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民数记生命读经 · 第2篇

成军(一)

Being Formed into an Army (1)
1读经:民数记一章。
1Scripture Reading: Num. 1
2民数记一章所描绘的图画给我们看见全本新约,从三一神成为肉体来作人,生活并居住在人中间,直到神成肉体的完成,就是新耶路撒冷。要从民数记一章看见三一神成为肉体很困难,因为我们没有这样的观念。我们若要在这章看见三一神成为肉体,就需要来看帐幕同约柜的事。在帐幕里有约柜,在约柜里有律法。律法称为『见证。』(民十七4,。)律法是神的见证,因为律法见证神,给我们看见神。因此,律法事实上乃是作中心的神。然而,这里不是仅仅在自己里面的神,而是在皂荚木包金所造成之约柜里面的神。这约柜是木与金这两个元素的实体,豫表人性带著神性的基督。在民数记一章没有成为肉体一辞,但是有这幅图画在那里。在帐幕连同约柜这幅图画里,我们看见三一神成为肉体来作人,生活在人中间。帐幕是用四十八块竖板建造的。首先,四十八这数字是由六乘八组成的,表征在复活(八)里的人(六)。其次,四十八是由十二乘四组成的,表征在受造之物(四)里的三一神(包含于三乘四所组成的十二这数字)。因此,这幅图画表明三一神成为肉体来作人,生活在人中间。这里我们看见三一神,看见人,也看见三一神居住在人中间。
2The picture portrayed in Numbers chapter one shows us the entire New Testament, from the incarnation of the Triune God to be a man, living and dwelling among men, to the consummation of the incarnation, the New Jerusalem. To see the incarnation of the Triune God in Numbers 1 is difficult, because we do not have such a concept. If we would see the incarnation of the Triune God in this chapter, we need to consider the matter of the tabernacle with the ark. Within the tabernacle was the ark, and within the ark was the law. The law is called ‘‘the testimony’’ (17:4, 10). The law is a testimony of 10 God because it testifies, shows us, God. Thus, it is actually God who is the center. However, here we do not have God merely in Himself but God in an ark made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. This ark, being one entity of two elements, wood and gold, typifies Christ in His humanity with His divinity. The word incarnation is not in Numbers chapter one, but the picture is here. In this picture of the tabernacle with the ark, we see the Triune God incarnated to be a man living among men. The tabernacle was built with forty-eight boards. First, the number forty-eight is composed of six multiplied by eight, which signifies man (six) in resurrection (eight). Second, forty-eight is composed of twelve multiplied by four, which signifies the Triune God (contained in the number twelve, composed of three multiplied by four) in His creature (four). Therefore, this picture shows the Triune God incarnated to be a man living among men. Here we see the Triune God, we see man, and we see the Triune God dwelling among men.
31民数记一章这幅新耶路撒冷的图画,与以色列十二支派在帐幕四围安营有关。新耶路撒冷有十二个门,四边各有三门,门上有以色列十二支派的名字。(启二一12~13。)在民数记,十二支派排列成队,给我们看见一幅图画。在这队伍中,帐幕四边的每边有三个支派安营,每个支派是一支军队。在东边,朝日出方向,是犹大营,由犹大、以萨迦、西布伦的军队所组成。(民二2~9。)在西边,在后面,是以法莲营,由以法莲、玛拿西、便雅悯的军队所组成。(民二18~。)在南边是流便营,由流便、西缅、迦得的军队所组成。(民二~16。)在北边是但营,由但、亚设、拿弗他利的军队所组成。(民二25~31。)十二支派这样安营乃是新耶路撒冷的一幅图画。
3The picture of the New Jerusalem in Numbers involves the encampment of the twelve tribes of Israel around the tabernacle. The New Jerusalem has twelve gates, three gates on each of the four sides, with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on them (Rev. 21:12-13). In Numbers, the twelve tribes were arranged into an array, which shows us a picture. In this array, three tribes, each tribe being an army, were encamped on each of the four sides of the tabernacle. On the east, toward the sunrise, was the camp of Judah, composed of the armies of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (Num. 2:2-9). On the west, at the rear, was the camp of Ephraim, composed of the armies of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (2:18-24). On the south was the camp of Reuben, 24 composed of the armies of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad (2:10-16). On the north was the camp of Dan, 10 composed of the armies of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali (2:25-31). This encamping of the twelve tribes is a picture of the New Jerusalem.
