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出埃及记生命读经 · 第173篇

干犯律法

The breaking of the law
1读经： 出埃及记三十一章十八节至三十二章八节，十五至二十节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 31:18—32:8, 15-20
2出埃及记论到干犯律法的故事，我信我们都很熟悉。在本篇信息中，我们要找出这个故事所蕴含的原则。以往我们曾指出，研读圣经的时候，基本的需要就是摸著作者在著作中所发表出来的灵。现在我要加上一句；找出蕴含在主话中的原则也很要紧。出埃及记记载铸金牛犊的事，有许多基本的原则。在本篇信息中，我们主要关心的乃是要看见与拜金牛犊有关的原则。
2I believe that we all are familiar with the story in Exodus concerning the breaking of the law. In this message we shall seek to find out the principles implied in this story. In the past we have pointed out that in studying the Bible, a basic need is to touch the spirit of the writer expressed in his writing. Now I would add that it is also important to discover the principles implied in any portion of the Word. In the account in Exodus regarding the making of the golden calf there are a number of basic principles. Our main concern in this message will be to see the principles related to worshipping the golden calf.
在律法被干犯以前豫备了恩典之路
The way of grace prepared before the law was broken
3律法颁布以后至被干犯以前，神呼召摩西到祂的山上，将两块律法的石版交给他。（二四12。）主首先在出埃及记十九章二十节呼召摩西到西乃山上，当时主交给摩西十诫的律法以及所有附属的条例。然后，照着二十四章十二节来看，主又一次呼召摩西上山，要将律法的石版交给他。律法已经颁布了，但十诫的石版还没有交给摩西。在三十一章十八节，律法的石版交给了摩西：“耶和华在西乃山和摩西说完了话，就把两块见证的版交给他，是神用指头写的石版。”（另译。）
3After the decree of the law and before the breaking of it, God called Moses to His mount to give him the tablets of the law (24:12). The Lord called Moses to Mount Sinai first in Exodus 19:20. That was the time the Lord gave Moses the law of the Ten Commandments with all the subordinate ordinances. Then, according to 24:12, the Lord called Moses to go to the mountain again. The Lord wanted to give him the tablets of the law. The law had been decreed, but the tablets of the Ten Commandments had not yet been given to Moses. The tablets of the law were given to Moses in 31:18: “And He gave to Moses, when He finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.”
4二十四章十二节和三十一章十八节都是说到颁赐律法的石版。但在这些经文之间，有七章长篇幅的插话。这表明主呼召摩西上山，要交给他律法的石版以前，首先对他说到别的事。在二十五至三十一章，主把帐幕及其器具的图样启示给摩西，并且对他说到与祭司体系有关的事。我们已经看见，帐幕和祭司体系是豫表基督。帐幕及其器具豫表基督，而祭司体系和衣服并祭司的食物也是基督详细的豫表。如果我们要认识基督，就必须研读出埃及记二十五至三十一章。神呼召摩西上山的心意就是要把律法的石版交给他。但神把这些石版交给摩西以前，先把帐幕的图样交给他，并且将祭司体系的事指示他。然后，主才把石版交给摩西。
4Both 24:12 and 31:18 refer to the giving of the tablets of the law. But between these verses is a long insertion of seven chapters. This indicates that after the Lord called Moses to the mountain for the purpose of giving him the tablets of the law, He first spoke to him about other things. In chapters twenty-five through thirty-one the Lord revealed to Moses the design of the tabernacle and its furniture, and He spoke to him concerning matters related to the priesthood. We have seen that the tabernacle and the priesthood typify Christ. The tabernacle with its furniture typifies Christ, and the priesthood with the garments and the priestly food are also detailed types of Christ. If we would know Christ, we need to study chapters twenty-five through thirty-one of Exodus. God’s intention in calling Moses to the mountain was to give him the tablets of the law. But before giving Moses these tablets, God first gave him the design of the tabernacle and instructions concerning the priesthood. Only then did the Lord give Moses the tablets.
5神将律法的石版交给摩西以前，先给摩西看见帐幕及其器具和祭司体系，这件事实指明神颁赐律法的时候，就晓得人无法遵守律法。这也指明神为人豫备了恩典的路来接触祂，并享受祂。恩典的路就是帐幕和祭司体系所豫表的基督。神豫备了基督作恩典的路，让人来接触神，并享受祂。神颁赐律法的时候，就晓得人无法遵守律法；因此，祂豫备了恩典的路。基督是我们的帐幕、祭物和祭司体系的各方面。约翰的著作启示出基督是帐幕和祭物的应验。
5The fact that God showed Moses the tabernacle with its furniture and the priesthood before giving him the tablets of the law indicates that while God was giving the law, He knew that man could not keep it. This also indicates that God had prepared the way of grace for man to contact Him and enjoy Him. The way of grace is Christ typified by the tabernacle and the priesthood. God prepared Christ as the way of grace for man to contact God and enjoy Him. While God was giving the law, He knew that man would not be able to keep it; therefore, He prepared this way of grace. Christ is our tabernacle, the offerings, and all the aspects of the priesthood. The writings of John reveal that Christ is the fulfillment of the tabernacle and the offerings.
