Exodus 出埃及记 28 — The Priesthood 祭司的职分

The priesthood was both a privilege and a responsibility. It was wonderful to wear the glorious garments and be in the holy courts, but being a priest also brought serious obligations.

祭司这职分是个特权,亦是责任。能在圣所中穿戴华丽圣袍的确是非常美妙,但他也同时背负重大的职责。

 

They Ministered First to the Lord 他们首先事奉主.

Four times in this chapter, God emphasized “to serve me as priests” (vv. 1, 3, 4, 41). God’s servants must seek to please Him alone (1 Cor. 4:1–7). We must be “bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5).

神在本章中四次强调“给我供祭司的职分”(第1,3,4,41节)。神的仆人必须单讨祂的喜悦(林前4:1-7)。我们因着耶稣的缘故必须成为主的仆人(林后4:5)。

 

They Ministered to the People 他们事奉百姓.

God’s people are like jewels to Him (Mal. 3:17). Our great High Priest carries us over His heart and on His shoulders. He represents us before the throne of God so that we are “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6).

神视自己的子民如宝石一样(玛3:17)。我们伟大的大祭司将我们扛在祂的肩上,也放在祂的心里。祂在神的宝座前代表我们,使我们能“藉这爱子得蒙救赎”(弗1:6)。

 

They Ministered Together 他们一同事奉.

God supplied their needs as they served the people. There was no competition or confusion in the holy tabernacle because they served the same Lord and obeyed the same Word. God has a ministry for each of us, and He will equip us to do it.

在事工上,神提供了他们所需的一切。神圣的帐幕里没有竞争或混乱,因为他们服事同一位主,遵从同一个命令。神已为我们各人预备自己的事工,并将装备我们按部去行。

 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. The holy garments not only distinguished the priests from the people but were emblems of that holy conduct which should ever be the glory and beauty, the mark of the ministers, without which their persons and ministrations will be had in contempt. They also typified the glory of the Divine majesty and the beauty of complete holiness, which rendered Jesus Christ the great High Priest. But our adorning under the gospel is not to be of gold and costly array but the garments of salvation, the robe of righteousness. Today all believers are priests. Peter said, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. (1Pe 2:9) Let’s pray that we will glorify the Lord with our heart attitudes and righteous conducts.

圣衣不仅将祭司从百姓中分别出来,它也象征了圣洁行为,永远美丽、灿烂。这也当是牧者的标志,否则他们的人格和事工将遭人鄙视。圣衣亦代表了那位神圣尊荣之王的荣耀与全备圣洁的荣美,叫耶稣基督能作我们伟大的大祭司。但是,我们今日所披上的福音不当是黄金和昂贵的装饰,乃是以救恩为衣,以公义为袍的。如今,所有信徒皆是祭司。彼得说:“惟有你们是被拣选的族类,是有君尊的祭司,是圣洁的国度。”(彼前2:9)让我们祈祷,叫我们能以心里的态度和公义的行为荣耀主。

 

  1. The chief ornament of the high priest, was the breastplate, a rich piece of cloth. The name of each tribe was graven in a precious stone, fixed in the breastplate, to signify their preciousness in God’s sight. How honorable were these believers! Regardless of how small and poor the tribe was, it was as a precious stone in the breastplate of the high priest; thus all the saints are dear to Christ. The high priest had the names of the tribes, both on his shoulders and on his breast, which reminds us of the power and the love with which our Lord Jesus pleads for those that are his. He not only bears them up in his arms with almighty strength, but he carries them in his bosom with tender affection. What comfort is this to us in all our addresses to God! Let’s thank God for his love for us.

大祭司主要的装饰是胸牌和一块质地极佳的布。每个支派的名字都刻在宝石上并镶在胸牌上,象征着他们在神里面的珍贵。这些信徒是如此光荣啊!无论该支派有多贫穷或弱小,它都是大祭司胸牌上的一块珍贵宝石;众圣徒皆是基督的挚爱。在大祭司的双肩和胸前,有着十二个支派的名字,这提醒着我们主耶稣为凡属祂的人祈求,使我们得着力量和爱。祂不仅以全能的双臂将我们扛起,祂也以爱怜将我们拥入怀里。这对我们来说是莫大的安慰!让我们感谢神对我们如此的爱。