Books
出埃及记生命读经 · 第152篇

金香坛（六）

The golden incense altar (6)
1读经： 出埃及记三十章六至十节；四十章五节，二十六至二十七节；诗篇八十四篇三节；一百四十一篇二节；启示录八章三至六节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 30:6-10; 40:5, 26-27; Psa. 84:3; 141:2; Rev. 8:3-6
2我们经过燔祭坛、桌子、灯台、约柜以后，就到达金香坛面前。我们来到这座坛面前，独一的喜好、惟一的兴趣，就是祷告。
2After we have gone to the altar of burnt offering, the table, the lampstand, and the ark, we arrive at the golden altar of incense. When we come to this altar, our unique taste, our only interest, is to pray.
在代求上与基督合一
One with Christ in intercession
3我们在香坛面前会献上怎样的祷告？我们会献上私人的祷告或个人的祷告么？不，我们在香坛面前所献上的祷告乃是代求的祷告。每当我们在香坛面前开口祷告的时候，我们所发出的祷告不是私人、个人的祷告，而是代求的祷告。在这里我们对自己、对自己的利益不再有兴趣，我们不是顾虑自己，为自己祷告，而是为别人代求。那时候，我们在经历中就真是基督的肢体，真是身体基督、团体基督的一部分了。不但如此，那也是我们在基督代求的职事上与祂配合的时候。祂以一种方式代求，我们就按祂代求的方式来与祂配合。这意思是说，我们在代求的祷告中来实现祂的代求。真奇妙！在这里我们真与主是一。
3What kind of prayers shall we offer at the incense altar? Shall we pray private prayers or personal prayers? No, the prayer we offer at the incense altar will be intercessory prayers. Whenever we open our mouth to pray at the incense altar, the prayer that will issue forth will not be personal, individual prayer. It will be intercessory prayer. Here we no longer have any interest in ourselves or in our welfare. Instead of considering ourselves and praying for ourselves, we intercede for others. At that time we shall be in our experience a real member of Christ, a genuine part of the Body-Christ, the corporate Christ. Furthermore, that will be the time when we cooperate with Christ in His ministry of intercession. He intercedes in a particular way, and we cooperate with Him in His way of interceding. This means that we carry out His intercession in our prayers of intercession. This is marvelous! Here we are truly one with the Lord.
神圣旅程的目的地
The destination of the divine tour
4在外院子的燔祭坛那里有一种的深奥，在桌子、灯台、约柜、香坛那里有另一种的深奥。所以和帐幕、外院子有关的，至少有五种深奥。在神看来，今天少有信徒在香坛面前祷告，原因乃是他们没有经历这一切的深奥。正如我们已经指出，在第一座坛祷告的人也许很多，在第二座坛代求的人却不多。
4At the altar of burnt offering in the outer court there is a particular kind of depth. There are other depths at the table, the lampstand, the ark, and the incense altar. Hence, concerning the tabernacle and the outer court, there are at least five kinds of depths. In the sight of God, the reason that not many believers today are praying at the incense altar is that they have not experienced all these depths. As we have pointed out, many may pray at the first altar, but few are interceding at the second.
5我们要在第二座坛祷告，首先就必须经历燔祭坛。我们经历燔祭坛的时候，必须对于血和灰有完全的体认。然后我们必须继续经历桌子上的饼，这饼表征基督作我们生命的供应。此后我们往前到灯台那里，这灯台表征基督作我们的光。接着我们到约柜面前，这约柜表征基督是神的见证。这见证与我们天然的人相对。我们经历了第一座坛、桌子、灯台、约柜以后，就可以来到香坛面前，并且留在那里。
5In order to pray at the second altar, we must first experience the altar of burnt offering. In our experience of this altar, we need to have a full realization concerning the blood and the ashes. Then we must go on to experience the bread on the table, the bread that signifies Christ as our life supply. After this, we proceed to the lampstand, which signifies Christ as our light. Following that, we go to the ark, which signifies Christ as God’s testimony. This testimony is versus our natural being. After we have experienced the first altar, the table, the lampstand, and the ark, we may come to the incense altar and remain there.
6我们一旦到达香坛跟前，我们就该留在香坛这里，比在外院子或帐幕其它的地方留得更久。在这里我们必须祷告再祷告。这座金香坛是神圣旅程的目的地。这段旅程开始于外院子的祭坛，经过桌子、灯台，约柜，终止于香坛。因为神圣的旅程停在这里，我们就必须留在这里祷告。
6Once we arrive at the incense altar, we should stay here longer than at any other place in the outer court or the tabernacle. Here we need to pray again and again. This golden altar of incense is the destination of the divine tour. The tour begins at the altar in the outer court, passes through the table, the lampstand, and the ark, and stops at the incense altar. Because the divine tour stops here, we need to stay here to pray.
