8. Too Little for the Lamb
They shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Exodus 12:3-4
THE lamb was to be eaten, all eaten, eaten by all, and eaten at once. The Lord Jesus is to be received into the soul as its food, and this is to be done with a whole Christ, by each one of his people, and done just now. The whole subject of the Passover is rich in instruction; we will confine ourselves to the particulars within this verse.

I. THE TEXT REMINDS US OF A PRIMARY PRIVILEGE.

1. That each man of Israel ate the passover for himself; "every man according to his eating" So do we feed upon Jesus, each one as his appetite, capacity, and strength enable him to do.
2. But this same delicious fare should be enjoyed by all the family: "a lamb for an house;' Oh, that each of the parents, and all the children and servants may be partakers of Christ! By teaching, training, prayer, and holy example, this favor may be secured, for the Holy Spirit will add his blessing.
Let not these two favors be despised. Let no man be content without personal salvation, nor without the salvation of his whole house. We have both promised in that famous text, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

II. THE TEXT IS SILENT AS TO A CERTAIN CONTINGENCY.

1. The lamb was never too little for the family; and assuredly the Lord Jesus is never too little even for the largest families, nor for the most sinful persons.
2. There is no reason to stint our prayers for fear we ask too much.
3. Nor to stay our labors because the Lord Jesus cannot give us strength enough, or grace enough.
4. Nor to restrain our hopes of salvation for the whole family because of some supposed narrowness in the purpose, provision, or willingness of the Lord to bless.
"Every man according to his eating" may feast to the full upon Christ. Every believing sinner may take Christ to himself, and there is no fear that one will be refused, for "it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell,"

III. THE TEXT MENTIONS A POSSIBILITY, AND PROVIDES FOR IT.

There may be a want of persons to feed upon the Lamb, though there can be no lack of food for them to feed upon. The last thing that was supplied to the great marriage feast was guests. The oxen and the fatlings were killed, and all things were ready, long before "the wedding was furnished with guests"
1. One family is certainly too small a reward for Jesus, too little for the Lamb.
2. One family is too little to render him all the praise, worship, service, and love which he deserves.
3. One family is too little to do all the work of proclaiming the Lamb of God, maintaining the truth, visiting the church, winning the world. Therefore let us call in the neighbor next unto our house.
Our next neighbor has the first claim upon us.

• He is the most easy to reach, and by each calling his next neighbor all will be reached.
• He is the most likely person to be influenced by us.
• At any rate there is the rule, and we are to obey it. "Beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:47). We read of Andrew, "he first findeth his own brother Simon" (John 1:41). Those who repaired Jerusalem built every man over against his own house (Neh. 3:28).
• If our neighbor does not come when invited, we are not responsible; but if he perished because we did not invite him, bloodguiltiness would be upon us. "If thou dost not speak — his blood will I require at thine hand" — (Ezek. 33:8).

IV. THE WHOLE SUBJECT SUGGESTS THOUGHTS UPON NEIGHBORLY FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL.

1. It is good for individuals and families to grow out of selfishness, and to seek the good of a wide circle.
2. It is a blessed thing when the center of our society is "the Lamb"
3. Innumerable blessings already flow to us from the friendships which have sprung out of our union in Jesus. Church fellowship has been fruitful in this direction.
4. Our care for one another in Christ helps to realize the unity of the one body, even as the common eating of the Passover proclaimed and assisted the solidarity of the people of Israel as one nation. This spiritual union is a high privilege.
5. Thoroughly carried out, heaven will thus be foreshadowed upon earth, for there love to Jesus and love to one another is found in every heart.

• Let us be personal in our piety, and never be put off with a mere national religion or family profession.
• Let us be generous in our religion, and never neglect our families, our friends, or the neighborhood in which we dwell.

Things of Interest

A little boy asked his mother which of the characters in The Pilgrim's Progress she liked best. She replied, "Christian, of course; he is the hero of the whole story." Her son said,"I don't, mother, I like Christiana best; for when Christian went on his pilgrimage he started alone, but when Christiana went she took the children with her."
"The Lord said unto Noah, come thou and all thy house into the ark." True religion thinks of the house.
I once knew a man who walked a long distance to hear what he called "the truth:' Neither his wife nor any of his children went to any place of worship, and when he was asked about them by me, he told me that "the Lord would save his own"; to which I could not help replying that the Lord would not own him. For this he demanded a warrant, and I gave him this: — "He that provideth not for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel:' Does God acknowledge such persons as his elect?

