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出埃及记生命读经 · 第80篇

在透亮清明的天里神的异象以及在神的荣耀之下与神同住

The Vision of God in a Transparent and Clear Heaven and the Stay with God Under His Glory
1读经：出埃及记24:1-2,9-18。出埃及记这卷书可以分成两个段落：第一章至二十四章是前半段，二十五章至四十章是后半段。后半段由十六章圣经组成，主要是记载会幕的异象。这十几章圣经里所包涵的历史非常少，而是给我们看见神在地上的居所─会幕的设计、材料以及建造的细节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 24:1-2, 9-18 The book of Exodus may be divided into two sections: chapters one through twenty-four as the first section and chapters twenty-five through forty as the second. The second section, composed of sixteen chapters, is primarily a record of visions concerning the tabernacle. These chapters contain very little history. Here we see the details concerning the design, materials, and construction of the tabernacle as God’s dwelling place on earth
2许多基督徒把出埃及记这卷书从头到尾读过了，却对一个事实没有深刻的印象：神拯救人的目的乃是要带祂所救赎的百姓进入祂在地上的居所。神拯救我们的目标乃是要使我们成为祂居住的所在。我们必须一再强调这件极其要紧的事，直到我们对这事有深刻的印象。因此，我们需要很多篇信息来交通出埃及记二十五至四十章所描述奇妙、属天异象的细节。在已过的一个半世纪里，弟兄会中间的圣经教师写了许多书论到会幕及其器具，包括约柜、香坛、陈设饼桌子、灯台、洗濯盆，以及铜祭坛。然而，我在弟兄会那段时间里，从没有听说过今天的教会就是神的会幕。
2Many Christians have read through the book of Exodus without being deeply impressed with the fact that the goal of God’ss alvation is to bring His redeemed people into His dwelling place on earth. God’sa i min His salvation is to make us His dwelling place. This crucial matter must be emphasized repeatedly until it makes a deep impression on us. Therefore, we need many messages covering the details of the wonderful, heavenly visions described in chapters twenty-five through forty of Exodus. During the last century and a half, Bible teachers among the Brethren have written a number of books about the tabernacle and its furniture, including the ark, the incense altar, the showbread table, the lampstand, the laver, and the brass altar. However, when I was with the Brethren I was never told that today’s church is God’s tabernacle
3圣经里会幕一词有三方面的用法。第一，它是指在西乃山脚下所建造的会幕。第二，它指主耶稣是帐幕与人同在。约翰福音一章十四节说，话，就是神，『成了肉身，支搭帐幕在我们中间。』（直译。）基督藉著道成肉身，成了神在地上的帐幕。因此，出埃及记的帐幕乃是基督作为神帐幕的豫表。第三，会幕指新耶路撒冷，乃是终极、完满、扩大之神的帐幕，包括旧约和新约中神所救赎的百姓。出埃及记这卷书所启示神救恩的目的，乃是把祂的百姓带进作为祂居所的帐幕里。在本篇信息里，我们要来看二十四章一至二节，以及九至十八节。当我们来到出埃及记的这一段时，我们就开始进入以下章节所论到的属天异象。我们必须来到这个开端，才能彀看见属天的异象。
3In the Bible the word tabernacle is used in three ways. First, it refers to the tabernacle built at the foot of Mount Sinai. Second, it denotes the Lord Jesus as God’s tabernacle with man. John 1:14 says that the Word, which is God, “became flesh and tabernacled among us.” Through incarnation, Christ became God’s tabernacle on earth. Hence, the tabernacle in Exodus is a type of Christ as the tabernacle of God. Third, the tabernacle refers to the New Jerusalem, the ultimate, consummate, enlarged tabernacle of God which includes God’s redeemed people from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The goal of God’ss alvation revealed in the book of Exodus is to bring His people into the tabernacle as His dwelling place. In this message we shall consider 24:1-2, 9-18. When we come to this portion of Exodus, we are at the threshold of the heavenly visions contained in the following chapters. Unless we come to this threshold we shall not be able to see the heavenly visions.
