以西结书生命读经 · 第13篇

神子民的堕落

The Degradation of God’s People

1读经：以西结书20:6;6:9;11:12下;13:4-5,17-18;14:3,5;22:25-30;3:7;2:3-4,6;22:13-19我们在第一篇信息里曾指出，以西结书分为四段落。

1Scripture Reading: Ezek. 20:6; 6:9; 11:12b; 13:4-5, 18; 14:3, 5; 22:25-30; 3:7; 2:3-4, 6; 22:13-19 13:4-5, 17-18; 14:3, 5; 22:25-30; 3:7;

2:3-4, 6; 22:13-19

2我们在第一篇信息里曾指出，以西结书分为四段落。第一段，包括第一章，给我们看见主荣耀形像的异象。这一章启示，神如何显出来，如何行动，并如何藉著四活物的合作，管理祂的行政。第二段包括以后的三十一章，说到神烈火的审判。在这一段里我们看见，神以祂自己为销毁的火，审判祂的子民和异邦的人。第三段（三十三至三十九章）说到神用生命恢复祂的子民。神施行审判之后，就进来恢复。神用火审判，用生命恢复。最后一段（四十至四十八章），说到神圣别的建造。神用生命恢复的结果，乃是圣别的建造，这是整卷以西结书的终极完成。因此，以西结书的四个段落，主要说到四件事：主荣耀形像的异象，火的审判，生命的恢复，以及神圣别的建造。这是以西结书的概要；这本书开始于荣耀的异象，结束于圣别的建造。这指明神的目标乃是建造。我们也看见以西结书和启示录很相似。像以西结书一样，启示录也说到四件事，就是异象、审判、恢复和建造，其论到的次序也与以西结书中的次序相同。启示录一章里有主的异象，之后就依次说到神的审判、神的恢复、以及神的建造。至终，像以西结书一样，启示录终极完成于有十二个门的神的建造。由此我们看见，以西结书和启示录不仅相似，也彼此平行；前者说到旧约中神子民的历史，后者启示新约中的召会。神旧约的子民乃是新约召会的影儿、豫像和豫表。我们若细读以西结书，会看见牠描绘一幅召会的图画。就一面意义说，旧约的图画比新约的启示更清楚完整。因此，我们读以西结书的时候，不该只注意以色列人的历史，或有关以色列人的豫言，却该思想召会这幅清楚的图画，特别是这里所揭示召会堕落光景的图画。因为以色列的堕落乃是基督教堕落的图画，所以我们在这幅图画中所看见的，可以应用到今天的光景。

2As we pointed out in the first message, the book of Ezekiel is of four sections. The first section, consisting of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the Lord. This chapter reveals how God is manifested, how God moves, and how God administrates His government through the coordination of the four living creatures. The second section includes the next thirty-one chapters and covers the judgment of God by fire. In this section we see that God judges His people and the heathen nations by Himself as a consuming fire. The third section (chs. 33 — 39) is concerned with God’s recovery of His people by life. After carrying out His judgment, God comes in to recover. Whereas God’s judgment is by fire, His recovery is by life. The last section (chs. 40—48) covers the holy building of God. The issue, the result, of God’s recovery by life is a holy building, which is the consummation of the entire book of Ezekiel. Thus, the four sections of Ezekiel cover four main things: the vision of the appearance of the glory of the Lord, the judgment by fire, the recovery by life, and the holy building of God. This is a sketch of the book of Ezekiel, a book that begins with a glorious vision and ends with a holy building. This indicates that God’s goal is the building. We have also seen that the book of Ezekiel and the book of Revelation are similar. Like Ezekiel, Revelation covers the four matters of vision, judgment, recovery, and building, and it covers them in the same sequence that we find in Ezekiel. The vision of the Lord in Revelation 1 is followed by God’s judgment, God’s recovery, and God’s building. Ultimately, the book of Revelation, like the book of Ezekiel, consummates with God’s building with its twelve gates. From this we see that the books of Ezekiel and Revelation are not only similar but are also parallel to each other. The former is on the history of God’s people in the Old Testament; the latter is a revelation of the church in the New Testament. God’sOld Testament people were a foreshadow, a prefigure, a type, of the New Testament church. If we read Ezekiel carefully, we will realize that it portrays a picture of the church. In a sense, the picture in the Old Testament is more clear and complete than the revelation in the New Testament. There fore, in reading Ezekiel we should not merely be concerned with the history of Israel or with prophecies regarding Israel, but we should consider the clear picture of the church, in particular the picture unveiled here of the degraded situation of the church. Because the degradation of Israel is a picture of the degradation of Christianity, what we see in this picture is applicable to today’s situation.

