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出埃及记生命读经 · 第77篇

约的制定（二）

The Enactment of the Covenant (2)
1读经：出埃及记24:1-8；希伯来书22；耶利米书31:33-34；以
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 24:1-8; Heb. 9:18-20, 22; Jer. 31:33-34; Ezek. 36:25-29a 9:18-20,
2西结书36:25-29上。
2
3本篇信息继续上一篇信息交通到立约的事。我们已经看见，当摩西立约的时候，他筑了一座坛，又立了十二根柱子。祭坛指出我们必须蒙救赎、被了结，并且被取代。柱子表征我们必须成为神活的见证，成为神之所是的返照。
3This message is a continuation of the foregoing message on the enactment of the covenant. We have seen that when Moses enacted the covenant, he built both an altar and twelve pillars. The altar indicates that we need to be redeemed, terminated, and replaced. The pillars signify that we need to become a living testimony of God, a reflection of what He is
4三燔祭与平安祭
4III. WITH BURNT OFFERINGS AND PEACE OFFERINGS
5出埃及记二十四章五节说：『又打发以色列人中的少年人去献燔祭，又向耶和华献牛为平安祭。』我们不难了解这两种祭的意义。燔祭是为著神的满足。我们是神所创造使祂得满足的。然而，人因著堕落，不能让神满足。至终，基督来成为第二个人，完全让神得著了满足。这样，祂能彀成为让神得著满足的燔祭。神藉著燔祭得著了满足之后，神与人之间才可能有平安。这平安有赖于平安祭。当人与神一同享受基督时，就彼此同得满足，彼此之间也有了和平。基督首先成为燔祭献给神，让神得满足；然后祂又成了平安祭，成就了人与神之间的和平。至终，基督成为筵席，让神和人彼此享受。这就是救赎我们、了结我们，现在正在取代我们的那位基督。我们愈在经历中被基督取代，我们就愈成为燔祭和平安祭。我们天天与神一同饱尝基督、享受基督时，我们就让神得著满足，并享受与祂之间的和平。我们凭著自己的努力来守律法不可能使神满足，与神之间也不可能有和平，同时也不能与神同享基督。我再说，神赐律法给祂百姓的目的不是要他们去遵守律法。神的心意是要百姓被基督取代，成为神的返照。这是神的经营。我们感谢祂，在恢复里这件事对我们是透亮的。
5Exodus 24:5 says, “And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto Jehovah” (lit.). It is not difficult to understand the significance of these offerings. The burnt offering was for God’s satisfaction. We were created by God for His satisfaction. However, because of the fall man has failed to satisfy God. Eventually Christ came as the second man and fully satisfied God. Thus, He could be the burnt offering to satisfy God. After God was satisfied through the burnt offering, there could be peace between God and man. This peace depends on the peace offering. When man and God together enjoy Christ, there is mutual satisfaction and peace. Christ first became the burnt offering offered to God to satisfy Him, and then He became the peace offering to make peace between man and God. Eventually, Christ became a feast for God and man to enjoy mutually. This is the Christ who has redeemed us and terminated us and who is now replacing us. The more we are replaced by Christ in our experience, the more we become the burnt offering and the peace offering. Day by day we satisfy God and enjoy peace with Him as we feast on Christ with God and enjoy Him with God. By our own efforts to keep the law it is impossible for us to satisfy God, to have peace with God, or to enjoy Christ with God. I say again that God did not give the law to His people with the intention that they observe it. God’sin tent i on is for the people to be replaced by Christ and to become a reflection of God. This is God’secon o my. We thank Him that in the recovery this has been made clear to us.
