Books
出埃及记生命读经 · 第184篇

帐幕的建立（一）

The erection of the tabernacle (1)
1读经： 出埃及记四十章一至三十八节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 40:1-38
2本篇和下一篇信息是出埃及记生命读经的结语，我们要来看四十章一至三十八节。
2As the conclusion of the Life-study of Exodus, in this message and the following we shall consider 40:1-38.
3出埃及记记载了神对帐幕及其器具的启示，也记载了如何制造帐幕及其器具。出埃及记四十章有两段记载。头一段是神的吩咐，论到帐幕的建立和器具、器皿的摆设。第二段描述摩西怎样凡事照着神的吩咐去行。当然，这两段记载几乎完全一样。事实上，出埃及记有四段记载，论到帐幕及其器具、器皿。在前面的信息里我们曾经指出，记载帐幕及其器具的启示，与记载制造帐幕及其器具的顺序有所不同的原因。这里我要指出，在四段记载里面，每一段最要紧的事都是见证的柜。
3In Exodus we have the record of God’s revelation concerning the tabernacle and its furniture and also the record of the making of the tabernacle and its furniture. In chapter forty of Exodus we have two records. The first is God’s commandment concerning the erecting of the tabernacle and the placement of the furniture and utensils. The second record describes how Moses did everything according to God’s commandment. These two records, of course, are almost exactly the same. In the book of Exodus there are actually four records related to the tabernacle and its furniture and utensils. In the foregoing message we pointed out the reason for the difference in sequence between the record of the revelation of the tabernacle and its furniture and the record concerning the making of the tabernacle and its furniture. Here I would like to point out that in each of the four records the most important matter is the ark of the testimony.
神那一面和我们这一面
God’s side and our side
4我们已经看见，帐幕及其器具的启示开始于见证的柜。神是从见证的柜开始，然后往外进行至外院子。但按着我们的经历来看，我们是从燔祭坛开始，一直向前进行，直到约柜。这里我们看见神的观点和我们的观点不同，神的目的和我们的目的不同。神是从见证的柜开始，而我们是从燔祭坛开始。
4We have seen that the revelation of the tabernacle and its furniture begins with the ark of the testimony. God begins with the ark of the testimony and then proceeds outward to the outer court. But according to our experience, we begin with the altar of burnt offering and proceed onward until we reach the ark. Here we see the contrast between God’s viewpoint and our viewpoint, between God’s end and our end. God begins with the ark of the testimony, and we begin with the altar of burnt offering.
5如果我们比较罗马书和以弗所书，也会看见，神那一面和我们这一面不同，神的目的和我们的目的不同。罗马书开始于我们这一面，开始于堕落之人的光景。罗马第一章详细论到罪恶的事；在罗马第三章，就看见祭坛。然而，以弗所书开始于神那一面。甚至在以弗所第一章，我们就能看见神的心意。这意思是说，在以弗所第一章，我们看见见证的柜─基督。
5If we compare the books of Romans and Ephesians, we shall also see a contrast between God’s side and our side, between God’s end and our end. The book of Romans begins with our side, with the situation of fallen man. In Romans 1 there is detail concerning the sinful things, and in Romans 3 we see the altar. Ephesians, however, begins from God’s side. Even in the first chapter of Ephesians we can see God’s intention. This means that in Ephesians 1 we see Christ as the ark of testimony.
6就着帐幕及其器具而论，出埃及记不是从我们这一面开始，往前到神那一面；而是从神那一面开始，进行到我们这一面。
6As far as the tabernacle and its furniture are concerned, the book of Exodus does not begin from our side and proceed to God’s side. Rather, it begins from God’s side and proceeds to our side.
