Books
出埃及记生命读经 · 第172篇

安息日与帐幕建造工作的关系

The Sabbath in relation to the building work of the tabernacle
1读经： 出埃及记三十一章十二至十七节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 31:12-17
2在论到神居所的建造这一长段的记载之后，三十一章十二至十七节重申守安息日的诫命。我们都晓得，守安息日是十诫里的第四条。我们必须找出，在论到神居所的完全启示这段记载以后，为甚么要特别重申这一条诫命。
2In 31:12-17, after a long record concerning the building up of God’s dwelling place, there is a repetition of the commandment to keep the Sabbath. We all know that keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments, the fourth commandment. We need to find out why this particular commandment is repeated after the record concerning the full revelation of God’s dwelling place.
3三十一章末了十八节告诉我们，主把两块见证的版交给摩西，是神用指头写的石版。这一节结束了很长的一段话，这段话早在二十章就开始了。主呼召摩西上山的时候，首先把律法交给摩西，然后把建造主在地上居所的启示赐给他。在这段话里，我们看见帐幕及其器具的图样，以及关乎祭司体系的完全启示，还有关乎建造帐幕之人的记载。此后，主重申与守安息日有关的要求。 三十一章十二至十七节，论到守安息日的这六节经文，插在本章十一至十八节中间。这样插进来的原因何在？在帐幕建造工作的嘱咐之后，重复记载安息日的原因，是我们在本篇信息中必须来看的头一件事。（参看二十8～11。）
3The last verse of chapter thirty-one, verse 18, tells us that the Lord gave to Moses two tablets of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. This verse concludes a long section that began no later than chapter twenty. When the Lord called Moses to go up to the mountain, the Lord first gave Moses the law. Then He gave Moses the revelation concerning the building up of His dwelling place on earth. In this section we see the design of the tabernacle and its furniture and a full revelation regarding the priesthood. There is also a record concerning the builders of the tabernacle. After all this, the Lord repeats the requirement related to keeping the Sabbath. The six verses about keeping the Sabbath, 31:12-17, are inserted between verses 11 and 18 of this chapter. What is the reason for this insertion? The reason for repeating the record of the Sabbath after the charge for the building work of the tabernacle is the first matter we need to cover in this message (see 20:8-11).
4论到安息日的插句是在帐幕建造工作的嘱咐之后，这个事实指明主吩咐这些建造者，吩咐这些工人，要学习如何与主一同安息。他们不该作工而忘了与主一同安息。因此，主吩咐他们作建造祂居所的工作，题醒他们说，当他们为祂作工的时候，应当学习如何与祂一同安息。倘若我们只知道如何为主作工，而不晓得如何与祂一同安息，我们就违背了神圣的原则。
4The fact that this insertion concerning the Sabbath follows the charge for the building work of the tabernacle indicates that the Lord was telling these builders, these workers, to learn how to rest with Him. They should not work and forget about resting with the Lord. Therefore, in charging them to do the work of building His dwelling place, the Lord reminded them that as they worked for Him, they should learn how to rest with Him. If we only know how to work for the Lord but do not know how to rest with Him, we are acting contrary to the divine principle.
5基督徒中间一直争辩安息日的事，尤其是为该在第七日或第八日守安息日的争辩更多。“基督复临安息日会”坚持在第七日守安息日。事实上，安息日的原则不是要在那一天守的问题。安息日的原则乃是我们与主一同作工，必须学习如何与祂一同安息。
5There has been much debate among Christians about the Sabbath, especially whether the Sabbath should be observed on the seventh day or on the eighth day. The Seventh-Day Adventists insist on keeping the Sabbath on the seventh day. Actually, the principle of the Sabbath is not a matter of the day on which it is observed. The principle of the Sabbath is that working with the Lord requires that we learn how to rest with Him.