3在本篇信息中，我们要开始来看以西结书的第二段，就是神烈火的审判。在二章到二十四章，我们看见神对祂的选民以色列人的审判；在二十五章到三十二章，我们看见祂对外邦人列国的审判。神的审判先是对祂的百姓以色列人，然后才临到外邦人。这与新约的原则相符合，也与启示录和彼得前书所见的一样，说到神的审判先从神的家起首，（彼前四17，）然后临到不信的人。

3In this message we will begin to consider the second section of Ezekiel—the judgment of God by fire. In chapters two through twenty-four we see God’s judgment on Israel, His chosen people, and in chapters twenty-five through thirty-two, His judgment on the Gentiles, the nations. God’s judgment is first upon His people, the children of Israel, and then His judgment comes upon the Gentiles. This matches the principle in the New Testament, seen both in the book of Revelation and in 1 Peter, that God first judges His house (1 Pet. 4:17) and afterward judges the unbelievers

享受基督的三个阶段

THREE STAGES OF THE ENJOYMENT OF CHRIST

4在旧约里，以色列人是神所拣选的选民。神把以色列人从埃及拯救出来，并把他们带进美地。神将以色列人放在美地，表征神将我们放进基督，祂是我们今天的美地。以西结二十章六节说，美地在万国中是有荣耀的。基督是地上的荣耀，神已把我们放进荣耀的基督，祂在祂追测不尽的丰富里，乃是流奶与蜜之地。以色列人经历了对基督三个阶段的享受。在第一个阶段，他们在埃及享受基督作逾越节，吃无酵饼和苦菜。在第二个阶段，他们在旷野飘流时享受基督作天上的吗哪和活水。在第三个阶段，他们享受基督作美地，满了丰富的出产。这三个阶段与今天我们在基督里之信徒的经历相符合。当我们得救时，我们享受基督作逾越节的羊羔。此后我们开始享受基督作我们每日的分，就是我们每日的吗哪。然而，这不是对基督终极的享受。对基督终极的享受，乃是在召会中享受基督作美地，连同祂一切追测不尽的丰富。

4In the Old Testament Israel was God’s chosen and elect people. God had delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt and had brought them into the good land. God’s putting the people of Israel into the good land typifies God’s putting us into Christ, who is our good land today. Ezekiel 20:6 says that the good land is the glory of all lands. Christ is the glory on earth, and God has put us into the glorious Christ, who, in His unsearchable riches, is a land flowing with milk and honey. The people of Israel experienced three stages of the enjoyment of Christ. In the first stage they enjoyed Christ in Egypt as the Passover with the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs. In the second stage they enjoyed Christ while they were wandering in the wilderness as the heavenly manna and the living water. In the third stage they enjoyed Christ as the land, full of rich produce. These three stages match our experience today as believers in Christ. When we were saved, we enjoyed Christ as the Passover Lamb. Afterward we began to enjoy Christ as our daily portion, our daily manna. However, this is not the ultimate enjoyment of Christ. The ultimate enjoyment of Christ is to enjoy Christ in the church as the good land with all His unsearchable riches

5关于基督是美地，以西结二十章六节说，『那日我向他们起誓，必领他们出埃及地，到我为他们察看的流奶与蜜之地；那地在万国中是有荣耀的。』奶与蜜，二者都是动物生命和植物生命调和的产品，代表迦南美地的丰富。在基督里有属灵的食物（蜜），也有属灵的饮料（奶）。奶与蜜乃是基督作为两种生命的流出；这两种生命是救赎的生命，由有血的动物生命所表征，以及生产、或繁增的生命，由植物或菜蔬的生命所表征。一面，主耶稣的生命是救赎的生命，这生命有为救赎我们而流的血。另一面，主耶稣的生命是生产和衍生的生命，这生命藉著祂死在十字架上释放出来，使祂得著繁殖与扩增。祂这两方面的生命，已经调在一起，产生奶作我们属灵的饮料，并产生蜜作我们属灵的食物。基督现今是我们的奶与蜜，因此祂是我们的供应和享受。我们若住在祂这美地里，我们就享受祂供应的丰富。至终，神的选民以色列生活在美地，其上有殿也有城。殿表征神的家，城表征神的国。神的同在是在祂的家中，神的掌权是在祂的国里。今天在召会生活中，我们享受基督作我们的美地，因此我们有神的同在和神的掌权。因为我们是神的选民活在基督里，并享受祂一切的所是，所以在正确并正常的召会生活中，我们有神的殿同祂的同在，也有神的国同祂的权柄。