6神给摩西看见帐幕和祭司体系以后，就把律法的两块石版交给他。即使神晓得人会干犯律法，祂还是能彀平平安安地这么作。神没有受到搅扰，因为在律法被人干犯以前，神已经豫备了恩典的路，使人能彀接触神，并享受祂。因此，神的心意不是要信靠律法；祂乃是信靠基督这条豫备好的恩典之路。即使神颁赐了律法，祂却一点也不信靠律法。神的基督作为帐幕和祭司体系，从前是、现在仍是神所绝对信靠的。
6After showing Moses the tabernacle and the priesthood, God gave him the two tablets of the law. God could do this in peace, even though He knew that the law would be broken. God was not troubled by this, because, before the law was broken, God had already prepared the way of grace so that man would be able to contact God and enjoy Him. It was not God’s intention, therefore, to trust in the law; His trust was in Christ as the prepared way of grace. Even though God was giving the law, He did not have any trust in the law. God’s trust was, and still is, absolutely in His Christ as the tabernacle and the priesthood.
7我信摩西很高兴得着律法的石版，并且信靠它们。他下山的时侯，也许对自己说：“哦，我有两块石版在手中！这些石版上有神指头亲自写的字。”没有疑问，摩西很宝贝这两块石版，石版上有神亲自雕刻的律法。
7I believe that Moses was happy to have the tablets of the law and that he put his trust in them. As he was coming down the mountain, he may have said to himself, “Oh, I have two stone tablets in my hands! On these tablets are words written by the finger of God.” No doubt, Moses treasured these tablets containing the law engraved in stone by God Himself.
8摩西与神一同在山上四十天。在圣经里，四十是试验和试炼的数字。例如，主耶稣在旷野禁食四十天。金牛犊看来不会在摩西登山第三十六天以前造成，它很可能是在最后两、三天造成的，当时百姓见摩西迟迟不归，等得不耐烦了。有些人也许会说：“我们所尊重、带我们出埃及、领我们到这地来的人，已经走了五个多礼拜。他上山去了，我们也不晓得他到底发生了甚么事。我们再也等不下去了。”也许就在神将石版交给摩西、交给中保的时候，山脚下的百姓铸造了金牛犊。
8Moses was on the mountain with God for a period of forty days. In the Bible forty is a number of testing and trial. For example, the Lord Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days. It is doubtful that the golden calf was made earlier than Moses’ thirty-sixth day on the mountain. It may have been made during the last two or three days, when the people could no longer bear to wait for Moses to come back. Some of them may have said, “The one whom we respected and who brought us out of Egypt and led us to this place has been gone for more than five weeks. He went up the mountain, and we do not know what has happened to him. We cannot wait any longer.” It may have been that at the very time God was giving the tablets to Moses, to the mediator, the people at the foot of the mountain were making the golden calf.
因着拜偶像干犯了律法
The breaking of the law through idolatry
9现在我们来到干犯律法的事。（三二1～20。）为甚么我们人类无法遵守律法，反倒干犯律法呢？这个问题的答案包含了一个重要的原则。这里的原则乃是：因着我们有了偶像，我们就干犯了律法。每一个人都有他自己的偶像。我们不需要特意去干犯神的律法，只要我们有了偶像，就已经干犯了律法的头三条诫命。头三条诫命论到不可有别的神，不可作偶像，也不可妄称主的名。这些诫命都与神有关。第四条诫命论到安息日，后六条诫命论到我们与人的关系。凡是有偶像的人，都干犯了头三条诫命。
9Now we come to the breaking of the law (32:1-20). Why is it that we human beings cannot keep the law, but break it instead? The answer to this question involves an important principle. The principle here is that we break the law because we have idols. Everyone has his own idol. There is no need for us deliberately to try to break the law of God. As long as we have an idol, the first three commandments of the law are already broken. The first three commandments are related to not having any other god, not making images, and not using the Lord’s name in vain. These commandments are all related to God. The fourth commandment concerns the Sabbath, and the last six commandments involve our relationships with others. The first three commandments are broken by everyone who has an idol.
