提要
香壇是很重要的物件。它用純金包裹，置於聖所幔子外正對法櫃的地方。它被稱為一座壇，雖然殺牲獻祭的事並不在其上舉行。上帝認為禱告和讚美是為祭（詩141：2；107：22；來13：15）；兩者都是我們與上帝相交時必需具備的事。祭司在收拾燈的同時也要燒香。燈代表上帝的話，香代表禱告。從這裡我們學到，禱告、讚美、和讀上帝的話應該一起進行。上帝要祂的受造物不斷的讚美、敬拜祂。祭司在燒香時面對著施恩座，而將香氣帶到座前，雖然因會幕的遮蓋，他並看不見寶座。同樣的，我們用肉眼雖看不見上帝的寶座，但我們憑著信心在祂面前禱告。聖經將聖徒的禱告比為「盛滿了香的金爐」（啟5：8），那是藉著我們的中保主耶穌獻在神寶座前的（啟8：3），使我們的禱告蒙悅納。這樣，上帝就聽我們的禱告，並按著祂的旨意回應我們的禱告。
馨香之氣不斷飄送到至聖所內，圍繞施恩座。同樣，為我們說項的基督也常為我們站在上帝面前。祂將自己獻在十架上，作「馨香的供物和祭物」（弗5：2），不斷平息上帝對我們這些罪人的怒氣，而稱我們為義。耶穌基督（香的象徵）藉著信徒（盛香的金香壇）「在各處顯揚那因認識基督而有的香氣，因為我們在上帝面前……都有基督馨香之氣」（林後2：14 ~16）。作香料的配方和其完美的比例是上帝的發明，不可仿製，因為不能有假貨，正如只有一位上帝所差來的基督，祂「在上帝面前為至聖」（30：10）。
香壇和銅祭壇之間有關聯。燒香的火取自銅祭壇。這股由上帝所降下的火焚燒祭物，也將香氣帶到祂面前。聖火也必須看守好，不可讓它熄滅。要一年一次用祭壇上祭牲的血塗在香壇角上行潔淨的禮，因為有罪的人與它接觸，它也必須被洗淨，用血使它重新成聖。我們必須藉著耶穌的血使自己常保潔淨，並且永不讓上帝的火在我們身上止熄，好使我們能用正確的方式向祂禱告、敬拜祂。在大祭司一年一度進入至聖所將祭牲的血灑在施恩座（利16：13、14）。這是代表基督先為我們調停、代禱，然後我們才能得著上帝的赦免，為祂所接納。
以色列人不論貧富都要付相同的贖罪銀，贖生命之價（30：11~16）。其他的祭他們可以按各人的收入奉獻，但贖命之價不是自由奉獻；那是必須做的，因為所有以色列人都受惠於會幕和其中所進行的服事，特別是上帝在贖罪日那天所賜的恩典。因為人人都是罪人，也都同樣需要基督，所以靈魂的贖價也要相同。有好幾位猶太解經家相信，摩西在上帝的指示下，從第一次人口普查開始，這就成為以色列人每年要納給會幕的貢金（後來則是獻給耶路撒冷的聖殿）。
在新約裡，有人要求耶穌要付「聖殿的丁稅」。雖然祂有很好的理由可以免稅，但為了不觸犯（絆倒）任何人，祂還是付了（太17：24~27）。贖罪銀提醒以色列人，他們的生命來自上帝；這些錢收了做為維持會幕和祭司運作之用。拒付此價銀會招來上帝的怒氣及祂藉著災殃所施的審判（30：12）。
洗濯盆盛大量的水，只有祭司能用。參與上帝聖工的人必須潔淨。用洗濯盆裡的水洗身不只是祭司成聖禮的一部分，他們乃是要天天洗淨自己。每個新的一天我們都要潔淨我們的心來親近上帝（雅4：8）。這項儀式也是幫助祭司們明白上帝的聖潔，以及他們應敬畏祂。
聖膏油和香要派熟練的人製作，並且只能作為聖所之用，不能流為一般的用途。上帝的聖物不可被仿造，也不能等閒視之，更不能做出假貨。這裡再一次強調要尊敬上帝的聖潔和榮耀。
|
Overview
The altar of incense was very important. It was covered with pure gold and situated in the Holy Place directly in front of the ark but before the veil. It is called an altar, although no blood sacrifices are offered upon it. God considers prayer and praise a sacrifice (Psalm 141:2; 107:22; Heb. 13:15); something necessary in our relationship with Him. At the same time the priest tended the lamps, he was to tend the incense. The lamp represents the word of God, and the incense represents prayer. From this we learn that prayer, praise and reading God’s word should go together. God desires the constant praise and worship of His creation. In tending the incense, the priest faced the mercy seat and directed the aroma toward it, although it could not be seen because of the veil. In like manner, we cannot physically see the throne of God, yet with faith we direct our prayers to the Lord. In the Bible, the prayers of the saints are compared to “golden bowls full of incense: (Rev. 5:8) which are then, through our mediator, the Lord Jesus, offered up to the throne of God (Rev.8:3), that they may be acceptable. In this manner, God hears and answers our prayers according to His will.
