Exodus 30:1-38

The Priest’s Work

The alter of incense was similar to the altar for burnt offerings, but smaller and more beautiful.  It was overlaid with gold.  It was on the west side of the Holy Place and the priest first passed the altar of burn offering and the basin for washing.  The incense altar stood just before the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.  Incense symbolizes the continual prayer of God’s people.

God calls us to pour our hearts out to Him.  He delights to hear and answer prayer, but we must be those whose sin is covered by Christ’s blood.  God tell us to pray continually in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.  If you are not a fervent prayer, will you ask God to change this and then do what He says?

Next, the basin for washing was used for the priest’s ceremonial cleansing.  It was placed between the altar of burnt offerings and the door to the tabernacle.  Every time the priests entered the Holy Place, they were required to wash their hands and feet.  This was a serious matter:  in the five verses that describe the basin, the priests were warned twice to wash “so that they will not die.”  Why?  The answer is that sin not brings guilt and punishment; sin defiles.

The priests needed to be cleansed from sin’s defilement to serve God; so does every believer today.  All who are in Christ have been delivered from sin’s guilt and penalty by His death,.  However, every day we fail in some way to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.  Apart from God’s grace, we turn away daily from opportunities to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  Daily we can receive this needed cleansing by the Word of God and by the confession of sin.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If you have not asked Jesus to be Lord of your life and your Savior from the eternal consequence of sin, please consider inviting Him into your heart today.  Here is a simple prayer:

‘Dear Jesus, I confess I have sinned against you and gone my own way.  Please come into my life and cleanse me of my unbelief.  I believe in you and in salvation through the blood You shed for me on the Cross.  Please be the Lord of my life.  I turn from sin and trust in You Jesus alone as my Savior.  Thank you for your promise to forgive me.  In Your name I pray, Amen.            —- Mary Mauderer

 

出埃及记 29: 1-46

神为什么要设立祭司制度？

本来神的旨意，是要他的选民成为“祭司的国度”，使全族人可以直接和他交往。但是因为百姓犯罪，所以使这件事不能实现，罪人不配来到完全圣洁的神面前；于是他就从利未支派之中，指派人作祭司，设立献祭制度，使百姓可以亲近他。神应许如果由祭司为百姓献上祭物，他就赦免其罪。当耶稣来到世上的时候，他要叫凡来到他面前的人，都能与神和好。不过在他降世为人以前，人只能靠祭司在神面前作百姓的代表。

本章就解说分派祭司的礼如下：（一）以水浴身–表示除掉污秽；（二）穿戴圣衣–表示外表荣耀；（三）用油膏头–表示感于圣灵；（四）献赎罪祭–表示救赎罪恶；（五）奉献燔祭–表示献己与主；（六）献分派祭–表示承接圣职；（七）主前宴筵–表示与主交通。

神要求他的子民圣洁

祭司、祭司的衣服、会幕以及祭物，都必须洁净而成圣，好符合神的标准。凡是不圣洁就不能见主的面。献祭用的公牛皮、肉、粪担了人的罪，要在营外用火烧去。我们祷告或敬拜，要记住其中意味深长的真理，并要以虔敬悔改的态度，来到他面前

求神掌管我们生命，指引我们前面路

神领以色列人出埃及，显出他渴望与他们同在并保护他们。我们从整本圣经之中看到，神要显明他并非不与我们同住，他要住在我们中间，住在我们心里。我们不要把神关在心门之外，要把他请进我们生命中。顺从他的话语，藉祷告与他交谈，让他成为我们的神，成为住在我们心里的主。            —- Haiyue Nie

出埃及记 28:1-43

28章记载祭司圣衣的设计和装饰。亚伦是大祭司，他的儿子做辅助他的祭司，以后大祭司之位传给亚伦后裔中每一代的长子。

圣衣包括 ：1.內袍，用细麻布织成。2 .外袍，蓝色细麻布制成的无领狍子，底边用蓝紫朱红色丝线绣上石榴，石榴之间有金铃铛。3 . 以弗得 用金线和彩色丝线织成的背心，肩头有刻着以色列十二支派名字的红玛瑙 。4. 胸牌 ，用金链系在以弗得的肩带上，胸牌是一个方形袋子，上面有一个四行金槽，内藏有12块宝石，每块宝石上刻有以色列一个支派的名字，12块共刻了12个支派。5 . 冠冕 ，是用麻布制造的，上面有金牌，金牌上刻有“归耶和华为圣”的字样。

从本章可以看出来，大祭司的圣袍是用最贵重，最美好材料制成，目的是把荣耀归于上帝，我们基督徒也应该把我们最好的献给神；冠冕上的字样也时刻提醒我们，我们的一切言行举止都要荣耀神。        —- Jenny Yang