4神的百姓若要到达出埃及记二十四章的门槛，首先必须经历前面二十三章圣经所记载的一切事。百姓原来在埃及王法老的暴政下作奴仆，但是神豫备了摩西，然后差他作使者搭救百姓。在十二章经历了逾越节；十四章，过红海；十五章里有玛拉的水和以琳的十二股水泉以及七十棵棕树；十六章有属天的吗哪；十七章有从裂开磐石流出来的活水，以及和亚玛力人的争战；十九章至二十三章，在西乃山律法和典章的颁布。神的百姓必须经过这一切的经历，才能站立在二十四章的门槛那里。在十九章，百姓在西乃山下被带进与神的交通中。然而，这样的交通开始的时候相当昏暗不明，因为是在密云的幽暗里进行的。。出埃及记十九章九节说：『我要在密云中临到你那里。』二十章二十一节说：『摩西就挨近神所在的幽暗之中。』
4In order to arrive at the threshold in Exodus 24, it was necessary for God’sp eople to experience all the events recorded in the previous chapters. The people were slaves in Egypt under Pharaoh’s tyranny, but God prepared Moses and then sent him as an apostle to rescue the people. In chapter twelve we have the Passover; in chapter fourteen, the crossing of the Red Sea; in chapter fifteen, the waters at Marah and the twelve springs and seventy palm trees at Elim; in chapter sixteen, the heavenly manna; in chapter seventeen, the living water from the cleft rock and the warfare with Amalek; and in chapters nineteen through twenty-three, the decree of the law and of the ordinances at Mount Sinai. God’sp eople had to pass through all these experiences before they could stand at the threshold in chapter twenty-four. In chapter nineteen the people were brought into fellowship with God at Mount Sinai. However, at first this fellowship was rather obscure, for it took place in the darkness of a thick cloud. Exodus 19:9 says, “Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud,” and 20:21 says, “Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was
5百姓虽然在西乃山下与神有交通，但他们还不认识祂是怎样的一位神，也不明白自己是堕落、犯罪、败坏的人。他们对神、对自己都没有启示。反之，他们对神、对自己的看法都是天然的。可是他们在西乃山下停留一段时间，藉著与神交通，他们终于蒙了光照。
5Although the people were brought into fellowship with God at Mount Sinai, they did not know what kind of God He was, and they did not realize that they were a fallen, sinful, and corrupted people. They did not have the revelation either of God or of themselves. Instead, they had a natural concept of God and also of themselves. But as a result of their stay at Mount Sinai, eventually through their fellowship with God they were enlightened
6我们已经指出，摩西制定神的律法时，筑了一座坛，献上流了血的祭物。后来用这血，就是立约的血，洒在百姓身上。祭坛、祭物和血指明神看祂的选民是蒙了救赎、被了结，并且被取代了。然后，他们就像摩西所立的十二根柱子所表明的一样，能彀成为柱子，站立在神面前，为要返照祂作为祂活的见证。
6We have pointed out that when the law of God was enacted, Moses built an altar, and sacrifices were offered with the shedding of blood. This blood, the blood of the covenant, was then used to sprinkle the people. The altar, the sacrifices, and the blood indicate that God regarded His chosen people as having been redeemed, terminated, and replaced. Then, as indicated by the twelve pillars set up by Moses, they could become pillars standing before God to reflect Him as His living testimony
7我不相信神的百姓对自己会有这种领会。他们不明白祭坛、祭物、柱子及血的意义。今天，不论是犹太人，或是基督徒，读出埃及记二十四章的时候，几乎都被帕子遮蔽，不了解这些事物的意义。但是神对所发生的这一切事情瞭若指掌。祂知道祂所计画的是甚么，祂藉著立约所作的是甚么。祂知道祂已经得著了一班蒙祂救赎、被了结、被取代的人，成为祂活的见证。
7I do not believe that God’sp eople had this realization concerning themselves. They did not know the significance of the altar, the sacrifices, the pillars, and the blood. Today when either Jews or Christians read Exodus 24, they are veiled and do not understand the significance of these things. But God had a full understanding of what was taking place. He knew what He had planned and what He was doing through the enactment of the covenant. He realized that He had gained a people who were redeemed, terminated, and replaced to become His living testimony.
