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民数记生命读经 · 第5篇

成军（四）

Being Formed into an Army (4)
1读经：民数记四章。在本篇信息中，我们要来看祭司与利未人在帐幕出发时的职责。
1Scripture Reading: Num. 4 In this message we will consider the duties of the priests and the Levites in the tabernacle’s setting out
六 帐幕出发时的职责
F. The Duties in the Tabernacle’s Setting Out
2祭司与利未人在帐幕出发时有某些职责。出发就是往前行。因此，在圣别的事奉中所说到的，不是为著不活动的基督，乃是为著一位非常活跃的基督。在祂的活动中，我们必须与祂配合。
2The priests and the Levites had certain duties in the tabernacle’s setting out. To set out is to go forward. Thus, what is covered in the holy service is not for a Christ who is inactive but for a Christ who is very active. In His activity we must match Him
3在旧约里，神能不藉著人而自己行动。例如，神在创造诸天与地时，不需要人与祂配合。但新约开始于神圣的成为肉体。这为神新约的经纶设立了原则，就是神需要人与祂配合。没有人，神就不能作甚么。在旧约里，神没有人也能作许多事。在新约里，神赐下祂自己，与人绑在一起。这种神与人绑在一起，可由二人三脚赛跑中的跑者所例证，他们这样绑在一起，每对跑者都有三只脚。在新约里，神必须有人与祂配合，与祂是一，与祂配搭。这是神新约经纶的基本原则。在神新约的经纶里，神没有人就不作甚么。人必须与神是一，与神配合，并与神绑在一起。『但与主联合的，便是与主成为一灵。』（林前六17。）这含示在新约里，神的经纶已将人与神绑在一起。神甘愿受人的束缚，祂没有人就无法行动。如今神不仅与人一同行动，也在人里面行动。因此神从未直接向人传福音，祂乃是藉著人传福音。今天基督正在全地行动。『圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得著能力，并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地、撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证人。』（徒一。）作基督的见证人就是成为祂的见证，成为祂的见证就是成为祂的绘像。倘若我们是基督的见证，是祂的绘像，就无论我们去那里，人都会看见祂。我们为基督作见证，意义就是成为祂的绘像。因此，所有的传福音者实际上都是基督的见证人和绘像。
3In the Old Testament, God could move by Himself, without man. For instance, when God created the heavens and the earth, there was no need of man to match Him. But the New Testament begins with the divine incarnation. This set up the principle for God’s New Testament economy, which is that God needs man to match Him. Without man, God can do nothing. In the Old Testament, God could do many things without man. In the New Testament, God has given Himself to be bound together with man. This binding together of God with man can be illustrated by the runners in a three-legged race, who are bound together in such a way that each pair of runners has three legs. In the New Testament, God must have man to match Him, to be one with Him, to coordinate with Him. This is the basic principle of God’s New Testament economy. In His New Testament economy, God does nothing without man. Man must be one with God, match God, and be bound together with God. ‘‘He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit’’ (1 Cor. 6:17). This implies that in the New Testament God’secon o my has bound man together with God. God is willing to be bound to man, for He cannot move without man. Now God moves not only with man but also within man. This is why God never preaches the gospel directly to anyone; instead, He preaches the gospel through man. Christ is moving today throughout the earth. ‘‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the remotest part of the earth’’ (Acts 1:8). To be8 Christ’s witnesses is to be His testimony, and to be His testimony is to be His portrait. If we are Christ’s testimony, His portrait, people will see Him wherever we go. We witness for Christ in the sense of being His portraits. Hence, all gospel preachers are actually witnesses, portraits, of Christ.