安息日的意义
The significance of the Sabbath
6有些人也许以为安息日的意义不过是歇了工作。这不是圣经里安息日的真义。圣经强调神在第七日安息的事实。创世记二章二节说：“到第七日，神造物的工已经完毕，就在第七日歇了祂一切的工，安息了。”
6Some may think that the significance of the Sabbath is merely to cease from work. This is not the real meaning of the Sabbath in the Bible. The Bible emphasizes the fact that God rested on the seventh day. Genesis 2:2 says, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”
7根据创世记，安息日对神来说是第七日，对人来说是第一日。神六日之内创造诸天、地和人类生存所需的一切，为着完成神的旨意。万物都造齐了以后，人才在第六日被造。这意思是说，人一从神的手中被造出来，就要开始他的第一日，也是神的第七日。因此，神的第七日就是人的第一日。这件事的意义乃是，安息日对神而言是工作之后歇息，对人而言却是先安息，后作工。神先作了六天工，然后在第七日安息了。但人在第一日安息，然后开始作工。
7According to the book of Genesis, to God the Sabbath is the seventh day, but to man it is the first day. In six days God created the heavens, the earth, and everything necessary for man to exist for the fulfillment of God’s purpose. After all things were made, man was created on the sixth day. This means that as soon as man came forth from the creating hand of God, his first day, which was God’s seventh day, was about to begin. Thus, what was the seventh day to God was the first day to man. The significance of this is that to God the Sabbath was rest after work, but to man it was rest first and then work. God first worked for six days and then He rested on the seventh day. But man rested on his first day and then began to work.
神的舒畅
God’s refreshment
8我很喜乐，出埃及记三十一章十七节告诉我们：“耶和华…第七日便安息舒畅。”这表明安息日不仅是神的安息，也是神的舒畅。创世记和出埃及记都告诉我们，神在第七日便安息了。但是三十一章十七节加上“舒畅”这个词，这就启示出连神也需要得着舒畅。
8I am happy that Exodus 31:17 tells us that “on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” This indicates that the Sabbath was not only a rest to God, but was also a refreshment to Him. Both Genesis and Exodus tell us that God rested on the seventh day. But in 31:17 the words “and was refreshed” are added. This reveals that even God needs to be refreshed.
9安息是一回事，但得着舒畅是更进一步的。我们要安息，并不需要甚么特别的东西，只要坐下或躺下就彀了。但要得着舒畅，我们就需要一些吃的东西、喝的东西。我们常常把食物和饮料说成点心（refreshment）。这里的点是说，如果我们要得着舒畅，就需一些东西来成为我们的舒畅。神也是这样，神需要一些东西来使神舒畅。你知道神的舒畅是甚么？到底是甚么使神舒畅？
9To rest is one thing, but to be refreshed is something further. For us to rest we do not need anything in particular. It is sufficient either to sit down or to lie down. But to be refreshed we need something to eat or drink. We often refer to food and drink as refreshment. The point here is that if we would be refreshed, we need something to be a refreshment to us. The same is true of God. God needs something to refresh Him. Do you know what God’s refreshment is? What is it that refreshes God?
10也许你读过出埃及记三十一章许多次，从来没有留下一个印象说，神也需要得着舒畅。我能彀作见证，我解释出埃及记不只一次了，但最近我才看见三十一章十七节里“舒畅”这个词的意义。圣经启示出神创造的工完毕以后，便安息、舒畅了。神安息在甚么事上呢？神安息在祂的创造上。举例来说、假设一名工匠花了很长的时间来制作一张非常别致的椅子。工作完成的时候，他就可以安息地坐在他所制作的椅子上，享受并观赏它。同样，我完成著述的工作以后，便常常经历到这种安息。我写完了一些东西，就坐下来，看看自己所写的，并享受享受。我特别享受藉着主的话从主所得着的光。照样，自己作衣服的姊妹作好一件衣服以后，也享受美好的安息。同样的原则，神把人造好以后，就安息了。祂能彀看着祂的工作，看看诸天，看看大地，看看所有的活物，特别看看人，就说：“甚好！”然后神就能彀安息、舒畅了。
10Perhaps you have read Exodus 31 a number of times without ever being impressed by the fact that God needs to be refreshed. I can testify that I have expounded the book of Exodus more than once, but only recently have I seen the significance of the word “refreshed” in 31:17. The Bible reveals that after God’s work of creation was completed, He rested and was refreshed. On what did God rest? He rested on His creation. To illustrate, suppose a craftsman spends a long time making a very special chair. When his work is finished, he may rest on the very chair he has made, enjoying it and thinking about it. I often experience this kind of rest after I have finished my work of writing. When I have finished writing something, I may sit back, look at what I have written, and enjoy it. I particularly enjoy the light I have received from the Lord through His Word. Likewise, sisters who make their own clothing may enjoy a good rest after they have finished making a particular garment. In the same principle, after God created man, He rested. He could look upon His handiwork, at the heavens, the earth, and all the living things, especially at man, and say, “Very good!” Then God could rest and be refreshed.