8在哥林多前书十章五节保罗指出，神的百姓在旷野里的光景实在非常可怜：『但他们中间，多半是神不喜欢的人；所以在旷野倒毙。』然而，当巴勒雇用外邦先知巴兰来咒诅以色列子民时，巴兰却说：『祂未见雅各中有罪孽，也未见以色列中有奸恶』。（民二三21。）巴兰还说：『雅各阿，你的帐棚何等华美；以色列阿，你的帐幕何其华丽。』（民二四5。）巴兰是受雇来咒诅神的百姓的，然而他反倒祝福他们。藉此我们看见，在神眼中，他所救赎的百姓是没有过犯的。这事教导我们说到圣徒时不要有消极的话，这样消极的谈论会得罪主的。在我们看来，某个地方教会信徒的光景似乎不太好，但是神看他们都是蒙了救赎、被了结、被取代的。在神眼中，凡祂所救赎的子民都已经被十字架了结，被基督并以基督自己取代了。出埃及记二十四章给我们看见这样一班蒙救赎、被了结、被取代的人。
8In 1 Corinthians 10:5 Paul indicates that the condition of God’sp eople in the wilderness was actually very poor: “But with most of them God was not well pleased, for they were strewn along in the wilderness.” Nevertheless, when Balak hired the Gentile prophet Balaam to curse the children of Israel, Balaam declared, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel” (Num. 23:21). Balaam also said, “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” (Num. 24:5). Balaam had been hired to curse God’sp eople, but he blessed them instead. By this we can see that, in the sight of God, His redeemed people were without fault. This should teach us to not speak negatively of the saints. Such negative speaking may be offensive to the Lord. It may seem to us that the condition of the believers in a certain locality is not good, but God regards them as those who have been redeemed, terminated, and replaced. In the eyes of God, all His redeemed people have been terminated by the cross and replaced by Christ and with Christ. In Exodus 24 we have such a redeemed, terminated, and replaced people
一 神的异象显现在透亮并清明的天里
I. THE VISION OF GOD in a Transparent and Clear Heaven
9十九章的景象是黑暗又吓人的。但是到了二十四章，厚云突然消散了，天空睛朗又美丽。出埃及记二十四章九至十节说：『摩西、亚伦、拿答、亚比户，并以色列长老中的七十人，都上了山。他们看见以色列的神，祂脚下彷佛有平铺的蓝宝石，如同天色明净。』他们看见在神的脚下有个东西外表像是一大块透明的石头。因著人类的言语描述不来这种情景，所以十节说，他们看见彷佛有平铺的蓝宝石，如同天色明净。『彷佛』一词指出人的言语描述不来这奇妙的景象。摩西只得将他们在神脚下所看见的比喻为透明的蓝宝石，如同天色明净。
9The scene in chapter nineteen was dark and threatening. But suddenly, in chapter twenty - four the thick cloud passes away, and the sky becomes clear and beautiful. Exodus 24:9 and 10 say, “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of transparent sapphire, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness” (lit.). Beneath God’s feet they saw something that had the appearance of a large transparent stone. Because human words cannot describe this scene, verse 10 says that they saw “as it were a paved work of transparent sapphire, and as it were the body of heaven in its clearness.” The words “as it were” indicate that human language cannot adequately describe this marvelous sight. Moses could only liken what they saw under God’s feet to a transparent sapphire stone, which was like the body of heaven in clearness.