A man was going to his work one morning, when he was told that the river had burst its banks, and was sweeping down the valley, carrying death and destruction wherever it went. His informant did not seem much concerned about the matter, but the brave workman immediately rushed off down to the lower part of the valley, shouting, "If that's so, somebody has got to let the people know." By his timely warning he saved the lives of many people.

Eating together is one of the most effectual symbols of fellowship; hence the Passover and the Lord's Supper remind us of our oneness in Christ. Never let us eat our morsel alone. When we eat the fat and drink the sweet, let us joyfully send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared.
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

8. 對羔羊而言太少了

一、這段經文提醒我們一項首要的特權

1. 以色列人是各人為自己吃逾越節的羊羔：「各人按著自己的飯量。」照樣，我們也是各人按著自己的胃口、容量與力量來吃基督。
2. 這同樣的美味是全家共享的：「一家一隻羊羔。」但願每一位父母、所有的兒女與僕人，都能一同有分於基督！藉著教導、培育、禱告與聖潔的榜樣，這樣的恩典是可以得著的，因為聖靈必加上祂的祝福。

不要輕看這兩項恩典：不可滿足於沒有個人得救；也不可滿足於全家未得救。那句著名的經文已同時應許了這兩點：「當信主耶穌，你和你一家都必得救。」

二、這段經文對某種情況保持沉默

1. 羊羔從來不會對一家人來說不夠；同樣地，主耶穌對任何家庭——即使是人口最多的家庭，或罪最深的人——也絕不嫌不足。
2. 我們不必因怕求得太多而縮減禱告。
3. 也不必因懷疑主耶穌是否能賜下足夠的力量或恩典，而停下服事的腳步。
4. 更不必因誤以為主的旨意、供應或祝福的心意有限，而壓抑我們對全家得救的盼望。

「各人按著自己的飯量」都可以在基督裡得著飽足。凡信的罪人都可以領受基督，毫無被拒絕的危險；因為「父喜歡叫一切的豐盛，在祂裡面居住。」

三、這段經文提到一種可能性，並為此作了預備

可能缺少的是來吃羊羔的人，而不是羊羔本身的供應。
在那盛大的婚宴中，最後才補齊的是賓客；牛和肥畜早已宰殺，一切都預備齊全，遠在「筵席坐滿了客」之前。

1. 一個家庭，對耶穌來說確實太少了——對羔羊而言不夠。
2. 一個家庭不足以獻上祂所配得的一切讚美、敬拜、服事與愛。
3. 一個家庭也不足以完成宣揚神的羔羊、持守真理、牧養教會、贏得世界的全部工作。
   因此，讓我們邀請那住在我們隔壁的鄰舍。我們最近的鄰舍，對我們最有優先權：

• 他最容易接觸；若人人都呼召自己的鄰舍，就無一遺漏。
• 他也最可能受我們影響。
• 不論如何，這是神所定的原則，我們當順服：「從耶路撒冷起。」（路加福音 24:47  47並且人要奉他的名傳悔改、赦罪的道，從耶路撒冷起直傳到萬邦。）論到安得烈：「他先找著自己的哥哥西門。」（約翰福音 1:41  41他先找着自己的哥哥西門，對他說：「我們遇見彌賽亞了。」（彌賽亞翻出來就是基督。））修造耶路撒冷城牆的人，「各人對著自己的房屋修造。」（尼希米記 3:28  28從馬門往上，眾祭司各對自己的房屋修造。）
• 若鄰舍受邀卻不來，我們不需為此負責；但若他因我們沒有邀請而滅亡，流血的罪就要歸到我們身上：「你若不警戒他……我必向你討他喪命的罪。」（以西結書 33:8  8我對惡人說：『惡人哪，你必要死！』你－以西結若不開口警戒惡人，使他離開所行的道，這惡人必死在罪孽之中，我卻要向你討他喪命的罪（原文是血）。）

四、整個主題引導我們思想福音裡的鄰舍團契

1. 個人與家庭若能脫離自私，關心更廣泛的群體，乃是美事。
2. 我們團契的中心若是「羔羊」，實在是極大的福分。
3. 因在基督裡的聯合而生出的友誼，已為我們帶來無數祝福；教會團契在這方面結出豐盛的果子。
4. 我們在基督裡彼此相顧，幫助我們更真實地經歷「一個身體」的合一；正如共同吃逾越節，使以色列民宣告並實踐他們作為一個國家的合一。這屬靈的合一乃是極大的特權。
5. 若徹底實踐，天國便會在地上預先呈現；因在那裡，人人心中都有對耶穌的愛，也有彼此相愛。

