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民数记生命读经 · 第1篇

介言

An Introductory Word
1读经：民数记1:1-4,42-46;10:33-36。在这篇民数记生命读经的介言里，我们要来看神圣启示的进步、民数记与利未记的比较、民数记的总纲、民数记的中心思想、以及民数记的分段。
1Scripture Reading: Num. 1:1-4, 42-46; 10:33-36 In this introductory word to the Life-study of Numbers, we will consider the advancement of the divine revelation, a comparison of Numbers and Leviticus, the general sketch of Numbers, the central thought of Numbers, and the sections of Numbers
壹 神圣启示的进步
I. AN ADVANCEMENT OF THE DIVINE REVELATION
2在摩西的五卷书（摩西五经）里，撒了许多真理的种子。神圣真理每一主要的点都在这些书里。不过，神圣的启示不是一次全部给我们的，乃是循序渐进的。
2In the five books of Moses (the Pentateuch) many seeds of the truth are sown. Every main point of the divine truth is in these books. However, the divine revelation was not given to us once for all but progressively
3在神圣启示的进展里，有神圣启示的进步。在第一卷书，创世记，有神与祂的创造。『起初神创造诸天与地。』（创一1，另译。）在圣经六十六卷书的末了，有一座荣耀、光明的新城。起初只有神自己，等到神完成创造的工作，除了神以外，就有受造之物，包括人在内。人堕落了，但人堕落以后，有神的救赎。至终，在圣经末了，有一座神圣三一与祂所救赎之人相调和而建造的城。在起初神的创造和末了的新城之间，神圣的启示一卷又一卷的逐渐在进步。
3In the progress of the divine revelation there is the advancement of the divine revelation. In the first book, Genesis, we have God and His creation. ‘‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth’’ (Gen. 1:1). At the end of the sixty-six books of the Bible there is a glorious, bright, new city. In the beginning there was only God Himself. Then God accomplished the work of creation, so in addition to God there was the creation, including man. Man fell, but after the fall of man, there was God’s redemption. Eventually, at the end of the Bible, there is a city built with the divine Trinity mingled with His redeemed people. Between God’s creation at the beginning and the new city at the end, the divine revelation advances progressively book after book
一 在创世记
A. In Genesis
4在创世记我们看见神的创造与人的堕落。创世记开始于神的创造，结束于人堕落的结果—一个死人在棺材里。（创五十26。）
4In Genesis we see God’s creation and man’s fall. Whereas Genesis begins with God’s creation, it ends with the result of man’s fall—a dead man in a coffin (50:26
二 在出埃及记
B. In Exodus
5人堕落以后，神进来用祂奇妙的救赎拯救我们。这是我们在出埃及记所看见的。在出埃及记，有神的救恩与祂居所的建造。
5After the fall of man, God came in to save us with His wonderful redemption. This is what we see in Exodus. In the book of Exodus we have God’ss alvation and the building of His habitation
6神的居所比祂的创造更宝贵。在神创造诸天和地的时候，祂是无家可归的。因此即使人堕落了，神也不愿放弃。祂仍继续救赎并拯救堕落的人，使祂能用所救赎的人建造祂的居所。
6God’s habitation is more valuable than His creation. When God created the heavens and the earth, He was homeless. Even though man fell, God would not give up. He still went on to redeem and save fallen man that He might build up His habitation with His redeemed people.