7神在天上，而我们在地上。我们不仅需要探索怎样才能达到神那里，也需要探索神怎样才能临到我们。神要临到我们，不太容易。然而，有些人也许会说，神既是主宰一切，无所不能，祂想作甚么，就能作甚么，祂能彀很容易地临到我们。当然，神是主宰一切，无所不能的，并没有错。但我们需要记得，神不是不法的；反之，祂是有律法、有规则、有秩序的神。因为神是有秩序的神，祂就不能违反祂的性情行动。凡是背乎祂公义法则的事，祂一概不作。圣别、公义的神要临到人，祂的行动必须符合祂的圣别，合乎祂的公义。所以，神要从天上降临到地上临到我们，必须维护祂的公义，尊荣祂的圣别。这意思是说，神不能随随便便地临到我们。神从至圣所的约柜来到外院子的祭坛，需要许多步骤，许多转弯。这些转弯就好比一个人开车需要作各种转弯。汽车司机也许先向右转，再向左转，但要到达目的地，这些转弯都是不可少的。照样，帐幕里面也有许多的转弯。
7God is in the heavens, and we are on earth. We need to ask not only how we can reach God, but also how God can reach us. It is not an easy matter for God to reach us. However, some may say that because God is sovereign and almighty, He can do whatever He desires and can easily reach us. It is, of course, true that God is sovereign and almighty. But we need to remember that God is not lawless; rather, He is a God of law, regulation, and order. Because God is an orderly God, He cannot act contrary to His nature. He cannot do anything that is contrary to His righteous way. In order for the holy and righteous God to reach man, He must act in a way that matches His holiness and corresponds to His righteousness. Therefore, in order for God to come from heaven to earth to reach us, His righteousness must be upheld, and His holiness must be honored. This means that God cannot come to us in a careless way. God’s coming requires a number of steps, or turns, from the ark in the Holy of Holies to the altar in the outer court. These turns can be compared to the turns one makes in driving a car. The driver of a car may first turn right and then left, but all these turns are necessary for him to reach his destination. Likewise, within the tabernacle there are a number of turns.
神的心意是要得着约柜
God’s intention to have the ark
8出埃及记启示出神的心意是要得着约柜。约柜乃是见证的柜，使帐幕成为见证的帐幕。神所要的，乃是见证帐幕里面见证的柜。然而，我们不过是要自己得救。因为我们关心自己的得救，也许就没有想到神的见证。我们得救是在祭坛那里，但神的见证却是在约柜那里。今天的基督徒对于神的见证多半没有甚么概念。他们主要是关心自己的得救。如果你要和他们谈到神话语中别的事，他们也许会说：“这与我的得救有甚么关系？这会断定我能不能上天堂么？”这就是许多基督徒对事情的看法。今天的基督徒不怎么想到神的见证。
8The book of Exodus reveals that God’s intention is to have the ark. This ark is the ark of testimony, and this causes the tabernacle to become the tabernacle of testimony. What God wants is the ark of testimony in the tabernacle of testimony. We, however, may want nothing more than our own salvation. Because we care for our salvation, we may not have any thought concerning God’s testimony. Our salvation is at the altar, but God’s testimony is at the ark. Most of today’s Christians do not have any idea about God’s testimony. They are mainly concerned with their salvation. If you were to talk with them about other matters in the Word of God, they may say, “Does this have something to do with my salvation? Will this determine whether I go to heaven?” This is the way many Christians view things. Today’s Christians do not have much thought regarding God’s testimony.
9你晓得圣经末了一卷书─启示录─的主题是甚么？有些基督徒会答覆这个问题说，启示录是一本豫言的书，告诉我们一个兽从海中上来，另一个兽从地中上来。但这不是启示录的主题。在启示录第一章，我们看见了这本书的主题─耶稣的见证。圣经末了一卷书乃是论到耶稣的见证。
9Do you know what is the main subject of the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible? In answer to this question, some Christians would say that Revelation is a book of prophecy that tells us about a beast that comes from the sea and another beast that comes from the land. But this is not the main subject of Revelation. In the first chapter of Revelation we see the main subject of this book — the testimony of Jesus. The last book of the Bible is concerned with the testimony of Jesus.
10我们必须再一次珍赏这个奇妙的事实：圣经的确是神圣的启示。人的心智无法写出这样一本书。
10Once again we must appreciate the wonderful fact that the Bible truly is the divine revelation. The human mind is not capable of composing such a book.
11最终，在圣经六十六卷书的末了一卷书里面，是论到耶稣的见证。这个见证就是神的约柜。照启示录来看，神的约柜最终总结于一个帐幕，就是新耶路撒冷。新耶路撒冷乃是帐幕终极的应验。神永远的目标就是要得着新耶路撒冷。
11Eventually, in the last of the sixty-six books of the Bible, we have a book concerned with the testimony of Jesus. This testimony is the ark of God. According to Revelation, the ark of God eventually consummates in a tabernacle which will be the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem will be the ultimate fulfillment of the tabernacle. It is God’s eternal goal to have the New Jerusalem.
12我们来读出埃及记的时候，需要留意见证之柜的意义。我盼望所有的青年人尤其要看见这卷书里见证之柜的重要。我们研读神的话，不该受天然的心思、宗教、文化所支配。我们不该仅仅关心从神得一些祝福。我们需要看见，神所渴望的乃是见证帐幕里面见证的柜。
12In our reading of the book of Exodus, we need to pay careful attention to the significance of the ark of testimony. I hope that all the young people especially will see the importance of the ark of testimony in this book. In reading and studying the Word of God, we should not be controlled by our natural mind, religion, or culture. We should not merely be concerned with receiving some kind of blessing from God. We need to see that what God desires is the ark of testimony in the tabernacle of testimony.