出埃及記 27:1-21

小的時候讀到這段神給以色列人建造帳幕的規矩和設定節日習俗的經文，總是迅速的閱覽過去，因為覺得內容過於枯燥乏味，也沒有太多感動。但是隨著年紀的增長和從屬靈長輩那學到的教導，使我越來越可以在各處經文中看到神各式各樣的屬性和祂做事的方式。

在這段和前些經文中，我們看到對於神自己的帳幕和裡面的擺設， 都有非常詳細的要求。像是這章特別提到祭壇要用什麼樣的木頭，多長，多寬，上面要什麼東西，要有什麼配件等等的。不是隨意的隨便架個爐，隨便擺擺就可以的。

在這裏，我們可以看到神對祂的教會具體和個人的要求。具體上我們在聚會和服侍上要有著這樣認真且仔細的心態和表現。我們往往在工作上都是講求細節與完美，這樣才能在崗位上步步高升。但世上的工作只是暫時的，我們其實更是應當把這樣的認真的心態放在屬神的事情上，把最好的獻給神，因屬於神的才是真正有著永恆的意義，並且也討祂喜悅並榮耀神。 舉個例子，我們都會因為要在工作上面表現傑出而做到不遲到，不早退。那我們為什麼在週日來朝見我們的父神卻是精神散換，平凡遲到呢？這豈不是看中那屬世的暫時的，反倒是把屬神的永恆的給捨棄了嗎？

在這段經文的最後兩節說到在帳幕裡的油燈要常常點著，亞倫和他的兒子從早到晚到要經理這燈，這要做以色列人世代永遠的定例。這讓我想起 Sanchez 牧師之前分享的經文在申命記六章八節 ：『也要繫在手上為記號，戴在額上為經文』，這邊說到的是神要我們對於神所教訓的誡命、律例、典章要時常思想並遵行。油燈時常點著，聽醒以色列人神與他們同在，也是神拯救了他們。我們也當是時常思想神在我們生命中所做的一切，他如何安慰我們，如何幫助我們，如何搭救我們。同時我們也應該以遵行神所給的律例來愛祂，來回應祂。詩篇一章二節：『唯喜愛耶和華的律法，晝夜思想，這人便為有福！』

 

詩篇18:1-50

感謝主，用這段經文繼續的鼓勵安慰我。在這段經文中，我們看見神的大能和權威，同時又看到這樣一位浩瀚無比的神卻竟是我們的靠山，是我們的磐石，我們還要懼怕什麼呢？我們被罪給困住，被仇敵攻擊的時候，我們就大聲呼喊求我們的主來救我們！弟兄姊妹們，你是否正在苦難裡？你是否受到罪的轄制？你是否感受到無力無助？你是否傷心難過？ 這段經文裡面有著從神來的應許，讓我們謙卑自己，經歷破碎，並大聲求告那萬軍之耶和華，那愛我們的救主必會拯救我們！

『耶和華是我的巖石，我的山寨，我的救主，我的神，我的磐石，我所投靠的。他是我的盾牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高臺。耶和華啊，因此我要在外邦中稱謝你，歌頌你的名。』 詩篇 18:2, 49

阿們！    — Bob Liu

Exodus 25:1-40;  26:1-37

Exodus Chapter 25-26 begins the description for the construction of a sanctuary for God with dwell with the Israelites (25:8).
God did not miraculously hand them all the materials needed to construct the building or drop them a pre-built building like ones you can purchase from Home Depot. Rather, God called for people’s contribution and build the building themselves (25:8).
God intended for the Israelites to be involved in the process. The passage listed all of the things that should be used as contribution to the sanctuary (25:1-7). If you read through the list, you will see these are items that were valuable to the Israelites at that time; they were asked to give their most valuable possessions for a place to connect and worship God.
Notice God did not ask every single person to give, only voluntarily; more specifically, He only asked for those who has the heart to contribute for Him (25:1). The rest of the passage includes the specifications of the Ark of the Covenant (25:10-22), a table for bread (25:23-30), lampstand (25:31-40), and the tabernacle (26). The Ark of the Covenant is specifically where God dwell, and the Ark will eventually reside in Holy of holies in the tabernacle (25:22). The Holy of holies is an inner room separated by a thick veil and considered holy place where the presence of God is.

Critical Thinking Questions

The Israelites were asked to give the best of their possessions to have God’s presence with them as much as their heart desires for God. The priority was not giving as much as they possess, but their heart’s for God first and then the valued possessions. How much desire do you have for God? As someone who has a heart for God, what are some ways you can contribute to Him?

