Thursday, 13th August 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文
「黃昏點燈的時候，他要在耶和華面前燒這香，作為世世代代常燒的香。」
——出埃及記30:8
引言
出埃及記第25至27章記載神吩咐摩西建造會幕和其中的器具；第28至29章則記載祭司的衣服、承接聖職和每天獻上的祭。
到了第29章末了，神宣告：
「我要住在以色列人中間，作他們的神。」
——出埃及記29:45
這是極大的恩典。聖潔的神願意住在祂的百姓中間，使他們可以親近祂、敬拜祂，並在祂的同在中生活。
第30章接着記載香壇、贖命銀、洗濯盆、聖膏油和聖香。這些看起來像是不同的條例，實際上卻共同回答一個重要的問題：
神既然住在祂的百姓中間，他們應當怎樣在聖潔中親近祂，並且每天與祂同行？
很多時候，我們相信神與我們同在，也知道自己是蒙神揀選的人，但在每天忙碌的生活中，我們與神的關係可能漸漸變得疏遠。
我們仍然工作、照顧家庭、參加聚會，甚至繼續服侍，但禱告開始減少，生命中的污穢沒有處理，心也不再完全屬於神。
出埃及記第30章提醒我們：與神同行不只是相信神存在，也不只是偶爾經歷神，而是每天回到神面前、讓神潔淨我們，並重新把生命分別歸給祂。
過渡句
那麼，一個蒙神救贖、被神揀選的人，應當怎樣每天與神同行呢？
一、每天回到神面前
「亞倫在壇上要燒馨香料做的香；每早晨他收拾燈的時候，要燒這香。黃昏點燈的時候，他要在耶和華面前燒這香，作為世世代代常燒的香。」
——出埃及記30:7–8
神吩咐摩西製造香壇，安放在法櫃前面的幔子外。亞倫每天早晨收拾燈的時候要燒香，黃昏點燈的時候也要燒香，使香氣不斷上升。
在聖經中，香常常成為禱告的圖畫。香氣不斷上升，表明神的百姓要持續地來到祂面前。
早晨燒香，黃昏也燒香，說明親近神不能只是偶爾的行動，而應當成為每天生活的節奏。
我們常常以為，與神同行需要一些特別的經歷。其實，與神同行往往從最簡單的事情開始：每天停下來，安靜在神面前，向祂禱告，聆聽祂的話，讓自己的心重新轉向祂。
有時候，我們與神的關係變得疏遠，不是因為我們已經不相信神，而是因為我們太久沒有真正安靜在祂面前。
我們可以忙着處理很多事情，也可以忙着為神工作，卻沒有先回到神面前。當禱告漸漸減少，人的心便容易被憂慮、壓力、情緒和自己的想法佔據。
香壇提醒我們：神不只是希望我們為祂做事，祂更渴望我們每天來到祂面前。
與神同行的第一步，不是做更多的事情，而是每天回到神面前。
二、每天讓神潔淨生命
「各人要為自己的生命把贖價奉給耶和華。」
——出埃及記30:12
「亞倫和他的兒子要在這盆裡洗手洗腳。」
——出埃及記30:19
當以色列人被數點時，每一個二十歲以上的人都要獻上半舍客勒，作為生命的贖價。富足的人不可多出，貧窮的人也不可少出。
這銀子不是用來購買救恩，而是提醒以色列人：他們的生命是神從埃及救贖出來的；他們不是屬於自己，而是屬於拯救他們的神。
富足的人不可多出，貧窮的人不可少出，也說明人在神面前沒有高低之分。無論人的身份、財富和能力如何，每一個人都需要神的救贖。
接着，神吩咐摩西製造銅洗濯盆，放在會幕和祭壇中間。祭司進入會幕或走近祭壇服侍以前，都必須先洗手洗腳。
祭司已經蒙神揀選，也已經承接聖職，但仍然需要潔淨。蒙神揀選並不表示他們可以忽略聖潔；正因為他們要親近神，就更需要接受潔淨。
這也提醒我們：與神同行不只是每天禱告，也要容讓神察看並處理我們的生命。
有時候，我們希望神帶領我們、幫助我們、賜福我們，卻不願意讓神觸碰我們裡面的驕傲、苦毒、嫉妒、私慾和不饒恕。
我們可能仍然禱告，心裡卻抓住一些不願意放下的事情；我們渴望神的同在，卻不願意讓神改變我們的態度和行為。