5Concerning Christ as the good land, Ezekiel 20:6 says, “In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.” Milk and honey, both of which are the product of the mingling of the plant life and the animal life, represent the riches of the good land of Canaan. In Christ there are both spiritual food (honey) and spiritual drink (milk). Both milk and honey are the issue of Christ being two kinds of life: the redeeming life, typified by the animal life, which has blood, and the generating, or multiplying, life, typified by the plant, or vegetable, life. On the one hand, the life of the Lord Jesus is a redeeming life—a life which has the blood that was shed for our redemption. On the other hand, the life of the Lord Jesus is a producing and generating life—a life that was released through His death on the cross for His multiplication and increase. These two aspects of His life have been blended to produce milk as our spiritual drink and honey as our spiritual food. Christ is now our milk and honey, and as such He is our supply and enjoyment. If we abide in Him as our good land, we will enjoy the riches of His supply. Eventually, Israel, God’s chosen people, were living in the good land with a temple and a city. The temple signifies God’s house, and the city signifies God’s kingdom. God’s presence is in His house, and God’s authority is in His kingdom. In the church life today, we enjoy Christ as our good land, and therefore we have God’s presence and God’s authority. Because we are God’select living in Christ and enjoying all that He is, in the proper and normal church life, we have God’stem ple with His presence and God’skin gdom with His authority.

以色列人的权利、特权和立场

THE RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND STANDING OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

6在这里我们要来看以色列人的权利、特权和立场。

6At this juncture we need to consider the rights, privileges, and standing of the people of Israel

神的选民

God’sElect

7以色列人是神的选民，是神所拣选的。他们既是选民，就应当从列国中分别出来，与他们有所不同。这对旧约中的以色列人和新约中的召会，原则是一样的。

7Israel was God’select, His chosen people. As His elect, they should have been separated from the nations and different from them. The principle is the same with Israel in the Old Testament and with the church in the New Testament

神的葡萄树

God’s Vine

8以色列人不仅是神的选民，也是神的葡萄树。神的葡萄树是为著完成神的经纶。约翰十五章启示，基督是真葡萄树，我们是枝子。整体来说，基督和我们乃是一棵葡萄树，为著神的经纶。对葡萄树，神赐下祂丰富的眷顾，并供应日光、空气、雨水、土壤，以及为著葡萄树生长并结果所需要的其他许多东西。

8Israel was not only God’s elect but also God’s vine. God’s vine is for the accomplishing of God’secon o my. John 15 reveals that Christ is the true vine and that we are the branches. As a whole, Christ and we are a vine for God’secon o my. To the vine God grants His rich visitation with the supply of sunshine, air, rain, soil, and many other things that are necessary for the vine to grow and produce something.

9这棵葡萄树不仅由人所组成，更是由那与神圣者联结的人所组成。这意思是说，葡萄树是神圣者与许多人的结合。这样的葡萄树乃是为著神的经纶，应当产生出一些东西，使神欢喜也使人快乐。以色列人是神所选所立的子民，乃是为著祂经纶的葡萄树。基督与召会乃是神在今天的葡萄树。在圣经中，葡萄树表征神的子民在祂的看顾下并与祂联结。在约翰十五章的葡萄树，是藉著荣耀的基督，神的儿子，与所有信入祂并属于祂的人联结而形成的。这联结带来神圣生命的流出，而这生命成为酒，将喜乐带给神与人。因此，对葡萄树我们有四个重点：神在祂恩典里的看顾，神与人的联结，神圣生命的流出，以及产生酒，使神与人同得喜乐。神在祂的恩典里看顾我们这些信徒，已将我们放在基督里，（林前一30，）现今祂正在栽培我们，使我们能活在与基督的联结里。祂是葡萄树，我们是枝子。（约十五5上。）我们在祂里面，祂也在我们里面。当我们住在祂里面，神圣的生命就流出，结出果子，产生葡萄。至终，这些葡萄成为

9This vine consists not only of human beings but of human beings joined to the divine person. This means that the vine is a combination of the Divine Being with many human beings. Such a vine is for God’secon o my, and it should produce something that can make God happy and cause people to rejoice. As God’s chosen and elect people, Israel was God’s vine for His economy. Christ with the church is God’s vine today. In the Bible the vine tree signifies God’sp eople as they are under His care and in union with Him. The vine tree in John 15 is formed by the union of the glorious Christ, God’sS on, and all who believe into Him and belong to Him. This union issues in the flowing forth of the divine life, and this life becomes the wine that brings joy to both God and man. Therefore, with the vine we have four crucial points: God’s care in His grace, the union of God and man, the flowing forth of the divine life, and the producing of wine for the joy of God and man. In His grace and in His care for us, the believers, God has put us into Christ (1 Cor. 1:30), and now He is cultivating us that we may live in union with Christ. He is the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:5a). We are in Him, and He is in us. As we abide in Him, the divine life flows forth in fruit-bearing, and grapes are produced. Eventually, these grapes become wine to cheer both God and man (Judg. 9:13

