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尼希米记生命读经 · 第4篇

神选民之国的重新构成（二）

The Reconstitution of the Nation of God’s Elect (2)
1读经：尼希米记十一至十三章。以斯拉记和尼希米记很强的含示主今日恢复的内在意义。我们不该以为旧约与我们无关。圣经分为旧约和新约两段：第一段包含图画，第二段包含图画所表征之事的应验。我们对旧约的豫表若没有内在的领会，就不容易领会神的经纶在新约里的应验。在本篇信息中，我们要继续来看神选民之国的重新构成。三安排百姓的住处，
1Scripture Reading: Neh. 11—13 The books of Ezra and Nehemiah bear a strong intrinsic significance for the Lord’s recovery today. We should not think that the Old Testament is unrelated to us. The Bible is written in two sections—the Old Testament and the New Testament. The first section contains pictures, while the second section contains the fulfillment of what is signified by the pictures. Without an intrinsic understanding of the Old Testament types, it is not easy to understand the fulfillment of God’secon o my in the New Testament. In this message we will continue to consider the reconstitution of the nation of God’select. C. The Arrangement of the Dwelling Place of the People
并指派利未性事奉和办理民事的官长
and the Appointment of the Officers of the Levitical Service and of the Civil Affairs
2神选民之国的重新构成包含许多面。在尼希米十一章我们看见，这包含安排百姓的住处，并指派利未性事奉和办理民事的官长。
2The reconstitution of the nation of God’select involved many aspects. In Nehemiah 11 we see that it involved the arrangement of the dwelling place of the people and the appointment of the officers of the Levitical service and of the civil affairs
１ 百姓的首领住在耶路撒冷
1. The Rulers of the People Dwelling in Jerusalem
3百姓的首领住在圣城耶路撒冷；其余的百姓掣签，每十人中使一人来住在圣城耶路撒冷。凡甘心自愿住在耶路撒冷的，百姓都为他们祝福。（１～２。）那时要任何人住在耶路撒冷，都是真正的重担。因著不断有别国侵略的威胁，很少人愿意住在耶路撒冷。所以，需要藉著掣签有些安排，不然，不会有足彀的人数住在耶路撒冷。中签要住在耶路撒冷的人，需要迁到那里。然而，有些人甘心自愿住在耶路撒冷，百姓都为他们祝福。今天那些自愿全时间的，要得著众人的祝福。
3The rulers of the people dwelt in Jerusalem, the holy city, and the rest of the people cast lots in order to bring one in ten to dwell in Jerusalem. The people blessed all the men who offered themselves willingly to dwell in Jerusalem (vv. 1-2). At that time it was a real burden for anyone to dwell in Jerusalem. Because of the constant threat of foreign invasion, not many were willing to live in Jerusalem. Therefore, there was the need of some arrangement by casting lots. Otherwise, there would not have been a sufficient number of people living in Jerusalem. The ones whose lot was to live in Jerusalem were required to move there. However, some were willing to volunteer to dwell in Jerusalem, and all the people blessed them. Today those who voluntarily go full time will be blessed by all
２ 安排和指派的记录
2. A Record of the Arrangement and the Appointments
4三至三十六节是安排和指派的详细记录。
4In verses 3 through 36 we have a detailed record of the arrangement and the appointments.