11神因甚么得着舒畅？神是因人得着舒畅的。人就是神的舒畅。神爱人，祂照着自己的形像造人，有一个灵，使人能彀与祂有交通。所以，人是神的舒畅。
11With what was God refreshed? God was refreshed with man. Man was God’s refreshment. God loved man. He created him in His own image with a spirit so that man could have fellowship with Him. Man, therefore, was God’s refreshment.
12照创世记二章十八节来看，神说：“那人独居不好，我要为他造一个配偶帮助他。”这话有豫表上的意义，表明神独居不好。神创造人以前，好比是个单身汉。有些人会批评我们用单身汉这个词来说到我们圣洁的神，但我相信神欢喜听见我们用这个词来说到祂自己。也许神会说：“我的孩子，这话摸着我的心，我造人以前，的确是个单身汉。”圣经启示出，在已过的永远里，神是个“单身汉”。但在将来的永远里，祂要得着一个妻子，就是新耶路撒冷，称为羔羊的妻。（启二一9～10。）因此，照 圣经启示新耶路撒冷就是羔羊的妻，我有胆量用单身汉这个词来说到神。
12According to Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.” This word has a significance in typology, and indicates that it was not good for God to be alone. Before God created man, God could be compared to a bachelor. Some may criticize us for using the word bachelor to speak of our holy God. But I believe that God is happy to hear this word used with respect to Himself. Perhaps God would say, “My child, this word touches My heart. I truly was a bachelor before I created mankind.” The Bible reveals that in eternity past God was a “bachelor.” But in eternity future He will have a wife, the New Jerusalem, which is called the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9-10). Therefore, according to the revelation of the Bible that the New Jerusalem is the wife of the Lamb, I have the boldness to use the word bachelor with respect to God.
13神看见祂所创造的人，就能彀安息、舒畅了。人就像一种提神的饮料，来解除神的干渴，并使祂满足。神结束祂的工作，开始歇息的时候，就有人来作祂的同伴了。对神而言，第七日是安息、舒畅的日子。然而，对神的同伴─人─而言，安息、舒畅的日子是第一日。人的第一日乃是享受的日子。
13When God saw the man created by Him, He could rest and be refreshed. Man was like a refreshing drink to quench God’s thirst and satisfy Him. When God ended His work and began to rest, He had man as His companion. To God, the seventh day was a day of rest and refreshment. However, to man, God’s companion, the day of rest and refreshment was the first day. Man’s first day was a day of enjoyment.
神圣的原则
A divine principle
14在我们得着享受以前，神不会要求我们作工，这乃是一个神圣的原则。神首先以享受来供应我们，等到我们与祂一同对祂有完满的享受以后，就能彀与祂同工了。如果我们不晓得如何与神一同有所享受，以及如何享受神自己，我们就不晓得如何与祂同工。我们不晓得如何在神圣的工作上与神成为一。
14It is a divine principle that God does not ask us to work until we have had enjoyment. God first supplies us with enjoyment. Then after a full enjoyment with Him and of Him, we may work together with Him. If we do not know how to have enjoyment with God and how to enjoy God Himself, we shall not know how to work with Him. We shall not know how to be one with God in His divine work.
15我们确实的强调与神同工，而不强调凭自己的力量来为神作工。不错，我们应当与神同工，甚至凭着神来作工。但照着圣经所启示的，仅仅与神同工还不彀，我们必须在神的工作上与祂合一。这需要我们来享受祂。如果我们不晓得如何来享受神，并被神所充满，我们就不晓得如何来与祂同工，如何在祂的工作上与祂合一。
15We do emphasize the matter of working with God and not working for God by our own strength. Yes, we should work with God and even by God. But according to what the Bible reveals, it is not even sufficient merely to work with God. We need to be one with God in His work. This requires that we enjoy Him. If we do not know how to enjoy God and be filled with God, we shall not know how to work with Him, how to be one with Him in His work.
