, some of the churches have not yet come into the Holy of Holies to contact God’s testimony. Instead, they are still in the Holy Place at the showbread table. These churches need more prayer. I am concerned for those of us who are still at the table and who have not yet come into the Holy of Holies to touch the central point of the tabernacle, God’s testimony. There is the need of more prayer concerning this. I believe that this prayer is being offered at the incense altar.
31香藉着金香坛上的焚烧往上升的时候，神的行政就开始执行了，这就是神应允了在香坛那里所献上的祷告。
31As the incense ascends through the burning at the golden altar of incense, the execution of God’s administration is taking place. This execution is God’s answer to the prayers offered at the incense altar.
32你能彀解释你为甚么在主的恢复里么？很少人是因着朋友或亲戚的劝勉走上这条路。反之，他们有些人会制止你，叫你不要参加教会的聚会。但即使别人想要制止你，因着香坛，你还是走上了这条路。所以，如果有人探询我们为甚么会进到主的恢复里，或是谁打发我们到这里来，我们就该回答说，我们是由香坛所推动、所打发来的。
32Can you explain why you are in the Lord’s recovery? Not many were urged to come this way by friends or relatives. On the contrary, some of them may have held you back and told you not to attend the meetings of the church. But even though others may have tried to hold you back, you have come this way because of the incense altar. Therefore, if we are asked what caused us to come into the Lord’s recovery or who sent us here, we should answer that we were motivated and sent by the incense altar.
33几年前，有些反对主恢复的人定意要尽他们所能的来破坏主的恢复，但是反对者所定意要作的，我并不惧怕。反之，我认为反对乃是证实我们是在主的路上。你知道为甚么会有反对临到么？因为我们是由香坛那里的祷告所推动的。事实上，反对愈多，神圣的推动也愈多。反对者很忙碌，但那位代求者以及众代求者更加忙碌。最终，从我们的白宫所发出的祷告必然得胜。无论谁轻忽了天上的白宫、神行政的中心，都是一件严肃的事。
33Some of those who oppose the Lord’s recovery made a decision some years ago to do whatever they can to destroy the recovery. But I am not afraid of what opposing ones determine to do. On the contrary, I regard the opposition as a confirmation that we are in the Lord’s way. Do you know why opposition comes? It comes because we are motivated by the prayer at the incense altar. In fact, the more opposition there is, the more divine motivation we have. The opposers are busy, but the Intercessor and also the intercessors are more busy. Eventually, the prayer from our White House will prevail. It is a serious matter for anyone to deal lightly with the heavenly White House, the center of God’s administration.
34倘若我们在本篇信息所论到的光中来看约翰十七章，我信我们对本章的珍赏会大为增加。约翰十七章里的代求暗指香坛的功效、陈设饼桌子的丰富、灯台的照亮，尤其是指至圣所和见证的柜。约翰十七章的确是帐幕里的香坛，帐幕里其它地方的活动，全数是由这里推动的。香坛使人来到燔祭坛、洗濯盆、陈设饼桌子、灯台以及至圣所里的约柜面前。约翰十七章所记载主耶稣的祷告，就是这座香坛的一幅美妙图画。
34I believe that if we consider John 17 in the light of what we have covered in this message, our appreciation of this chapter will be greatly increased. The intercession in chapter seventeen of John implies the effectiveness of the altar of burnt offering, the riches of the showbread table, the brightness of the lampstand, and in particular the Holy of Holies with the ark of testimony. John 17 truly is the incense altar in the tabernacle, the place from which the activities at all the other places in the tabernacle are motivated. It is the incense altar that causes people to come to the altar of burnt offering, to the laver, to the showbread table, to the lampstand, and to the ark in the Holy of Holies. The prayer of the Lord Jesus recorded in John 17 is a marvelous picture of this incense altar.