10接著十一节说：『他们观看神，他们又吃又喝。』当他们观看神的时候，又吃又喝。当他们经历最奇妙的景象时，藉著吃喝得以复苏。在山上的这一班人看见了从来没有人看过的奇景。神所救赎、了结，并取代的百姓看见了神，甚至看见神的脚下的奇景。看见这样的异象就是敬拜神。出埃及记二十四章一节说，那些和摩西一同上山的人要远远的下拜。但是在以下的经节里，再没有题到敬拜神的事。我们若仔细地读这一章圣经，并且详加思考，我们会希奇他们究竟是在甚么时候敬拜神。这章圣经里的敬拜包括观看神及吃喝。这是真正的敬拜，这是神所要的敬拜。神不要我们在祂面前五体投地的敬拜祂。祂愿意我们享受祂，并且在这样的享受中来敬拜祂。你到过一个礼拜堂或天主教堂，看见那里的人用吃、喝、欢乐、享受主来敬拜神么？这种敬拜与我们的宗教观念完全背道而11:驰。然而，这是十一节所描述的敬拜：『他们观看神，他们又吃又喝。』这是他们敬拜神的方式。我们不该照著天然的心思来分析圣经，也不该把圣经的教训系统化。约翰福音一章十八节说，从来没有人看见神；但是出埃及记二十四章说，七十位长老和其他与摩西同在的人看见了神。他们甚至看见神的脚。摩西不是说神的脚下有平铺透亮的蓝宝石；他乃是说神脚下『彷佛』有透亮的蓝宝石。在歌罗西书一章十五节保罗说到那看不见的神。看不见的神怎么可能被人看见呢？这类的问题题醒我们：圣经是神圣的、属灵的、奥秘的，天然的心思无法将它系统化，也无法分析得透。
10Verse 11 goes on to say, “They looked upon God, and did eat and drink” (lit.). While they were looking upon God, they ate and drank. As they experienced a most wonderful sight, they were refreshed by eating and drinking. Those on the mountain saw something no one had ever seen before. God’s redeemed, terminated, and replaced people were given a wonderful view of Him, even of His feet. To see such a vision of God is to worship Him. Exodus 24:1 says that those who went up the mountain with Moses were to worship afar off. But in the following verses nothing further is said about the worship of God. If we read this chapter carefully and thoughtfully, we shall wonder when they worshipped Him. The worship in this chapter consists of beholding God and of eating and drinking. This is true worship, the worship God desires. God does not want us to worship Him by prostrating ourselves before Him. He wants us to enjoy Him and to worship Him out of this enjoyment. Have you ever been in a chapel or cathedral where the people worshipped God by eating, drinking, rejoicing, and enjoying the Lord? This kind of worship is altogether contrary to our religious concept. Yet this is the worship described in verse “They looked upon God, and did eat and drink.” This was the way they worshipped Him. We should not try to analyze the Bible according to our natural mentality, and we should not try to systematize biblical doctrine. John 1:18 says that no one has seen God at any time, but Exodus 24 says that the seventy elders and the others who were with Moses saw God. They even saw God’s feet. Moses does not say that a paved work of transparent sapphire was under God’s feet; he says that what was under His feet was “as it were” a work of transparent sapphire. In Colossians 1:15 Paul speaks of the invisible God. How can the invisible God be seen? Questions like these remind us that the Bible is divine, spiritual, and mysterious and cannot be systematized or analyzed by the natural mind.
11我们必须把出埃及记二十四章的记载应用到我们的属灵经历上。我们已经蒙了救赎，也经历了十字架的了结，而且我们多多少少经历了被基督所取代。我们可以作见证说，我们已经进入与神的交通中。起初这样的交通还不甚明朗，但是至终，在我们与主交通的过程中，天突然变得明朗美丽了。我们好像看见了一种属灵的素质，这种素质可比喻为透亮的蓝宝石，如同天色明净。当我们经历这样的交通时，我们很难说出自己身在何处。这是人的言语所难述说的。你若是这样经历了主，就表明你和祂的交通更丰富、更拔高了。
11We need to apply the record in Exodus 24 to our spiritual experience. We have been redeemed, we have experienced the termination of the cross, and, at least to some extent, we have experienced being replaced by Christ. We can testify that we have been brought into fellowship with God. At first, this fellowship is somewhat obscure. But eventually, during the course of our fellowship with the Lord, the sky becomes clear and even beautiful. Then it seems that a certain spiritual element comes into view. This element can be compared to transparent sapphire, which is as clear as the body of heaven. When we experience such fellowship it is difficult to say where we are. This is beyond words. If you have experienced the Lord in this way, it is a sign that your fellowship with Him has been enriched and uplifted.