16在新约里面，对这个原则有一个很好的说明。使徒新约的职事开始于他们在五旬节那天的享受。门徒不是工作了六天，然后在五旬节那天来享受主。真实的光景乃是主吩咐他们要等候，直到那灵降临在他们身上，为要充满他们。门徒被那灵充满的时候，是充满了甚么？没有疑问，他们是充满了对主的享受。因为他们被那灵充满了，别人就以为他们喝醉了酒。事实上，他们是充满了对属天之酒的享受。他们被这种享受充满了以后，才开始与神同工。这就是与神同工、与祂合而为一来作工的方式。彼得和使徒站起来传福音，因而为神作工的时候，他们都在神的工作上与祂合而为一。
16A very good illustration of this principle is found in the New Testament. The New Testament ministry of the apostles began with the enjoyment they had on the day of Pentecost. The disciples did not work for six days and then enjoy the Lord on the day of Pentecost. The actual situation was that the Lord had told them to wait until the Spirit came upon them to fill them. With what were the disciples filled when they were filled with the Spirit? No doubt, they were filled with the enjoyment of the Lord. Because they were filled with the Spirit, others thought that they were drunk with wine. Actually they were filled with the enjoyment of the heavenly wine. Only after they had been filled with this enjoyment did they begin to work with God. This is the way to work with God, the way to work in oneness with Him. When Peter stood up with the apostles to preach the gospel and thereby do a work for God, they all were one with God in His work.
17五旬节那天是七日的第一日。五旬节是指七个星期或四十九天之后的第五十天。我们由利未记二十三章晓得，五旬节是在初熟节五十天以后。这意思是说，五旬节是第八周的第一日。因此，我们由五旬节看见了第一日的原则。
17The day of Pentecost was the first day of the week. Pentecost denotes the fiftieth day after a period of seven weeks, or forty-nine days. We know from Leviticus 23 that the day of Pentecost was fifty days after the feast of firstfruit. This means that Pentecost was the first day of the eighth week. Therefore, concerning the day of Pentecost, we see the principle of the first day.
18对人而言，安息日始终是第一日。照旧约的安息日来看，人的安息日就是他的第一日。照样，根据新约来看，人的安息日─第八日─也是第一日。
18To man, the day of rest has always been the first day. According to the Old Testament Sabbath, the day of man’s rest was his first day. Likewise, according to the New Testament, the eighth day, the day of rest for man, was also the first day.
19照旧约的原则来看，人的安息日是在神的工作完成以后。人不是在自己的工作完成以后安息的，而是在神的工作完成以后，就安息了，并且享受这个安息。神作工，而 人来享受。人享受神在祂的工作上所已经成就的。
19According to the principle in the Old Testament, man’s day of rest is a day that comes after God’s work has been completed. Man does not rest after his own work is finished; he rests after the completion of God’s work and enjoys it. God works, and man enjoys. Man enjoys what God has accomplished in His work.
20人一被造好，就需要呼吸空气，需要喝水。神在第二日已经造出空气、大气，因为祂晓得人没有空气，就无法生存。祂也为人豫备了水和食物。第七日是神的安息日，原因就在这里：祂工作了六天，把一切东西都豫备好了，给人来享受。人一从神的手中被造出来，他的第一日就是神的第七日。因此，他与神同有享受，与神同活，与神同行，最终豫备好来与神同工。神将他安置在伊甸园，使他修理看守。（创二15。）也许亚当第一天与神一同享受安息以后，另外六天就作工整理园子。到了第八日，就是另一个第一日，人又与神一同安息。这是一个周而复始的循环，间有安息与作工。对神而言，是作工而安息的问题；对人而言，是安息而作工的问题。
20As soon as man was created, he needed air to breathe and water to drink. God had already created the expanse, the atmosphere, on the second day because He knew that without air man would not be able to live. He had also prepared water and food for him. This is the reason the seventh day was a day of rest for God: He had worked for six days to make everything ready for man to enjoy. When man came forth from God’s creating hand, his first day was God’s seventh day. Therefore, he had enjoyment with God, he lived with God, he walked with God, and eventually he was ready to work with God. God had put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it (Gen. 2:15). Perhaps after enjoying rest with God on his first day, Adam worked to care for the garden for another six days. Then on what was his eighth day, another first day, he again rested with God. This is a cycle that would continue again and again with intervals of resting and working. With God it is a matter of working and resting; with man, a matter of resting and working.