• 讓我們在敬虔上個人化，不滿足於只有國家式的宗教，或家庭形式的信仰。
• 也讓我們在信仰上慷慨寬廣，永不忽略我們的家人、朋友，與所居住的鄰里。

趣聞與見證

有一個小男孩問母親，她在《天路歷程》中最喜歡哪一個人物。母親回答說：「當然是基督徒（Christian），他是整個故事的英雄。」孩子卻說：「我不這樣想，媽媽，我最喜歡基督徒的妻子基督娜（Christiana）；因為基督徒出發朝聖時是獨自一人，但基督娜出發時，卻把孩子們都帶上了。」
「耶和華對挪亞說：你和你全家都要進入方舟。」真正的信仰，會顧念全家。
我曾認識一個人，他長途跋涉去聽他所謂的「真理」，但他的妻子和孩子從不去任何敬拜之處。我問起他們時，他回答說：「主會拯救屬祂的人。」我不禁回應他說：主並不承認他是屬祂的。他要求我提出根據，我便給他這一句：「人若不看顧自己的家人，就是背了真道，比不信的人還不好。」神會承認這樣的人是祂所揀選的嗎？

有一個人清晨上班時，聽說河水潰堤，洪水正沖下山谷，所到之處帶來死亡與毀滅。告訴他的人似乎並不在意，但這位勇敢的工人立刻奔向谷地低處，大聲呼喊：「如果真是這樣，總得有人去告訴百姓！」因著他及時的警告，許多人的性命得以保全。

一同吃飯是團契最有力的象徵之一；
因此，逾越節與主的聖餐提醒我們在基督裡的合一。讓我們永不獨自吃自己的那一份；當我們吃肥美、喝甘甜的時候，也當歡歡喜喜地分給那些毫無預備的人。
—— 查爾斯・赫登・司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）

9. Unseasonable Prayer
Wherefore criest thou unto me? Exodus 14:15
There may come a time when this question needs to be asked even of a Moses. There is a period when crying should give place to action: when prayer is heard and the Red Sea is dividing, it would be shameful disobedience to remain trembling and praying. Therefore Moses must lift his rod and speak to the children of Israel that they go forward. Every fruit of the Spirit comes in its season, and is then most precious: out of season even prayer comes not to perfection. Ask, by all means; but prepare yourself to receive. Seek earnestly; but do not hold back when the hour arrives for you to find. Knock, and knock again; but hasten to enter as soon as the door is open.
When we ought to believe that we have the mercy, why do we continue to cry for it as though we had not obtained it? When increased faith is all that is wanted, why are we seeking the blessing which God places within reach of our faith? When duty is quite clear, why hesitate to perform it and make prayer an excuse for our delay?
The question should be asked of all who pray, "Wherefore criest thou unto me?"
I. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER WILL BE VERY UNSATISFACTORY.
1. Because I was brought up to do so. Some have perpetrated gross hypocrisy through repeating forms of prayer which they learned in childhood. We have heard of one who prayed for his father and mother in his old age (John 9:24).
2. It is a part of my religion. These pray as a Dervish dances or a Fakir holds his arm aloft; but they know nothing of the spiritual reality of prayer (Matt. 6:7).
3. It is a right thing to do. So indeed it is if we pray aright; but the mere repetition of pious words is vanity (Isa. 29:13).
4. I feel easier in my mind after it. Ought you to feel easier? May not your formal prayers be a mockery of God and so an increase of sin (Isa. 1:12-15; Ezek. 20:31)?
5. I think it meritorious and saving. This is sheer falsehood, and a high offence against the merit and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
II. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER WILL BETRAY IGNORANCE.
1. When it hinders immediate repentance. Instead of quitting sin and mourning over it, some men talk of praying. "To obey is better than sacrifice" and better than supplication.
2. When it keeps from faith in Jesus. The gospel is not "pray and be saved"; but "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Matt. 7:21; John 6:47).
3. When we suppose that it fits us for Jesus. We must come to him as sinners, and not set up our prayers as a sort of righteousness (Luke 18:11, 12).
4. When we think that prayer alone will bring a blessing.
III. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER WILL BE QUITE CORRECT.
1. Because I must. I am in trouble, and must pray or perish. Sighs and cries are not made to order, they are the irresistible outbursts of the heart (Ps. 42:1; Rom. 8:26).
2. Because I know I shall be heard, and therefore I feel a strong desire to deal with God in supplication. "Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him" (Ps. 116:2).
3. Because I delight in it: it brings rest to my mind, and hope to my heart. It is a sweet means of communion with my God. "It is good for me to draw near to God" (Ps. 73:28).
4. Because I feel that I can best express the little faith and repentance I have by crying to the Lord for more.
5. Because these grow as I pray. No doubt we may pray ourselves into a good frame if God the Holy Ghost blesses us.
6. Because I look for all from God, and therefore I cry to him (Ps. 62:5). He will be enquired of by us (Ezek. 36: 37).
Where must those be who depend upon their own prayers?
What are those who live without prayer
What are those who can give no reason for praying, but
superstitiously repeat words without heart?