12我们已经指出，在十九、二十章里面，以色列子民与神的交通是昏暗不明的，这是因为幽暗、密云笼罩的缘故。但是到了二十四章，立约的血洒在百姓身上以后，天立刻睛朗起来。没有雷轰，也没有惊吓、紧张或不安的感觉；整个空气变得宁静、祥和。在你与主的交通中，难道不曾进入这样的空气中？你与祂接触的时候，你不曾经历过这种光景么？我能作见证说，我多次看见主的异象，正如出埃及记二十四章所描述的。我头上的天是清明的，而我前面近乎有美丽、透明的蓝宝石，如同天色明净。在这种属灵的环境里，我看见了神。有人听见我们作见证说，我们这样看见了神，也许会挑剔说：『这是无稽之谈，甚至严重到一个地步是异端。圣经告诉我们，从来没有人看见神。神是不能看见的，你们怎能说，看见了神？』主耶稣说过：『清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神』。（太五8。）祂这样说定规没有错，祂所说的话也不会与圣经矛盾。当我与主交通的时候，我喜欢有个清明的天，能彀看见祂脚下透明的蓝宝石。当我和主之间没有拦阻，没有云，没有阴影，没有昏暗，一切清明的时候，我是何等的喜乐。凡是对主有这样经历的人，都能彀为我所论到透亮清明的天里，神的异象的话作见证。
12We have pointed out that in chapters nineteen and twenty the fellowship between the children of Israel and God was obscure, for a cloud of thick darkness was present. But in chapter twenty-four, after the blood of the covenant was sprinkled on the people, the sky immediately became clear. There was no thunder and no sense of threat, tension, or uneasiness. The entire atmosphere became tranquil and peaceful. Have you not entered into such an atmosphere in your fellowship with the Lord? Have you not experienced this kind of situation in your contact with Him? I can testify that many times I have had a vision of the Lord like that described in Exodus 24. The sky above me was clear, and in front of me there seemed to be something like a beautiful, transparent sapphire like the body of heaven in its clearness. There, in such a spiritual environment, I saw God. When some hear us testify of seeing God in this way, they may find fault and say, “This is absurd and even heretical. The Bible tells us that no one has ever seen God. God is invisible. How can you claim to have seen Him?” The Lord Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Certainly He was not in error in saying this, and He did not contradict the Bible. In my fellowship with the Lord I like to have a clear sky and to see a work of transparent sapphire underneath Him. I am happy when there is nothing between me and the Lord, when there is no cloud, shadow, or obscurity and everything is clear. Those who have had a certain amount of experience with the Lord can bear witness to what I am speaking concerning the vision of God in a transparent and clear heaven
13在这样清明的空气里，我们才能彀领受建造神居所的属天异象。要看见旧约会幕的异象，或是要看见今天教会的异象，这都是不可少的。然而，大多数的百姓在山脚下看不见这个景象。他们可能稍稍看见了一点点。但不像那些与摩西一同在山上的人看得那样的完全。
13Only when we are in such a clear atmosphere can we receive the heavenly vision of the building of God’s dwelling place. This was necessary for seeing the vision of the tabernacle in the Old Testament, and it is necessary also for seeing the vision of the church today. The vast majority of the people, however, were at the foot of the mountain and could not see this view. They might have seen something, but they did not have as full a view as did those who were with Moses on the mountain
14凡照著出埃及记二十四章描述的情景观看神的人，是人类中间的『尊者』，他们是曾经进入特殊情境中的特殊人物，他们在透亮、清明的天里看见了神。这种经历的本身就非常尊贵。你曾否有过这样一段尊贵的时间与主同在？我们中间许多人可以作见证，我们有过这种尊贵的经历。凡是有这种在透亮清明的天里看见主的经历的，不会拿它和世界上任何的东西交换，这种经历是无可比拟的。倘若你没有这里所描述的这种属灵异象，就表示你在经历主的事上还没有来到西乃山。你必须来到西乃山，在那里经历祭坛、祭物和血。这样，在你与主的交通中，最终天会变得清明而透亮。在你眼前的景色如同天色明净，在这种环境里，你会看见神和属天的异象，这异象是神心头的愿望，就是与祂要在地上得著一个居所有关。今天基督徒中间实际上没有谈到神的居所，原因在于许多信徒不曾来到西乃山，领受神居所的异象。许多真得救的人还不曾来到山上，在透亮、清明的天里观看神。