10我们无法遵守律法，因为我们有偶像。如果我们有神，并且不让偶像来取代祂，我们所享受的神就会成为我们遵守诫命的能力。结果，我们就会遵守神的律法。
10We cannot keep the law because we have idols. If we have God and allow no idols to replace Him, the very God whom we enjoy will become to us the ability to keep His commandments. As a result, we shall keep the law of God.
11在约翰的著作里面，能彀看见这个原则。约翰福音和约翰一书都嘱咐我们要持守命令。我们能彀持守命令，因为按照新约来看，我们里面有主作我们的享受。不但作我们享受的内住基督，是遵守律法的力量，甚至享受基督就是遵守律法。这意思是说，内住的基督成了我们的享受，实际上就是持守命令。我们不需要凭自己努力持守命令。我们享受内住的基督，自自然然就持守了命令。
11This principle is seen in John’s writings. Both in the Gospel of John and in the first Epistle of John we are charged to keep the commandments. We are able to fulfill this charge because, according to the New Testament, we have the Lord within us as our enjoyment. Not only is the indwelling Christ who becomes our enjoyment the strength to keep the law, but the enjoyment of Christ is itself the keeping of the law. This means that the indwelling Christ becoming our enjoyment is actually the keeping of the commandments. There is no need for us to try in ourselves to keep the commandments. Our enjoyment of the indwelling Christ spontaneously becomes the keeping of the commandments.
12为甚么人无法遵守律法？人所以无法遵守律法，是因为有偶像取代了神。但我们已经指出，如果我们有神，并且不让偶像来取代祂，我们所有、所享受的神就要成为遵守律法的力量。事实上，神自己作我们的享受，就是真正遵守了律法。如果我们里面有神作我们的享受，我们就绝不会有别的神，绝不会制造偶像，也绝不会妄称神的名。我们会与神一同安息，也会孝敬父母。不但如此，我们不会杀人，不会奸淫，不会偷窃，不会说谎，也不会作假见证。我们不会贪婪、贪心，我们会遵守律法所有的诫命。这样遵守律法，实际上就是经历内住的神作我们的享受。在出埃及记三十一章记载干犯律法的事上，这是我们所看见的头一个原则。
12Why are human beings not able to keep the law? People cannot keep the law because they have idols that replace God. But as we have pointed out, if we have God and do not allow idols to replace Him, the God we have and enjoy will be the strength to keep the law. In fact, God Himself as our enjoyment is the real keeping of the law. If we have God in us as our enjoyment, we would never have another god, we would never make an image, and we would not take God’s name in vain. We would rest with God, and we would honor our parents. Furthermore, we would not murder, commit fornication, steal, lie, or bear false witness. And we would not be greedy, covetous. We would keep all the commandments of the law, and this keeping of the law would actually be the experience of the indwelling God becoming our enjoyment. This is the first principle we see in the account in Exodus 32 of the breaking of the law.
13在新约里，我们看见法利赛人、撒都该人和文士都是干犯律法的人。他们干犯了律法，因为他们满了偶像。但主耶稣的门徒能彀持守诫命，因为主成了他们的享受。最终门徒们，包括彼得、约翰、雅各，都充满了主耶稣，祂也成了他们的享受。结果，他们自自然然就成为持守诫命的人。
13In the New Testament we see that the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the scribes were all law-breakers. They broke the law because they were filled with idols. But the disciples of the Lord Jesus could keep the commandments because the Lord had become their enjoyment. Eventually, the disciples, including Peter, John, and James, were filled with the Lord Jesus, and He became their enjoyment. As a result, spontaneously they became keepers of the commandments.
14以色列人领受律法以前，已经干犯了律法。他们因著有了偶像，就干犯了律法。他们不想干犯律法，只不过有了偶像，就干犯了律法。因此，这里头一个原则乃是：每当人有了偶像，就干犯了神的律法。
14Before the children of Israel received the law, they had already broken it. They broke it through having an idol. They did not have the intention to break the law. They broke the law simply by the fact of having an idol. Therefore, the first principle here is that the law of God is broken whenever people have idols.
自我妆饰导致拜偶像
Self-beautification leading to idolatry
15出埃及记这一段话蕴含了另一个原则，论到偶像是甚么，或偶像的原则是甚么。在三十二章一至四节，我们看见了这个原则：“百姓见摩西迟延不下山，就大家聚集到亚伦那里，对他说，起来，为我们作神像；可以在我们前面引路，因为领我们出埃及地的那个摩西，我们不知道他遭了甚么事。亚伦对他们说，你们去摘下你们妻子儿女耳上的金环，拿来给我。百姓就都摘下她们耳上的金环，拿来给亚伦。亚伦从他们手里接过来，铸了一只牛犊，用雕刻的器具作成。”
15Another principle implied in this portion of Exodus concerns what an idol is, or what is the principle of an idol. We see this principle in 32:1-3: “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves unto Aaron, and they said to him: Rise, make for us a god who shall go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt — we do not know what has become of him. And Aaron said to them, Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me. And all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he took the gold from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it into a golden calf.”
