Leviticus 利未记 24 — In the Presence of the Lord 在耶和华面前

In this chapter, the Lord gave Moses instructions concerning three holy things: the holy oil for the lampstand (Lev. 24:1–4), the holy bread for the table (vv. 5–9), and the holy name of the Lord, which all the people were to honor (vv. 10–23). Three important responsibilities “before the Lord” (vv. 3, 6, 8) are given in this chapter.

在本篇章中,耶和华给予摩西关于三件圣物的指示:点精金灯台的圣油(利24:1-4)、精金桌子的圣饼(5-9节),还有众百姓当尊的圣名(10-23节)。这里也讲述“在耶和华面前”须行的三个重要职责(3,6,8节)。

 

Providing the Oil 奉献圣油 (1–4).

Only God and the priests saw the light, but the lamps had to be kept shining, for there was no other source of light in the Holy of Holies. The purest olive oil had to be used, supplied by the people themselves. Do we today, as God’s people, help the light of the church to keep shining continually (Rev. 1:20)?

只有神和祭司才能看见油灯,但灯仍必须持续点燃,因至圣所里再无其它光源的存在。祭司必须用最纯净的橄榄油点灯,而油必须由百姓奉献。今天,作为神子民的我们是否在帮助教会的灯持续照耀呢(启1:20)?

 

Presenting the Bread 献上圣饼 (5–9).

Twelve loaves were put on the table each Sabbath, and then the old loaves were given to the priests to eat. They were a reminder that God fed the twelve tribes both physically and spiritually, and that they in turn were to feed the world the truth about the Lord.

祭司每逢安息日都要在精金桌子摆上12个饼,而旧饼要给祭司们食用。这是要提醒他们神供应了十二支派的物质和灵性上的需要,而他们也要以主的真相喂养世界。

 

Protecting the Name 守护圣名 (10–23).

The man could not be blamed for his parentage, but he could be blamed for blaspheming. Would someone with Egyptian ancestry glorify Israel’s God? (See Exod. 5:2.) Like Moses, we should wait on God for direction (James 1:5). It was a capital offense, and the man was stoned to death. God emphasized again the basic principle that He stated in Exodus 21: equal justice and not personal vengeance.

那人的罪与身世无关,乃因他亵渎神的名。拥有埃及先祖的人是否能荣耀以色列的神?(见出5:2)如摩西一样,我们应该等候神的指示(各1:5)。亵渎神是死罪,而那人最后被石头砸死了。神再次强调祂在出埃及记21章中所立的基本原则:律法面前人人平等,不得用于个人恩怨。

 

Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告

 

  1. Since there were no windows in the tabernacle, it was necessary to have light in the holy place so the priests could see as they ministered there. Every morning and evening, when the high priest burned incense on the golden altar, he was to care for the lights on the lampstand to make sure they would continue to burn. The commandment in Leviticus 24:1–4 emphasized two essentials: (1) the people of Israel had to provide the olive oil regularly, and (2) it had to be pure beaten olive oil (Ex. 27:20–21). Is your light shining continuously among your family, friends and neighbors?

帐幕里没有窗户,所以必须有光源,叫祭司事奉时得以看见。每日早晨和傍晚,当大祭司在金坛烧香时,他也要经理灯台,确保灯常常点燃。利未记24:1-4中的诫命强调两个要点:(1)以色列人民必须定期献上橄榄油,而(2)橄榄油必须是纯净的(出27:20-21)。你的光是否持续不断地在你的家人、朋友及邻舍中照耀?

 

  1. Not only were the people to bring the pure olive oil for the lamp, but also they were to bring the fine flour out of which twelve loaves of bread were baked each week. These were put on the golden table each Sabbath. What did this symbolize? Only the priests (the tribe of Levi) were allowed in the holy place, but the other tribes were represented there in two ways: by the jewels on the high priest’s garments (Ex. 28:6–21), and by the twelve loaves on the table. The table was called “the table of shewbread” (Num. 4:7), and the loaves were called “shewbread” (Ex. 25:30), which can be translated “bread of presence.” God was present with His people and they were in His presence in the tabernacle.

百姓不仅需要奉献纯橄榄油,也需带上细面制作每个安息日摆列在精金桌子上的12个圣饼。这象征什么?只有祭司(利未支派)才能进入圣所,但其它支派是以两种方式被代表出现在圣所里:大祭司圣衣上的宝石(出28:6-21),及桌子上的12个圣饼。这桌子也被称为“陈设饼的桌子”(民4:7),而饼也称“陈设饼”(出25:30),可译为“存在象征的饼”。神与祂的子民同在,而他们在帐幕里也与神同在。