Cases in Point, etc.
An anxious enquirer to whom I had plainly put the great gospel command, "Believe in the Lord Jesus," constantly baffled my attempts to lead her out of self to Christ. At last she cried out, "Pray for me! pray for me!" She seemed greatly shocked when I replied, "I will do nothing of the kind. I have prayed for you before; but if you refuse to believe the word of the Lord, I do not see what I can pray for. The Lord bids you believe his Son, and if you will not do so, but persist in making God a liar, you will perish, and you richly deserve it" This brought her to her bearings. She begged me again to tell her the way of salvation, she quietly received it as a little child, her frame quivered, her face brightened, and she cried! "Sir! I can believe, I do believe, and I am saved. Thank you for refusing to comfort me in my unbelief. "Then she said very softly, "Will you not pray for me now?" Assuredly I did, and we rejoiced together that we could offer the prayer of faith.
A good illustration of the need of following up prayer by effort may be found in the following anecdote:—
A scholar was remarkable for repeating her lessons well. Her schoolfellow, rather idly inclined, said to her one day, "How is it that you always say your lessons so perfectly?" She replied, "I always pray that I may say my lessons well." "Do you?" said the other; "well then, I will pray, too": but alas I the next morning she could not even repeat a word of her usual task. Very much confounded, she ran to her friend, and reproached her as deceitful: "I prayed," said she, "but I could not say a single word of my lesson" "Perhaps," rejoined the other, "you took no pains to learn it" "Learn it! Learn it! I did not learn it at all" answered the first," I thought I had no occasion to learn it, when I prayed that I might say it." The mistake is a very common one.
In a great thaw on one of the American rivers, there was a man on one of the cakes of ice, which was not yet actually separated from the unbroken mass. In his terror, however, he did not see this, but knelt down and began to pray not seen aloud for God to deliver him. The spectators on the shore cried loudly to him, "Man, man, stop praying, and run for the shore" So I would say to some of you, "Rest not in praying, but believe in Jesus." — Quoted in "The Christian," 1874
On one occasion, when Bunyan was endeavoring to pray, the tempter suggested "that neither the mercy of God, nor yet the blood of Christ, at all concerned him, nor could they help him by reason of his sin; therefore it was vain to pray." Yet he thought with himself, "I will pray." "But" said the tempter,"your sin is unpardonable." "Well" said he, "I will pray" "It is to no boot," said the adversary. And still he answered, "I will pray." And so he began his prayer, "Lord, Satan tells me that neither thy mercy nor Christ's blood is sufficient to save my soul. Lord, shall I honor thee most by believing thou wilt and canst? or him, by believing thou neither wilt nor canst? Lord, I would fain honor thee by believing that thou canst and wilt" And while he was thus speaking,"as if someone had clapped him on the back," that scripture fastened on his mind,"O man, great is thy faith"
Seek thou thy God alone by prayer,
And thou shalt doubt--perchance despair;
But seek him also by endeavor,
And thou shalt find him gracious ever.