16这里我们看见用来作偶像的材料。当然，偶像定规是用物质的东西作成的。在出埃及记三十二章，用来造金牛犊的材料，是以色列人妻子儿女耳上的金环。也许只有年长的人没有金耳环。老人是个例外，因为他们不在意妆饰。我能彀作见证，身为一个年长的人，我没有兴趣妆饰自己。然而，青年男女和年长妇女妆饰自己，却是司空见惯的事。因此，在出埃及记三十二章，金环是从妻子儿女的耳上摘下来的，并且用来制造偶像，就是金牛犊。
16Here we see the kind of material that was used to make the idol. An idol, of course, must be made with something material. The material used in making the golden calf in Exodus 32 was the gold of the earrings belonging to the wives, sons, and daughters of the children of Israel. It may be that the only ones without golden earrings were the elderly men. The old men were an exception because they do not care for beautification. I can testify that, as an elderly man, I have no interest in beautifying myself. However, it is common for young men and women and also for older women to beautify themselves. Therefore, in Exodus 32 the gold rings were taken from the ears of the wives, the sons, and the daughters and used to make the idol, the golden calf.
17人戴耳环是为了妆饰自己。今天的文化提高了自我的妆饰，男男女女都花大把的金钱在妆饰品上。
17People put on earrings in order to beautify themselves. Today’s culture promotes self-beautification. Men and women spend a great deal of money on items used to beautify themselves.
18自我妆饰导致拜偶像。因这缘故，在三十三章五至六节，主在妆饰的事上吩咐以色列人：“耶和华对摩西说，你告诉以色列人说，耶和华说，你们是硬着颈项的百姓，我若一霎时临到你们中间，必灭绝你们；现在你们要把身上的妆饰摘下来，使我可以知道怎样待你们。以色列人从住何烈山以后，就把身上的妆饰摘得干净。”主颁布了关乎妆饰的命令，因为三十二章记载得很清楚，自我妆饰导致拜偶像。
18Self-beautification leads to idolatry. This is the reason the Lord in 33:5 and 6 gave the children of Israel a commandment related to ornaments: “Now Jehovah had said to Moses, Say to the sons of Israel, You stiff-necked people! If I should go up in the midst of you for one moment, I would consume you! And now, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do to you. And the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from Mount Horeb onward.” The Lord issued this commandment concerning ornaments because, as the record of chapter thirty-two makes clear, self-beautification leads to idolatry.
19以色列人铸造金牛犊的偶像以前，偶像已经以不同的形态，以自我妆饰的形态存在他们中间。以色列人的妻子儿女耳上戴着金环，为着妆饰自己。这里我们看见一个原则：自我妆饰是偶像的初步形式。金子成为牛犊以前，已经以自我妆饰的拜偶像形式存在了。在神看来，自我妆饰就是偶像。在三十三章五至六节，主吩咐百姓不要有甚么妆饰，原因就在这里。这些妆饰是初步的偶像。百姓有金牛犊的偶像以前，耳上已经戴着初步的偶像。
19Before the children of Israel made the idol of the golden calf, idols were already present among them in a different form, in the form of self-beautification. The wives, the sons, and the daughters of the children of Israel wore gold rings in their ears for the purpose of self-beautification. Here we see the principle that self-beautification is the preliminary form of an idol. Before the gold became the calf, it already existed in the idolatrous form of self-beautification. In the sight of God, self-beautification is an idol. This was the reason the Lord commanded the people in 33:5-6 not to have any ornaments. Those ornaments were preliminary idols. Before the people had the idol of the golden calf, they already had the preliminary idols hanging from their ears.
20现在我们应当能彀看见偶像的原则了。偶像的原则就是自我妆饰。因此。偶像就是 一个人自我妆饰的终极表现。
20Now we should be able to see the principle of an idol. The principle of an idol is self-beautification. An idol, therefore, is the consummate expression of a person’s self-beautification.