4今天主的行动是连在我们身上。就祂的行动说，我们也许是『骡车，』或是『七四七。』我这样说的意思是，我们若是慢的，主连在我们身上的行动就是慢的。我们若是快的，
4The Lord’s move today is with us. Regarding His move, we may be either a ‘‘mule wagon’’ or a ‘‘747.’’ By this I mean that if we are slow, the Lord’s move with us will be slow. If we are fast, the Lord’s move with us will be fast
5主连在我们身上的行动就是快的。
5
6我们需要看见今天主是如何行动。祂是在我们里面行动。我们是今日的革顺人、哥辖人、和米拉利子孙。我们要看见基督如何在地上行动，就应当看帐幕的行动。帐幕是在利未三个儿子之后裔的肩头上行动。这行动是按著非常美好的次序，一点没有混乱。惟有亚伦和他儿子能观看圣物，接触圣物。利未人只在圣物收拾并遮盖好以后，才能观看、接触。平常人根本没有权利接触圣物。由前文我们就领悟，并非每个人都能把主的恢复从一个国家带到另一个国家。因著主的怜悯，我能见证当我来到美国时，我带来了约柜同圣所一切的器具。我也带来会幕，就是基督的扩大，召会。藉著我们背负约柜、圣所的器具和会幕，主就行动了。
6We need to see how the Lord moves today. He moves within us. We are today’s Gershonites, Kohathites, and sons of Merari. In order to see how Christ moves on earth, we should look at the move of the tabernacle. The tabernacle moved on the shoulders of the descendants of the three sons of Levi. This moving was in a very good sequence, with no confusion. Only Aaron and his sons could look at the holy things and touch them. The Levites could look at them and touch them only after they had been packed and covered. The layman had no right at all to touch the holy things. From the foregoing we can realize that not everyone is able to bring the Lord’s recovery from one country to another. By the Lord’s mercy, I can testify that when I came to the United States, I brought the ark with all the furnishings of the sanctuary. I also brought the tent of meeting, which is the enlargement of Christ, the church. The Lord moves through our bearing the ark, the furnishings of the sanctuary, and the tent of meeting
7为神的扩大作神具体化身的基督，乃是藉著那些爱祂的人而行动。我们若不行动，祂就无法行动。这叫祂在我们里面受到束缚甚至监禁。我们若不行动，我们对主就成了监牢。
7Christ, the embodiment of God for His expansion, moves through those who love Him. If we do not move, He cannot move. Rather, He is bound and even imprisoned within us. If we do not move, we become a prison to the Lord
１ 祭司
1. The Priests
8帐幕出发时的职责是祭司和利未人的事。在旧约里，祭司与利未人是有区别的。然而，在新约里只有一班人，就是祭司，包括利未人。因此，利未人在旧约里所作的，我们新约的祭司也该作。
8The duties in the tabernacle’s setting out involve both the priests and the Levites. In the Old Testament there is a distinction between the priests and the Levites. However, in the New Testament there is only one class, that of the priests, which includes the Levites. Hence, what the Levites did in the Old Testament, we, the New Testament priests, should also do
ａ收拾圣所的器具
a. Packing the Furnishings of the Sanctuary
9祭司有收拾那神圣人位之物的特权。收拾一个人的所有物，乃是与那个人亲近之人的特殊权利。收拾别人所有物的人，就看见那人一切的奥秘和秘密。
9The priests had the privilege of packing the things of the divine Person. To pack a person’s belongings is a special privilege, given only to those who are close to that person. He who packs another’s belongings sees all of that person’s mysteries and secrets.