14Those who see God according to the scene described in Exodus 24 are “nobles” among the human race. They are particular people who have entered into a particular state. They have seen God in a transparent and clear sky. This experience itself is very noble. Have you not had such a noble time with the Lord? Many of us can testify of having had this kind of noble experience. Those who have had this experience of seeing the Lord under a transparent and clear sky will not trade it for anything in the world. Nothing can compare with it. If you have not had the kind of spiritual vision described here, it may indicate that you have not yet come to Mount Sinai in your experience with the Lord. You need to come to Mount Sinai and stay there with the altar, the sacrifices, and the blood. Then in your fellowship with the Lord, the sky will eventually become clear and transparent. It will seem that in front of your eyes there is something which resembles the body of heaven in its clearness. Then, in such an environment, you will see God and the heavenly vision concerning the desire of His heart to have a dwelling place on earth. The reason there is virtually nothing said among Christians today concerning God’s dwelling place is that many believers have never come to Mount Sinai to receive the vision of God’s dwelling place. Many of those who are truly saved have not yet come up the mountain to behold the Lord in a transparent and clear heaven
二 在神荣耀之下与神同住
II. THE STAY WITH GOD UNDER HIS GLORY
15在二十四章十二节，我们看见神呼叫摩西说：『你上山到我这里来。』主似乎是说：『摩西，其他人看见了我，但是他们必须远远的下拜，他们不能亲近我。但我要你到我这里来与我同住。』在这里我们看见一件比在透亮、清明的天之下观看神更为深入的事。在属灵的经历上，首先我们头上的天要清明，然后在这清明的空气里，我们领受从神来的呼召，叫我们就近祂。这种经历是非常的真实，却又是言语难以解释或说明的。倘若你有过这种经历，你就会明白我所说的。
15In 24:12 we see that God called to Moses and said, Come up to me into the mount.” The Lord seemed to be saying, “Moses, the others see Me, but they must worship afar off. They cannot be close to Me. I want you to come to Me and stay with Me.” Here we have something which goes beyond beholding God under a transparent and clear sky. In our spiritual experience first the sky becomes clear over us. Then in this clear atmosphere we receive a call from God to come to Him. Although this experience is very real, words cannot define it or illustrate it. If you have had the experience, you understand what I am talking about
16出埃及记二十四章十三节说：『摩西和他的帮手约书亚起来，上了神的山。』约书亚是帮助摩西并服事摩西的人。我一再地研读这章圣经，但我还是找不出摩西在主那里领受『石版、律法和诫命』（12）的时候，约书亚在那里？十四节摩西对长老们说：『你们在这里等著，等到我们再回来。『我们』指明约书亚并没有和长老们在一起。但是他作了甚么，他又去了那里？十五节说：『摩西上山，有云彩把山遮盖。』这里对约书亚却没有只字片语的交代。我们不知道约书亚在那里，这件事实有重要的属灵意义。在经历上，我们可能来到在清明的天里看见神的阶段，却还没有达到在神的荣耀之下与神同住的阶段。这时，我们似乎不知身在何处，别人不知道我们在那里，我们自己也不知道。我们想回到清明之天的经历里，但是也回不去。一方面，我们无法回到在清明的天之下看见神的经历里；另一方面，我们也还没有进到荣耀里去。这是因为我们在与神交通的属灵经历里是约书亚，我们还不是摩西。我们怎样不能在出埃及记二十四章的经节里发现约书亚在那里，别人照样也不知道我们在那里，连我们自己也不知道自己身在何处。这是与神交通之经历的一方面。在出埃及记二十四章里，大多数的百姓在西乃山脚下，有些人在山上却离神远远地，而摩西却在山顶上在神的荣耀之下。这种距离神远近程度的不同可以用会幕的外院子、圣所和至圣所来说明。山脚下的百姓在外院子祭坛那里。山上的是七十位长老，以及亚伦、拿答、亚比户、户珥在圣所里。在山顶上的摩西则在至圣所里，那里有基路伯的荣耀。后来，会幕建造完毕之后，大祭司能彀进入至圣所神的荣耀里，在那里从神领受关乎祂百姓的启示与异象。在出埃及记二十四章里，对摩西来说，原则也是一样：他在山顶上、在神的荣耀之下，领受从神来的诫命，为要教导百姓。今天在主的恢复里，我们都是祭司，我们中间没有牧师，也没有平信徒，这是真的；然而，在与主交通的实际经历上，我们中间不尽相同。许多圣徒在有祭坛和洒血的外院子里；另有一些人已经进入圣所享受与神某种程度的交通；另有一些圣徒则在至圣所里，在神的荣耀之下。