21美国偶像庙不多。然而，这个国家的人有另一种偶像，就是自我妆饰的偶像。在美国人中间，自我妆饰很流行、很普遍，也很强烈。这意思是说，对许多美国人来说，自我妆饰是拜偶像的一种形式。在未开发的国家，虽然他们庙里也许有木头、石头的偶像，但人们没有这么多的自我妆饰。反之，生活在现代、科学文明里的人，没有那样的偶像，但他们有自我妆饰的偶像。在家里、办公室里、学校里，自我妆饰的偶像几乎处处可见。
21In this country there are not many idol temples containing images or idols. However, with the people in this country there are idols of another kind — the idols of self-beautification. Self-beautification is popular, prevailing, and strong among the people in the United States. This means that for many Americans self-beautification is a form of idolatry. People in undeveloped countries do not have as much self-beautification, although they may have in their temples idols of wood or stone. Those who live in modern, scientific cultures, on the contrary, do not have that kind of idols. But they have the idols of self-beautification. The idols of self-beautification can be found almost everywhere — in homes, in offices, and in schools.
22你晓得今天许多美国人所敬拜的是甚么？他们敬拜自我妆饰的偶像。例如，一个青年女子上班以前，会花许多工夫来打扮自己。她在妆饰品上所花的钱甚至比在食品上所花的钱还多。我在这里所关切的，是要指出自我妆饰导致拜偶像的事实。以色列人首先戴上金耳环妆饰自己，然后亚伦就把这些金耳环铸造成金牛犊的偶像。
22Do you know what many Americans are worshipping today? They are worshipping the idols of self-beautification. For example, before a young woman goes to work, she may spend a great deal of time beautifying herself. She may even spend more money on items for self-beautification than she does for food. My concern here is to point out the fact that self-beautification leads to idolatry. First the children of Israel wore golden earrings for self-beautification. Then these golden earrings were fashioned by Aaron into the idol of the golden calf.
撒但篡夺神的礼物
Satan’s usurping of God’s gifts
23与拜偶像有关的另一个原则是：撒但篡夺了神所赐给我们的，要造成浪费。在出埃及记三十二章，以色列人浪费了许多神所赐给他们的金子。以色列人离开埃及以前，神使埃及人把金子和其它的宝物给以色列人。这金子是要用来建造帐幕的，帐幕需要大量的金子来包裹竖板。神击败了埃及人，他们就把金子给以色列人。但这金子用来造神的居所以前，撒但就进来篡夺了金子，用来作成偶像。事实上，牛犊造成以前，撒但已经篡夺了金子，好用金子来打成耳环。如果以色列人彀爱主，他们绝不会浪费金子，用金子打成耳环。反之，他们会把金子保存起来，给主使用。
23Another principle related to idolatry is that idolatry is Satan’s usurping of what God has given us in order to make it a waste. In Exodus 32 the children of Israel wasted much of the gold that had been given to them by God. Before the children of Israel left Egypt, God caused the Egyptians to give the children of Israel gold and other precious things. This gold was to be used for building up the tabernacle. The tabernacle required a large quantity of gold to overlay the standing boards. God defeated the Egyptians, and they gave gold to the people of Israel. But before this gold was used for the building up of God’s dwelling place, Satan came in to usurp the gold and use it to make an idol. Actually, before the calf was made, Satan had already usurped the gold so that it might be used to make earrings. If the children of Israel had loved the Lord to the uttermost, they would never have wasted the gold by using it for earrings. Instead, they would have kept it for the Lord’s use.
24在三十五章，百姓奉命要献上金子和其它的材料，为着建造神的帐幕。为着神的居所献上的头一样东西就是金子。但在三十二章，花了好多金子来铸造一只牛犊。没有疑问，金牛犊不是小东西，它体积也许相当大。造金牛犊的时候，浪费了许许多多的金子。
24In chapter thirty-five the people were commanded to offer gold and other materials for the building up of God’s tabernacle. The first item of the offering for God’s dwelling place was gold. But in chapter thirty-two a large quantity of gold was used to make a calf. No doubt the golden calf was not something small. It may have been quite large. A lot of gold was wasted in making that golden calf.
25神赐给我们许多东西，不是要我们妆饰自己，而是要我们敬拜神，并荣耀祂。但我们用这些东西来敬拜神、荣耀神以前，仇敌却设法进来篡夺神所赐给我们的，把它耗尽。这是拜偶像的第二个原则，是得罪神的。
25God has given us many things not for self-beautification, but for us to worship God and glorify Him. But before we use these things to worship and glorify God, the enemy tries to come in to usurp what God has given us and to waste it. This is the second principle of idolatry, and it is an offense to God.