Charles Hadden Spurgeon

9. 不合時宜的禱告

「你為甚麼向我哀求呢？」
——出埃及記 14:15
即使是摩西，也可能有一個時候需要被問這個問題。因為有一段時刻，呼求必須讓位給行動：當禱告已蒙垂聽、紅海正在分開時，若仍然顫抖不前、只顧禱告，便是可恥的不順服。因此，摩西必須舉起杖來，吩咐以色列人向前行。
聖靈的每一種果子都有它的時候，也唯有在合宜的時候才最為寶貴；即便是禱告，若不合時宜，也無法達到完全。
你固然要祈求；但也要預備好去領受。
你當迫切尋求；但當「尋見」的時刻來到，不要退縮。
你可以叩門，再叩門；但一旦門開了，就要立刻進去。
當我們應當相信自己已得著憐憫時，為何仍像尚未得著一樣，不斷哀求呢？
當所缺的只是信心的增長時，為何仍去尋求那神早已放在信心觸手可及之處的祝福呢？
當本分已經十分清楚時，為何還遲疑不行，反而拿禱告當作拖延的藉口呢？
這個問題應當問所有禱告的人：
「你為甚麼向我哀求呢？」

一、有時，答案會十分令人不滿意

1. 因為我是這樣被教導長大的。
   有些人只是重複兒時學來的禱告詞，卻陷入嚴重的虛假。我們聽說過一個人在老年時仍為父母禱告（參約翰福音 9:24）。
2. 因為這是我宗教的一部分。
   這些人禱告，好像苦行僧跳舞，或苦修者高舉手臂；卻完全不明白禱告的屬靈實際（馬太福音 6:7）。
3. 因為這是一件正確的事。
   若是按著正確的方式禱告，的確如此；但單單重複敬虔的言辭，卻是虛空（以賽亞書 29:13）。
4. 因為禱告後我心裡覺得比較輕鬆。
   你真的應該覺得輕鬆嗎？你的形式化禱告，會不會其實是在戲弄神，反而加增罪惡呢？（以賽亞書 1:12–15；以西結書 20:31）
5. 因為我認為禱告有功德、能帶來救恩。
   這完全是虛假之說，更是對主耶穌的功勞與犧牲極大的冒犯。

二、有時，答案顯出無知

1. 當禱告攔阻人立即悔改時。
   有人不肯離棄罪、也不為罪憂傷，卻只會談論禱告。
   「聽命勝於獻祭」，也勝於祈求。
2. 當禱告使人不去信靠耶穌時。
   福音不是說「你要禱告就得救」，而是說：
   「當信主耶穌，你必得救。」（參馬太福音 7:21；約翰福音 6:47）
3. 當人以為禱告能使自己配得基督時。
   我們必須以罪人的身分來到祂面前，而不是把禱告當作一種義（路加福音 18:11–12）。
4. 當人以為單單禱告就必定帶來祝福時。

三、有時，答案卻完全正確

1. 因為我非禱告不可。
   我在患難中，不禱告就要滅亡。嘆息與呼求不是刻意製造的，而是內心無法抑制的自然流露（詩篇 42:1；羅馬書 8:26）。
2. 因為我知道神必垂聽，所以渴望向祂祈求。
   「因為祂側耳聽我，所以我要一生求告祂。」（詩篇 116:2）
3. 因為我喜愛禱告。
   它使我心靈得安息，使我心中生出盼望；這是我與神交通的甘甜途徑。
   「親近神是與我有益。」（詩篇 73:28）
4. 因為我覺得，將我僅有的一點信心與悔改，最好的表達方式，就是向主呼求更多。
5. 因為信心與悔改會在禱告中成長。
   若聖靈賜福，我們確實可能在禱告中被帶進良好的屬靈光景。
6. 因為我仰望一切都從神而來，所以向祂呼求。
   「我的心哪，你當默默無聲，專等候神。」（詩篇 62:5）
   神也必讓我們求問祂（以西結書 36:37）。

那麼，倚靠自己禱告的人，結局將如何？
不禱告的人，又是何等光景？
那些只能迷信地重複言詞、卻說不出禱告理由的人，又是誰呢？

實例說明

有一位心中焦急的尋道者，我已清楚向她提出福音的核心命令：「當信主耶穌。」但她總是想方設法，把注意力從基督身上轉回自己身上。最後，她喊道：「請為我禱告！請為我禱告！」
她大為震驚，因為我回答說：「我不會這樣做。我以前已為你禱告過；但若你拒絕相信主的話，我實在不知道該為你禱告什麼。主命令你信祂的兒子；若你不肯信，反而執意把神當作說謊的，你必滅亡，而且罪有應得。」
這話使她回到正確的位置。她再次請我告訴她得救之道；她像小孩子一樣安靜地接受了。她全身顫抖，臉上放光，喊著說：
「先生！我能信了，我真的信了，我已經得救了！謝謝你沒有在我的不信中安慰我。」
隨後她輕聲說：「現在，你可以為我禱告嗎？」
我當然為她禱告了，我們一同歡喜，因為如今能獻上信心的禱告。