三 在利未记
C. In Leviticus
7在利未记，有蒙救赎者的敬拜与生活。到了利未记的时候，许多堕落的人蒙了拯救，成了神所救赎的人。利未记启示，这些蒙救赎的人需要敬拜神，并且过神所愿望的生活。
7In Leviticus we have the redeemed’s worship and living. By the time we reach Leviticus, many of the fallen people have been saved and have become God’s redeemed people. Leviticus reveals that these redeemed ones need to worship God and live the life He desires
四 在民数记
D. In Numbers
8在民数记我们看见神所救赎的人编组成为神的军队，以及他们为神争战的行程。军队是为著神子民的争战，使神在地上取得立场，建造祂的国同祂的居所。
8In Numbers we see God’s redeemed people being formed into His army and their journey in fighting for God. The army is for God’sp eople to fight so that God can gain the ground on earth to build up His kingdom with His habitation
贰 比较
II. A COMPARISON
9在这点上，我要把民数记与利未记作个比较。利未记强调蒙救赎者的敬拜与生活。民数记强调蒙救赎者的行程与争战。在利未记，神所救赎者受教导如何敬拜神并过圣别的生活。在民数记，神所救赎者编组成为军队，并在他们的行程中为神争战。在民数记我们看见三件事：军队的编组、军队的行程、与军队的争战。军队的编组是为著争战，而争战需要军队一直前行，不可停留在一个地点。以色列人总是从一地往前到另一地，取得立场，使神得著一班人，建造为祂的国和祂的家。为这缘故，在民数记有军队、行程与争战。
9At this point, I would like to make a comparison between Numbers and Leviticus. Leviticus stresses the redeemed’s worship and living. Numbers stresses the redeemed’s journey and fighting. In Leviticus God’s redeemed were instructed in how to worship God and live a holy life. In Numbers God’s redeemed were formed into an army and fought for Him throughout their journey. In Numbers we can see three things: the formation of an army, the journeys of that army, and the fighting of the army. The formation of the army was for fighting, and the fighting required the army to journey, not to stay in one spot. Always the children of Israel were going on from place to place to gain ground that God might have a people to be built up for His kingdom and His house. For this reason, in Numbers we have the army, the journey, and the fighting
参 总纲
III. THE GENERAL SKETCH
10民数记虽是一卷很长的书，总纲却很简单。民数记的总纲是蒙救赎、被圣别的以色列人编组成为神圣别的军队，要跟随神的领率往前，并要为祂争战。在摩西五经，就是摩西的五卷书里，所记载的都是豫表。尤其整个以色列国，乃是召会的豫表。以色列人如何编组成为军队，召会也该照样编组成为军队。关于这点，我们不该看当前的情况，不该看外表。我们若这样作，就会失望，怀疑军队在那里。我们会对召会军队的存在有怀疑，但撒但却知道有这样一支军队。我们需要相信，今天有一支由一切忠信者编组而成的军队，一直前行并争战，使神得著国度与住家。
10Although Numbers is a long book, the general sketch is simple. The general sketch of Numbers is that the redeemed and sanctified Israelites were formed into a holy army of God, which was to proceed by following God’s leading and was to fight for Him. Whatever is written in the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses, is a type. In particular, in these books we see that the entire nation of Israel was a type of the church. As Israel was formed into an army, so the church should be formed into an army. Concerning this, we should not look at the present situation, at the outward appearance. If we do this, we will be disappointed and wonder where the army is. Although we may have doubts about the existence of a church army, Satan knows that there is such an army. We need to believe that today there is an army formed with all the faithful ones, journeying and fighting all the time that God may have a kingdom with a house.
肆 中心思想
IV. THE CENTRAL THOUGHT
11我们可以笼统的说，全本圣经的中心思想是基督，因为圣经集中于基督为中心。但民数记的中心思想是甚么？民数记的中心思想乃是基督是神子民的生活意义、见证、中心，以及他们行程和争战的领导、道路与目标。
11In a general way, we may say that the central thought of the entire Bible is Christ, for the Bible is focused on Christ as the center. But what is the central thought of the book of Numbers? The central thought of Numbers is that Christ is the meaning of life, the testimony, the center of God’sp eople, and the Leader, the way, and the goal of their journey and fighting
一 基督是生活的意义
A. Christ as the Meaning of Life
12民数记启示基督是神子民生活的意义。在旷野的四十年间，二百万以色列人似乎没有作甚么。他们没有从事于工业、商业、或农业。但一天又一天，他们忙于一件事—神见证的柜。（民七89。）见证的柜是帐幕的中心；帐幕称为见证的帐幕。（民一50，53。）以色列人四十年之久为著保守约柜与其帐幕而工作。约柜与其帐幕是他们生活的意义。倘若没有约柜，以色列人的生活就不会有任何意义。约柜和帐幕都称为神的见证。既然约柜豫表基督，以色列人生活的意义就是顾到作神见证的基督。
12In Numbers Christ is revealed as the meaning of the life of God’sp eople. It seems that during the forty years in the wilderness, the two million Israelites were doing nothing. They did not engage in industry, commerce, or farming. But day by day they were busy with one thing— the ark of God’s testimony (Num. 7:89). The ark of the testimony was the center of the tabernacle, which was called the tabernacle of the testimony (1:50, 53). For forty years the Israelites worked for the keeping of the ark with the tabernacle. The ark with the tabernacle was the meaning of their life. If there had not been an ark, the life of the Israelites would not have had any meaning. Both the ark and the tabernacle were called God’s testimony. Since the ark typifies Christ, the meaning of the Israelites’ life was to take care of Christ as the testimony of God