21神把帐幕和器具的启示赐给人，选出建造者，并且把嘱咐他们的话告诉摩西以后，接着又一次说到安息日。神似乎是说：“不要忘了我的安息日，不要借口说，你不是在为自己的事业劳碌，而是在作神圣的工作。你不该认为，因为你是在作工建造我的居所，你就能彀天天作工不停。不，甚至你在作我的神圣工作，就是建造帐幕的工作时，仍必须带着一个表记，表明你是我的子民，并且你需要我。因此，你必须先享受我，然后你就不但能彀为我作工，也能彀与我同工，并且与我合一来作工。我是你作工的力量，和劳苦的能力。但如果你在自己里面作工，并凭着自己作工，就是侮辱我。你必须同着我、凭着我、与我合一来作建造我居所的工作。如果你这样来作工，我会非常喜乐。但如果你把我撇在一旁，想要凭自己来为我作出美好的工作，就是侮辱我，因为这是魔鬼子民的表记。你是我的子民，你应当带着一个表记，说明你需要我作你的享受、力量和能力。你需要我作你的一切，使你能彀为我作工。藉着这样作工，你就尊崇我，并荣耀我。这就是带着一个表记，表明你是我的子民。”
21After God gave the revelation concerning the tabernacle and the furniture, and after God selected the builders and gave Moses a charge regarding them, He went on to speak again of the Sabbath. It seems as if God were saying, “Do not forget My Sabbath. Don’t take the excuse that you are not laboring on your own business, but are doing a divine work. You should not think that because you are working to build My dwelling place, you can work every day continually. No, even in doing My divine work, the work of building the tabernacle, you must still bear a sign to indicate that you are My people and you need Me. Therefore you need to enjoy Me first. Then you will be able to work not only for Me, but also with Me and by being one with Me. I will be your strength to work and your energy to labor. But if you work in yourself and by yourself, that will be an insult to Me. You must do the work of building My dwelling place with Me, by Me, and in oneness with Me. I shall be very happy if you work in this way. But if you try to do a good work for Me by yourselves, leaving Me aside, that would be an insult to Me, for that is a sign of the Devil’s people. You are My people, and you should bear a sign that you need Me to be your enjoyment, strength, and energy. You need Me to be your everything so that you may be able to work for Me. By working in this way you honor Me and glorify Me. This is to bear a sign indicating that you are My people.”
我们与神合一的表记
A sign that we are one with God
22关于安息日，我们都必须学习一个基本的功课。我年轻的时候，曾与别人争辩该守那一天－第八日或第七日─为安息日。现在我要说，那样的争辩完全是浪费。安息日的意思是说：我们为神作工以前，必须享受神，并且被祂充满。如果我们享受了神，并且被神充满，我们就豫备好来为祂作工了。这样的工作不是凭着自己，而是凭着神。想想看彼得在五旬节那天的光景。彼得站起来传福音的时侯，不是凭着自己，而是凭着充满他的神。在传福音的事上，彼得不是虚空的。他凭着满溢的神、满溢的灵来传福音。因此，彼得有一个表记，说明他是神的同工，而他的传福音就是尊崇神，并荣耀神。
22We all need to learn a basic lesson regarding the Sabbath. When I was young, I argued with others about which day, the eighth day or the seventh, should be kept as the Sabbath. Now I would say that that kind of argument is altogether a waste. The Sabbath means that before we work for God, we need to enjoy God and be filled with Him. If we have enjoyed God and if we have been filled with God, then we are ready to work for Him. Such work will not be by ourselves; it will be by God. Consider Peter’s situation on the day of Pentecost. When Peter stood up to preach the gospel, he did not preach by himself. He preached by the very God who had filled him up. In preaching the gospel, Peter was not empty. He preached the gospel by the infilling God, by the infilling Spirit. Therefore, Peter had a sign that he was God’s co-worker, and his gospel preaching was an honor and glory to God.
23世上的人都是凭着自己作工。他们身上没有一个表记，指明他们是属于神的。他们没有享受神，没有与神一同安息，也没有与神同工。我们的光景则迥然不同，因为我们有一个表记。我们带着甚么表记？这个表记就是我们与神一同安息，享受神，并且先被神充满，然后与充满我们的那一位同工。此外，我们不但与神同工，更是与神合一来作工。
23The people of the world all work by themselves. They do not have a sign on them that indicates that they belong to God. They do not enjoy God, they do not rest with God, and they do not work with God. Our situation is altogether different because we have a sign. What is the sign we bear? The sign is that we rest with God, enjoy God, and are filled up with God first, and then we work with the very One who fills us. Furthermore, we not only work with God, but we work as those who are one with God.