四 祭司和利未人的记录
D. A Record of the Priests and Levites
5尼希米十二章一至二十六节是祭司和利未人的记录。敬拜神是神国里主要的事，在这事上主要事奉的人不是君王。君王不是为著敬拜神，乃是为著治理人。为著敬拜神主要事奉的人，乃是祭司同著作祭司仆人的利未人。
5Nehemiah 12:1-26 is a record of the priests and Levites. The main serving ones in the worship of God, which is the main thing in God’skin gdom, were not the kings. The kings were not for worshipping God but for ruling the people. The main serving ones for the worshipping of God were the priests with the Levites, who were the servants of the priests
１ 同著所罗巴伯和耶书亚上来的人
1. Those Who Went Up with Zerubbabel and Joshua
6一至二十一节记载忠信的人；他们同著所罗巴伯和耶书亚从巴比伦上耶路撒冷去。
6In verses 1 through 21 we have a record of those faithful ones who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Joshua
２ 在祭司约雅金的日子任职的人
2. Those Who Served in the Days of Joiakim the Priest
7二十二至二十六节记载在祭司约雅金、省长尼希米、和祭司经学家以斯拉的日子任职的人。他们都住在耶路撒冷。
7Verses 22 through 26 are a record of those who served in the days of Joiakim the priest, of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. They all were living in Jerusalem
五 为重建的城墙行告成之礼
E. The Dedication of the Rebuilt Wall
8重新构成也包括为重建的城墙行告成之礼。（２７～４３。）
8The reconstitution also included the dedication of the rebuilt wall (vv. 27-43
１ 众民把各处的利未人招来
1. The People Seeking the Levites from All Their Places
9众民把各处的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要称谢、歌唱、敲钹、鼓瑟、弹琴，欢欢喜喜的行告成之礼。（２７～２９。）利未人主要的事奉是歌唱赞美神。今天我们在聚会中唱诗，是基本的需要。歌唱开启天，也将我们带到天上。每逢我们聚会的时候，都该花时间用不同的方式歌唱。２祭司和利未人自洁行告成之礼时，祭司和利未人就自洁，也洁净百姓，和城门、城墙。（３０。）一切都被洁净，因他们不愿将任何不洁净的东西献给神。
9The people sought the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem in order to hold the dedication with rejoicing, thanksgiving, and singing with cymbals, harps, and lyres (vv. 27-29). The main service of the Levites was to sing in praise to God. For us today, singing hymns in the meetings is a primary need. Singing opens the heavens and brings us to the heavens. We should spend time to sing in different ways whenever we meet. 2. The Priests and the Levites Purifying Themselves During the dedication the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they also purified the people, the gates, and the wall (v. 30). Everything was purified, for they would not dedicate to God anything that was not pure
10３尼希米派两大队人
103. Nehemiah Appointing Two Great Companies
11尼希米派两大队人称谢神，使他们排列而行，同尼希米站在神的殿里。（３１～４２。）
11Nehemiah appointed two great companies to give thanks to God, to go in procession, and to stand in the house of God with him (vv. 31-42).
４ 献大祭
4. The Offering of Great Sacrifices
12那日众人献大祭而喜乐，连妇女带孩童也都喜乐，因为神使他们大大喜乐；耶路撒冷中的欢声听到远处。（４３。）今天我们的邻舍该知道我们是歌唱的基督徒，我们是敬拜神的人。六指派祭司和利未人的职任，
12They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced with their women and children, for God had caused them to rejoice greatly; and the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar (v. 43). Today our neighbors should know that we are singing Christians, that we are the worshippers of God. F. The Appointment of the Services of the Priests
并供应他们的需要
and the Levites and the Supply of Their Needs
13重新构成也包括指派祭司和利未人的职任，并供应他们的需要。（４４～４７。）尼希米不但将事奉的利未人和祭司带来尽功用；他也供应他们每日的需要。在那时以前，没有人合式的顾到这事。
13The reconstitution also included the appointment of the services of the priests and the Levites and the supply of their needs (vv. 44-47). Nehemiah not only brought the serving Levites and priests into function; he also supplied their daily necessities. Before that time, no one had taken care of this matter properly
七 在神选民以色列身上所施行的清理
G. The Clearance Exercised on Israel as God’sElect
14尼希米十三章一至三十节上半，描述在神选民以色列身上所施行的清理。这里有许多的洁净。这洁净也是神选民以色列国重新构成的一部分。
14Nehemiah 13:1-30a describes the clearance exercised on Israel as God’select. There were many cleansings. This clearance was also part of the reconstitution of the nation of God’select
１ 照著律法，使一切闲杂人与以色列人离绝
1. Separating All the Mixed Multitude from Israel according to the Law
15首先，照著律法，使一切闲杂人与以色列人离绝。（１～３。）百姓听见亚扪人和摩押人永不可入神的会，就使一切闲杂人与以色列人离绝。２洁净神殿的库房
15First, all the mixed multitude were separated from Israel according to the law (vv. 1-3). When the people heard the law concerning Ammonites and Moabites not entering the assembly of God forever, they separated the mixed multitude from Israel. 2. Purifying the Chambers of the House of God
16在四至九节，尼希米洁净神殿的库房，除去蒙派管理神殿中库房的祭司之亲戚占据屋子的恶事。祭司以利亚实为他的亲戚亚扪人多比雅，（二１０，四３，六１，）在神殿的院内豫备一间大屋子，就是从前收存素祭、乳香、器皿的。（十三５，７。）尼希米知道以利亚实为多比雅所作的恶事，就甚不悦，不愿容忍那局面。他把多比雅的一切家具，从屋里都抛出去，吩咐人洁净这屋子。然后尼希米将神殿的器皿和素祭、乳香又搬进去。（８～９。）这事就有了彻底的洁净。
16In verses 4 through 9 Nehemiah purified the chambers of the house of God from the evil occupancy by a relative of the priest who had been appointed over the chambers of the house of God. Eliashib the priest prepared for his relative Tobiah the Ammonite (2:10; 4:3; 6:1) a large chamber in the courts of the house of God where they had previously put the meal offering, the frankincense, and the vessels (13:5, 7). When Nehemiah perceived the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, he was grieved and would not tolerate the situation. He cast all the household utensils of Tobiah out of the chamber and commanded that it be purified. Then Nehemiah returned to the chamber the vessels of the house of God, the meal offering, and the frankincense (vv. 8-9). In this matter there was a thorough clearance.