10God’s Bride

11酒，使神和人一同喜乐。（士九13。）神的新妇

12以色列也是神的新妇，就是祂的配偶，让祂得满足。葡萄树乃在于生命的涌流与恩典的显出，而妻子乃在于爱和满足。神不愿独居，祂要得著新妇。创世记二章十八节说，那人独居不好。按豫表说，这表征基督独居不好，神独居不好。基督渴望得著新16妇。按照以西结十六章和二十三章，在旧约时，以色列是神的新妇。今天召会是基督的新妇，作祂的满足。（约三２９，启十九7。）最使神满足，并带给祂最大喜乐的，乃是召会作祂的新妇，祂的配偶。

12Israel was also God’s bride, His counterpart, for His satisfaction. Whereas the vine is a matter of the flow of life and the manifestation of grace, the wife is a matter of love and satisfaction. God does not want to be alone but wants to have a bride. Genesis 2:18 says that it is not good for man to be alone. In typology, this signifies that it is not good for Christ, for God, to be alone. Christ desires to have a bride. According to Ezekiel and 23 Israel was God’s bride in the Old Testament time. Today the church is Christ’s bride for His satisfaction (John 3:29; Rev. 19:7). What will satisfy God the most and bring Him the greatest pleasure will be the church as His bride, His counterpart.

神的群羊

God’s Flock

13以色列家也是神的群羊。在旧约里，神在地上有一群羊在祂的照顾之下，这群羊就是以色列。今天召会也是神的群羊，在祂的照顾之下。（彼前五2。）

13The house of Israel was also God’s flock. In the Old Testament God had a flock on earth that was under His care, and this flock was Israel. Today the church is God’s flock, under His care (1 Pet. 5:2

珍宝

A Precious Treasure

14此外，以色列人也是神所拣选的宝物和奇珍。（出十九５─和合本译作子民，原文意奇特的所有物，奇珍。）以色列人在神面前的立场，是多么的美妙！他们是祂的选民、葡萄树、新妇、群羊和祂的珍宝；这就是以

14In addition, the people of Israel were chosen by Him to be a precious and peculiar treasure (Exo. 19:5). How marvelous was Israel’s standing before God! They were His elect, His vine, His bride, His flock, and His treasure. These were the rights, privileges, and standing of the people of Israel

15色列人的权利、特权和立场。

15THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

以色列人的情形

16不幸的是，以色列真实的情形非常可怜。我们若读以西结二至二十四章这一段长的记载，会觉得要为以色列可怜的情形哀泣。

16Unfortunately, the actual condition of Israel was very poor. If we read the long record in Ezekiel from chapter two to chapter twenty-four, we may feel like weeping over Israel’spit i ful condition

悖逆之家

A Rebellious House

17以色列人是神的选民，但他们悖逆了神。在这二十三章经文里，神多次说，以色列是悖逆的国民，是悖逆之家。主在二章三节对以西结说，『人子阿，我差你往悖逆的国民以色列人那里去；他们是悖逆我的。』在五、六节，神说到他们是『悖逆之家』，在七节说，『他们是极其悖逆的。』他们虽是神的选民，却悖逆了神。

17The people of Israel were God’select, but they became rebels against God. Many times in these twenty-three chapters God said that Israel was a rebellious nation, a rebellious house. In 2:3 the Lord said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me.” In verses 5 and 6 God referred to them as “a rebellious house,” and in verse 7 He said that “they are most rebellious.” They were God’select, but they had become rebels against God

荆棘和蒺藜

Briars and Thorns

18以色列人是神的葡萄树，却成了荆棘和蒺藜。（二6。）葡萄树应当结葡萄给人吃，或作酒给人喝。以色列不但没有结葡萄，反而成了荆棘和蒺藜。他们成了多刺、伤人、并破坏的植物，结不出果子，也产不出酒来。神的选民成了悖逆者，

18The people of Israel were God’s vine, but they became briars and thorns (2:6). A vine should produce grapes as fruit to eat and for making wine. Instead of producing grapes, Israel became briars and thorns. They became a pricking, injuring, and damaging plant which yielded no fruit and no wine. God’select became rebels, and God’s vine became briars and thorns

19A Harlot

20神的葡萄树成了荆棘和蒺藜。淫妇

21再者，以色列人虽是神的新妇，却成了淫妇。他们『起淫心』，『对偶像行邪淫』。（六9。）多么可悲的光景！神在十六章和二十三章说，因著他们的淫心，祂极其伤心。神这亲爱的丈夫，因祂的子民成了淫妇，就极为伤痛。

21Moreover, although the people of Israel were God’s bride, they became a harlot. They had a “whorish heart” and they went “a whoring after their idols” (6:9). What a miserable situation! In chapters sixteen and twenty- three God said that His heart was broken because of their whorish heart. As a dear Husband, God was grieved because His people had become a whorish wife

