And we're studying Lesson Six: "A Home For God"

今天我們要讀到的第六課是: 「上帝的會幕」 (上帝的家)

The message for this week is: I worship God when I bring my gifts to Him.

本周的信息是: 當我帶著我的禮物給他，我就在敬拜神

The memory verse is from Exodus, chapter 25, verse 8.

在出埃及記第二十五章第八節提到

“Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them”

「又當為我造聖所，使我可以住在他們中間。」

What is the most precious thing that you own?

對於你來說，什麼才是你最珍貴的東西呢?

Is it a toy or a book or perhaps a pet?

是一個玩具? 一本書? 又或許是一隻可愛的寵物?

How would you feel if you had to share that with someone?

而當你必須跟某人分享的時候，你的感覺是什麼?

How would you feel if our pastor asked you to bring it next week and give it to God?

如果當我們的牧師要求你下周把你最珍貴的東西帶來並且獻給神，你的感覺是什麼呢?

The Israelites could see God’s presence every day.

以色列人每天都可以看見神的同在。

They looked at the cloud that led them during the day and remembered that God was with them.

在白天時，有雲柱引導他們，而他們知道神一直與他們同在，

They saw the pillar of fire every night and felt the warmth of God’s presence.

晚上有火柱照亮他們並讓他們感覺到神同在的溫暖。

However, that was not enough.

然而，創意無限的豐盛是上帝所代言的

They needed a special place where they could meet God. And God wanted to meet with them.

他們需要一個特別的地方讓他們能夠遇見神，而神也想要在那裏遇見他們。

He wanted His special people to know that He was with them all the time,

祂想讓他的子民們知道祂總是與他們同在

and that they could come and worship Him.

而他們能夠來到那裏敬拜神

God wanted to have a home in the Israelite camp.

神想要在以色列的營裡建造一個會幕

God knew exactly what His home should be like.

神很清楚知道祂的家應該要是怎樣

He gave the building plan to Moses.

祂把祂的建造計畫告訴了摩西

Moses knew exactly what to do.

摩西很清楚地知道該怎麼做

God talked to Moses: “Tell everyone that they can have a part in making My house."

神告訴摩西說: 「告訴每個人他們可以獻上禮物做為我會幕的一部分。」

"Whoever wants to, can bring an offering to you."

「無論是誰為我送禮物來，」

"No one must feel they have to give."

「不用強迫自己一定要給，」

"They should give only what they want to give and what they can afford."

「他們應當給出他們甘心樂意的。」

"I don’t want anyone to give unless they really want to."

「我不想強迫任何人給除非他們真的想給。」

"What is important to Me is not what people give, but that they are happy to give it."

「對我來說最重要的不是人給予我什麼，而是他們是捐得樂意的」

“The people will ask you what they should bring."

「人們會問你他們應該獻上什麼」

"Tell them special things are needed."

「告訴他們我需要那些特殊的東西」

"Gold, silver, and bronze are important."

「金 、 銀 、 銅很重要」

"These metals are to be used when making the furniture."

「這些金屬可以用來打造我會幕的家具」

"All the wood must be acacia wood."

「所有的木材必須是皂莢木」

"This wood is strong. It will last well in the heat of the desert by day and the cold at night."

「這種木頭很堅固，它可以在乾旱沙漠，與炎熱的日曬、寒冷的夜晚中生存」

“My home will be colorful."

「我的家會非常的五光十色」

"People bringing wool from their sheep should spin it and dye it blue, purple, and scarlet."

「人們帶來的山羊毛需要被編織細麻且被染成藍色、紫色、朱紅色線。 」

"You will need cloth and skins to make the walls of My holy place."

「你要用山羊毛織成幔子，作為帳幕以上的罩棚。」

"Have the people bring fine linen, goat skins, ram skins dyed red, and sea cow hides."

「人們帶來細亞麻線，山羊皮，染紅公羊皮的蓋、海狗皮的頂蓋。」

“My home must have lights."

「我的家需要有燈。」

"Use olive oil to light them."

「你要吩咐以色列人，把那為點燈搗成的清橄欖油拿來給你，使燈常常點著。」

"For some of the services you will need spices for the anointing oil and sweet smelling incense."

「 點燈的油並做膏油和香的香料。」

"I will explain to you how to use these things."

「我會告訴你該怎麼使用這些東西。」

"You also need onyx stones and other precious stones for the priest’s special clothes.”

「你也需要紅瑪瑙與別樣的珍貴的寶石，可以鑲嵌在衣服及胸牌上。」

Many people gladly brought jewelry and other beautiful things the Egyptians gave them when they left Egypt.

很多人樂意地帶著珠寶及其他當他們離開埃及，埃及人送給他們漂亮的東西

A lovely place to worship God was better than keeping the jewelry for themselves.

對他們來說，一個敬拜神的美麗聖所遠遠比把珍貴珠寶留在身邊要來的更有意義

The most valuable things they had were given to God.

他們把他們認為最有價值的東西獻給神

He would have the best and most beautiful place in camp.

讓神在營地中擁有一個最棒且最美的會幕

The Israelites had seen God’s power. They knew His plan.

以色列人知道神的大能也知道祂美好的計畫。

And they wanted to be able to praise and worship Him in a special way, in a special place.

所以他們希望能夠在這特別的地方，用很特別的方式讚美敬拜神

We can praise and worship Him in the same way today.

如今，我們一樣可以用相同的方式讚美敬拜神

God still gives His people opportunities to give to Him.

神仍然給祂的子民機會把珍貴的東西獻給祂

He wants us to give with a happy and cheerful heart,

祂要我們帶著開心且願意的心獻上

just as the Israelites gave.

就像以色列人一樣。