13在帐幕及其器具的启示里面，首先题起约柜。制造帐幕及其器具时，以及四十章里论到这件事的两段记载里面，见证的柜也占有中心的地位。我们已经看见，见证的柜是豫表基督。头一项安放在帐幕里的器具就是约柜。所以，约柜乃是帐幕及其器具的中心物件。
13In the revelation of the tabernacle and its furniture, the ark is mentioned first. In the making of the tabernacle and the furniture and in the two records concerning this matter in chapter forty, the ark of testimony also has a central place. We have seen that the ark of testimony typifies Christ. The first item of furniture to be put into the tabernacle was the ark. The ark, therefore, is the central item of the tabernacle and its furniture.
两个起头
Two beginnings
14出埃及记四十章二节说：“正月初一日，你要立起帐幕。”神吩咐摩西在第二年的正月初一日立起帐幕，非常有意义。我们晓得，头一年的正月是逾越节的时候。因此，从逾越节到帐幕立起来有一年的时间。
14Exodus 40:2 says, “On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.” It is very significant that God commanded Moses to erect the tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year. We know that the first month of the first year was the time of the Passover. Hence, from the Passover to the erection of the tabernacle was one year.
15在出埃及记十二章和四十章，我们看见神的百姓有两个起头。第一个起头始于逾越节，这是为着以色列人得救。第二个起头始于神的居所。这两个起头是清楚的豫表、表记。第一个起头是为着得救，经历逾越节，使神的审判越过我们。凡是真基督徒都经历过这一个起头。但与建造神的居所有关的第二个起头如何呢？事实上少有基督徒晓得必须有第二个起头。
15In Exodus 12 and 40 we see that God’s people had two beginnings. The first beginning was with the Passover, which was for the salvation of the children of Israel. The second beginning was their beginning with God’s dwelling place. These two beginnings are clear types or signs. The first beginning is to be saved, to experience the Passover, to have God’s judgment pass over us. Every genuine Christian has experienced this beginning. But what about the second beginning, the beginning related to the building of God’s dwelling place? It is a fact that not many Christians realize the need to have this second beginning.
16我年轻的时候读到一些书，论到所谓第二次的祝福。灵恩派的人会说，要得着第二次的祝福，就要经历圣灵的浸。他们鼓励信徒追求第二次的祝福。但强调内里生命的基督徒宣称，第二次的祝福是里面的。他们也许会这么说：“你需要经历基督的十字架，如果你经历了十字架，里面就会被生命充满，这种内里的充满就是第二次的祝福。”但你有没有听过有人说到第二次的祝福，第二年的第二个亚笔月么？圣历的正月称为亚笔月，意思就是青嫩的麦穗，表征生命中新鲜、清新的开始。
16When I was young I read some books that spoke about a so-called second blessing. Pentecostal people would say that to have this second blessing is to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They encourage believers to seek this second blessing. But those Christians who emphasize the inner life claim that the second blessing is something inward. They may say something like this: “You need to experience the cross of Christ. If you experience the cross, then inwardly you will be filled with life. This inward filling is the second blessing.” But have you ever heard anyone speak about a second blessing, a second Abib, in the second year? The first month of the holy calendar is called the month of Abib, which means green ears, and signifies a new, fresh beginning in life.