關於「禱告之後仍須努力」的需要，下面的故事是很好的說明：
有一位學生以背誦功課出色而聞名。她的一位較懶散的同學問她：「你怎麼每次都能把功課背得這麼好？」她回答說：「我總是禱告，求我能把功課背好。」
另一位同學說：「是嗎？那我也來禱告。」
但第二天早上，她連一句平常的功課都背不出來。她十分困惑，跑去責怪那位同學欺騙她：「我有禱告，可是我一句也背不出來！」
對方回答說：「也許你根本沒有去背吧？」
「背？背功課？」她說，「我根本沒背！我以為既然禱告了，就不需要再背了。」
這種錯誤，實在十分常見。

美國某條河流在一次大解凍時，河水暴漲。有一個人站在一塊尚未完全與冰層分離的浮冰上，因恐懼而沒有察覺這一點，只是跪下來禱告，懇求神拯救他。岸上的人高聲呼喊：
「喂！別再禱告了，快跑回岸上！」
我也想對你們當中有些人說：
不要只停留在禱告裡，要信靠耶穌。
——引自《基督徒》（The Christian），1874 年

有一次，班揚正要禱告時，試探者對他說：「神的憐憫與基督的寶血都與你無關，因你的罪太大，根本不能幫助你；所以禱告是徒然的。」
但他心裡說：「我還是要禱告。」
「你的罪不可赦免。」試探者說。
「好，我還是要禱告。」
「沒有用的。」
他仍回答：「我還是要禱告。」
於是他開始禱告說：
「主啊，撒但告訴我，祢的憐憫與基督的寶血都不足以拯救我的靈魂。主啊，我該藉著相信祢能、也願意拯救我來尊榮祢？還是該相信祢既不能、也不願意，而去尊榮他呢？主啊，我願意藉著相信祢能、也願意，來尊榮祢。」
就在他這樣說的時候，彷彿有人拍了拍他的背，一句經文牢牢抓住他的心：
「大哉，你的信心！」

你若單單藉禱告尋求神，
或許仍會疑惑，甚至絕望；
但若也藉著實行來尋求祂，
你必發現祂始終滿有恩典。
—— 查爾斯・赫登・司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）

10. Who Is on the Lord's Side?
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side?
let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Exodus 32:26
ISRAEL had rebelled against Jehovah, and had set up the golden calf. Moses appeared among them, and in great wrath threw down their idol and rebuked Aaron. The people were awe-struck by the presence of the servant of the Lord, and sought their tents, save only a number of the more hardened who brazened it out. Moses, feeling that this great rebellion must be crushed and punished, summoned the faithful to his standard, and those who came were of the tribe of Levi. These, with stern fidelity, fulfilled their mission, and hence were made teachers of Israel for ever. Decision is that which the Lord looks for in his ministers, and when he sees it he will reward it. Remember the blessing of Levi, in Deuteronomy 33. "And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummin and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar."
All true men ought to be decided, for a dreadful conflict is going on at this present day, and a curse will fall on neutrals.
I. THE CONFLICT, AND WHICH IS THE LORD'S SIDE.

• Belief in God against Atheism and other forms of unbelief.
• Scripture in opposition to false philosophy and "modern thought"
• The gospel versus superstition.
• Christ versus self-righteousness.
• The commands of God versus self-pleasing.
• Holiness and right, against sin and oppression.

II. THE LORD'S FRIENDS AND WHAT THEY MUST DO.

• They must own their allegiance openly. "Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord" (verse 29).

• They should come out and rally to the standard: "Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me." We do this by open union with the church, by boldly rebuking sin, by testifying for truth, by not conforming to the world, and by conforming to Christ our Lord (2 Cor. 8:5).

• They must be willing to be in a minority: one tribe against eleven, if need be.

• They must become aggressive. "Put every man his sword by his side" (verse 27).

• Their zeal must overmaster nature's ties. "Neither did he acknowledge his brethren? etc., (Deut. 33:9).

• They must do what they are bidden. "And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses" (Exod. 32:28).

III. THE LORD'S HOST AND ITS ENCOURAGEMENTS.

• Their cause is that of right and truth. A good cause is a firm foundation and a powerful stimulus of velour.