6根据我们天然观念，全能的神，创造的主，那圣者颁赐律法的目的是要我们谨守遵行。虽然这种宗教观念在今天基督徒中间很盛行，但这绝不是神的经营。我们这些在主恢复里的人多多少少，也许下意识里，还受这种观念的影响。我们听了一篇特别的信息之后，也许就这样祷告：『主，我定意要照著这篇信息来生活，请帮助我贯彻我的决定。』这种祷告暴露出一件事实，我们仍然受天然、宗教观念的影响。我们需要很长一段时间，才能完全脱离这种影响。当我们读到圣经上某一个要求时，我们很容易就定意要凭自己去履行那个要求。我们就像在西乃山下的以色列子民一样，应允主说，凡祂所说的我们都必遵行。然而，我们若蒙主光照，就不会再定意去作祂所要求的。我们反倒会祷告说：『主，怜悯我，你所要求的我作不到。主，赞美你！你已经救赎了我、了结了我，如今你正以你自己来取代我，并使我成为你的返照。』赞美主！我们有十字架了结我们，有基督取代我们。基督是我们的燔祭与平安祭，当我们经历祂时，祂就使我们成为活的燔祭和平安祭。这不是努力遵守律法的结果，而是经历祭坛和祭物的结果，就是经历十字架的了结与取代，使我们成为神的见证。我们若是这样来经历基督和十字架，我们不仅有祭坛和祭物，也有十二根柱子。阿利路亚！基督的救赎与取代何等奇妙，能彀使堕落、败坏的罪人变化成为柱子！
6According to the natural concept, the almighty God, the Creator, the holy One, has given us the law that we may observe and keep it. Although this religious concept is common among Christians today, it is far off from God’s economy. We in the recovery may still be under the influence of this concept, perhaps subconsciously, to some degree. After listening to a particular message, we may pray, “Lord, I make up my mind to live according to this message. Please help me carry out my decision.” This kind of prayer exposes the fact that we are still under the influence of the natural, religious concept. It takes a long time to be fully free from this influence. When we read a certain requirement in the Bible, it is easy for us to make up our mind to fulfill that requirement ourselves. Like the children of Israel at Mount Sinai, we promise the Lord that we shall do whatever He says. However, if we are enlightened by the Lord, we would no longer make up our mind to do what He requires. Instead, we would pray, “Lord, have mercy on me, for I am not able to do what You require. Lord, I praise You that You have redeemed me and terminated me and that You are in the process of replacing me with Yourself and making me Your reflection.” Praise the Lord that we have the cross to terminate us and Christ to replace us! Christ is our burnt offering and our peace offering. As we experience Him, He makes us a living burnt offering and peace offering. This does not come from trying to keep the law; it issues from experiencing the altar and the sacrifice, the cross for termination and replacement to become God’s testimony. If we experience Christ and the cross in this way, we shall have not only the altar and the sacrifices, but also the twelve pillars. Hallelujah for Christ’s marvelous redemption and replacement that can transform fallen, corrupted sinners into pillars!
7不必挣扎努力去遵守神的律法。基督已经救赎了你，如今祂正在取代你、重组你，并要把你重新安排，使你成为神活的见证，祂的返照。你若照著灵生活行动，并将心思放在灵上，律法义的要求自然而然就要成就在你身上，你就要成为神的见证。
7Do not strive to keep God’s law. Christ has redeemed you, and now He is in the process of replacing you, reconstituting you, and rearranging you to make you a living testimony of God, His reflection. If you walk according to spirit and set your mind on the spirit, automatically the righteous requirements of the law will be fulfilled in you and you will become a testimony of God
四 藉著血
IV. BY THE BLOOD
8出埃及记二十四章六节说：『摩西将血一半盛在盆中，一半洒在坛上。』这里的血是为著救赎的。我们虽然犯罪、堕落、败坏，我们却有血救赎我们并赦免我们的罪。希伯来书九章二十二节宣告说：『按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血洁净的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。』
8Exodus 24:6 says, “And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.” The blood here was for redemption. Although we are sinful, fallen, and corrupted, we have the blood for our redemption and for the forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22 declares, “And almost all things are purified by blood according to the law, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