4现在我们能领悟,民数记一章提供我们新约从成为肉体到新耶路撒冷的一幅图画。事实上,这是召会历史的摘要,开始于成为肉体,完成于新耶路撒冷。在豫表上,从民数记至玛拉基书的以色列历史,包括非常美好、令人鼓舞的事,以及非常可怜、令人沮丧的事,这些都是描绘召会的历史。在民数记的图画里,神在中心;这就是说,神在约柜里,在基督里。神不再仅仅在诸天之上;神也在地上,在一个是神具体化身的人里。这位是神具体化身的人就是耶稣基督。(西二9。)这样一个人由两种元素,金的元素和木的元素所构成。祂是『金木人,』是神人。如今这位奇妙者,就是三一神成为肉体,具体化身成为人,已经得著扩展、扩增、并扩大。在基督的扩展和扩大里,祂成了帐幕,神的居所。作为这样一个帐幕,祂是人可以进入的。
4Now we can realize how Numbers 1 affords us a picture of the New Testament from the incarnation to the New Jerusalem. This is actually a summary of the history of the church, which began with the incarnation and will consummate with the New Jerusalem. In type, the history of Israel from Numbers through Malachi, which includes things that are both very good and encouraging and very poor and discouraging, portrays the history of the church. In the picture in Numbers, God is in the center; that is, God is in the ark, in Christ. God is no longer just in the heavens; He is also on the earth, in a man who is His embodiment. This man who is the embodiment of God is Jesus Christ (Col. 2:9). Such a man is constituted with two elements, a golden element and a wooden element. He is a ‘‘gold-wood’’ man, a God-man. Now this wonderful One, the Triune God incarnated to be embodied as a man, has been expanded, increased, and enlarged. In His expansion and enlargement, Christ has become the tabernacle, God’s dwelling place. As such a tabernacle, He is enterable
5当神只在基督里时,没有人能进入祂里面。若没有基督的扩展,没有人能进入神里面。但如今基督已经扩展成为帐幕,祂不仅是神的居所,也是我们能进入神里面的地方。今天我们能进入神里面,以基督为我们的生命,使祂成为我们生活的意义。祂既是我们的生命,成为我们生活的意义,祂就是我们的见证。我们在每一方面并每一方向活祂,彰显祂,表明祂。然后祂自然而然就成为我们的中心。因此,今天基督是我们生活的意义、我们的见证、和我们的中心。基督,神的具体化身,已经扩大成为神所居住、我们所进入的居所。在基督这扩大的身体里,神得著了一个居所,我们也得著了一个地方,使我们能进入神里面,与神相会,甚至与神调和。
5When God was in Christ only, no one could enter into Him. Without Christ’s expansion, no one could enter into God. But now, in His expansion into a tabernacle, Christ is not only God’s dwelling place but also the place where we can enter into God. Today we can enter into God, taking Christ as our life that He may be the meaning of our life. As He is our life to be the meaning of life to us, He is our testimony. We live Him, express Him, show Him, in every aspect and in every direction. Then He spontaneously becomes our center. Therefore, Christ today is our meaning of life, our testimony, and our center. Christ, the embodiment of God, has been enlarged into a habitation in which God dwells and into which we enter. In this enlarged Body of Christ, God has a dwelling place, and we have a place where we can enter into God, meet with God, and even be mingled with God.