10祭司收拾圣所的器具，包括见证柜、陈设饼桌子、灯台、金香坛、和祭坛。（民四5～14。）头一项要收拾的圣所器具是见证柜。祭司要用帘幔、海狗皮和蓝色布遮盖见证柜。（民四5～6。）今天我们有收拾基督之事物的特权。首先，我们收拾作见证柜的基督，连同这点所包含的一切。然后我们收拾陈设饼桌子。这就是将基督作食物，作饼给事奉神的人。主耶稣说，『我就是生命的粮。…那吃我的人，也要因我活著。』（约六48，57下。）我们也收拾灯台。陈设饼桌子是为著生命，灯台是为著光。此外，我们还收拾为著神的悦纳的金香坛，以及为著神的救赎的铜祭坛。
10The priests packed the furnishings of the sanctuary, including the ark, the showbread table, the lampstand, the golden altar, and the altar (vv. 5-14). The first item of the furnishings of the sanctuary to be packed was the ark. The priests covered the ark with the veil of the screen, a covering of porpoise skin, and a cloth of blue (vv. 5-6). We today have the privilege of packing the things of Christ. First, we pack Christ as the ark, with all that this comprises. Then we pack the showbread table. This is to minister Christ as food, as bread, to God’s serving ones. The Lord Jesus said, ‘‘I am the bread of life. He who eats Me shall also live because of Me’’ (John 6:48, 57b). We also pack the lampstand. The showbread table is for life, and the lampstand is for light. Furthermore, we pack the golden altar, which is for God’s acceptance, and the bronze altar, which is for God’s redemption
ｂ指派利未人所当服事的
b. Appointing the Levites to Do Their Service
11祭司要指派利未人所当服事的。（民四19，27～28，33。）利未人的事奉不是照著自己的作法，乃是在受膏祭司的指引之下。这指明我们事奉神的新约祭司，不该照著自己的观念行动，乃该在受膏眼光的指引之下，就是在那膏我们之灵的指引之下。
11The priests appointed the Levites to do their service (Num. 4:19, 27-28, 33). The Levites doing their service were not according to their way but under the direction of the anointed priests. This indicates that we, the New Testament priests serving God, should not act according to our own idea but under the direction of the anointed view, that is, under the direction of the very Spirit who anoints us
ｃ祭司亚伦的儿子以利亚撒的职责
c. The Charge of Eleazar the Son of Aaron the Priest
12『祭司亚伦的儿子以利亚撒的职责，是照管点灯的油、馨香的香料、常献的素祭、和膏油，以及看守整个帐幕与其中所有的，并圣所和圣所的器具。』（民四16。）这一切项目都表征丰富基督的不同方面。在以弗所三章八节保罗说，『这恩典赐给了我这比众圣徒中最小者还小的，叫我将基督那追测不尽的丰富，当作福音传给外邦人。』单单凭著新约，我们很难看见基督追测不尽或无法追踪的丰富。我们也需要旧约里的豫表、图画。藉著民数记四章所题的一切项目，我们能看见基督的丰富是无法追踪的。
12The charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, even the charge of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, of the sanctuary and its vessels’’ (v. 16). All these items signify the different aspects of the rich Christ. In Ephesians 3:8 Paul says, ‘‘To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel.’’ By the New Testament alone it is difficult for us to see Christ’sun searchable, or untraceable, riches. We also need the types, the pictures, in the Old Testament. Through all the items mentioned in Numbers 4 we can see that Christ’s riches are untraceable
13甚至膏油也是基督。虽然膏油表征圣灵，但圣灵是完成过程的三一神。约翰七章三十九节下半说，『那时还没有那灵，因为耶稣尚未得著荣耀。』基督得著荣耀（复活）以后，那灵就成为包罗万有、复合、赐生命、内住的灵，也就是完成过程的三一神。从前三一神是『生的，』还没有经过过程；但是在经过成为肉体、为人生活、钉十字架和复活的过程以后，祂就完全完成为包罗万有、复合的灵。今天主就是那灵。（林后三17，林前十五45下。）就这面的意义说，膏油就是基督。
13Even the anointing oil is Christ. Although the anointing oil signifies the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is the consummated Triune God. John 7:39b says, ‘‘The Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified.’’ After Christ was glorified (resurrected), the Spirit became the all - inclusive, compound, life-giving, indwelling Spirit, who is the consummated Triune God. The Triune God was ‘‘raw,’’ unprocessed, but after passing through the process of incarnation, human living, crucifixion, and resurrection, He was fully consummated to be the all-inclusive, compound Spirit. Today the Lord is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Cor. 15:45b). In this sense, the anointing oil is Christ.