17我们都需要有两个起头，一个由出埃及记十二章的逾越节来豫表，另一个由出埃及记四十章的立起帐幕来豫表。这件事很有意义。第二个起头与说方言无关，与为着内里生命的内里充满无关；它也不是所谓圣洁子民所讲论第二次的祝福。他们说，如果我们领受了圣洁，就领受了第二次的祝福。但由出埃及记我们看见，第二个起头与建造神的居所有关。在基督徒的生活里，我们实际地经历神居所的建造，就有了第二个起头。今天神的居所是甚么？神的居所就是教会，称为活神的家。（提前三15。）这个家的建造就是第二个起头，真正第二次的祝福，这个起头发生在第二年的正月初一日。何等喜乐，我确信我经历了第二个起头！我们中间许多人也确信我们有了第二个起头。这的确是一个祝福！随着建造神的居所，还有第二个起头，比说方言、内里的充满、圣洁要好得多。这些没有一样能与神的居所相比，没有一样能与教会的建造相比。
17We all need to have the two beginnings, one typified by the Passover in Exodus 12, and the other, by the erection of the tabernacle in Exodus 40. This is a matter of great significance. The second beginning is not related to tongue-speaking nor even to the inner filling for the inner life. Neither is it the second blessing spoken of by so-called holiness people. They say that if we receive holiness, we have received the second blessing. But from Exodus we see that the second beginning is related to the building of God’s dwelling place. When in our Christian life we experience the building of God’s dwelling place in a practical way, we have the second beginning. What is the dwelling place of God today? God’s dwelling place is the church, which is called the house of the living God (1 Tim. 3:15). The building of this house is the second beginning, the genuine second blessing, the beginning that takes place on the first day of the first month of the second year. How glad I am to have the assurance that I have experienced the second beginning! Many among us also have the assurance that we have had this second beginning. This is truly a blessing! To have the second beginning with the building of the dwelling place of God is much better than tongue-speaking, inward filling, or holiness. None of these things can compare with God’s dwelling place. None of them can compare with the building of the church.
18有些人听见这话，也许会说：“李常受总是讲论教会，无论他到那里，总是强调教会，因为这是他的货品。”事实上，我不是宣传我的“货品”，而是宣传神的货品。我们在出埃及记末了看见了甚么？我们看见了神的居所。我们看见神所占有、神所得着的帐幕，荣耀地彰显祂。在圣经末了，我们看见同样的事。在启示录末了几章，我们看见一个帐幕，就是新耶路撒冷，被神占有并得着，荣耀地彰显祂。出埃及记四十章三十四节告诉我们：“耶和华的荣光就充满了帐幕。”在启示录二十一章我们看见，新耶路撒冷有神的荣耀。（启二一10～11。）在出埃及记和启示录末了，我们都看见神的荣耀充满了帐幕，充满了神的居所。
18When certain ones hear this, they may say, “Witness Lee is always talking about the church. Wherever he goes he emphasizes the church because this is his cargo.” Actually, I am not promoting my “cargo” — I am promoting God’s cargo. What do we see at the end of Exodus? We see God’s dwelling place. We see a tabernacle occupied by God and possessed by Him in the way of glory to express Him. We see the same thing at the end of the Bible. In the last chapters of the book of Revelation we see a tabernacle, the New Jerusalem, occupied and possessed by God in the way of glory for His expression. In Exodus 40:34 we are told that “the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle,” and in Revelation 21 we see that the New Jerusalem has the glory of God (Rev. 21:10-11). Both at the end of Exodus and at the end of Revelation we see the glory of God filling the tabernacle, God’s dwelling place.
摩西照主所吩咐的去行
Moses doing what the Lord commanded
19出埃及记四十章十六节说：“摩西这样行，都是照耶和华所吩咐他的。”“照耶和华所吩咐他的”这句话一再地重复。（19，21，23，25，27，29，32。）我年轻的时候读到这段话，认为它太重复了。在我看来，末了说“凡事都是照神所吩咐摩西的去行”就彀了。然而，“照耶和华所吩咐他的”这句话一再地重复，表明了一件要紧的事。
19Exodus 40:16 says, “And Moses did according to all that Jehovah had commanded him; so he did.” Again and again the words “as Jehovah had commanded Moses” are repeated (vv. 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32). When I read this portion of the Word as a young person, I thought that it was too repetitious. It seemed to me that it would have been sufficient to say at the end that everything was done according to what God had commanded Moses. However, the fact that the words “as Jehovah had commanded Moses” are repeated again and again indicates something important.
20虽然四十章里的记载不很长，却相当详尽。首先它告诉我们：“摩西立起帐幕，安上带卯的座，立上板，穿上闩，立起柱子。”（18。）然后告诉我们，摩西“在帐幕以上搭罩棚，把罩棚的顶盖，盖在其上。”（19。）幔子安在竖板上面，形成了天花板；好几层盖盖在幔子顶端，形成了屋顶。这样，里面，幔子形成了天花板；外面，盖形成了屋顶。
20Although the record in chapter forty is not very long, it is quite detailed. First we are told that “Moses raised up the tabernacle, and placed its sockets, and put up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars” (v. 18). Then we are told that Moses “spread the tent over the tabernacle” and “put the cover of the tent over it from above” (v. 19). The curtains were placed above the boards to form the ceiling, and the layers of coverings were put on top of the curtains to form the roof. Thus, inside, the curtains formed the ceiling, and outside, the coverings formed the roof.