6这位神降下在伯利恒成为肉体以后,无意一直静止不动。约二千年来,这位亲爱者一直在行动。今天祂也在这里与我们一同行动。在祂的行动里,祂是领导。祂是独一的领导,因为惟独祂有这资格。基督是我们的领导、我们的道路、和我们的目标。我们有基督,就有领导。我们跟随基督,就是跟随领导。当我们直接跟随祂,我们就成为领导人。领导是在于祂;领导就是祂。基督不仅是我们的领导,也是我们所走的道路。我们的道路是基督,我们的目标也是基督。我们将基督带到某地,这样的事该受尊荣。但我们若带来基督以外的事物,那就该受定罪。至终,民数记的图画给我们看见,神与祂所拣选的人调成一个实体,在地上征服仇敌。仇敌利用并霸占全地,这地是神为著自己并祂定旨所创造的。神如何能收复这地?神不以自己这全能神、创造主的身分,直接收复这地。在新约的经纶里,神绝不自己作这事。祂乃是成为肉体,成为人,就是基督,并将这基督供应给罪人,使他们成为基督的扩大。结果,在地上有了三一神与三部分之人的调和,神就能在地上行动,而收复这地。这行动开始于耶路撒冷这中心,经过犹太地和撒玛利亚,往外直到地极,而今天到了这里。现今我们是这事的一部分,就是三一神成为肉体来作人,生活在人中间,将祂自己扩增到所拣选的人里面,使他们都与经过过程的三一神调和。这是神在旧造里来作新造的工作。这工作的终极完成乃是新耶路撒冷,就是经过过程的三一神与被变化之三部分的人调和。这就是民数记一章。
6This God had no intention to come down, to be incarnated at Bethlehem, and then remain stationary. For almost two thousand years this dear One has been moving. Today He is here with us, moving. In His moving, He is the Leader. He is the unique Leader, for He alone is qualified to lead. Christ is our Leader, our way, and our goal. When we have Christ, we have leadership. When we follow Christ, we follow our Leader. When we follow Him directly, we become a leader. The leadership is with Him; the leadership is He. Christ is not only our Leader but also the way we take today. Our way is Christ, and our goal also is Christ. Bringing Christ to a certain place should be honored. But if we bring something other than Christ, that thing should be condemned. Eventually, the picture in Numbers shows us God and His chosen people mingled together as one entity to conquer the enemy on earth. The enemy utilizes and usurps the entire earth, which God created for Himself and His purpose. How can God regain the earth? God will not regain the earth directly, by Himself as the mighty God, the Creator. In the New Testament economy, God would never do this by Himself. He had to be incarnated to become a man, Christ, and this Christ has to be ministered to sinners to make them all the enlargement of Christ. As a result, there is on earth the mingling of the Triune God with the tripartite man that God may move on earth and regain it. This move began from Jerusalem as the center, passed through Judea and Samaria, progressed to the uttermost part of the earth, and is here today. Now we are part of this, part of the Triune God incarnated to be a man, living among men to have Himself increased into His chosen people, causing all of them to be mingled with the processed Triune God. This is God’s work of the new creation within the old creation. The ultimate consummation of this work will be the New Jerusalem, which is the processed Triune God mingled with the transformed tripartite man. This is Numbers chapter one
7我们面前有了这样一幅图画,现在就可以来看神的子民如何被编组成为军队。
7Having such a picture before us, let us now begin to consider how God’sp eople are formed into an army
8
8I. THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BEING FORMED INTO A BODY
壹以色列人被编组成为一体,为神争战并事奉神,以完成神的定旨
TO FIGHT FOR GOD AND SERVE GOD for the carrying out of God’s purpose
9以色列人被编组成为一体,作战士为神争战,并作祭司事奉神,以完成神的定旨。神的定旨是要得著新耶路撒冷,将祂自己与祂所救赎的人调和。以色列人编组成为一体,为神争战并事奉神,这豫表新约的信徒被建造成为基督生机的身体,为神争战,好在事奉神的事上执行神永远的经纶。贰以色列人被编组成为军队,
9The children of Israel were formed into a body to fight for God as warriors and serve God as priests for the carrying out of God’s purpose. God’s purpose is to have the New Jerusalem, to mingle Himself with His redeemed people. The formation of the children of Israel into a body to fight for God and to serve God typifies the New Testament believers being built up into the organic Body of Christ to fight for God for the carrying out, in its service to God, of God’s eternal economy. II. THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL BEING FORMED INTO AN ARMY
能为著护卫神的见证
ABLE TO FIGHT FOR THE PROTECTION
(帐幕里的约柜)而争战
OF GOD’S TESTIMONY (THE ARK IN THE TABERNACLE
10以色列人被编组成为军队,能为著护卫神的见证(帐幕里的约柜)而争战。就实际来说,这是指明今天的召会为著护卫成为肉体的神而争战。神在祂自己里面不需要护卫,但神在祂的具体化身里需要藉著召会的争战而得著护卫。