蝎子

Scorpions

22按照以西结书的记载，神的群羊以色列成了甚么？在二章六节我们看见，神的群羊成了蝎子。他们原是神的群羊，理当生产肉可以滋养人，生产羊毛可以温暖人。但他们成了蝎子，没有出产，只会螫人。

22According to the record in Ezekiel, what became of Israel as God’s flock? In 2:6 we see that God’s flock became scorpions. As God’s flock they should have been sheep producing meat to nourish people and wool to warm people. But they became scorpions, and with scorpions there is no producing, only stinging

渣滓

Dross

23二十二章十八节说，『人子阿，以色列家在我看为渣滓；他们都是炉中的铜、锡、铁、铅；都是银渣滓。』这启示出，以色列原是神的珍宝，却成了渣滓，就是锻炼金银之后残留的废料。他们是神的选民，却成了悖逆者；是神的葡萄树，却成了荆棘和蒺藜；是神的新妇，却成了淫妇；是神的群羊，却成了蝎子；是神的金银珍宝，却成了渣滓。

23Ezekiel 22:18 says, “Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.” This reveals that Israel, God’s precious treasure, had become dross, the waste material that remains after gold and silver have been refined. As God’select, they became rebels; as God’s vine, they became briars and thorns; as God’s bride, they became a harlot; as God’s flock, they became scorpions; and as God’st re a sure of gold and silver, they became dross

24以色列人这幅图画，可以应用于今天基督教的光景。就著立场说，基督徒是神的选民，但许多人悖逆了神。他们不再是葡萄树，反成了荆棘和蒺藜。他们不再是妻子，反成了淫妇。按照启示录十七、十八章，今天的基督教不是新妇，乃是大妓女，有许多作妓女的女儿。因此，今天的基督教完全是犯淫乱的。再者，我们今天在基督徒中所看见的，不是有肉和羊毛供应人的群羊，而是螫人的蝎子。最终，今天虽然有些人是神的珍宝，但大多数的人都成了渣滓。

24This picture of Israel can be applied to the situation of today’s Christianity. In their standing Christians are God’select, but many have become rebels against God. Instead of being a vine, they have become briars and thorns. Instead of being a wife, they have become a harlot. According to Revelation 17 and 18 today’s Christianity is not a bride but a great harlot with many daughter harlots. Thus, today’s Christianity is altogether a whoredom. Moreover, among Christians what we see today is not a flock producing meat and wool for others but stinging scorpions. Finally, although some Christians today may be a treasure to God, most have become dross

以色列堕落的原因

THE REASONS FOR ISRAEL’S DEGRADATION

25这样奇妙的一班人，原是神的选民、葡萄树、新妇、群羊、珍宝，怎么竟成了悖逆者、荆棘和蒺藜、淫妇、蝎子和渣滓？要回答这个问题，我们需要来看以色列堕落的原因。

25How could such a wonderful people who were God’select, God’s vine, God’s bride, God’s flock, and God’st re a sure become rebels, briars and thorns, a harlot, scorpions, and dross? In order to answer this question, we need to consider the reasons for Israel’s degradation

拜偶像

Idolatry

26他们堕落的第一个原因是拜偶像。以西结一再的说到以色列人中间有拜偶像。我们不该总是把偶像看作一种外面的像。偶像是代替神的东西。以西结十四章三节说，『人子阿，这些人已将他们的假神接到心里。』将假神接到心里的人，都藉著假神与主生疏。（5。）四节说，『所以你要告诉他们，主耶和华如此说，以色列家的人中，凡将他的假神接到心里，把陷于罪的绊脚石放在面前，又就了先知来的，我耶和华在他所求的事上，必按他众多的假神回答他。』在这几节里，我们看见一个原则：凡在心里有偶像（假神）的人，要在外面寻求神，是找不到神的。神不会被这些将假神接到心里的人寻见的。惟有专心寻求主的人，必定寻见。（耶二九。）至于那些只在外面寻求神的人，神不会被他们寻见。我们在心中若有偶像，就是在心中有甚么霸占我们，而代替了神，即使我们寻求神也是枉然，因为在这种光景里，神无法给我们寻见。任何在我们里面代替神的东西，都是偶像。凡我们所爱慕的若超过对主的爱慕，都是一种偶像。学位、教育、金钱、衣著、妻子、丈夫、儿女，都可能成为偶像，成为我们所爱超过对神的爱，而在我们生活中顶替了神的人事物。凡是我们觉得比主更重要的东西，都是一个偶像。以色列人堕落

26The first reason for their degradation was their idolatry. Ezekiel speaks again and again about the idols among the people of Israel. We should not consider that an idol is always an outward image. Idols are substitutes for God. Ezekiel 14:3 says, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart.” Those who set up idols in their hearts are estranged from the Lord through their idols (v. 5). Verse 4 says, “Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh, according to the multitude of his idols.” In these verses we see a principle: All those who have idols within them and yet seek God in an outward way cannot find God. God will not be found by those who set up idols in their hearts. Those who seek the Lord with their whole heart will find Him (Jer. 29:13). However, God will not be found by those who seek 13 Him outwardly, yet have idols inwardly. If there is an idol in our heart, something in our heart that occupies us instead of God, it will be useless for us to seek God, for in this situation God does not have a way to be found by us. Anything within us that is a substitute for God is an idol. Whatever we love more than the Lord is an idol. A scholarship, education, money, clothing, a wife, a husband, children—all these can be idols, something or someone that we love more than God and that replaces God in our life. Whatever is more important to us than the Lord is an idol. The first reason for the fall and degradation of Israel was idolatry.