21二十至二十一节说到约柜：“又把见证放在柜里，把杠穿在柜的两旁，把蔽罪盖安在柜上；把柜抬进帐幕，挂上遮掩柜的幔子，把见证的柜遮掩了；是照耶和华所吩咐他的。”（另译。）二十节说到约柜的盖是蔽罪盖，英文钦定本使用“怜悯座”这个词。照新约来看，蔽罪盖就是施恩的宝座，（来四16，）是神与祂的百姓相会的地方。约柜安放在帐幕里以后，便挂上遮掩见证之柜的幔子。
21Verses 20 and 21 speak about the ark: “And he took the testimony and placed it into the ark, and he put the poles on the ark, and he placed the propitiatory cover upon the ark from above. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and he put up the veil of the curtain, and covered the ark of the testimony, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.” Verse 20 speaks of the cover of the ark as the propitiatory cover. The King James Version uses the expression “mercy seat.” According to the New Testament, the propitiatory cover is the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16), where God meets with His people. After the ark was placed in the tabernacle, the veil covering the ark of testimony was set up.
需要实际
The need for reality
22照二十二节来看，摩西把桌子安在会幕内，在帐幕北边，在幔子外；然后将饼陈设在桌子上。这饼是为着餧养，为着滋养。在桌子对面，帐幕南边，摩西安置了灯台，在主面前点灯。接着，摩西把金香坛安在幔子前；照着主所吩咐他的，在坛上烧了馨香料作的香。在香坛这里，祭司能彀为神的百姓祷告、代求。
22According to verse 22, Moses placed the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil. Then he set in order upon the table the loaves of bread. The bread is for feeding, for nourishing. Opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle, Moses put the lampstand, and he lighted the lamps before the Lord. Following this, Moses put the golden altar of incense before the veil. Then, as the Lord had commanded him, he burned upon it the incense of fragrant spices. At the incense altar the priests could pray and intercede for God’s people.
23在出埃及记四十章，饼与桌子相题并论，点灯与灯台相题并论，烧香与金香坛相题并论。这指明我们不该有桌子而没有饼，有灯台而没有光，有香坛而没有香。桌子一安在圣所里，饼就陈列在桌上。照样，灯台一安在桌子对面，灯就点亮了。此外，金香坛一安在幔子前，就在坛上烧香。凡进入圣所的人都能彀看见饼和光，也能彀闻到香气。这指明我们在主的恢复里，不该只有外面的事物，却没有这些事物的实际。例如，我们不该只有受浸，而没有主的死与复活的实际；不该只有主的筵席，而没有基督身体的实际。如果我们没有实际，我们就不过徒有虚仪。
23In chapter forty of Exodus, the bread is mentioned along with the table; the lighting of the lamps, along with the lampstand; and the burning of incense, along with the golden altar of incense. This indicates that we should not have a table without bread, a lampstand without light, or an incense altar without incense. As soon as the table was put in the Holy Place, the bread was arranged upon it. Likewise, as soon as the lampstand was put in place opposite the table, the lamps were lighted. Furthermore, once the golden altar had been set up before the veil, incense was burned upon it. Anyone entering the Holy Place could see the bread and the light and smell the incense. This indicates that in the Lord’s recovery we should not have outward things without the reality of those things. For example, we should not have baptism without the reality of the Lord’s death and resurrection, or the Lord’s table without the reality of the Body of Christ. If we do not have reality, we shall simply have empty forms.
工作完成
Finishing the work
24出埃及记四十章二十八节说：“又挂上帐幕的门帘。”一旦门帘挂上了，整个帐幕就完成了。因此，三十节继续说到洗濯盆和燔祭坛，三十三节则说，在帐幕和坛的四围，立了院帷，把院子的门帘挂上。然后三十三节结束于“摩西就完了工”这句话。在这一点上，建立帐幕和外院子的工作便全数完成了。下一篇信息是出埃及记生命读经末了一篇信息，我们会看见云彩遮盖会幕，耶和华的荣光充满了帐幕。
24Exodus 40:28 says, “And he put up the curtain of the door to the tabernacle.” Once this curtain had been put up, the entire tabernacle was finished. Therefore, verse 30 goes on to speak of the laver and the altar of burnt offering, and verse 33, of the raising up of the court round about the tabernacle and the altar and the hanging up of the curtain of the gate of the court. Then verse 33 concludes with the words, “And Moses finished the work.” At this point, all the work regarding the erecting of the tabernacle and the outer court was completed. In the following message, the last message in this Life-study of Exodus, we shall see that the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.