10The children of Israel were formed into an army able to fight for the protection of God’s testimony (the ark in the tabernacle). This indicates that, in a very real sense, the church today is fighting for the protection of the incarnated God. God in Himself needs no protection, but God in His embodiment needs to be protected by the fighting of the church
一 民数记著重神的见证
A. The Book of Numbers Stressing the Testimony of God
11民数记著重神的见证,过于利未记。民数记比利未记更多使用见证一辞。
11The book of Numbers stresses the testimony of God more than the book of Leviticus does. The word testimony is used more frequently in Numbers than in Leviticus
二 是编组成之会众的事,不是个人的事
B. A Matter of a Formed Assembly, Not of Individuals
12神的军队护卫神的见证,乃是编组成之会众的事,不是个人的事。今天有些基督徒强调个人属灵。但在神看来,个人、个别的属灵算不得甚么。神渴望那编组且配搭而成之基督的身体。
12The army of God protecting God’s testimony is a matter of a formed assembly, not of individuals. Today some Christians emphasize individual spirituality. But in the sight of God, individual, separate spirituality means nothing. God desires the formed, coordinated Body of Christ
参 藉著被数点
III. BY BEING NUMBERED
13以色列人按他们的家族和首领,(民一1~16,)并照他们的年龄被数点,(民一20~46,)藉此被编组成为争战的军队。
13The children of Israel were formed into a fighting army by being numbered by their families and leaders (vv. 1-16) and according to their age (vv. 20-46
一 按他们的家族和首领
A. By the Families and Their Leaders
14以色列人按他们的家族和首领被数点,意思就是按他们生命的源头,并且在他们的领导(权柄)之下被数点。家族指生命的源头。在我们属灵的历史中,应当有生命的源头。甚至今天在召会生活中,我们也必须有家族。谁把你带到基督面前?谁在基督里生了你?换句话说,谁是你属灵的父亲?在这件事上,圣经是平衡的。当然,神是我们神圣的父亲。然而,保罗告诉哥林多的信徒,他们『在基督里,纵有上万的导师,父亲却不多,』因为是他在基督耶稣里藉著福音生了他们,(林前四15,)将神圣的生命分赐到他们里面,使他们成为神的儿女和基督的肢体。因此,那些信徒是属于保罗的『家族。』他们是从他们这属灵的父亲,他们的源头听见福音、悔改并相信的。我们在基督里的信徒有三类的父亲:肉身的父亲、属灵的父亲、和神圣的父亲。今天的数点在于生命的源头。
14The children of Israel were numbered by the families and their leaders, that is, by the source of life and under its leadership (authority). The families refer to the source of life. In our spiritual history, there should be a source of life. Even in the church life today, we must have a family. Who brought you to Christ? Who begot you in Christ? In other words, who is your spiritual father? In this matter, the Bible is balanced. Of course, God is our divine Father. Nevertheless, Paul told the Corinthian believers that they might have had ‘‘ten thousand guides in Christ, yet not many fathers,’’ for in Christ Jesus he had begotten them through the gospel (1 Cor. 4:15), imparting the divine life into them so that they became children of God and members of Christ. Thus, those believers belonged to Paul’s ‘‘family.’’ They did not hear the gospel, repent, and believe apart from him as their spiritual father, their source. As believers in Christ, we all have three kinds of fathers: a fleshly father, a spiritual father, and the divine Father. Today’s numbering depends on the source of life.
15民数记一章的首领是指在基督的身体里,在基督的权柄下的领导。我们肉身的身体里如何有次序,召会的众肢体之间也必须有良好的次序。召会生活中必须有某种的领导。没有领导,就不能维持正常的情况。(有些人宣称在召会中不该有领导,他们至终自居领导,反而成为最强的领导人。)要召会被编组成为争战的军队,我们需要生命的源头和生命中的领导。
15The leaders in Numbers 1 refer to the leadership under the authority of Christ in His Body. Just as there is order in our physical body, there must be a good order among the members in the church life. There must be some kind of leadership. Without leadership, it is impossible to maintain a proper situation. (Those who claim that there should be no leadership in the church eventually assume the leadership and become the strongest leaders.) For the church to be formed into a fighting army, we need the source of life and also the leadership in life
二 照年龄
B. According to Age
16数点也是照年龄,照生命上的成熟。除了生命的源头和生命中的领导以外,还需要生命上的成熟。这三件事必须联在一起,成为一根坚强的绳索。今天,有些人只关心属灵,只关心成熟;然而,我们不仅该关心生命的成熟,也该关心生命的源头和生命的权柄。
16The numbering is also according to age, according to maturity in life. Besides the source of life and the leadership in life, there is the need of the maturity in life. These three things must be bound together as a strong cord. Today, some care only for spirituality, only for maturity; however, we should care not only for the maturity of life but also for the source of life and the authority of life