３ 除去在照顾利未人需要之事上的疏忽
3. Removing the Negligence in Taking Care of the Need of the Levites
17照著十至十三节，尼希米接著除去在照顾利未人需要之事上的疏忽。他发现利未人所当得的分无人供给，就为这事斥责官长。于是犹大众人就把五谷、新酒和油的十分之一，送入库房。这样，尼希米就顾到利未人一切日常的需要。
17According to verses 10 through 13, Nehemiah went on to remove the negligence in taking care of the need of the Levites. He found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them and he contended with the rulers regarding this. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storehouses. Thus Nehemiah took care of all the daily necessities of the Levites
４ 除掉百姓对圣安息日的渎犯
4. Getting Rid of the People’sPr of an ing of the Holy Sabbath
18尼希米也除掉百姓对圣安息日的渎犯。（１５～２２上。）推罗人把货物运进耶路撒冷，在安息日出售。尼希米使这渎犯安息日的事停止。在安息日的前一日，他就吩咐人将耶路撒冷的门关锁，不过安息日不准开放。（１９。）然后他吩咐利未人洁净自己，来守城门，使安息日分别为圣。（２２上。）
18Nehemiah also got rid of the people’spr of an ing of the holy Sabbath (vv. 15-22a). The Tyrians had been bringing their merchandise into Jerusalem and selling it there on the Sabbath. Nehemiah caused this profaning of the Sabbath to cease. He commanded that the gates of Jerusalem be shut before the Sabbath and not opened until after the Sabbath (v. 19). Then he commanded the Levites to purify themselves and keep the gates in order to sanctify the Sabbath day (v. 22a
５ 洁净百姓，尤其是祭司，除去他们与外邦人婚娶的玷污
5. Cleansing the People and Especially the Priests from the Defilement of Their Marriages with the Nations
19在二十三至三十节上半，百姓尤其是祭司从他们与外邦人婚娶的玷污得洁净。尼希米要求那些娶了亚实突、亚扪、摩押女子为妻的人，与他们的外邦妻子离绝。在这事上，他洁净百姓，使他们离绝一切外邦人。（３０上。）
19In verses 23 through 30a the people and especially the priests were cleansed from the defilement of their marriages with the nations. Nehemiah required those who married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab to separate themselves from their foreign wives. In this matter he cleansed the people from everything foreign (v. 30a
八 派定祭司和利未人的职任，又派百姓献柴和初熟的土产
H. Appointing Duties for the Priests and the Levites, for the Wood Offering, and for the Firstfruits
20最后，尼希米派定祭司和利未人的职任，又派百姓按定期献柴和初熟的土产。（３０下～３１上。）这一切安排都是一种重新构成。在尼希米的时代以前，局面是一团糟。祭司和利未人的职任不清楚，每年献柴和献那地初熟的土产，也没有合式的安排。所以的确需要尼希米所完成的重新构成。
20Lastly, Nehemiah appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, for the wood offering at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits (v v. 3 0 b - 3 1 a). All these arrangements were a reconstituting. Be fore Nehemiah’st i me the situation was a mess. The duties of the priests and the Levites were not clear, and there was not a proper arrangement for the wood offering and for the offering of the firstfruits of the produce of the land every year. There surely was the need for the reconstituting accomplished by Nehemiah.
21在行这一切事上，尼希米求神记念他，照神的大慈爱宽容他。（十三１４，２２下，３１下。）
21In doing all these things Nehemiah asked God to remember him and spare him according to the greatness of His lovingkindness (13:14, 22b, 31b