7你祷告的时候是在那里？你也许会说，你在神里面。然而这个答覆太笼统了。你必须指出一个特定的地方来。当你在神里面的时候，你留在那里？你是留在桌子面前么？还是留在灯台或约柜面前？花时间在桌子、灯台、约柜面前的确不错，但我们不该留在这些地方，因为这些地方不是我们的目的地。我们的目的地乃是香坛。因着香坛是我们的目的地，只要我们一到达那里，我们就该一直留在香坛那里祷告。
7Where are you when you pray? You may say that you are in God. However, this answer is too general. You need to specify a particular place. Where do you stay when you are in God? Do you remain at the table? Or do you remain at the lampstand or at the ark? It is very good that we spend time at the table, the lampstand, and the ark. But we should not remain at these places, because they are not our destination. Our destination is the incense altar. Because the incense altar is our destination, once we arrive there we should remain and continue there in prayer.
8你经历了更多以后，就会更完全领会我所说的。然后按着你所经历的，你会说同样的话。你会宣告说：“我经过了第一座坛、桌子、灯台、约柜以后，现今在香坛面前为着神的权益、为着众教会并众圣徒代求。”如果我们留在香坛面前，然后在基督里并同着基督，我们就会有些东西升到神那里去。这就是我们的祷告。
8After you have more experience, you will understand more fully what I am saying. Then according to your experience, you will say the same thing. You will declare, “After passing through the first altar, the table, the lampstand, and the ark, I am now at the incense altar interceding for God’s interests, for the churches, and for the saints.” If we remain at the incense altar, then in Christ and with Christ we shall have something that ascends to God. This is our prayer.
我们这个人由我们的祷告显明出来
Our person revealed by our prayer
9我们的祷告代表我们自己，在第一座坛和第二座坛的祷告都是如此。凡我们所祷告的，就代表我们。我们有怎样的祷告，决定于我们是怎样的人，因为我们的祷告把我们这个人显明出来了。假设有个小偷祷告，当然他的祷告会表明他是怎样的人。保罗祷告时，他祷告的方式就代表他这个人。照样，主耶稣献给父神的祷告，就表明主是怎样的人。这个原则，我们没有一个人能例外。我们祷告的方式就显明我们的所是。
9Our prayers represent ourselves. This is true both of the prayers at the first altar and at the second. Whatever we pray will represent us. The kind of prayer we have depends on the kind of person we are, for our prayers reveal our person. Suppose a thief offers a prayer. Certainly his prayer would indicate the kind of person he is. When the Apostle Paul prayed, he prayed in a way that represented his person. Likewise, the prayer offered to God the Father by the Lord Jesus indicates what the Lord is in His person. None of us is an exception to this principle. The way we pray reveals what we are.
10在第一座坛我们无法有代求的祷告。我们无法有这样的祷告，原因是我们还不是献上代求祷告的人。到这里，你只到达第一座坛。你必须彻底去经历它，然后继续到桌子、灯台、约柜面前。等你到了第二座坛，你才能成为献上代求祷告的人。我们到达香坛，就表明我们经历了第一座坛、桌子、灯台、约柜，并且到达了我们的目的地。
10At the first altar we cannot pray intercessory prayers. The reason we cannot pray such prayers at the first altar is that we are not yet the kind of person to offer intercessory prayers. Thus far, you have come only to the first altar. You need to experience it thoroughly and then go on to the table, the lampstand, and the ark. Not until you reach the second altar can you be the kind of person who is able to offer intercessory prayers. Reaching the incense altar indicates that we have experienced the first altar, the table, the lampstand, and the ark and have arrived at our destination.
异样的香
Strange incense
11我们在香坛面前祷告时，我们的祷告既没有异样的香，也没有凡火。倘若我们被主点活过来，我们就会晓得，许多基督徒以异样的香或凡火来祷告。神要我们以基督作我们的香来祷告。这意思是说，我们应当与基督一同祷告，不该以异样的香来祷告。
11When we pray at the incense altar, there will be neither strange incense nor strange fire in our prayer. If we have been enlivened by the Lord, we shall realize that many Christians pray with strange incense or with strange fire. God wants us to pray with Christ as our incense. This means that we should pray with Christ. We should not pray with strange incense.