二 基督是神的见证
B. Christ as God’s Testimony
13这位作神子民生活之意义的基督，乃是神的见证。在旧约里，见证乃指律法。那刻著律法的两块石版称为见证，（出二五21，）是放在约柜里。因为约柜里放著见证，约柜就称为见证的柜。律法总是见证制定律法的人。根据这原则，神的律法乃是神所是的见证，给我们看见神是怎样的神。律法告诉我们，神是爱、光，也是圣、义。爱、光、圣、义是四个神圣的属性。律法是神所是的图画，豫表基督是神在祂一切神圣属性里的具体化身。在基督里我们看见神是爱、光，祂也是圣、义。因此，新约告诉我们，基督是神的具体化身。（西二9。）这就是说，祂是神的图画，祂是神所是的见证。因为基督是神所是的见证，祂被称为『忠信真实的见证人。』（启三，一5。）既是神的见证人，基督就背负神的见证，给我们看见神是怎样的神。
13This Christ, who is the meaning of the life of God’sp eople, is God’s testimony. In the Old Testament, the testimony refers to the law. The two tablets on which the law was inscribed were called the testimony (Exo. 25:21) and were placed in the ark. Because the testimony was put into the ark, the ark was called the ark of the testimony. A law is always a testimony of the one who made it. In keeping with this principle, the law of God is a testimony of what God is; it tells us what kind of God our God is. The law tells us that God is love and light and that He is holy and righteous. Love, light, holiness, and righteousness are four of the divine attributes. The law, as a portrait of what God is, typifies Christ as the embodiment of God in all His divine attributes. In Christ we see that God is love and light and that He is holy and righteous. Thus, the New Testament tells us that Christ is the embodiment of God (Col. 2:9). For Christ to be the embodiment of God means that He is the portrait of God, and as such He is the testimony of what God is. Because Christ is the testimony of what God is, He is called ‘‘the faithful and true Witness’’ 14 (Rev. 3:14; 1:5). As God’s Witness, Christ bears God’s testimony to show us what kind of God He is.
14神的子民不仅该以基督为生活的意义，也该过见证基督的生活。神的子民有这种生活时，基督就成为他们的见证。在民数记我们看见，基督是神子民的见证。
14God’sp eople should not only take Christ as the meaning of life but also live a life of testifying Christ. When God’sp eople have this kind of living, Christ becomes their testimony. In Numbers we see Christ as the testimony of God’sp eople
三 基督是中心
C. Christ as the Center
15基督也是神子民的中心。这由以色列人在帐幕四围（每边三个支派）安营所描绘。四个营（每营由三个支派所组成）和利未支派的三个族都以帐幕连同约柜为中心。因此以色列人以基督生活的意义、见证、与中心。这给我们看见，今天我们召会该以基督为我们的生活意义、我们的见证、我们的中心。
15Christ is also the center of God’sp eople. This is portrayed by the way the children of Israel were encamped around the tabernacle with three tribes on each side. The four camps, each composed of three tribes, and the three families of the tribe of Levi all took the tabernacle with the ark as the center. The children of Israel thus took Christ as the meaning of life, the testimony, and the center. This shows us that as the church today we should take Christ as our meaning of life, our testimony, and our center
四 基督是领导、道路、目标
D. Christ as the Leader, the Way, and the Goal
16民数记启示，这位作我们生活意义、见证、与中心的基督，乃是一直在行动、活动、并往前的。在祂往前时，祂是我们的领导、（太二三10、）我们的道路、（约十四6、）我们的目标。（腓三12～14。）领导就是在路上领先往前。今天我们正以基督为我们的领导，我们正跟随著祂。祂在祂的道路上并朝著祂的目标领导著我们；这道路与目标其实都是祂自己。属世的人没有道路，也没有目标，但我们有基督，祂不仅作我们的领导，也作我们的道路与我们的目标。在新约里有基督这些方面的启示，但说得并不详细。若是只有新约，而没有旧约及其一切豫表，我们就无法看见对基督这样详细、细致的描绘。要完全看见基督是生活的意义、见证、中心，以及领导、道路和目标，我们需要民数记里的图画。
16The book of Numbers reveals that this Christ, who is the meaning of our life, our testimony, and our center, is One who is moving, acting, and always proceeding onward. In His proceeding onward, He is our Leader (Matt. 23:10), our way (John 14:6), and our goal (Phil. 3:12-14). To take the lead is to proceed on the way. Today we are taking Christ as our Leader, and we are following Him. He is leading us on His way and toward His goal, both of which are actually Himself. Worldly people have neither a way nor a goal, but we have Christ not only as our Leader but also as our way and our goal. In the New Testament there is a revelation of Christ in all these aspects, but it is not given there in detail. If we had only the New Testament and not the Old Testament with all its types, we could not see Christ in such a detailed and fine portrait. For a complete view of Christ as the meaning of life, the testimony, the center, and the Leader, the way, and the goal, we need the portrait in the book of Numbers
17为著神所救赎之人的行程并为著他们的争战，基督是生活的意义、见证、中心，以及领导、道路和目标。倘若基督对我们不是这一切，神就无法在地上取得立场，建立祂的国同祂的家，就是祂至终要完成于新耶路撒冷的。新耶路撒冷将是神国和神家的完成。
17For the journey of God’s redeemed people and for their fighting, Christ is the meaning of life, the testimony, the center, and the Leader, the way, and the goal. If Christ were not all this to us, there would not be a way for God to gain the ground on earth to build up His kingdom with His house, which eventually will consummate in the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem will be the consummation of God’skin gdom and God’sho use.