The Ark of the Covenant was the presence of God for the Israelites in a very excluded area separated by a thick veil within the tabernacle. How has the resurrections of Jesus Christ change that for us?          —- Isaac Chang

Exodus 24:1-18

In Exodus 24, we got an idea of the reason Paul said that the advantage in being a Jew – they have been entrusted with the very words of God (Romans 3:1-2).
On Mount Sinai, the words of God were entrusted in the form of covenant with the Israelites.
How marvelous! The cloud, the consuming fire, the glory of the Lord.

What did the people say about the words of God?
The Israelites promised that they would obey (Exodus 24:3b).
Therefore the first covenant was put into effect with blood: “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:8a)

What happened then, to the pride of the Jews, this first covenant?
With the course of the history, we learned that it was broken – there was no fault found in this previous covenant, which is holy; the fault was actually found on the men.
Men’s promise failed, and they did not remain faithful to the covenant, which caused them misery.
That’s why in Jeremiah 31:31-34, through the prophet, the Lord said that the he would establish another one, that the words of God would be entrusted in the minds and hearts of His people, and He would restore and renew.

How was the ‘new covenant’ been delivered and put into effect?
As matter of fact, we were all reminded on the past Sunday in the Communion – “This cup is the new covenant in my blood;” (1 Corinthians 11:25b).
Through the blood of Jesus, our sin is pardoned and we are received in this new covenant and His kingdom.

Lord, thank you for being faithful and merciful even when men was not.
Please help us to remain in you and your words, so that we might find the peace and joy in following you. Amen!            —- Ivy Lin

Exodus 23:1-33

In Exodus 19-40, God gave three types of Laws to Israel at Sinai:
1.  Moral Laws – How to live as individuals
2.  Civil Laws – How to live as a nation
3.  Ceremonial Law – How to live spiritually

In Chapter 23:1-9 are Laws of Justice and Mercy.  Most of these laws concern justice in the courts but a couple addressed merciful treatment of enemies and foreigners.
A question to think about:  How would you like to apply one or more of these laws in your own life?

Verses 10-19 are Sabbath Laws and the three annual Festival instructions.
They included justice for the land, the poor and even animals, as well as responsibility to God.
The land laws were to be applied when the people finally settled in Canaan.  They had no land at this time – only God’s Covenant promise of this land.  God gave these laws because His promises are always fulfilled!
The same applied to the Festival instructions.  They looked ahead to the day when Israel would be in the Promised Land.

Lastly in this chapter, God gives a look ahead in verses 20-33.
He promised to be present with His people when they drove out the enemies in Canaan.
The angel mentioned in this promise may be the pre-incarnate Christ, because only God can forgive sins and this angel is said to have God’s Name in him.

God makes wonderful promises to Christians today as well.
Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20),
I am the bread of life, He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35) and
“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63).
God ALWAYS keeps His promises and as we hold to His promises and obey His commands, He forms us more and more into the character of Christ.  This is the process of Sanctification.

If you have not asked Jesus to be Lord of your life and your Savior from the eternal consequence of sin, please consider inviting Him into your heart today.  Here is a simple prayer:
‘Dear Jesus, I confess I have sinned against you and gone my own way.
Please come into my life and cleanse me of my unbelief.
I believe in you and in salvation through the blood You shed for me on the Cross.
Please be the Lord of my life.
I turn from sin and trust in You Jesus alone as my Savior.
Thank you for your promise to forgive me.  In Your name I pray, Amen.’          —- Mary Mauderer

出埃及记22:1-31

我们从哪里来，将会到哪里去？
虽然这是个简单的哲学问题，但神早已给我们提供了正确答案：
神创造了我们，作为神的孩子我们将会回到天国自己的家。
然而在这当中，我们活在这个世上，要回答自己这样一个问题：
我们应该成为怎么样的人呢？

再读圣经出埃及记第22章，上帝给了我们很好的例子：做人要诚实公平，待人接物要做到有借有还，损坏物件要赔偿；做要正义，正直，不能恃强凌弱，更不能违反道德去做神不允许的事。也就是让我们成为个公平正义的人，做一个心中有一杆良心秤的人。俗话说：人在做，天在看，上帝是我们的检验！

有一个例子可以说明这一点，1764年的一个夜晚，哈佛图书馆失火，许多珍本、孤本图书被毁，第二天消息传开，给一个学生带去了很大的考验：因为前一天他从图书馆偷偷带出一本书，打算看完后再偷偷还回去。但突然之间，他的那本书成为被毁的250本书中的唯一孤本，怎么办，如可做选择？最终他敲开了校长办公室的门，因为只有这样做了，他的良心才能平安；校长先是很错锷地收下了书，为表示感谢学生主动还书给予了奖励，然后提出他违反了校规，偷带藏书，只能将他开除。因为哈佛的理念是公平，公正地用校规校纪来看守学校。