• It is the cause of the Almighty God. "They have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant" (Deut. 30:9).

• Christ himself is our Captain. Who can hesitate with such a Chieftain?" A leader and commander for the people" (Isa. 55:4).

• The Angels are with us. Horses of fire and chariots of fire are round about the Lord's servants (2 Kings 6:17).

• Thousands of the best of men have been on this side (Heb. 12:1).
• It is the side of conscience, and of a clean heart.

• It is that side of the warfare which ends in heaven and victory, world without end (Rev. 19:14).

IV. THE QUESTION OF THE TEXT, AND PROPOSALS FOR ENLISTMENT.

• Take the shilling: by faith receive the promise.

• Put on the colors: by confessing Christ openly in baptism.
• Submit to drill: be willing to learn, and yield to discipline.
• Put on the regimentals: wear the garments of holiness, the livery of love, the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13-18).
• Gird on your sword: "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"
• Enter on civil war first. Wage war within your own soul. Slay sin, conquer self, cast down high looks, etc.
• March to the field. Fight with falsehood, superstition, cruelty, oppression, drunkenness, uncleanness, and sin of every sort, anywhere and everywhere.

Illustrative Extracts
"We trust the Lord is on our side, Mr. Lincoln," said the speaker of a delegation of Christian people to that good man, during one of the darkest days of the American Civil War. "I do not regard that as so essential as something else;" replied Mr. Lincoln. The worthy visitors looked horror-struck, until the President added: "I am most concerned to know that we are on the Lord's side."
Mr. Lincoln was right. The right side is not my side or your side. The Lord's side is the place to which every one of us should rally. His banner has right, truth, love, and holiness written on it. Be sure you stand up for God's banner, even if you stand alone.
Guizot, in his life of St. Louis of France, says that the latter had many vassals who were also vassals of the King of England, and that many subtle and difficult questions arose as to the extent of the service which they owed to these kings. At length the French king commanded all those nobles who held lands in English territory to appear before him, and then he said to them, "As it is impossible for any man living in my kingdom and having possessions in England rightly to serve two masters, you must either attach yourselves altogether to me, or inseparably to the King of England" After saying this, he gave them a certain day by which to make their choice.
The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood-red banner streams afar:
Who follows in his train?
"Set down my name, Sir" According to Bunyan, these were the words of the man who fought his way into the palace, and who was welcomed with the song —
Come in, come in,
Eternal glory thou shalt win.

A dear friend of mine, the head of a family of grown-up sons and daughters, lately passed away very suddenly. The day before he died, all the members of the household were with him, including one who had recently, like the rest, experienced the power of saving grace. The father's joy was great, as he put his hand upon one after another of his offspring, saying with an overflowing heart, "And this one on the Lord's side!--and this one on the Lord's side!" How would it be with our hearer should he have to stand at the death-bed of a godly parent? Would that parent rejoice over him because he is on the Lord's side?
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

10. 誰是站在耶和華那一邊的？

「摩西就站在營門口，說：**誰是站在耶和華那一邊的？可以到我這裡來！**於是利未的子孫都聚集到他那裡。」
——出埃及記 32:26
以色列人背叛了耶和華，鑄立了金牛犢。摩西出現在他們中間，盛怒之下摔碎偶像，並責備亞倫。百姓因耶和華僕人的同在而心生敬畏，多數人退回帳棚；只有少數心硬的人仍厚顏無恥地對抗。摩西深知這次大叛逆必須被制止並受懲治，便召聚忠心的人到他的旗幟下；前來的正是利未支派。他們以嚴正的忠誠完成使命，因此被立為以色列永久的教師。決斷是主在祂的僕人身上所尋求的；祂看見決斷，就必賞賜。請記念申命記三十三章中對利未的祝福：
「論利未說：耶和華啊，你的土明和烏陵，都在你的虔誠人那裡；你在瑪撒試驗他，在米利巴水與他爭論。他論父母說：我未曾看見；論弟兄說：我不承認；論兒女說：我不認識；他們遵守你的話，謹守你的約。他們要將你的典章教訓雅各，將你的律法教訓以色列；他們要把香陳在你面前，把全燔祭獻在你的壇上。」
——申命記 33:8–10
所有真實的人都應當作出明確的選擇，因為此時此刻正有一場嚴峻的爭戰在進行；咒詛必臨到那些中立的人。