27的头一个原因，乃是拜偶像。

28召会的堕落，原则也是一样。在启示录二章我们看见，召会的堕落开始于离弃对主起初的爱。（4。）主耶稣说，在以弗所的召会有许多好行为，但祂有一件事要责备他们，就是他们离弃了对主起初的爱。这指明他们有许多偶像。我们若不以起初的爱来爱主，这就是一个兆头，表明我们有某种的偶像。凡是我们所爱的，超过了我们对主的爱，这个东西就是我们的偶像。我们若看见这个，就明白以色列人的堕落和召会的堕落，原因完全是一样的。以色列人拜偶像，以偶像代替了神。今天在大多数基督徒的身上，光景也是一样。大多数基督徒离弃了他们起初的爱。有些人爱他们布道的工作过于爱主自己。有些人爱他们的读经或福音布道过于爱主。许多人顾到他们的工作，却不顾到主。宣道会的陶恕（Dr.A.W.Tozer）曾说，即使主耶稣进到基督教领袖的聚会中，他们也不会认得祂。他们虽然讨论为主工作，但主若进到他们的会中，他们会不认识祂。陶恕的观察指明，基督徒普遍都爱主以外的许多事物。

28The principle is the same with the degradation of the church. In Revelation 2 we see that the degradation of the churches began with the leaving of the first love to the Lord (v. 4). The Lord Jesus said that the church in Ephesus had many good works, yet He had something against them, for they had left their first love for Him. This indicates that they had some idols. If we do not love the Lord with the first love, this is a sign that we have some kind of idol. Whatever we love more than the Lord, is our idol. If we realize this, we will see that the cause of the degradation of Israel and of the church is exactly the same. The people of Israel worshipped idols as substitutes for God. The situation is the same with a great many Christians today. Most Christians have lost their first love. Some love their missionary work much more than they love the Lord Himself. Others love their study of the Bible or their evangelistic outreach more than the Lord. Many care for their work, but they do not care for the Lord. Dr. A. W. Tozer of the Christian and Missionary Alliance once said that if the Lord Jesus came into a conference of Christian leaders, they would not recognize Him. Although they might be discussing their work for the Lord, if He were to come into their meeting, they would not know Him. Tozer’s observation indicates that it is common for Christians to love many things other than the Lord Himself.

与世界联结

Association with the World

29偶像把人带到与世界联结。以色列人有了偶像，藉著这些偶像他们就与世界，就是异教的列国，有了接触而与其联结。这指明，我们里面只要有代替主的东西，我们就会与世界联结。我们可能爱许多主之外的东西，就如金钱、学位、好的职业、汽车、房子、优渥的生活，甚至我们的丈夫、妻子或儿女。我们所爱过于主的任何东西，都会把我们带进与世界的联结，而把我们引入世俗。

29Idols bring people into association with the world. The people of Israel had idols, and through these idols they were brought into contact and association with the world, that is, with the heathen nations. This indicates that as long as we have something within us that is a substitute for the Lord, we will be associated with the world. We may love various things in place of the Lord: money, a degree, a good job, an automobile, a house, a good living, and even our husband, wife, or children. Anything that we love more than we love the Lord will bring us into association with the world and lead us into worldliness

效法列国的规矩

Walking after the Manner of the Nations

30以色列人与列国联结之后，就开始效法列国的规矩和风俗。这意思是说，他们随从了列国。

30After the people of Israel became associated with the nations, they began to walk after the manners and customs of the nations. This means that they followed the nations

31我们需要看见，以色列人堕落的这三个原因，也是今天基督教堕落的主要原因。这些原因乃是：爱一些东西过于爱主或代替了主；与世界联结；以及效法异邦的规矩。我们虽然在主的恢复里，但我担心我们有些人里面已经有了偶像，已经与世界有了联结，已经在日常生活中效法了异邦的规矩。我们绝不该以不信者为榜样。譬如，我们不该在穿著的时尚这事上，效法不信者。我们不该在意任何特别的时尚，只要注意有合式的仪表。我们生活、花钱、穿著的方式，都不该效法列国的规矩。我们乃是圣别的子民，我们必须有别于属世的人。

