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Text: Exodus 32: 27-29

MEDITATION

Exodus 32:27-29

27 And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’”
28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
29 Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”

MEANINGFUL APPLICATION TO LIFE

1. Moses’ word to the Levites who chose the side of Lord

a. It was a difficult word that may sound very harsh at first.

b. It was the word of judgment.

c. God had already warned that He was ready to destroy all the children of Israel because they were so stiff-necked (stubborn).

2. We must not think that this was just an execution of people

a. What we may surmise:

i. The idolaters were not prepared to listen to Moses and obey.

ii. They were stiff-necked and were resistant.

iii. They will resist every way they can, including the use of violence.

b. The sword of the Levites

i. They were to be used if there was a pitched battle.

ii. They were allowed to use their swords as if they were in battle.

c. Some of the enemies:

i. It could be a brother,

ii. Or a companion,

iii. Or a neighbour.

3. An armed struggle

a. Sadly, the idolaters and the Levites were engaged in a battle.

b. 3000 people were killed.

4. There was to be no victory celebration

a. Unfortunately, there had to be a battle for their faith in the Lord.

b. It is almost unbelievable that there were thousands of people who worshiped the golden calf.

5. There was to be a time of consecration instead

a. Consecration would involve:

i. Confession of the use of violence that resulted in death.

ii. Cleansing from sin (e.g., anger, wrath, animosity).

b. The sad reality

i. They had to fight each other as brethren.

ii. There was a loss of so many lives.

c. A blessing from the Lord to be sought:

i. Not for killing.

ii. But for standing fast in the faith.

iii. For preserving their faith in the Lord as His faithful people.

经文：出埃及记 32：27-29

沉思

《出埃及记 32：27-29》
27 他对他们说：“耶和华以色列的神这样说：‘你们各人把刀跨在腰间，在营中往来，从这门到那门，各人杀他的弟兄与同伴并邻舍。’”
28 利未的子孙照摩西的话行了。那一天百姓中被杀的约有三千。

29 摩西说：“今天你们要自洁，归耶和华为圣，各人攻击他的儿子和弟兄，使耶和华赐福于你们。”

在生活里有意义地应用

1. 对选择上帝的利未人，摩西说了这番话

a. 上帝要他们做的事，起初看起来很残酷

b. 这是审判的话

c. 上帝已警告过，祂会灭绝以色列的百姓，因他们硬着颈项（顽梗）

2.我们不要以为这是为了处决百姓

a. 我们可以推测的是：

i. 拜祭神像的百姓不愿意服从摩西

ii. 他们硬着颈项，违抗摩西

iii. 他们尽力违抗，甚至利用暴力

b. 利未人的刀

i. 在对阵战中可使用刀

ii. 利未人在战斗中能使用刀

c. 敌人可以是：

i. 弟兄

ii. 或同伴

iii. 或邻舍

3. 武装斗争

a. 可悲的是，拜祭神像的百姓与利未人须战斗

b. 被杀的约有三千人

4.胜战没有庆祝活动

a. 不幸的是，他们必须为了主里的信心而战

b. 几乎有几千人崇拜金牛犊，这简直令人难以置信

5. 他们需要自洁，归上帝为圣

a. 自洁成圣包括：

i. 承认使用暴力，致人死亡

ii. 洗净罪孽（例如：愤怒、恼恨，敌意）

b. 悲惨的现实

i. 各人攻击他的儿子和弟兄

ii. 丧失了很多性命

c. 寻求上帝的祝福：

i. 不是因为杀了人

ii. 而是因为他们坚守信心

iii. 因为他们的信心被保守，做上帝忠实的子民