敬拜所享受的
The worship of enjoyment
26百姓没有造摩西的像、造马或其它驮兽的像，这件事蕴含了另一个原则。他们造了一只金牛犊，牛犊不是为着劳苦，而是为着享受，尤其是为着食用。在旧约和新约里，牛犊都是用来餧养客人的。在创世记十八章，亚伯拉罕为客人豫备了一只肥牛犊，在路加十五章的比喻里，浪子回家的时候，父亲把肥牛犊宰了。所以，肥牛犊是表征享受。在出埃及记三十二章，那些妆饰自己的人都喜欢享受，享受就是他们的偶像。照样，今天许多人也敬拜牛犊；那就是说，他们敬拜他们的享受。
26Another principle is implied by the fact that the people did not make an image of Moses, or one of a horse or other work animal. Instead, they made a golden calf. A calf is not for labor but for enjoyment, in particular, for eating. Both in the Old Testament and in the New, a calf was used to feed guests. In Genesis 18 Abraham had a fatted calf prepared for his guests, and in the parable in Luke 15 the father had the fatted calf killed when the prodigal son came home. A calf, therefore, signifies enjoyment. The ones who beautified themselves in Exodus 32 liked enjoyment. Enjoyment was their idol. Likewise, many people today worship a calf; that is, they worship their enjoyment.
27这样来解释牛犊的意义可由三十二章六节得着证实：“次日清早，百姓起来献燔祭，和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。”金牛犊造好以后，百姓就吃喝、玩耍。寇特（C.A. Coates）说，他们在运动。许多美国人到了周末只关心吃喝与运动。
27This interpretation of the significance of the calf is confirmed by 32:6: “And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and they rose up to play.” After the golden calf was made, the people ate, drank, and played. C. A. Coates says that they sported. On the weekends many people in this country care only for eating, drinking, and sporting.
28照十八节来看，摩西听见歌唱的声音，照十九节来看，他“看见牛犊，又看见人跳舞”。随着吃喝、运动，百姓还歌唱、跳舞，这都是在金牛犊面前进行的。这里的图画指明，牛犊是表征享受，而以色列人在敬拜他们所享受的。
28According to verse 18, Moses heard the sound of singing, and according to verse 19, he “saw the calf and the dancing.” Along with the eating, drinking, and sporting, the people were singing and dancing. All this took place in front of the golden calf. The picture here indicates that the calf signifies enjoyment and that the children of Israel were worshipping what they enjoyed.
假装敬拜真神
Pretending to worship the true God
29还有另一个原则：拜偶像就是装假。凡是拜偶像的人都是假装敬拜真神。四节说：“他们就说，以色列阿，这是领你出埃及地的神。”五节说，亚伦看见，“就在牛犊面前筑坛，且宣告说，明日要向耶和华守节！”次日清早，百姓起来献燔祭，和平安祭 。（6。）祭物和敬拜的方式很正确，但敬拜的对象错了。以色列人把敬拜的对象从真神换为偶像。“他们在何烈山造了牛犊，叩拜铸成的像。如此将他们的荣耀，换为吃草之牛的像。”（诗一○六19～20，另译。）耶和华神是他们的荣耀，但他们将他们的荣耀换为吃草的牛。这与罗马一章二十三节所描述的非常类似：“将不能朽坏之神的荣耀，变为偶像，仿佛必朽坏的人、和飞禽走兽爬物的样式。”（另译。）然而，凡是拜偶像的人都说他所拜的偶像是真神。
29Yet another principle is that idolatry is pretension. Every idolater pretends to be worshipping the true God. Verse 4 says, “And they said, This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Verse 5 says that when Aaron saw this, “he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, A feast to Jehovah — tomorrow!” The next morning they rose up early and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings (v. 6). The offerings and the way of worship were proper, but the object of worship was wrong. The children of Israel had changed the object of their worship from the true God Himself to an idol. “They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they changed their glory to the likeness of an ox that eateth grass” (Psa. 106:19-20). Jehovah God was their glory, but they changed their glory to an ox that eats grass. This is very similar to what is described in Romans 1:23: “And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” Nevertheless, every idol worshipper claims that the idol he worships is the true God.
敬拜上的搀杂
Mixture in worship
30与偶像有关的另一个原则是在敬拜上有搀杂。这个原则可以应用到今天的基督徒身上。许多基督徒敬拜牛犊，却自以为是敬拜主耶稣，敬拜真神。事实上他们所敬拜的，乃是他们的享受。今天许多基督徒的敬拜是坐下吃喝，起来运动、歌唱，并且绕着一种享受、绕着金牛犊跳舞。有些弟兄会的教师点出这一点，点得很透。他们说，在西乃山下拜金牛犊乃是一种搀杂，因他们以合式的祭物、正当的方式来拜牛犊，仿佛牛犊是神一样。祭物没有错，方式也没有错，但敬拜的对象错了。这就是我们所说搀杂的意思。
30Another principle related to idols is that here there is mixture in worship. This principle can be applied to today’s Christians. Many Christians worship a calf, but they think that they are worshipping the Lord Jesus or the true God. Actually what they are worshipping is their enjoyment. Much of today’s Christian worship is a matter of sitting down to eat and drink and rising up to sport, sing, and dance around a certain kind of enjoyment, around a golden calf. Some of the Brethren teachers pointed this out in a very thorough way. They said that the worship of the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai was a mixture, for a calf was worshipped as if it were God with the proper offerings and in the proper way. The offerings were right and the way was right, but the object of worship was wrong. This is what we mean by mixture.