24我能彀作见证，每一次我站起来供应话语，我独一的祷告就是要在我的说话中与主合一。我一再地祷告说：“主，在我的说话中，我要实行与你成为一灵，使我的说话就是你的说话。主，必须是你在我的说话中说话。如果你不是与我合一，我就不说甚么。我绝不会凭我虚空的己说话，这是亵渎你、侮辱你。主，我不但要与你一同说话，也要与你合一来说话。凡听话的人必须得着一个印象：当我说话的时候，你是与我合而为一。主，我的说话不但包含了我这一面的实行，就是我与你成为一灵；也包含了你那一面的实行，就是你与我成为一灵。”如果我们愿意这样来说话，对主是何等的尊崇和荣耀─这就是安息日的表记。在我的说话中，我总是要带着一个表记，就是主是我的安息日。祂是我的安息、我的舒畅、我的能力、我的力量、我的一切，为着供应话语。
24I can testify that every time I stand up to minister the Word, my unique prayer is that I would be one with the Lord in my speaking. I pray repeatedly, “Lord, in my speaking I want to practice being one spirit with You so that my speaking will be Your speaking. Lord, it must be that You speak in my speaking. If You are not one with me, I will not speak anything. I would never speak in my empty self. That would be a blasphemy to You, an insult to You. Lord, I would speak not only with You, but also by being one with You. Those who listen must have the impression that while I am speaking, You are one with me. Lord, my speaking involves the practice not only from my side, that I am one spirit with You; it also involves the practice on Your side, that You are one spirit with me.” If we would speak this way, what an honor and glory it would be to the Lord! This is the sign of the Sabbath. In my speaking I always seek to bear a sign that my Lord is my Sabbath. He is my rest, my refreshment, my energy, my strength, and my everything for ministering the Word.
25在三十一章十二至十七节我们看见，建造帐幕的人受了嘱咐，不要开始作工，直到他们与主一同安息，并得着舒畅。然后他们就能彀为祂作工，并与祂同工。然而，这 项工作不会继续不断地进行。反之，这是间隔着六日劳苦和一日安息的工作。每一间隔的开始是安息日，接着工作六天。然后是另一个间隔，以安息开始，接着是工作。
25In 31:12-17 we see that the builders of the tabernacle were charged not to begin working until they had rested with the Lord and had been refreshed. Then they could work for Him and with Him. However, this work would not go on continuously. Rather, it would be a work in intervals of six days of labor and one day of rest. With every interval, the beginning is a day of rest, followed by six days of work. Then there would be another interval beginning with rest and continuing with work.
26我们已经强调过，安息日对神而言是第七日，对人而言是第一日；神作工，叫人享受并安息；人享受神工作上所成就的，为要与神同工。人在第一日享受神在前六日所成就的。以下六天，人就与神同工。工作六天以后，人又一次先享受神所成就的，接着再工作六天。这就像一个循环一样进行下去，这个循环就是我们与神合一的表记。
26We have emphasized that to God the Sabbath is the seventh day and to man, the first day; that God worked for man’s enjoyment and rest; and that man enjoys what God has accomplished in His work in order to work with God. Man in his first day enjoyed what God accomplished in the previous six days. Then in the following six days man worked with God. After six days’ work, man again first enjoyed what God had accomplished, and then he worked again the following six days. This proceeds as a cycle. This cycle is a sign that we are one with God.
永远的约
An eternal covenant
27守安息日也是一个合同，一个约。我们开始守安息日，就表明我们签了一个合同、一个契约，向神保证说，我们要这样与祂合一。我们与祂合而为一，是藉着先享受祂，然后为祂作工、与祂同工、与祂合一而作工。这是一个永远的约，不仅仅是为着一个时代、一个时期，或一个世代，而是我们与神之间永远的合同。
27Keeping the Sabbath is also an agreement or covenant. When we begin to keep the Sabbath, this indicates that we have signed an agreement, a contract, that assures God that we shall be one with Him in this way. We would be one with Him by first enjoying Him and then by working for Him, with Him, and in oneness with Him. This is an eternal covenant. It is not merely for one age, dispensation, or generation. It is an eternal agreement between us and God.