9出埃及记二十四章的血应当会让百姓想起逾越节羔羊的血。在西乃山下立约还不到一年以前，以色列子民曾将羔羊的血涂在他们房屋的门框上。摩西将血『洒在书上，又洒在众百姓身上』，（来九19，）并且说：『这血就是神与你们立约的凭据。』这表示以色列子民是有罪的，需要血的遮盖。这血来自祭物，而祭物表征基督。所以，彼得前书一章十八、十九节说，我们是凭著基督的宝血得蒙救赎。旧约圣经不仅启示了二十四章一至八节所立的约，也豫言了新约。耶利米书三十一章三十三节说：『耶和华说，那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约，乃是这样；我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上；我要作他们的神，他们要作我的子民。』在以西结书三十六章二十六和二十七节，主应许说：『我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面；又从你们的肉体中除掉石心，赐给你们肉心。我必将我的灵，放在你们里面，使你们顺从我的律例，谨守遵行我的典章。』这些豫言指出，神要与祂的百姓另立一个约，这个约要补偿前约所有不及之处。在耶利米书三十一章三十三节，神应许将祂的律法写在百姓的心上；在以西结书三十六章，祂保证要赐给他们新心，改变他们的性情，并且将新灵和祂的灵放在他们里面而重生他们。律法刻在我们的里面意思是我们蒙了重生，领受了新的性情，并且神的灵放在我们里面。结果，正如立约所指出的，我们就被基督所取代，而且自然而然地以符合神律法义的要求的方式来生活。这样，我们不是努力谨守遵行律法的人，而是律法的活像。
9The blood in Exodus 24 should have reminded the people of the blood of the Passover lamb. Less than a year before the covenant was enacted at Mount Sinai, the children of Israel put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their houses. Moses sprinkled the blood on “both the book itself and all the people” (Heb. 9:19) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded to you,” as an indication that the children of Israel were sinful and needed the covering of the blood. This blood came from the sacrifices, and the sacrifices typify Christ. Therefore, 1 Peter 1:18 and 19 say that we were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. The Old Testament not only reveals the covenant enacted in 24:1-8, but also prophesies of a new covenant. Jeremiah 31:33 says, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” In Ezekiel 36:26 and 27 the Lord made this promise: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them” (lit.). These prophecies indicate that God would make another covenant with His people, a covenant which would make up for any shortage in the first covenant. In Jeremiah 31:33 God promised to write His law in the hearts of the people, and in Ezekiel 36 He pledged to change their nature by giving them a new heart and to regenerate them by putting a new spirit and also His Spirit within them. For the law to be inscribed on our inner being means that we are regenerated, that we receive a new nature, and that God’s Spirit is placed within us. The result, as indicated by the enactment of the covenant, is that we are replaced by Christ and spontaneously live in a way which corresponds to the righteous requirement of God’s law. Then instead of being those who try to keep the law, we shall be a living reflection of the law
10我们已经看见，神的百姓若要成为祂活的见证与活像，就必须蒙救赎、被了结，并且被取代。照以西结书三十六章来看，这样的结果乃是源于里面深奥难测的改变，就是领受新心，新灵，以及神圣的灵。
10We have seen that for God’s people to become His living testimony and reflection, they had to be redeemed, terminated, and replaced. According to Ezekiel 36, this results from a profound inward change, from receiving a new heart, a new spirit, and the divine Spirit.
11新约圣经里有与这些相当的事物。新约启示基督的十字架，藉此我们得蒙救赎、被了结、被取代。新约也启示我们这些信基督的人有新的性情；我们已经蒙了重生，领受了新灵和神圣的灵，就是神自己，住在我们的灵里。现在我们若照著调和的灵─神圣的灵与我们灵的调和生活行动，我们就能过一种返照神的生活。这一切能彀成就，都是因著我们有基督的宝血洗净我们的罪。因此，我们的罪得了洗净，我们就成了神的返照。
11All these matters have their counterpart in the New Testament. The New Testament reveals the cross of Christ through which we are redeemed, terminated, and replaced. The New Testament also reveals that, as those who believe in Christ, we have a new nature, that we have been regenerated to receive a new spirit, and that the divine Spirit, God Himself, dwells in our spirit. Now if we walk according to the mingled spirit, the divine Spirit mingled with our spirit, we shall have a living which is the reflection of God. All this is made possible because we have the precious blood of Christ to cleanse us of our sins. Thus, our sins are cleansed, and we become God’s reflection
12五以色列子民的无知出埃及记二十四章暴露以色列子民的无知。第三节说：『摩西下山，将耶和华的命令、典章，都述说与百姓听；众百姓齐声说，耶和华所吩咐的，我们都必遵行。』百姓说这样愚昧的话不只一次，而是两次。第七节说到摩西『将约书念给百姓听』之后，他们说：『耶和华所吩咐的，我们都必遵行。』这显示他们在属灵的事上是瞎眼的。因著他们在堕落、天然的光景里，没有看见神的所是，也不认识自己。他们因著自信，愚昧地信靠自己。今天许多基督徒因著缺少启示和异象，在这方面和以色列子民一样。我们也可能还受到这种宗教观念的影响，以为我们能彀遵守神的律法。我们都需要祭坛、柱子、祭物，和血。我们必须取用宝血，并让基督来取代，好成为神的返照。出埃及记二十四章一至八节是神经营的一幅图画。照这幅图画来看，我们不该作个守律法的人。我们反倒该被了结、被取代，好成为柱子，作神活的见证，在基督里成为神的返照。我们再也不该对神说胡话，答应遵行神所说的。这样向神发誓或保证都是出于天然的。我们实在无法实现这样的诺言；我们的生活中满了失败和缺欠。我们凭甚么来答应能履行神的要求？我们需要的是救赎、了结、取代和重组。我们不该再作可笑的承诺，我们却该祷告说：『主，我一无所有，一无所能。但是因著你，我就能蒙救赎、被了结、被取代。主，将你自己作到我里面来重组我，使我成为活的柱子，作你的见证。』但愿我们都看见，神的心意是要把祂自己作到我们里面，以祂自己来重组我们，使我们可以成为祂的见证。这是出埃及记二十四章里祭坛、柱子、祭物、血，以及以色列子民所说愚昧话的意义。