18全本圣经给我们看见一件事—神的心意是要得著一班编组成军队的人，以基督为他们的生活意义、见证、中心、领导、道路与目标，并且往前为神争战，使祂在地上取得立场，得著一班人建造成为祂的国和祂的家，就是将来要完成于新耶路撒冷的。
18The entire Bible shows us one thing—that God’sin tent i on is to have a people formed into an army to take Christ as their meaning of life, testimony, center, Leader, way, and goal and to proceed on and fight for God that He may gain the ground on earth and have a people built up as His kingdom and His house, which will consummate in the New Jerusalem
伍 分段
V. THE SECTIONS
19民数记有三段：成军、（民一1～九、）行程、（民九15～二十29，二一4～20，三三1～49、）与争战。（民二一1～3，二一21～三二42，三三50～三六13。）神要得著一班人并将他们编组成军，这心意的完成不是简单的事。这支军队由十二支派编组而成。真美妙，雅各正好有十二个儿子，他们就成为十二支派。在这十二支派当中，利未献给神来服事帐幕，因而缺了一个支派。然而，这缺欠因约瑟藉著他的两个儿子—以法莲和玛拿西，领受双分得以补足；他们补上空缺，使支派的数目保持十二。不仅如此，在奉献的利未支派里有亚伦的族系，就是祭司的族系。利未有三个儿子，他们围绕帐幕的三边安营。摩西、亚伦和亚伦的儿子在帐幕前面安营。以色列人这样排列安营，真是奇妙。
19The book of Numbers has three sections: being formed into an army (1:1 — 9:14), journeying (9:15 — 20:29; 14 21:4-20; 33:1-49), and fighting (21:1-3; 21:21—32:42; 33:50—36:13). The fulfillment of God’sin tent i on to gain a people and to have them formed into an army was not a simple matter. This army was formed with twelve tribes. It is wonderful that Jacob had exactly twelve sons, who became twelve tribes. Among these twelve tribes, Levi was consecrated to God for the service of the tabernacle. As a result, there was the shortage of one tribe. However, this shortage was made up by Joseph’s receiving a double portion through his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who filled the gap to keep the number of tribes at twelve. Furthermore, within the consecrated tribe of Levi was the house of Aaron, the priestly house. Levi had three sons who encamped around three sides of the tabernacle. Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’ss ons encamped at the front of the tabernacle. Such a camping of the children of Israel in array was marvelous.
20在以色列人成军以前，全地被神的仇敌所占据。但在民数记我们看见有一族—以色列族，得拯救、被圣别、被编组且排列成为军队。这对仇敌乃是一个羞辱。人的心思无法写出像民数记这样的书。有许多编组军队的其他记载，但没有一个像民数记的记载一样。只有神能写出这样的记载，而且提供所需要的人，编组成这样的一支军队。在这支军队里的人是以基督为他们的一切—他们生活的意义、他们的见证、他们的中心，以及他们的领导、他们的道路、与他们的目标。
20Before the children of Israel were formed into an army, the whole earth had been taken over by God’se ne my. But in Numbers we see that one race, the race of Israel, was saved, sanctified, and formed and arranged into an army. This was a shame to the enemy. No human mind could have written a book such as Numbers. There are many other records of the formation of armies, but there is none like the record in Numbers. Only God could write such a record and provide the persons needed to form such an army. The persons in this army take Christ as their everything—their meaning of life, their testimony, their center, and their Leader, their way, and their goal