The sweet aroma would constantly flow into the Holy of Holies and encompass the mercy seat. Likewise, Christ our advocate, always appears in the presence of God for us. The offering of Himself on the cross was “for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2) which continues to appease God’s wrath against us which we as simmers deserve, but instead, commends us for righteousness. Jesus Christ (symbolized by the incense) through the believer (the gold censer which housed the incense) “diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14-16). The perfect proportion and ingredients combined to make the incense was a divine invention. It was not to be copied, for there could be no counterfeit; just as there is only one divinely given Christ, who is “most holy to the Lord” (30:10).
There is a link between the altar of incense and the bronze altar. The fire for burning the incense was taken from the bronze altar. The same fire, which God initially gave, burnt the offering and also brought a sweet aroma to Him. This holy fire was to be guarded so it would not die out. Once a year the blood from the bronze altar was to be applied to the horns of the incense altar as rite of purification, for it came in contact with sinful people and, so required cleansing and renewed sanctification by the blood. We must keep ourselves pure, cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and never let the fire of the Lord be extinguished from our lives so that we are able to pray and worship Him in the right way. Before the high priest would make atonement in the Holy of Holies once a year, by sprinkling the mercy seat with the blood from the sacrifice, he was first to enter with the incense that the ark might be enveloped in its cloudy smoke (Lev. 16:13, 14). This may represent Christ’s intervention and intercession which precedes our forgiveness by God and acceptance to Him.
The ransom money, the price of a life, (30:11-16) was the same for all the Israelites, regardless of their economic position. In other offerings, they gave according to their means, but this was not a free-will offering; it was obligatory, for all benefited from the tabernacle and its services, especially the grace God granted on the day of atonement. Since all were sinners and have the same need for Christ, this ransom for their soul had to be the same. Several Jewish expositors believe this was a yearly tribute to be paid to the tabernacle (and later to the temple in Jerusalem) which Moses began, upon the instruction of God, when the first census was taken.
In the New Testament Jesus was required to make this payment called the “temple tax”. Although He had good reason to be excluded, He paid it so none would be offended (Matt.17:24-27). As well as providing for the on-going expenses of the tabernacle and the priesthood, the ransom money reminded them that their life came from God. Refusal to pay it could result in God’s wrath and judgment through plagues (30:12).
The laver, or washing basin, held a large quantity of water to be used only by the priests. Those involved in service to God must be pure. It was not only part of the priest’s consecration ceremony, but was a daily cleansing. Each new day we need to purify our hearts to draw near to God (James 4:8). This practice was to help them understand the reverence for God and His holiness.
The holy oil and incense were to be made by skilled people and intended for sacred use only, not for any common purposes. The sacred things of God are not to be mocked or taken lightly, nor is any counterfeit to be made. Once again, a reverence for God’s holiness and ordinances is stressed.
|