一、這場爭戰，以及哪一邊是屬耶和華的

• 信神，對抗無神論與各樣不信。
• 聖經，對抗虛假的哲學與「現代思潮」。
• 福音，對抗迷信。
• 基督，對抗自義。
• 神的命令，對抗自我取悅。
• 聖潔與公義，對抗罪惡與壓迫。

二、耶和華的朋友，以及他們必須做的事

• 公開表明效忠。
  「今天你們要自潔歸耶和華。」（26章29節）
• 出來集結在旗幟之下。
  「誰是站在耶和華那一邊的？可以到我這裡來。」
  我們藉著公開加入教會、勇敢責備罪惡、為真理作見證、不效法世界、而是效法我們的主基督，來實踐這一點（林後 8:5）。
• 願意成為少數。
  若有需要，一個支派對抗十一個支派。
• 必須主動進取。
  「各人把刀佩在腰間。」（26章27節）
• 熱心必須勝過血緣之情。
  「也不承認弟兄……」（申 33:9）
• 照所吩咐的去行。
  「利未的子孫照摩西的話行了。」（出 32:28）

三、耶和華的軍隊，以及他們的鼓勵

• 他們的事業是公義與真理的事業。
  正當的事業是穩固的根基，也是勇氣的強大推動力。
• 這是全能神的事業。
  「他們遵守你的話，謹守你的約。」（申 33:9）
• 基督親自作我們的元帥。
  有這樣的統帥，誰還會遲疑呢？
  「立他作萬民的見證，為萬民的君王和司令。」（賽 55:4）
• 天使與我們同在。
  火馬火車四圍環繞耶和華的僕人（王下 6:17）。
• 歷世歷代無數最優秀的人，都站在這一邊。
  （來 12:1）
• 這是良心的一邊，是清潔之心的一邊。
• 這是最終通向天上、永遠得勝的一邊。
  （啟 19:14）

四、經文的問題，以及入伍的呼召

• **領受軍餉：**憑信心接受應許。
• **穿上旗色：**藉著受洗公開承認基督。
• **接受操練：**甘心學習，順服管教。
• **穿上軍裝：**披戴聖潔的衣袍、愛的制服，並神所賜的全副軍裝（弗 6:13–18）。
• 佩上寶劍：「聖靈的劍，就是神的道。」
• **先打內戰：**在自己裡面爭戰；治死罪、勝過老我、拆毀心中的驕傲等。
• **奔赴戰場：**與謊言、迷信、殘暴、壓迫、醉酒、污穢，以及各樣的罪，在任何地方、任何時刻爭戰。

例證摘錄

在美國內戰最黑暗的日子之一，一群基督徒代表對林肯先生說：「我們相信主站在我們這一邊。」
林肯回答說：「我並不覺得那是最重要的。」
眾人驚愕不已，直到總統補充說：「我最關心的是——我們是否站在主那一邊。」
林肯是對的。正確的一邊不是我的那一邊，也不是你的那一邊；耶和華的那一邊，才是我們每個人都該集結之處。祂的旗幟上寫著：公義、真理、愛與聖潔。即使你孤身一人，也要站在神的旗幟之下。
基佐在《法國聖路易生平》中記載：聖路易時代，有許多封臣同時也是英王的封臣，關於他們應當向哪一位君王盡忠，產生了許多棘手的問題。最終，法王命令所有在英格蘭有封地的貴族到他面前，對他們說：「任何一個住在我國、又在英國有產業的人，不可能同時忠心事奉兩個主人；你們必須全然歸附我，或全然歸附英王。」隨後，他給了他們一個期限，要求作出選擇。
神的兒子出征爭戰，
為要得著君王的冠冕；
祂血紅的旗幟高高飄揚：
誰願跟隨祂的行列？
「請把我的名字記下來，先生。」
按班揚所說，這是一位奮勇殺入宮殿之人的話；他被迎接時，眾人唱道：
進來吧，進來吧，
永恆的榮耀你必得著。
我有一位摯友，是一家已成年的兒女之父，最近突然離世。臨終前一天，全家人都在他身邊，其中包括一位最近才經歷救恩能力的人。父親喜樂滿溢，將手一個個放在兒女身上，動情地說：「這一個站在主那一邊！——那一個也站在主那一邊！」
若聽者有一天站在敬虔父母的臨終床前，情形會如何？那位父母會不會因你站在主那一邊而為你歡喜呢？
—— 查爾斯・赫登・司布真（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）