洗濯盆提醒我們，昨天的潔淨不能代替今天的潔淨。祭司每次親近神以前，都要重新洗手洗腳。同樣，我們每天也需要來到神面前，承認自己的軟弱，接受祂的赦免與潔淨。
與神同行，不是證明自己沒有問題，而是每天誠實地讓神處理我們的問題。
三、每天把自己重新歸給神
「要膏會幕和法櫃、桌子與桌子的一切器具、燈臺和燈臺的器具，並香壇、燔祭壇和壇的一切器具、洗濯盆和盆座。要使這些物成為聖，好成為至聖。」
——出埃及記30:26–29
神吩咐摩西按照祂指定的方法製造聖膏油，用來膏抹會幕、會幕中的器具，以及亞倫和他的兒子，使他們分別為聖。
「分別為聖」的意思，就是從普通的用途分別出來，完全歸給神使用。
一件器具被聖膏油膏抹以後，就不再按照人的意思使用；一個祭司被膏抹以後，他的生命也不再只是屬於自己，而是分別出來歸給神。
同樣，神也指定了聖香的製作方法。這香只能獻在神面前，不可仿製作為私人享受。屬於神的，不可拿來滿足自己。
這提醒我們，與神同行不只是每天花一點時間禱告，然後其餘時間仍然完全按自己的意思生活。真正與神同行，是把生命的主權交給祂，讓祂管理我們每天的選擇。
我們的時間、身體、金錢、家庭、工作和恩賜，都不再只用來完成自己的計劃，也要用來成就神的心意。
有時候，我們希望神與我們同行，真正的意思卻是希望神陪伴我們走自己所選擇的路。但聖經所說的與神同行，是我們願意跟隨神，走祂所帶領的道路。
分別為聖不是離開正常的生活，而是在每天的生活中承認：我是屬於神的，我的決定也要尊重神的心意。
與神同行，不只是邀請神進入我的計劃，更是把自己交給神，進入祂的計劃。
總結
出埃及記第30章不是幾項彼此無關的會幕條例，而是向蒙神救贖的百姓顯明：神既然住在他們中間，他們就應當學習在聖潔中與祂同行。
香壇提醒我們：每天回到神面前。
贖命銀和洗濯盆提醒我們：記念自己蒙了救贖，每天讓神潔淨生命。
聖膏油和聖香提醒我們：把自己分別出來，重新歸給神。
與神同行，不一定從轟動的屬靈經歷開始，而是從每天一個簡單的決定開始：
今天，我願意回到神面前；
今天，我願意讓神潔淨我；
今天，我願意重新把自己交給神。
神渴望住在祂的百姓中間，也渴望進入我們每天真實的生活。問題不只是神是否願意與我們同行，而是我們是否願意每天親近祂、接受祂的潔淨，並跟隨祂所帶領的道路。
與神同行，就是每天親近祂、讓祂改變我們，並把生命的主權重新交給祂。
省察
我每天是否真正留出時間回到神面前，還是已經被忙碌和憂慮佔據？
我的生命中，有甚麼思想、態度或習慣，是我一直不願意讓神潔淨的？
我是在邀請神祝福自己的計劃，還是願意放下自己的意思，跟隨神的帶領？
禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢救贖我、揀選我，也願意住在我的生命中。
求祢赦免我，很多時候我忙着處理自己的事情，卻忘記回到祢面前；我渴望祢的同在，卻不願意讓祢處理我生命中的問題；我希望祢與我同行，卻仍然堅持走自己的道路。
主啊，求祢幫助我每天回到祢面前，恢復與祢親近的生活。求祢光照並潔淨我的思想、動機、言語和行為，使我不再隱藏，也不再逃避祢的改變。
今天，我願意重新把自己的生命交給祢。我的時間、家庭、工作、恩賜和將來，都願意分別出來歸給祢。
求祢帶領我，使我不只是偶爾經歷祢，更是在每天的生活中跟隨祢、順服祢，與祢同行。
奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
Key Verse
“And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.”