28约比合同强，合同比应许更强，应许又比一般的话要强。神要我们和祂签一个契约，向祂保证从今以后，我们要先享受祂、被祂充满，才去为祂作工、与祂同工，并与祂合一而作工。一旦我们和神签了这样的契约，向神保证说，我们要遵守，就不该违反契约。如果我们违反了我们与神的合同，祂就会把我们带到属天的法庭上，责备我们没有遵守契约。要紧的是我们要看见安息日与帐幕建造工作的关系，是一个表记，也是一个永远的约、不能改变的约。
28A covenant is stronger than an agreement, an agreement is stronger than a promise, and a promise is stronger than ordinary words. God wants us to sign a contract with Him that assures Him that from now on we shall enjoy Him and be filled with Him before we go to work for Him, with Him, and in oneness with Him. Once we sign such a contract with God and give God the assurance that we intend to keep it, we should not break the contract. If we break our agreement with God, He may take us to the heavenly court and blame us for not keeping our contract. It is important for us to see that the Sabbath in relation to the building work of the tabernacle is both a sign and an eternal covenant, a covenant that cannot change.
29凭着我们自己为主作工，而不祷告祂、信靠祂，乃是一件严肃的事。事实上，我们最大的需要还不是信靠主，而是把祂接受进来，藉着吃祂来享受祂。在五旬节那天，彼得不但信靠主，也被主充满，甚至畅饮祂。你不相信彼得说话的时候，就是喝主并吃主么？这意思是说，彼得传扬耶稣的时候，他里面有分于耶稣。事实上，他是传扬他所吃的，见证他所享受的。彼得和主签了合同、立了约。主和彼得双方都必须遵守他们那一部分的合同。如果彼得吃主，而主离开了他，主就违反了契约。但如果主把彼得所需要的一切都供应他，而彼得偏离了主，他就违反了契约。这里要紧的点是说，安息日是一个表记，也是一个约、一个契约、一个合同。
29It is a serious matter to work for the Lord by ourselves without praying to Him and without trusting in Him. Actually, what we need is not mainly to trust in the Lord, but to take Him in and enjoy Him by eating Him. On the day of Pentecost Peter was not only trusting in the Lord; he was filled with the Lord, even drinking Him. Do you not believe that as Peter was speaking, he was drinking of the Lord and eating Him? This means that while Peter was preaching Jesus, inwardly he was partaking of Jesus. In fact, he preached what he had been eating. He testified what he had been enjoying. Peter had signed the agreement with the Lord. He had made a covenant with Him. Both parties, the Lord and Peter, had to keep their part of the agreement. If Peter was eating the Lord and the Lord left him, the Lord would have broken the contract. But if He were supplying Peter everything he needed, and Peter turned aside from the Lord, Peter would have broken the contract. The crucial point here is that the Sabbath is a sign and also a covenant, a contract, an agreement.
成圣的问题
A matter of sanctification
30安息日也是一个成圣的问题。安息日使我们成圣，标明我们，把我们标出来。我们享受主，然后与祂同工、为祂作工，并与祂合一而作工，自然而然我们就成圣了。我们成为圣别，从凡俗的事物中分别出来。
30The Sabbath is also a matter of sanctification. The Sabbath day sanctifies us, designates us, marks us out. When we enjoy the Lord and then work with Him, for Him, and by being one with Him, spontaneously we are sanctified. We become holy, separated from what is common.
遭受属灵的死亡
Suffering spiritual death
31出埃及记三十一章十四至十五节说：“所以你们要守安息日，以为圣日，凡干犯这日的，必要把他治死；凡在这日作工的，必从民中剪除。六日要作工，但第七日是安息圣日，是向耶和华守为圣的，凡在安息日作工的，必要把他治死。”这些经文清楚地说，若有人不守安息日、带着这个表记，并尊敬这约为要成圣的，必要把他治死。这是表征遭受属灵的死亡。这个原则适用于我们今天的经历。如果我没有与主合一来说话，我就会在说话中遭受死亡，并从神的子民中剪除。从神的子民中剪除，就是从交通中剪除。
31Exodus 31:14 and 15 say, “And you shall keep the sabbath, for it is holy to you; everyone who profanes it shall certainly be put to death; for whoever does work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of rest, holy to Jehovah; whoever does work on the sabbath day shall certainly be put to death.” These verses say clearly that if anyone did not keep the Sabbath, bear the sign, and honor the covenant in order to be sanctified, that one would be put to death. This signifies the suffering of spiritual death. The principle applies in our experience today. If I do not speak in oneness with the Lord, I shall suffer death in my speaking, and I shall be cut off from God’s people. To be cut off from God’s people is to be cut off from fellowship.