31然而，我们所该考虑的主要不是别人敬拜的方式，我们需要问问自己的敬拜如何。我们的敬拜是纯洁的呢，还是搀杂的？敬拜上的搀杂与自我妆饰而来的享受有关。
31However, we should not mainly consider the way others worship. We need to inquire about our own worship. Is our worship pure, or is it a mixture? Mixture in worship is related to enjoyment that comes out of self-beautification.
32我们已经看见，拜偶像包含了五个原则：自我妆饰、撒但篡夺神的礼物并造成浪费、敬拜我们所享受的事物、假装敬拜真神，以及敬拜上的搀杂。
32As we have seen, idolatry involves five principles: self-beautification, Satan’s usurping God’s gifts and making them a waste, the worship of the things we enjoy, pretending to worship the true God, and mixture in worship.
有恩赐的人制造偶像
Idols made by gifted people
33亚伦不是巴兰；他是真正的大祭司，与摩西同负一轭。他在神的百姓中间是个领头的人，但连这样的人也会铸造偶像。我们不该以为亚伦会作这样的事，而我们不会。凡是在教会中领头的都能这么作。因这缘故，我总是恐惧战兢，惟恐造了偶像。我们对这件事都必须谨慎，尤其是那些有能力、有恩赐、有才干的人。
33Aaron was not a Balaam; he was a true high priest, a yokefellow with Moses. He was one who took the lead among God’s people. But even such a person could make an idol. We should not think that Aaron was able to do such a thing, but that we are not. Any leader in the church is capable of doing this. For this reason, I am always in fear and trembling lest I make some kind of idol. We all need to be careful concerning this matter, especially those who are capable, gifted, and talented.
34出埃及记三十二章四节说，亚伦拿金子“铸了一只牛犊，用雕刻的器具作成。”要拿一堆金子铸成牛犊并不容易。亚伦用雕刻的器具完成这件事。我们已经看见，偶像的基本原则是自我妆饰。如果偶像不是妆饰过的，谁会拜它？这里的点是说，把金子铸成牛犊是需要技术的。有些人也许有金子，但没有技术来把金子铸成牛犊。然而每一个制造偶像的人，都和亚伦一样有技术、有能力、有恩赐、有才干。今天在基督徒中间有技术制造偶像的人，谁晓得有多少？这些工匠有知识、有教养、有能力、有技巧。其他的人无法制造偶像，因为他们没有技巧，而这些人有能力把金子铸成偶像，他们晓得怎样制造美丽的偶像。有时候我问自己，“你在这里作甚么？你在制造偶像么？你在妆饰自己的工作来给人敬拜么？”我惟恐自己造出了某种偶像。
34Exodus 32:4 says that Aaron took the gold and “fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it into a molten calf.” It was not easy to take a pile of gold and fashion it into a calf. Aaron used a graving tool to accomplish this. We have seen that the basic principle of an idol is self-beautification. If an idol is not beautified, who would worship it? The point here is that it takes skill to fashion gold into a calf. Some may have the gold, but not have the skill to fashion it into a calf. But every maker of idols, like Aaron, is skillful, capable, gifted, and talented. Who knows how many skillful idol-makers there are among Christians today? These craftsmen are knowledgeable, cultured, capable, and skillful. Whereas others are not able to make idols because they do not have the skill, these ones have the ability to fashion gold into idols. They know how to make beautiful idols. Sometimes I ask myself, “What are you doing here? Are you making an idol? Are you beautifying your own work for others to worship?” I am fearful lest I make some kind of idol.