16Exodus 24:13 says, “And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua; and Moses went up into the mount of God.” Joshua was one who helped Moses and ministered to him. I have studied this chapter again and again, but I have not been able to find out where Joshua was during the time Moses was with the Lord receiving “tables of stone, and a law, and commandments” (v. 12). In verse 14 Moses told the elders, “Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you.” The words “us” and “we” indicate that Joshua did not remain with the elders. But what did he do, and where did he go? Verse 15 says, “And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.” Not a word is said about Joshua. The fact that we are not able to locate him has an important spiritual significance. In our experience we may come to the stage of seeing God under a clear heaven without reaching the stage of remaining with God under His glory. At such times it may seem that we cannot be located. Others do not know where we are, and we ourselves do not know. We may desire to return to the experience of the clear sky, but not be able to do so. On the one hand, we cannot go back to the experience of seeing God under a transparent sky; on the other hand, we have not yet entered into the glory. The reason is that in our spiritual experience of fellowship with God we are still Joshua; we are not yet Moses. Just as we are not able to locate Joshua in the remainder of Exodus 24, we also cannot be located by others and we cannot tell where we are. This is an aspect of the experience of fellowship with God. In Exodus 24 the majority of the people were at the foot of Mount Sinai, some were on the mountain far off from the Lord, and Moses was on the top of the mountain under God’s glory. This difference with respect to the degree of distance from the Lord can be illustrated by the tabernacle with the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. The people at the foot of the mountain were in the outer court, around the altar. The seventy elders, along with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and Hur, were on the mountain, in the Holy Place. Moses on the mountaintop was in the Holy of Holies, where the shekinah glory was. Later, after the tabernacle had been built, the high priest could enter into God’s glory in the Holy of Holies, where he could receive revelation and vision from God concerning His people. The principle is the same in Exodus 24 with Moses on the mountaintop under God’s glory receiving commandments from God that he may teach the people. It is true that in the Lord’s recovery today we all are priests and that we have neither clergy nor laity. Nevertheless, actually and experientially there are differences among us concerning our fellowship with the Lord. Many saints are in the outer court with the altar and the sprinkled blood, others have entered the Holy Place to enjoy fellowship with God to a certain degree, and some are in the Holy of Holies, under God’s glory.