12V. THE IGNORANCE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL Exodus 24 exposes the ignorance of the children of Israel. Verse 3 says, “And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath said will we do” (lit.). The people spoke in such a foolish way not only once, but twice. Verse 7 says that after Moses “took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people,” they said, “All that Jehovah hath said will we do, and be obedient” (lit.). This shows that they were spiritually blind. In their fallen, natural condition they did not see what God was and they did not know themselves. Being self-confident, they had a foolish trust in themselves. Lacking revelation and vision, many of today’s Christians are the same as the children of Israel in this respect. We also may still be under the influence of the religious concept and think that we are able to obey the law of God. We all need the altar, the pillars, the sacrifices, and the blood. We need to apply the blood and be replaced by Christ to become a reflection of God. Exodus 2 4:1-8 is a picture of God’s economy. According to this picture, we should not be observers of the law. Rather, we should be terminated and replaced in order to become pillars as God’s living testimony, a reflection of God in Christ. No longer should we speak to God in a nonsensical way, promising to do whatever He says. To make such an oath or pledge to God is to speak in a natural way. We simply do not have the means to fulfill such a pledge. Our lives are filled with failures and shortcomings. What ground do we have to promise to fulfill God’s requirements? We need redemption, termination, replacement, and reconstitution. Instead of making ridiculous promises, we should pray, “Lord, I have nothing, and I can do nothing. But with You there is the possibility for me to be redeemed, terminated, and replaced. Lord, by working Yourself into me You can reconstitute me and make me a living pillar as Your testimony.” May we all see that God’s desire is to work Himself into us and to reconstitute us with Himself that we may be His testimony. This is the significance of the altar, the pillars, the sacrifices, the blood, and the foolish talk of the children of Israel in Exodus 24.
13宗教教导人敬拜神，并要人遵守神的诫命。犹太教、天主教、更正教都强调这点。然而，这样强调乃是照著人的天然观念。我们也受了这种观念的影响，尽力遵行神的律法，为要得著神的称许，讨祂的喜悦。我们也许认为，神将律法赐给他的百姓，他们若谨守遵行律法，就能与神维持良好的关系。这种观念既天然又宗教，完全与神在祂经营里的心意背道而驰。我们已经指出，摩西制定律法的方式与我们豫期一般人的方式迥然有别。摩西没有命令百姓要忠心并遵守律法，他乃是藉著祭坛、柱子、祭物和血来立约。藉著这种方式的立约，摩西似乎是对百姓说，即使他们犯罪、败坏，在堕落的光景里无可救药，神还能彀使他们成为柱子，作祂的见证。我们已经一再地强调，这件事惟有藉著基督的十字架、基督的血，并基督自己才能发生。藉著十字架，我们蒙救赎、被了结；藉著血，我们被洗净脱离了罪；藉著基督自己，我们被取代、被重组、重新组成。我们在让基督来取代的过程中，时常令主失望，但是我们有血洗净我们。
13Religion instructs people to worship God and obey His commandments. Judaism, Catholicism, and Protestantism all have this emphasis. Such an emphasis, however, is according to man’s natural concept. Under the influence of this concept, we may try our best to keep God’s laws in order to be approved by Him and to please Him. We may think that God gave the law to His people so that by keeping the law they would maintain a good relationship with Him. This concept is natural and religious, utterly contrary to God’sin tent i on in His economy. We have pointed out that the way Moses enacted the law was very different from what we would expect as the common human way. Instead of commanding the people to be faithful and to observe the law, Moses enacted the covenant by means of the altar, the pillars, the sacrifices, and the blood. By enacting the covenant in this way, Moses seemed to be telling the people that even though they were sinful and corrupted, hopeless in their fallen condition, God could make them pillars to be His testimony. As we have emphasized again and again, this can take place only by the cross of Christ, by the blood of Christ, and by Christ Himself. By the cross we are redeemed and terminated, by the blood we are cleansed from our sins, and by Christ Himself we are replaced, reconstituted, and rearranged. While we are undergoing the process of being replaced by Christ, we often fail the Lord. But we have the blood to cleanse us