1 从二十岁以上
1. From Twenty Years Old and Above
17数点的对象是所有二十岁以上的男丁。(民一2~3。)这些乃是能出去打仗的人。
17The numbering was of all the males from twenty years old and above (vv. 2-3). This refers to those who were able to go forth to war
2 不包括所有的女子和二十岁以下的男子
2. Excluding All Females and the Males under Twenty Years Old
18这数点不包括所有的女子和二十岁以下的男子。女子表征在属灵上较软弱的人,二十岁以下的男子表征在属灵上未成熟的人。今天在召会生活中的姊妹,不该因此觉得被排除,因为就属灵说,她们也许是男子,是较刚强的人。在这里算得数的不是我们天然的身分,乃是我们这人属灵的性质。那些较软弱的人和未成熟的人没有资格出去打仗。3头生的从出生就被数点,
18This numbering excluded all females and the males under twenty years old. The females signify those who are spiritually weaker, and the males under twenty signify those who are spiritually immature. The sisters in the church life today should not feel excluded by this, because spiritually speaking they may be men, the stronger ones. What counts here is not our natural status but the spiritual nature of our being. Those who are weaker and those who are immature are not qualified to go forth to war. 3. The Firstborn Being Numbered from Birth
利未男子从一个月以上被数点
and the Males of the Levites Being Numbered from One Month Old
19以色列人一切头生属于神的,从出生就被数点。(民三13。)此外,每个利未男子服事帐幕的,从一个月以上被数点。(民三15。)
19All the firstborn of Israel, who belonged to God, were numbered from birth (3:13). Furthermore, every male of the Levites, who served the tabernacle, was numbered from one month old and above (3:15
4 为著许愿的年龄和为著争战的年龄
4. The Age for a Vow and the Age for Fighting
20为著向神许愿,最有价值的以色列男子必须在二十岁到六十岁之间。(利二七3。)但是为著争战,以色列男子必须在二十岁以上,没有限制到几岁为止。迦勒甚至到了八十五岁还是战士,能为著以色列民争战。(书十四10~11。)
20For a vow to God, an Israelite male of the highest valuation was required to be between twenty years old and sixty years old (Lev. 27:3). But for fighting, an Israelite male was required to be twenty years old or above, without limit. Even at the age of eighty-five, Caleb was still a warrior, able to fight for the nation of Israel (Josh. 14:10-11
三 受权柄的认定
C. Recognized by the Authorities
21以色列人被数点,受三面权柄的认定:第一,受摩西的认定,表征基督是头,运用祂的权柄;第二,受亚伦的认定,表征基督是大祭司,执行祂的祭司职任;第三,受十二支派首领的认定,表征召会的长老在神子民中间施行领导。倘若我们说召会中没有领导,我们就废弃、搁置了长老;长老在召会生活中是实际且真正的领导。召会若没有领导,就是没有行政,这会使召会成为无政府状态。
21The numbering of Israel was recognized by the authorities in three aspects: first, by Moses, signifying Christ as the Head exercising His authority; second, by Aaron, signifying Christ as the High Priest carrying out His priesthood; and third, by the leaders of the twelve tribes, signifying the elders of the churches taking the lead among God’sp eople. If we say that there is no leadership in the church, we annul, put aside, the elders, who are the real and actual leadership in the church life. The church would then become an anarchy; it would be lawless, altogether without government
四 利未人没有被数点在军队中
D. The Levites Not Numbered among the Army
22利未人没有被数点在军队中。(民一47~54,二33。)他们被指派服事见证的帐幕,并在帐幕四围安营,使帐幕不被以色列人摸著。
22The Levites were not numbered among the army (Num. 1:47-54; 2:33). They were appointed to minister to the tabernacle of the testimony and encamp around it to keep it from being touched by the children of Israel.
五 争战的以色列人护卫服事的利未人
E. The Fighting Israelites Protecting the Serving Levites
23争战的以色列人对服事的利未人是外在的护卫,而利未人是为著神的见证。利未人在帐幕四围安营,十二支派则围绕他们,护卫他们。
23The fighting Israelites were the outward protection for the serving Levites, who were for the testimony of God. The Levites were encamped around the tabernacle, and they were surrounded by the twelve tribes, who protected them.
六 被编组的以色列人是召会的豫表
F. The Formed Israelites Being a Type of the Church
24被编组的以色列人是召会的豫表。以弗所书是论到召会的书,启示召会是团体的战士,为著神的见证争战。(弗六10~20。)召会也是由利未人这些事奉神的人所组成。为著争战,我们是团体的战士;为著事奉,我们是利未人,甚至是祭司。
24The formed Israelites were a type of the church. Ephesians, a book on the church, reveals that the church is a corporate warrior fighting the battle for God’s testimony (Eph. 6:10-20). The church is also composed of God’s serving ones as the Levites. For fighting, we are a corporate warrior, and for serving we are the Levites, even the priests