The tabernacle was not a gathering place for worship but a place for sacrifice and holy service.
帐幕不是敬拜的聚集地；它是献祭和神圣事工的场所。
Sacrifice 献祭.
The first thing one saw was the brazen altar, for no one can come into the presence of God until sin has been dealt with (Lev. 17:11).
人首先能看到的就是铜坛，因为一个尚未赎罪的人，是不可以来到神面前的（利17:11）。
Separation 分别.
The tent was surrounded by a fence of linen hangings, for only the priests and Levites could enter the sacred courts. The common people were kept out of the courts and the priests out of the Holy of Holies. God wanted all His people to be priests (Exod. 19:5–6), but that would not happen until the finished work of Christ on the cross (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). We today have open access to the presence of God through Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:19–25).
帐幕被细麻所做的帷子包围，因为只有祭司和利未人才可以进入神圣的院子。百姓不得踏进院子，而祭司也不得进入至圣所。神希望祂所有的子民都成为祭司（出19:5-6），但这需要等到基督在十字架上完成祂的工作后才得实践（彼前2:5,9）。如今，我们借着耶稣基督可以直接来到神面前了（来10:19-25）。
Shining 发光.
The lampstand stood in the holy place and helped the priests to see as they served. It did not illumine the camp; the glory of God did that (Exod. 40:38). God’s people (Phil. 2:15) and His churches (Rev. 1:12, 20) are lights in this dark world. Be sure you keep your lamp trimmed and your light shining (Matt. 5:16).
圣所里的灯台助祭司们看见自己在做什么，但照亮整个帐营的是神的荣耀，并不是灯台（出40:38）。在这个黑暗的世界里，神的子民（腓2:15）和祂的教会（启1:12,20）就是光。你要留心让自己的灯台和光一直照在人前（太5:16）。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- In the court before the tabernacle was an altar, to which they must bring their sacrifices, and on which their priests must offer them to God. It was of wood overlaid with brass. A grate of brass was let into the hollow of the altar, about the middle of which the fire was kept, and the sacrifice burnt. It was made of net – working like a sieve, and hung hollow, so that the ashes might fall through. This brazen altar was a type of Christ dying to make atonement for our sins. The wood had been consumed by the fire from heaven, if it had not been secured by the brass: nor could the human nature of Christ have borne the wrath of God if it had not been supported by Divine power. Do we confess our sins daily as the Lord has taught us (Matt 6:12)?
帐幕前的院子里有个祭坛；百姓必须把祭物带到祭坛上，而祭司也必须在祭坛上将祭物献于神。祭坛是皂荚木以铜包裹所制造的。铜网下达到空坛的半腰是献祭的地方，而底下的盆就是火的所在。这片铜网就像筛子一样，悬在中央，而坛上的灰就会掉入底下的盆。铜祭坛代表着基督为我们赎罪而舍命。皂荚木若没有铜的庇护，它早已被从天降下的火给烧尽了。同样的，如果没有神圣全能的守护，基督的人性绝对无法承受神的忿怒。我们是否按主所教导，每日承认自己的罪呢？（太6:12）
- The pure oil (v.21) signified the gifts and graces of the Spirit which all believers receive from Christ, the good Olive, without which our light cannot shine before men. The priests were to light the lamps, and tend them. It is the work of ministers, by preaching and expounding the Scriptures, which are as a lamp, to enlighten the church, God’s tabernacle upon earth. Blessed be God, this light is no longer confined to the Jewish tabernacle, but it’s a light to lighten the gentiles and for salvation unto the ends of the earth. Let’s continue to pray for our pulpit that the Lord will bless the preaching of His word and draw people to worship Him in truth and in spirit.
清橄榄油（第21节）象征所有信徒从基督（好橄榄）所得的恩赐和恩典；若不是，我们就无法照在人前了。祭司负责点灯并看管它们。这就是牧者的事工，而他们需要借着宣讲和解释圣经，将这灯台点起，教导教会；教会就是神至今的帐幕。神是应当被称颂的，因为这灯再也不仅限于犹太人的帐幕，也照耀世界各地的外邦人，成全救恩。让我们继续为我们的讲台祷告，求主祝福祂的话语并带领人以心灵和诚实敬拜祂。