31We need to realize that the three causes of the fall and degradation of Israel are also the main causes of the fall and degradation of today’s Christianity. These causes are loving something more than the Lord or in place of the Lord, association with the world, and walking after the manner of the heathen. Although we are in the Lord’s recovery, I am concerned that some may still have an idol within them, may still be associated with the world, and in their daily living may still walk after the manner of the heathen. We should not pattern our life after unbelievers in any way. For example, we should not follow the unbelievers in the matter of the style of dress. We should not care for any particular style but care to have a proper outward appearance. The way we live, the way we spend our money, and the way we dress should not be after the manner of the nations. We are a holy people, and for this reason we must be different from the worldly people

THE KINDS OF PEOPLE

在以色列人中间各种的人

AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

32现在我们继续来看，在以西结书这几章里，以色列人中间各种不同的人。

32Now let us go on to consider the various kinds of people among the children of Israel described in these chapters of Ezekiel.

祭司

The Priests

33以西结二十二章二十六节说，『其中的祭司强解我的律法，亵渎我的圣物，不分别圣的和俗的，也不使人分辨洁净的和不洁净的，又遮眼不顾我的安息日；我也在他们中间被亵慢。』在这里我们看见，祭司强解神的话，亵渎圣物，甚至亵渎主自己。他们不分别圣的和俗的，洁净的和不洁净的。因著他们不供应神的话，却强解神的话，所以他们欺骗并抢夺了神的子民。他们强解神的话，也亵渎神的名。这也是今天基督教有些教师的光景。他们供应神的话，却强解神的话；他们错用神的话，并亵渎神的名，因而欺骗了人，误引了人。

33Ezekiel 22:26 says, “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Here we see that the priests violated the word of God, profaned the holy things, and even profaned the Lord Himself. They made no distinction between the holy and the profane, between the clean and the unclean. Because they did not minister the word of God but instead violated it, they cheated and robbed the people. They did violence to the Lord’sword and they profaned the name of God. This is also the situation with certain teachers in today’s Christianity. They minister God’sword in a violent way, cheating and misleading others by the wrong use of the Word and profaning the name of God

君王

The Kings

34二十七节接著说，在那地上的首领彷佛豺狼抓撕掠物，杀人流血，伤害人命，要得不义之财。今天基督教中也有许多人，急急的为自己抓夺财物。

34Ezekiel 22:27 goes on to say that the princes, the kings, were in the midst of the land like wolves ravening the prey, shedding blood, and destroying souls for dishonest gain. Like many in today’s Christianity, they were anxious to grasp something for their own gain

申言者

The Prophets

35二十五节告诉我们，申言者如同咆哮的狮子，吞灭人民。他们抢夺财宝，使这地多有寡妇。

35Ezekiel 22:25 tells us that the prophets were like roaring lions devouring souls. They took the treasure and the precious things, causing many to be widows

36十三章四至五节说，『以色列阿，你的申言者（另译）好像荒场中的狐狸；没有上去堵挡破口，也没有为以色列家重修墙垣，使他们当耶和华的日子，在阵上站立得住。』申言者好像荒场中的狐狸，喜欢藏在荒废的地方生活。狐狸很难生活在好的屋子里，但是当屋子荒废时，狐狸就进来。不仅如此，申言者在争战时也不堵挡破口，重修墙垣。今天的光景也类似，因为很少基督徒愿意为著主的恢复和主的权益站在破口里。在以西结的时候，有许多假申言者，他们照著自己的心意申言。二十二章二十八节用了一个比喻，描写他们怎样申言：『其中的申言者为百姓用未泡透的灰抹墙，就是为他们见虚假的异象用谎诈的占卜，说，主耶和华如此说；其实耶和华没有说。』以西结在这里说，他们的申言就像用未泡透的灰抹墙。泥灰是用石灰作的，用以抹墙前必须先用水泡透。这会使灰调得好。如果在砌墙之前不先把灰用水泡透，雨水就会把灰冲走，使墙崩裂。这个比喻的意思是说，许多申言者传神的话，没有合式的调和。这样没有调和的传神的话，就是没有被圣灵充满，也没有被生命的经历泡透。今天许多传道人和教师都是用没有泡透的灰抹墙。他们讲的道可能很好听，但是暴风雨一来，就将其冲走，像冲走没有泡透的灰一样。