14主一直在作工，要了结我们、取代我们，使我们成为柱子，在基督里成为神的返照。我们成为这样的柱子，意思是在我们的日常生活中显大基督。这是神的经营。我们若看见旧约的制定如何描述了神的经营，我们就会从天然、宗教的观念，转向神的观念以及神在祂经营里的心意。
14The Lord is working to terminate us and replace us in order to make us pillars, a reflection of God in Christ. To be such a pillar is to magnify Christ in our daily living. This is God’secon o my. If we see how the enactment of the old covenant portrays God’secon o my, we shall turn from the natural, religious concept to God’s concept and to His intention in His economy
15十诫本身并没有给我们看见救赎、了结或取代。我们也没有看见救赎的血、祭坛或祭物。当然，祭坛和祭物后来有题到。虽然律法本身没有描述神的经营，律法的制定却描绘了神的经营。再者，在耶利米书三十一章和以西结书三十六章我们看到另一个约。照这两章圣经所说，神要将祂的律法刻在我们里面的人里，变换我们的心，重生我们的灵，将祂的灵放在我们里面，要来取代我们；并且祂还要赦免我们并洗净我们。耶利米书三十一章三十四节说：『我要赦免他们的罪孽，不再记念他们的罪恶。』以西结书三十六章二十五节说：『我必用清水洒在你们身上，你们就洁净了；我要洁净你们，使你们脱离一切的污秽，弃掉一切的偶像。』这些经节指出，神要清洗我们、洁净我们，并且赦免我们。因此，我们不必因我们的失败、罪恶、不洁一直过不去。然而，立约的重点还不在于我们蒙了赦免、得了洁净。最重要的乃是神的性情已经放到我们里面，作为生命的律。罪的律怎样是撒但的性情，照样，生命的律乃是神的性情。神把祂的性情放到我们里面作为生命之律，就改换了我们的心，重生我们的灵，并且把祂自己分赐到我们里面作为那灵。这样，我们就逐渐被取代、被重组，成为神之所是的活见证、活描绘。这是成为神返照的路。
15In the Ten Commandments themselves we do not see redemption, termination, or replacement. Neither do we see the redeeming blood, the altar, or the sacrifices. Of course, the altar and the sacrifices are mentioned later. Although the law itself does not depict God’secon o my, the enactment of the law does portray the economy of God. Furthermore, in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 we read of another covenant. According to these chapters, God will inscribe His laws into our inner being, change our heart, regenerate our spirit, and put His Spirit within us in order to replace us, and He will also forgive us and cleanse us. Jeremiah 31:34 says, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Ezekiel 36:25 declares, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.” These verses indicate that God will wash us, cleanse us, and forgive us. Thus, we need not be troubled by our failures, sinfulness, and uncleanness. However, the main point regarding the enactment of the covenant is not that we are forgiven and cleansed. The crucial matter is that God’s nature is put into us as the law of life. Just as the law of sin is Satan’s nature, so the law of life is God’s nature. By putting His nature into us as the law of life, God changes our heart, regenerates our spirit, and imparts Himself into us as the Spirit. In this way we are gradually replaced and reconstituted to become a living testimony, a living portrait, of what God is. This is the way to become God’s reflection
16藉著新约中保罗的职事，我们看见神巴望我们由基督来重组，因而使我们成为祂的见证。彼得说，我们与神的性情有分（彼后一4）─这项陈述是彼得职事最突出的点─但是彼得并没有清楚说明，基督在我们里面，或基督正作到我们里面来。保罗题出了细节，论到我们如何被十字架了结，如何被基督取代，好使我们成为神活的见证。但愿众圣徒都看见这个启示，并且经历这个启示使我们基督徒的生活有大的转变。
16Through the ministry of Paul in the New Testament, we see that God desires to reconstitute us of Christ and thereby make us His testimony. Peter says that we are partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4)— this statement is the highlight of Peter’s ministry— but Peter does not say clearly that Christ is in us or that Christ is being wrought into us. Paul is the one who presents the details of how we are terminated by the cross and replaced by Christ to become a living testimony of our God. May all the saints see this revelation and experience the tremendous difference it makes in our Christian life