17摩西实际上是惟一直接领受会幕异象的人。远远下拜的七十位长老并没有直接看见异象，摩西与耶和华同在山顶上的那四十天，他们一直在等待。当神把会幕样式的异象一个接一个赐给摩西时，他们一面享受透亮的天并清楚地看见神，一面又吃又喝四十天之久。神居所详细的异象需要摩西四十天的时间来领受。倘若那时候你也在场，你愿意领受会幕的异象，还是愿意与那一班人在一起远远地等候摩西？等候会耗尽一个人的耐心。山上的尊者还在等候摩西，山脚下的百姓就不耐烦，要求亚伦为他们作一个神来敬拜。因此，摩西在山顶上的时候，百姓就拜了偶像。当百姓在山脚下拜偶像的时候，摩西在山顶上在神的荣耀之下与神同住，领受祂居所的异象。为这个异象我们赞美主，藉著这异象我们认识神心头的愿望。神的心意是要在地上得著一个居所，这居所是由基督所组成的，也是照著基督所组成的。我们必须思想出埃及记二十四章所描绘的图画，并且问问自己，在与主交通的里面，我们到底在那里。我们与百姓在山脚下，还是与那一班人在山上，或者我们是在山顶上的摩西？有些人也许是不知身在何处的约书亚，因为他们在经历上，是介于透明的天和山顶上神的荣耀之间。今天信徒们与主交通有不同的程度，亲近祂的程度也有所不同。大多数人在外院子里，也就是说，他们在山脚下。另有一些人，比上面那种人少得多，是在山上，也就是说，他们是在圣所里。还有少数人来到山顶上，也就是说，他们在至圣所里在神的荣耀之下与神同住。
17Moses was actually the only one to receive the direct vision of the tabernacle. The seventy elders who worshipped afar off did not see the vision directly. During the forty days Moses was with the Lord on the mountaintop, they were waiting. Enjoying a transparent sky and a clear view of God, they ate and drank for forty days, while God gave Moses vision after vision concerning the design of the tabernacle. It took forty days for Moses to receive a detailed vision of God’s dwelling place. If you had been there at the time, would you prefer to receive the vision of the tabernacle or would you rather be with those afar off waiting for Moses? Waiting exhausts a person’s patience. The nobles on the mountain waited for Moses, but the people at the foot of the mountain became impatient and demanded that Aaron make a god for them to worship. Thus, during the time Moses was on the mountaintop, the people practiced idolatry. While the people were practicing idolatry at the foot of the mountain, Moses was on the top of the mountain dwelling with God under His glory and receiving the vision of His dwelling place. Praise the Lord for the vision through which we know the desire of God’she art. God’s desire is to have a dwelling place on earth constituted of Christ and constituted according to Christ. We need to consider the picture portrayed in Exodus 24 and ask ourselves where we are in our fellowship with the Lord. Are we with the people at the foot of the mountain, are we with those on the mountain, or are we Moses on the mountaintop? Perhaps some of us are Joshua who cannot be located, because in our experience we are between the transparent sky and the glory of God on the mountaintop. Among believers today there are different degrees of fellowship with the Lord and different degrees of closeness to Him. The majority are in the outer court; that is, they are at the foot of the mountain. Others, a much smaller number, are on the mountain; that is, they are in the Holy Place. A few have come to the mountaintop; that is, they are in the Holy of Holies dwelling with God under His glory
18我们很难描述神荣耀的外观。二十四章十六和十七节，把这荣耀比作云和烈火。实际上神的荣耀既不是云，也不是火。甚么是神的荣耀我们无法描述得完全。这题醒我们，我们人类对属灵事物的了解只能达到某一个限度，我们绝不可能完全领会。虽然我们在本篇信息里所交通的远超过人所能发表的，但我们至少可以局部了解出埃及记二十四章中，有神的异象在透亮、晴朗的天里，也有在神基路伯荣耀之下与神同住。在此，我们领受的启示是：神心头的愿望乃是与人在地上同得一个居所。
18It is very difficult to describe the appearance of God’s glory. In 24:16 and 17 the glory is likened to a cloud and also to a consuming fire. Actually God’s glory is neither a cloud nor a fire. We cannot describe fully what the glory of God is. This reminds us that, as human beings, we can understand spiritual things only to a limited degree. It is simply not possible for us to comprehend these things in a full way. Although what we have covered in this message lies beyond human utterance, we can at least partially comprehend that in Exodus 24 we have the vision of God in a transparent and clear heaven and also the stay with God under His shekinah glory. Here we receive the revelation that the desire of God’she art is to have a dwelling place with man on earth.