35要紧的是我们要看见，金牛犊是神的大祭司亚伦铸造的。不但如此，他奉耶和华的名造了这只牛犊，并且以献祭给神和敬拜神的方式，领头敬拜偶像。摩西下山问亚伦所作的是甚么，亚伦说了谎话。亚伦说，他把金子接过来扔在火里，牛犊便出来了。亚伦似乎告诉摩西说；“摩西，不要定罪我。我不过是把金子扔在火里，牛犊便出来了。”当然，偶像是亚伦制造的。他是典型的制造偶像者。
35It is important for us to see that the golden calf was made by Aaron, God’s high priest. Furthermore, he made this calf in the name of Jehovah, and he took the lead to worship the idol in the way of presenting offerings to God and worshipping God. When Moses came down and asked Aaron what he had done, Aaron told a lie. Aaron said that he took the gold and threw it into the fire, and a calf came out. Aaron seemed to be telling Moses, “Don’t condemn me, Moses. I simply cast the gold into the fire, and a calf came out.” The idol, of course, was made by Aaron. He was the typical idol-maker.
36我盼望我们的眼睛都得开启，看见今天许多基督徒中间拜偶像的光景。你以为基督徒中间著名的领头人，没有一个是制造偶像的么？我盼望今天基督教的领头人，没有一个是制造偶像的。如果是这样的话，我就真要为此感谢神、敬拜神了，我能彀赞美主，没有一个基督教的工人是制造偶像的。然而，主知道今天有许多亚伦，许多有技术的基督教领头人，是制造偶像的。这些亚伦不是假先知，甚至也不是外邦的真先知，像巴兰一样；他们乃是神所立定的真祭司。然而，他们凭着所事奉之神的名义来制造偶像，并且教导别人以应当献给神的祭物、以敬拜神的方式来拜这些偶像。这就是搀杂，非常狡诈。
36I hope that our eyes will be opened to see the idolatrous situation among many of today’s Christians. Do you think that none of the famous leaders among Christians are makers of idols? I wish that no one of today’s Christian leaders was an idol-maker. If this were the situation, I would truly thank God and worship Him for it. I would be able to praise the Lord that no Christian worker is a maker of idols. However, the Lord knows that today there are many Aarons, many skillful Christian leaders who are making idols. These Aarons are not false prophets nor even genuine Gentile prophets like Balaam. They are genuine priests appointed by God. Nevertheless, they make idols in the name of the very God whom they serve, and they teach others to worship these idols with offerings that should be offered to God and in the way of worshipping God. This is mixture, and it is very subtle.
37倘若你和一个今天的亚伦辩论这件事，他也许会说：“我们不是拜偶像，我们乃是敬拜主。我们与祂一同坐席，并且献上燔祭和平安祭，你怎么能说我们是拜偶像呢？”不错、也许一切都和真正敬拜神一样，但神不是真正敬拜的对象。反之，有一只金牛犊取代了真神。原来它是妆饰自己的金子，但如今金子的形状改变了，并且铸成了一只牛犊。
37If you were to argue with one of today’s Aarons concerning this matter, he would probably say, “We are not worshipping an idol. We are worshipping the Lord. We are feasting with Him, and we are offering His burnt offerings and peace offerings. How can you say that we are worshipping an idol?” Yes, everything may be the same as if it were actually God who is being worshipped. But God is not really the object of worship. Instead, there is a golden calf as the replacement of the true God. Originally it was the gold of self-beautification. But now the gold has changed in form and has been fashioned into a calf.
38因为以色列人中间有了偶像，他们不知不觉就干犯了律法。亚伦也许会说，他们无意要干犯律法。虽然他们没有这样的意图，但他们却干犯了律法。摩西看见百姓中间拜偶像的光景，便怒火中烧，无法控制自己，“把两块版扔在山下摔碎了。（19。）摩西是神用来颁赐律法的中保，他把两块版摔碎了，律法就完全粉碎了、毁坏了。在要来的信息中，我们会看见摩西怎样对待拜偶像的人。
38Because there was an idol among the children of Israel, they broke the law unconsciously and unintentionally. Aaron might have said that they did not have any intention of breaking the law. Although none of them had this intention, the law was broken nonetheless. When Moses saw the idolatrous situation among the people, his anger burned within him. Unable to control himself, “he flung the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain” (v. 19). Moses was the mediator used by God in the giving of the law. When he flung the tablets from his hands and broke them, the entire law was demolished, destroyed. In a message to come we shall see how Moses dealt with the idolaters.
39本篇信息中一件要紧的事是，神将律法赐给以色列人，并不盼望他们能彀遵守律法。神颁赐律法的用意是要祂的百姓晓得，他们无法遵守律法。他们所能作的，不过是干犯律法。他们因着拜金牛犊，就干犯了神的律法。
39One important matter in this message is that God did not give the law to the children of Israel with the expectation that they would be able to keep it. God’s intention in giving the law was that His people would realize that they were not able to keep the law. They could do nothing except break the law. By worshipping the golden calf, they broke the law of God.