36Ezekiel 13:4-5 says, “O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord.” Like foxes in the desert, the prophets loved to hide and live in a desolate place. It is difficult for a fox to live in a proper house, but when a house is desolate, foxes may come in. Furthermore, the prophets would not fill up the gap and make up the hedge during the time of battle. Today’s situation is similar, for very few Christians are willing to stand in the gap for the Lord’s recovery and for the Lord’sin te rest. At Ezekiel’st i me there were many false prophets who prophesied according to their own heart. In 22:28 Ezekiel used a parable to describe their manner of prophesying: “Her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.” Here Ezekiel said that their manner of prophesying was like daubing the walls with untempered mortar. Mortar is made from lime and must be thoroughly saturated with water before it is applied to a wall. This would give properly tempered mortar. If the mortar is not thoroughly saturated with water before it is applied to the wall, the rain will wash the mortar away, and the wall will crumble. The meaning of this parable is that many prophets ministered the word of God in a way that was not properly tempered. To minister the word of God in such an untempered way is to be not saturated with the Holy Spirit and not soaked with the experience of life. Today many preachers and teachers are daubing with untempered mortar. They may give a good sermon, but when a storm comes, it is washed away like untempered mortar.

37完全充满圣灵并充满神圣生命经历的话，是绝对不同的。当这种话被传讲时，神的子民就得加强，能抵挡任何风暴。藉此我们看见，我们的教导必须是充满灵并泡透对神圣生命正确的经历。这不是善于讲说悦人耳朵的话；乃是充满著圣灵，而真实、扎实并彻底的讲说神的话。这样的话会保护我们，加强我们，把我们建造在一起，并使我们能抵挡任何的风暴。在神子民中间还有比假申言者更糟的光景，就是一些女子从己心发豫言。（十三17。）她们说假豫言，也在主未说话时发豫言。今天这种豫言经常出现。许多人说，『耶和华如此说』，其实主并没有说话。譬如，近年有些人豫言洛杉矶要陆沉大洋，甚至有人豫测发生的日期。但洛杉矶依然屹立。他们说，『耶和华如此说，』但主从未说过这样的话。这些豫言没有实现，证明他们是假的。在以西结书中的这些妇女，除了发假豫言之外，也搞迷信和巫术。譬如，她们缝一种巫术的带子，就是一种靠枕，迷信的以为能防鬼。她们甚至给人作头巾，为要猎取人。（十三１８～21。）照样，今天一些牧师、传道人也讲迷信的话，虚假而不照真理的安慰别人。

37A word which is fully saturated with the Spirit and with the experience of the divine life is absolutely different. When this kind of word is ministered, it will strengthen God’sp eople to withstand whatever storms may come. From this we see that we need teaching that is saturated with the Spirit and soaked with the proper experience of the divine life. This is not a matter of eloquence or of speaking words that are pleasant to the ear. Rather, it is ministering the word of God in a way that is real, solid, and thoroughly saturated with the Holy Spirit. Such a word will protect us, strengthen us, build us together, and enable us to stand against every kind of storm. An even worse situation than that of the false prophets existed among the daughters of the people, who prophesied out of their own heart (13:1 7). They not only prophesied falsely; they also prophesied when the Lord had not spoken. This kind of prophesying occurs frequently today. Many say, “Thus saith the Lord,” but the Lord has not spoken. For example, in recent years several people have prophesied that the city of Los Angeles would fall into the ocean, and some even predicted the exact date. But Los Angeles is still here. They said, “Thus saith the Lord,” but the Lord never said such a thing. When these prophesies were not fulfilled, they were proved to be false. In addition to prophesying falsely, these women in Ezekiel also practiced superstition and witchcraft. For instance, they sewed on a magic band, an amulet, as a superstitious protection from the demons. They even sewed veils to hunt people (13:18-21). Likewise, today certain pastors, preachers, and ministers speak in a superstitious way, comforting others in a way that is false and not according to the truth.

长老

The Elders

38主告诉以西结，到他那里求问主的长老，已将假神接到心里。（十四1～3。）由于他们心里的假神，主就不肯被他们求问。他们对主并不诚实。他们也侵吞、抢夺，把别人的财物夺为己有。在许多方面，今天的光景也是类似的。

38The Lord told Ezekiel that the elders who came to him to inquire of the Lord had set up idols in their hearts (14:1-3). Because of the idols in their hearts, the Lord would not be inquired of by them. They were not honest with the Lord. Also, they were ravening and robbing, taking others’ treasures into their own hands. In many respects, the situation today is similar

百姓

The People

39从二十二章二十九节，我们看见众民一味的欺压，惯行抢夺。他们亏负困苦穷乏的，背理欺压寄居的。主在他们中间寻不见一人，能站在破口防堵。三十节论到这事说，『我在他们中间寻找一人重修墙垣，在我面前为这国站在破口防堵，使我不灭绝这国，却找不著一个。』可悲的是，今天基督教的光景，几乎完全一样。

39From Ezekiel 22:29 we see that the people used oppression and exercised robbery. They vexed the poor and the needy, and they oppressed the stranger wrongfully. The Lord was not able to find anyone among them who could make up the hedge and stand in the gap. Concerning this, verse 30 says, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Sadly, in today’s Christianity the situation is almost exactly the same