—Exodus 30:8 NKJV
Introduction
Exodus chapters 25–27 record God’s instructions for building the tabernacle and its furnishings. Chapters 28–29 describe the priests’ garments, their consecration, and the daily offerings.
At the end of chapter 29, God declares:
“I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.”
—Exodus 29:45 NKJV
This was an extraordinary gift of grace. The holy God was willing to dwell among His people so that they could draw near to Him, worship Him, and live in His presence.
Exodus 30 then describes the altar of incense, the ransom money, the bronze laver, the holy anointing oil, and the sacred incense. These may appear to be separate instructions, but together they answer one important question:
Since God dwells among His people, how should they draw near to Him in holiness and walk with Him every day?
Many of us believe that God is with us, and we know that He has chosen us. Yet in the busyness of daily life, our relationship with Him can gradually become distant.
We may continue working, caring for our families, attending church, and even serving God, while our prayers become less frequent, the uncleanness in our lives remains unaddressed, and our hearts are no longer fully devoted to Him.
Exodus 30 reminds us that walking with God is more than believing that He exists or occasionally experiencing His presence. It means returning to Him every day, allowing Him to cleanse us, and setting our lives apart for Him again.
Transition
How, then, can someone who has been redeemed and chosen by God walk with Him every day?
- Return to God Every Day
“Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it. And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.”
—Exodus 30:7–8 NKJV
God commanded Moses to make an altar of incense and place it outside the veil, in front of the ark. Aaron was to burn incense every morning when he tended the lamps and every evening when he lit them. The fragrance was to rise continually before God.
Throughout Scripture, incense often represents prayer. The continually rising fragrance shows that God’s people are to come before Him continually.
Incense was offered in the morning and again in the evening. This teaches us that drawing near to God should not be an occasional activity. It should become the daily rhythm of our lives.
We sometimes think that walking with God requires a dramatic spiritual experience. In reality, walking with God often begins with something very simple: stopping each day, becoming quiet before Him, praying, listening to His Word, and turning our hearts back to Him.
Sometimes our relationship with God becomes distant, not because we no longer believe in Him, but because we have not truly spent time in His presence for too long.
We can be busy dealing with many responsibilities. We may even be busy working for God, yet fail to return to Him first. When prayer gradually disappears, our hearts can easily become occupied by anxiety, pressure, emotions, and our own thoughts.
The altar of incense reminds us that God does not only want us to do things for Him. He desires us to come before Him every day.
The first step in walking with God is not doing more things, but returning to His presence every day.
- Allow God to Cleanse Your Life Every Day
“When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD.”
—Exodus 30:12 NKJV
“For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.”
—Exodus 30:19 NKJV
When the Israelites were counted, every person aged twenty and above had to give half a shekel as a ransom for his life. The rich were not to give more, and the poor were not to give less.
This money did not purchase salvation. It reminded the Israelites that God had redeemed their lives from Egypt. They did not belong to themselves; they belonged to the God who had delivered them.
The rich were not to give more, and the poor were not to give less. This also showed that there was no distinction between people before God. Whatever their status, wealth, or ability, everyone needed God’s redemption.
God then commanded Moses to make a bronze laver and place it between the tabernacle and the altar. Before entering the tabernacle or approaching the altar to serve, the priests had to wash their hands and feet.
The priests had already been chosen by God and consecrated for ministry, but they still needed to be cleansed. Being chosen did not mean they could ignore holiness. Because they were drawing near to God, they had to take cleansing even more seriously.