12你知道异样的香是甚么？凡我们所祷告的事物，不是基督或是与基督无关的，都是异样的香。在神看来，这种祷告是异样的，其中含有异样的香。 有些人听见“献上异样的香，就是祷告基督自己以外的事物”，也许会问说：“你的意思是说，我们不该为着婚姻生活或家庭生活祷告么？难道我们无须为着实际属人的事务来祷告么？”我不敢擅自告诉你该为甚么祷告。然而我能说，你必须问问自己，你所祷告的事情有多少是与基督有关？如果你这样来思想你的祷告生活，你就会发现你的光景到底怎样。你会晓得你为婚姻生活的祷告与基督毫无关系。因此，那些祷告都是异样的香。
12Do you know what strange incense is? Strange incense is anything we pray that is not Christ or that is not related to Christ. In the sight of God, that kind of prayer is strange; it is a prayer with strange incense. When some hear that to offer strange incense is to pray something other than Christ Himself, they may ask, “Do you mean that we should not pray about our married life or family life? Are we not supposed to pray about our practical human affairs?” I do not presume to tell you what you should pray for. However, I can say that you need to ask yourself how much the things you pray for have to do with Christ. If you consider your prayer life in this way, you will find out where you are. You may realize that your prayers concerning your married life have nothing to do with Christ. Thus, those prayers are strange incense.
13不过我愿指明，我不是说我们不该为着个人事务或所需要的物质东西来祷告。我的点乃是说，我们要问问自己，我们的祷告有多少与基督有关。这个问题乃是一个试验，要显明我们所祷告的是真实的香，还是异样的香。
13However, I wish to make it clear that I do not mean we should not pray concerning our personal affairs or for material things that we need. My point here is that we ask ourselves how much our prayers are related to Christ. This question is a test that will reveal whether what we pray is real incense or strange incense.
凡火
Strange fire
14凡火是甚么？照豫表来看，任何的火，别于燔祭坛上焚烧的火，就是凡火。在外院子里祭坛上焚烧的火，是从天上降下来的。这火从天上降下以后，就在祭坛上不断地焚烧。香必须由来自第一座坛上的火焚烧。如果你用其它的火来烧香，那就是凡火。
14What is strange fire? According to typology, strange fire is any fire other than that which burns on the altar of burnt offering. The fire that burned on the altar in the outer court came down from the heavens. After coming down from the heavens, that fire burned continually on the altar. The incense must be burned by the fire from the first altar. If you burn incense by any other kind of fire, that will be strange fire.
15有了凡火，就是我们里面有了某种天然的动机，没有受过十字架的对付。凡没有受过十字架对付，却推动我们来祷告的东西，都是凡火。如果我们看见这一点，我们就会晓得，许许多多的基督徒都是被天然的动机所推动而祷告的。他们的动机从来没有被十字架摸过，结果他们就是以凡火来祷告。
15To have strange fire is to have some kind of motive within us that is natural and that has not been dealt with by the cross. Anything that has not been dealt with by the cross and yet motivates us to pray is strange fire. If we see this, we shall realize that a great many Christians are motivated to pray by natural motives. Their motives have never been touched by the cross. The result is that they pray with strange fire.
16祷告与基督无关的事物就是异样的香，带着没有受过十字架对付的动机来祷告，就是有了凡火。在我们的祷告中，我们也许会用凡火献上异样的香。如果我们看见异样的香和凡火的意义和严重性，我们就会承认，以往许多的祷告是受天然的动机所推动的。我们也会看见，我们许多的祷告与基督毫无关系。此外，我们会晓得，当我们祷告的时候，我们自己常常不是在神里面，反倒在祂以外。我们的祷告表明我们不是在神里面。我们是在神里面，还是在神以外，由我们祷告的方式就表明出来了。我们的祷告总是说出我们的光景到底怎样。
16To pray something that has nothing to do with Christ is strange incense, and to pray with motives that have not been dealt with by the cross is to have strange fire. In our prayers we may offer strange incense by strange fire. If we see the significance and the seriousness of strange incense and strange fire, we shall confess that much of our prayer in the past has been motivated by our natural motives. We shall also see that much of our prayer has had nothing to do with Christ. Furthermore, we shall realize that we ourselves often have not been in God when we prayed. On the contrary, we were outside of Him. Our prayers indicated that we were not in God. Whether we are in God or outside of God will be indicated by the way we pray. Our prayers always indicate where we are.