２ 利未人
2. The Levites
ａ年龄的条件—从三十岁以上直到五十岁
a. The Age Requirement— from Thirty Years Old up to Fifty Years Old
14当我们来看利未人的事奉时，我们看见利未人有年龄的条件。人作利未人事奉，必须在三十岁到五十岁之间。（民四3，23，30，35，43，47。）这是人生的『黄金年日。』甚至主耶稣在三十以前，也没有达到事奉神的足龄。（路三23。）祂一直等到三十岁才开始作工。在民数记，我们能看见一些关于年龄条件的比较。人要被数算在对神的事奉中，必须在一个月以上—那段年龄的人需要长大并成熟。（民三39，43。）人要被数算在为著神见证的争战中，必须在二十岁以上—那段年龄的人成熟且刚强，并没有上限。（民一20。）例如，迦勒甚至在八十五岁还能争战。（书十四10～11。）人要被数算在亲近神的事奉中，必须在三十岁以上，直到五十岁—那段年龄的人是更成熟、更刚强、没有衰败的。
14As we come to the service of the Levites, we see that with the Levites there was an age requirement. To serve as a Levite, one had to be between thirty and fifty years old (Num. 4:3, 23, 30, 35, 43, 47). These are the ‘‘golden years’’ of human life. Even the Lord Jesus did not reach the full age for God’s service until He had reached the age of thirty (Luke 3:23). He did not begin His work until He was thirty. In Numbers we can see some comparisons regarding age requirements. To be counted in the service to God, one had to be one month old and above—those at that age needed to grow and mature (3:39, 43). To be counted in the warfare for God’s testimony, one had to be twenty years old or above—those at that age were mature and strong, without limit (1:20). Caleb, for example, was able to fight even at the age of eighty-five (Josh. 14:10-11). To be counted in the service that was close to God, one had to be from thirty years old up to fifty years old—those at that age were more mature and were stronger, without deterioration
ｂ哥辖人
b. The Kohathites
15祭司照管主要的东西，最重要的东西，哥辖人照管次要的东西。照管圣所的器具就是照管主要的东西。祭司照管见证柜。这是直接照管基督并服事基督。哥辖人抬圣所的器具。（民四2～4，15，17～20，～37。）今天我们这样作，就是对人说到作基督扩大的召会。哥辖人不可碰著圣物，（民四15，）或进去观看圣物。（民四20。）在任一事例中，刑罚都是处死。
15The priests took care of the primary things, the most important things, and the Kohathites took care of some of the secondary things. To take care of the furnishings of the sanctuary is to take care of the primary things. The priests took care of the ark. This is to take care of Christ directly and to minister Christ. The Kohathites carried the furnishings of the sanctuary (Num. 4:2-34 4, 15, 17-20, 34-37). To do this today is to speak concerning the church as the expansion of Christ. The Kohathites were not to touch the holy things (v. 15) or to go in to look at them (v. 20). In either case, the penalty was death.