32在教会生活中，我们也许作了许多事情，而没有先享受主，没有同着主、与主合一来事奉。这样事奉的结果便遭受属灵的死亡。教会的事奉，凡是没有享受主、没有与主合一的，都带进属灵的死亡。每当我们这样来事奉的时候，我们就从身体的交通中把自己剪除了。
32In the church life we may do many things without first enjoying the Lord, and without serving with the Lord and by being one with the Lord. That kind of service results in the suffering of spiritual death. Any service to the church that is without the enjoyment of the Lord and that is without the oneness with Him brings in spiritual death. Whenever we serve in that way, we cut ourselves off from the fellowship in the Body.
帐幕及其器具都导致神的安息日
All the tabernacle and its furniture leading to the Sabbath of God
33帐幕及其器具都导致神的安息日。这些东西都引导我们来享受神所计画、所作成的。这意思是说，帐幕以及帐幕所有的器具都引导我们进入安息。祭物是叫我们安息的。如果我们没有到燔祭坛这里来经历基督作祭物，我们就没有安息。反之，我们会有定罪和控告。照样，如果我们没有到陈设饼桌子面前，我们就会饥饿，得不着饱足，这也表明我们没有安息。如果我们没有来到灯台面前，我们就没有甚么光，我们会在黑暗里，而黑暗不会把安息给我们。同样的原则，如果我们没有来到幔内的约柜和香坛面前，我们也没有安息。与神的居所有关的一切物件都把我们导向一件事─安息日及其安息和主的舒畅。因此，帐幕及其器具引导我们来享受神所计画、所作成的。阿利路亚，在教会生活中，我们是在帐幕里，而帐幕把我们导向安息，引导我们来享受神所计画、所作成的！
33All the tabernacle and its furniture lead to the Sabbath of God. All of these things lead to the enjoyment of what God has purposed and done. This means that the tabernacle and all its furniture leads us into rest. The offerings are for us to rest. If we do not come to the altar of burnt offering to experience Christ as the offerings, we shall not have rest. Instead, we shall have condemnation and accusation. Likewise, if we do not come to the showbread table, we shall be hungry and not have satisfaction. This is another indication that we do not have rest. If we do not come to the lampstand, we shall not have any light. We shall be in darkness, and darkness will not give us rest. In the same principle, if we do not come to the ark within the veil and to the incense altar, we shall not have rest. Everything related to God’s dwelling place leads us to one matter — to the Sabbath with its rest and refreshment of the Lord. Therefore, the tabernacle with its furniture leads us to the enjoyment of what God has purposed and done. Hallelujah, in the church life we are in the tabernacle, and the tabernacle leads us to rest, to the enjoyment of God’s purpose and of what He has done!
建造帐幕的工作开始于对神的享受
The building work of the tabernacle beginning with the enjoyment of God
34帐幕及其一切器具的建造工作应当开始于对神的享受，而继续间有享受神而得的舒畅。这表明我们不是凭着自己的力量为神作工，而是凭着享受祂并与祂合一。这就是安息日的意义，也是论到建造神在地上的居所以后，紧接着说到安息日的原因。愿我们都看见这件事，并且牢牢记住。
34The building work of the tabernacle and all its furniture should begin with the enjoyment of God and continue in intervals with the refreshment by enjoying God. This will indicate that we do not work for God by our own strength, but by the enjoyment of Him and by being one with Him. This is the meaning of the Sabbath, and this is the reason that a word about the Sabbath immediately follows the word concerning the building up of God’s dwelling place on earth. May we all see this matter and be impressed with it.
35本篇信息不仅仅是对圣经的解释。我相信我们在本篇信息中所论到的，乃是出埃及记三十一章论安息日记载的真正精粹。
35This message is not simply an expounding of the Bible. I believe that what we have covered in this message is the genuine extract of the record in Exodus 31 concerning the Sabbath.