天然的祷告
Natural prayers
17最近一位弟兄对我说：“李弟兄，你把关乎神经营的真理服事给我们，夺去了我们 的天堂，现在你好像又要来夺取我们的祷告。”就一面说，我们天然的祷告都必须被 夺取、被剥夺。也许在将来的聚会中就不会有这么多天然的祷告了。就这面说，我们中间的祷告可能会比较少。
17Recently a brother said to me, “Brother Lee, you have taken away our heavenly mansion through ministering to us the truth concerning God’s economy. Now it seems that you are robbing us of our prayers.” In a sense, we all need to be robbed, deprived, of our natural prayers. It may be that in the future not so much of the prayer offered in the meetings will be natural. In this sense there may be less prayer among us.
18我年轻的时候，很欣赏叨雷（R. A. Torrey）所著“如何祷告”这本书。我很宝贝这本书，把它读了好多遍，并且将我所读的付诸实行。早期这本书的确帮助我来祷告。如果我记得不错的话，它告诉我们说，祷告必须先认罪，然后才能彀祷告。然而这不过是来到第一座坛。经过多年的经历以后，最终我才明了这本论祷告的书是初步的。然后我阅读其它论到祷告的书籍，尤其是慕安得烈（Andrew Murray）所著的“和基督学祷告”，这是论祷告最深的一本书。然而这本书没有给我的灵多少帮助。
18When I was young, I appreciated the book by R. A. Torrey on how to pray. I treasured that book and read it a number of times, and I put what I read into practice. In the early days that book did help me to pray. If I remember accurately, it tells us that in order to pray we must first confess our sins. Then we shall be able to pray. However, this is to come only to the first altar. Eventually, after years of experience, I realized that Torrey’s book on prayer is elementary. Then I read other books concerning prayer, in particular the book by Andrew Murray entitled, With Christ in the School of Prayer. That may be the deepest book on prayer. Nevertheless, it did not render much help to my spirit.
19我们无须阅读论如何祷告的书籍，只要把这些论到香坛的信息消化就彀了。我无法告诉你如何祷告，但我向你保证，如果你为着这些论到香坛的信息祷告，并且付诸实行一段时间，你在祷告的事上，就会成为不同的人。
19Instead of reading books on how to pray, we need to digest these messages on the incense altar. I cannot tell you how to pray. But I assure you if you pray concerning these messages on the incense altar and put them into practice for a period of time, you will become a different person in the matter of prayer.
20以往我们的祷告相当天然、宗教。我必须承认，我也以天然、宗教的方式来祷告。在试炼、艰难的时候，无论谁都会祷告神、呼求神。但是人祷告多半是在那里祷告？当然，他们不是在帐幕的外院子里，更不是在帐幕里面了。
20In the past our way of praying was natural and religious. I must confess that I also have prayed in a natural, religious way. Anyone can pray and call upon God in times of trial or hardship. But where are most people when they pray to God? To be sure, they are not in the outer court of the tabernacle, much less in the tabernacle itself.
神所渴望的
What God desires
21神所渴望的乃是在香坛那里的祷告。我们已经指出，这样的祷告是代求的祷告。每当我们在香坛那里开口祷告的时候，我们的祷告不是为着自己，而是为着神永远的计画，为着祂的恢复，为着祂的行动，并为着祂所有的教会。我们的祷告会说出我们在那里，以及我们是谁。
21What God desires is the prayer at the incense altar. As we have pointed out, this kind of prayer is intercessory prayer. Whenever we open our mouths to pray at the incense altar, our prayers will not be for ourselves. Instead, our prayers will be for God’s eternal plan, for His recovery, for His move, and for all His churches. Our prayer will indicate where we are and who we are.
22在这些信息里，我们说到一些与祷告生活有关更深的点。我们都必须实行这些真理。如果我们晓得我们无须形式地祷告，无须献上天然、宗教的祷告；这会帮助我们祷告得更多。反之，当我们到达目的地─香坛─的时候，我们就会成为代求的人；我们会终日为着别人和主的权益而代求。这样的祷告乃是神所要的馨香之气。这种祷告能完成神的旨意，满足神的愿望，并使神心喜悦。我们这样祷告，就晓得我们是真与主是一了。我们藉着代求的祷告，就能在香坛那里与祂是一。
22In these messages we have covered certain deeper points related to the prayer life. We all need to put these truths into practice. This may help us to pray more if we realize that we do not need to pray in a formal way; we do not need to offer natural, religious prayers. On the contrary, when we arrive at our destination, the incense altar, we shall become intercessors. All day long we shall intercede for others and for the Lord’s interests. This kind of prayer is a fragrant incense to God. This prayer fulfills God’s purpose, satisfies His hunger, and delights His heart. As we pray in this way, we know that we are truly one with the Lord. By our prayers of intercession we are one with Him at the incense altar.