做人做事公平正义，对得起自己良心的那杆秤，也就是要在世上活出基督的样，在日常生活中，时刻来见证神。荣耀神，真正成为在神面前这样一个“圣洁的人＂！          —- Hua Xin

出埃及记21:1-36
耶和华神是慈爱的，又是公义的，他为以色列民制定的律例典章充分体现了这种特质。
他不歧视社会地位低下者（如奴仆），为他们权益提供保障；每个人都是照上帝形象被造的，所以他看重人命的价值，凡蓄意杀人者必要以命偿命；他建立公正的社会司法原则，让所有人在法律面前享有平等地位。
求神让我们在日常生活中能成为光和盐，在这个弯曲悖谬的时代行出神的公义和慈爱，让看到的人把荣耀归于主。           —- Jenny Yang

出埃及记20:1-26；诗篇17:1-15

出埃及记20章是著名的十诫的来源。神在西奈山上赐下十诫给以色列人。

关于十诫具体内容的讨论学习有很多，在这里就不赘述了。只是十诫的颁布让我想到罗马书3章20节——所以凡有血气的，没有一个因行律法能在神面前称义，因为律法本是叫人知罪。

我不禁猜测，十诫刚颁布的时候是否在当时或以后有人志得意满，觉得这有什么难的，小菜一碟，一一做到不就好了嘛。然而，在人类历史无数的失败经验中，我们可以得出一个结论，人靠自己，再怎么拼命去守十诫，也守不住；再稳当也难保在第一条诫命不失脚。
即使我们不拜各种宗教的假神像，我们也难免在漫漫人生路中时不时将金钱、权力、外貌、名声、儿女、配偶、或是自我等等，作为偶像。当我们在乎这一切超过神的时候，我们已经在神的诫命面前重重跌倒。

保罗说，律法本是叫人知罪。很特别，他没有说律法本是叫社会秩序更加稳定，他没有说律法本是叫生活环境更加美好，他没有说律法本是让人分出三六九等有守得好的也有守不好的。
他说，律法本是叫人知罪。仅此而已。

原来律法让人看到自己不过是罪人，看到自己的卑微污秽，看到自己的渺小无能。律法让人发现我再怎么靠自己守法行善我都够不着神的标准，原来我是没有任何指望的罪人，原来，我是那么那么的需要救恩。
律法将人指向救恩。

回想人类的起源到神赐下十诫，到耶稣的降生、受死与复活，再到保罗对律法的阐述，我再一次折服在全知全能的神面前。从新约到旧约神始终贯彻执行着他完满的救恩计划，一点一点有计划有步骤的在完美的时间点，向人揭晓。

读到出埃及记20:20，摩西对百姓说：“不要惧怕；因为神降临是要试验你们，叫你们时常敬畏他，不至犯罪。”
这节经文也让我很感动。圣经中前后文对神降临西奈山的描述是非常震撼壮观的。雷轰、闪电、角声、山上冒烟……如此彰显大能的神，祂的动机居然也只是单纯的要人敬畏他，不至犯罪……还是为了人的好处，神对人的爱实在是面面俱到，无微不至。

这里神也给我们一个很重要的信息——远离罪，我们需要一颗敬畏神的心。
说起来简单，但是当我们现实生活中犯了罪悔不当初，究其根本的时候却也常常忽略，是我们对神的敬畏有了亏欠。
因为不够敬畏，所以放肆，所以让了生活中方方面面的偶像趁虚而入，所以体贴自己常常大过于体贴神的心，让顺服难上加难。

年初回国，与一对刚刚有了孩子的年轻传道人相聚，谈起他们对孩子的希冀，他们说就希望她快乐成长，有敬畏神的心。
不知道为什么，快两个月过去了，这句话一直在我心里回响。

诗篇17章15节——我必在义中见你的面；我醒了的时候，得见你的形像就心满意足了。

亲爱的天父，感谢你赐下律法，让我们知道自己是不配的罪人，让我们真知道你赐下的救恩的宝贵，而可以由衷的去感谢主耶稣为我们付上的生命赎价。
求你赐给我们敬畏你的心，让我们可以遵行你的旨意，在义中见你的面。
帮助我们更多爱你、渴慕你，让我们单单以你为我们的满足，因为你是全知全能的荣美真神。祷告是奉主耶稣基督的圣名祈求，阿们。          —- Yona Zhang