Walking with God, therefore, is not only about praying every day. We must also allow God to examine and deal with our lives.
Sometimes we want God to guide, help, and bless us, but we do not want Him to touch the pride, bitterness, jealousy, selfish desires, or unforgiveness within us.
We may continue praying while holding on to things we refuse to surrender. We desire God’s presence, but we do not want Him to change our attitudes or actions.
The bronze laver reminds us that yesterday’s cleansing cannot replace today’s cleansing. Every time the priests approached God, they had to wash their hands and feet again. In the same way, we need to come before God every day, confess our weaknesses, and receive His forgiveness and cleansing.
Walking with God does not mean proving that we have no problems. It means honestly allowing God to deal with our problems every day.
- Give Yourself Back to God Every Day
“And you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy.”
—Exodus 30:26–29 NKJV
God commanded Moses to prepare the holy anointing oil according to His instructions. It was used to anoint the tabernacle, its furnishings, Aaron, and his sons, setting them apart as holy.
To be “set apart as holy” means to be separated from ordinary use and devoted entirely to God.
Once an object had been anointed with the holy oil, it was no longer to be used according to human wishes. Once a priest had been anointed, his life no longer belonged only to himself. He had been set apart for God.
In the same way, God gave specific instructions for preparing the sacred incense. It could only be offered before Him and could not be copied for personal enjoyment. What belonged to God could not be taken back for selfish purposes.
This reminds us that walking with God is more than spending a few minutes in prayer and then living the rest of the day entirely according to our own desires. To walk with God is to surrender control of our lives to Him and allow Him to direct our daily decisions.
Our time, bodies, finances, families, work, and gifts should not be used only to fulfil our own plans. They should also be surrendered to accomplish God’s purposes.
Sometimes we say that we want God to walk with us, but what we really mean is that we want God to accompany us along the path we have already chosen. Biblical walking with God, however, means that we follow Him along the path He chooses.
Being set apart does not mean withdrawing from ordinary life. It means acknowledging within our daily lives: “I belong to God, and my decisions must honour His will.”
Walking with God is not merely inviting Him into our plans. It is surrendering ourselves to Him and entering His plans.
Conclusion
Exodus 30 is not simply a collection of unrelated instructions about the tabernacle. It reveals how God’s redeemed people should live in holiness when He dwells among them.
The altar of incense reminds us to return to God every day.
The ransom money and bronze laver remind us to remember our redemption and allow God to cleanse us every day.
The holy anointing oil and sacred incense remind us to set ourselves apart and give our lives back to God.
Walking with God does not necessarily begin with a dramatic spiritual experience. It begins with a simple daily decision:
Today, I will return to God.
Today, I will allow Him to cleanse me.
Today, I will give myself back to Him.
God desires to dwell among His people and enter the reality of our daily lives. The question is not only whether God is willing to walk with us. The question is whether we are willing to draw near to Him, receive His cleansing, and follow the path He chooses.
To walk with God is to draw near to Him every day, allow Him to change us, and surrender control of our lives to Him again.
Reflection
Do I truly make time to return to God every day, or has my heart become occupied by busyness and anxiety?
Are there any thoughts, attitudes, or habits in my life that I have been unwilling to let God cleanse?
Am I asking God to bless my plans, or am I willing to lay down my own desires and follow His leading?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming me, choosing me, and desiring to dwell in my life.
Please forgive me. So often I become busy with my own responsibilities and forget to return to You. I desire Your presence, yet I am unwilling to let You deal with certain areas of my life. I want You to walk with me, yet I still insist on following my own path.
Lord, help me to return to You every day and restore a life of intimacy with You. Shine Your light upon me and cleanse my thoughts, motives, words, and actions. Help me not to hide from You or resist the changes You want to make in me.
Today, I surrender my life to You again. I set apart my time, family, work, gifts, and future for You.
Please lead me so that I will not merely experience You occasionally, but follow You, obey You, and walk with You in my daily life.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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