16『亚伦和他儿子要进去，派他们各人所当服事的，所当抬的。』（民四19下。）这里我们看见，哥辖人的事奉是在亚伦和他儿子的指派之下。这指明在旧约里有两班人—祭司与利未人。但在新约里这两班人乃是一。我们今天是祭司，也是利未人。当我们这些祭司作利未人的工作时，我们必须在祭司眼光的监督之下。例如，在会所里排椅子不是属灵的工作，乃是利未人的事奉。但这利未人的事奉应当在祭司体系内里、属灵的眼光之下完成。倘若事奉的人这样排椅子，他们就会为著召会，为著要坐在椅子上的人祷告。为著传福音的目的登门访人，原则也是一样。叩门这项利未人的事奉，应当在祭司眼光的监督之下来完成。这样带著福音探访人的人，会有许多的祷告。他们也许祷告：『主，当我叩这人的门时，我求你叩他的心。』今天我们不该将利未人的事奉与祭司的眼光分开。任何一种外面的活动，都必须在祭司体系内里、属灵眼光的监督之下来完成。
16Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his service and to his burden’’ (v. 19b). Here we see that the service of the Kohathites was under the assigning of Aaron and his sons. This indicates that in the Old Testament there are two classes—the priests and the Levites. But in the New Testament these two classes are one. We today are both priests and Levites. When we as priests do the Levitical work, we must be under the supervision of our priestly view. For example, arranging chairs in the meeting hall is not a spiritual work but a Levitical service. But this Levitical service should be carried out under the inward, spiritual view of the priesthood. If the arranging of chairs is done in this way, the serving ones will pray for the church and for those who will sit on the chairs. The principle is the same with knocking on people’s doors for the purpose of preaching the gospel. The Levitical service of door-knocking should be carried out under the supervision of the priestly view. Then those who visit people with the gospel in this way will have much prayer. They may pray, ‘‘Lord, while I am knocking on this person’s door, I ask You to knock on his heart.’’ Today we should not separate the Levitical service from the priestly view. Any kind of outward activity must be carried out under the supervision of the inward, spiritual view of the priesthood
ｃ革顺人
c. The Gershonites
17革顺人（民四22～28，38～41）要抬帐幕的幔子、会幕与会幕的盖、海狗皮作的盖、会幕的门帘、院子的帷子、院子的门帘、绳子、并一切所用的器具。他们凭亚伦和他儿子的吩咐，在祭司亚伦的儿子以他玛手下作这事。（民四27～28。）
17The Gershonites (vv. 22-28, 38-41) were to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, the covering of porpoise skin, the screen of the entrance to the tent of meeting, the hangings of the court, the screen of the entrance to the gate of the court, their cords, and all the equipment for their service. They did this at the command of Aaron and his sons, and under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest (vv. 27-28
18我们再次看见，利未人的事奉是在祭司的监督之下执行的。这进一步指明，我们需要学习在祭司体系内里的眼光下作外面的事。例如，在召会执事室里的工作该与银行里的作法大不相同，银行没有祭司的监督。在召会执事室里一切的事奉，都该在祭司属天的眼光和监督下来作。我们在召会的执事室里无论作甚么，都该是属灵的活动，叫我们将生命服事给别人。当我们顾到事务时，我们该将生命服事给别人。我们若这样作，我们的利未人事奉就是在祭司体系的眼光与监督之下。
18Once again we see that the Levitical service was carried out under the supervision of the priests. This is a further indication that we need to learn to do outward things under the inward view of the priesthood. For instance, the way work is done in the church business office should be very different from the way in a bank, where there is no priestly supervision. All the service in the church business office should be done under the heavenly view and supervision of the priests. Then whatever we do in the church business office will become a spiritual activity and will minister life to others. While we are caring for business matters, we should minister life to others. If we do this, our Levitical service is under the view and supervision of the priesthood
ｄ米拉利子孙
d. The Sons of Merari
19米拉利子孙（民四29～33，42～45）要抬帐幕的板、闩、柱子、带卯的座，以及院子四围的柱子、带卯的座、橛子、绳子和一切器具。他们要在祭司亚伦的儿子以他玛手下作这事。
19The sons of Merari (vv. 29-33, 42-45) were to carry the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, and sockets, the pillars of the court round about, their sockets, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment. This was to be done under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest
20圣经里无论记载甚么，都是为著我们的益处，值得我们的研读。因此，我们需要研读与帐幕有关的一切项目，如柱子、带卯的座、橛子和绳子。这一切的项目都豫表基督。基督是我们的橛子，我们的绳子。藉著认识这一切与帐幕有关的项目，我们就会认识基督。
20Whatever is written in the Bible is for our good and is worth studying. Therefore, we need to study all the items related to the tabernacle, such as the pillars, sockets, pegs, and cords. All these items typify Christ. Christ is our peg and our cord. By knowing all these items related to the tabernacle, we know Christ