- 我们研读旧约的历史和预言时，需要对整本圣经中神为着基督与召会，那终极完成于新耶路撒冷的永远经纶，有全面的观点，完全的看见。这会使我们对神向我们陈明旧约历史，并给我们旧约预言的目的，不仅有更广阔的看见，也得着更深的内在意义。旧约一切历史和预言的观点、中心、及内在的意义，必须是基督和祂的身体，这身体要终极完成于新耶路撒冷，为着神永远的经纶。
- 神要完成祂这样一个永远的经纶，就必须创造诸天为着地，并创造地为着人（亚十二1）。神按着祂的形像，照着祂的样式造人，使人有灵，得以接触祂、接受祂、拥有祂并以祂作为人的生命和内容。可悲的是，这人从神并从神为着祂经纶的定旨堕落了。然后，神从堕落的人类中，拣选了一个名叫亚伯拉罕的人，以及他的后裔，使他们成为独特的子民，在列国（外邦人）中作祂珍贵的选民。神用了四百多年，来产生、构成、形成这样一班选民，顶替亚当的族类，以完成祂永远的经纶。神带祂这样一班选民经过在埃及和旷野的试验和苦难，使他们受训练、受管教，而够资格与祂配合，在这地上为基督取得神所应许的地，并产生合式的人，好把基督生到人类中，乃是约书亚记、士师记和路得记这部分旧约历史两个主要的点。这两个主要的点，就是为基督取得地，并为基督预备真实的先祖，乃是约书亚记至路得记之历史的灵。这两点是这段旧约历史隐藏的内在意义。我们对此必须有清楚的异象；否则，我们这三卷书的结晶读经将是突然的，就像许多犹太或基督徒历史学家、圣经学者和圣经教师的研读一样。
- 我们若靠主的怜悯，看见这样一个异象，这部分旧约的历史就会像新约一样使我们受益。这样一个异象会帮助我们看见，神子民在地上的历史，事实上就是作工的神在祂旧约选民中间奋力活动的历史，甚至是运行的神在祂赎民里奋力活动的历史，使他们与祂一起奋力活动，为着完成神关于基督和祂扩增的永远经纶，这要终极完成于新耶路撒冷。盼望借着这训练，我们能看见并领悟，我们的生活、日常行事、求学、职业和事业，都必须是神今天在地上，在祂美妙且超绝行动中之历史的一部分。要作一个正常的基督徒，作今日的得胜者，答应主当前的呼召，并应付主在祂恢复里当前的需要，仅仅作一个所谓的好弟兄或好姊妹，经常参加召会聚会，行为正直，过一种在人看来相当完全的生活，根本是不够的。当神在祂的历史中，在爱祂的得胜者里行动并奋力活动时，我们必须与神是一；这就是说，在生命上，在生活上，并在我们今天地上全部的行动上，我们都必须与神是一。我们必须写神今天的历史！我们必须与那奋力活动的神是一而一同往前！在祂里面！同着祂！凭着祂！也是为着祂！我们必须是有活力的、活泼的、活动的！我们必须作今日的约书亚和迦勒，为基督据有神所应许之地为业，使我们得以成为祂的产业！我们必须作今日的路得，转向神的经纶，进入以马内利之地，与基督成为婚配，使我们得以生出基督，来应付人今日的需要。这该是约书亚记、士师记、路得记这三卷书的内在意义。这次训练的结果，该是为基督得着神应许之地，并产生出超绝的基督，以应付神与人今日的需要。
我们需要认识，按预表迦南地有两面的意义；
在积极一面，迦南预表
包罗万有的基督同祂追测不尽的丰富；
在消极一面，迦南表征
撒但黑暗国度空中、天上的部分，连同撒但的势力。
我们要为着神的建造
完全得着并据有基督这包罗万有的地，
就必须学习受主直接的、头手的同在
之保守、掌管、管理并指引；
我们若有主的同在，就有智慧、眼光、
先见以及对事物内里的认识；
主的同在对我们乃事一切。
我们需要蒙拯救脱离不法，不作行不法的人，
借着顺从事奉神的原则，行神眼中看为正的事，
并征服在旧造里撒但的混乱，
且为着新造完成神圣的经纶。
我们要作一个正常的基督徒，
作今日的得胜者，答应主当前的呼召，
并应付主在祂恢复里当前的需要，
就必须作今日的路得，转向神的经纶，
进入以马内利之地，与基督成为婚配，
是我们得以生出基督，来应付神与人今日的需要。
Ron 弟兄一個給安那翰召會的交通：
親愛的聖徒，
Ron弟兄寫了一個簡短的段落（見下文）來強調即將到來的七月訓練的巨大重要性，並鼓勵聖徒報名參加這次訓練。
2021 年 7 月的夏季訓練將涵蓋約書亞記,士師記,路得記。 這 12 篇信息不僅僅是這些書中生命讀經信息的總結，而是會釋放關於約書亞記、士師記和路得記之神聖奧秘內在意義的亮光、生命和真理。 這些夏季訓練大綱的撰寫會涉及激烈的屬靈爭戰。
以下說明兩件事：
- 神的敵人反對這12篇訓夏季訓練信息的內容並加以對抗；
- 這次夏季訓練在神的眼中非常重要，因為這些信息將使聖徒能夠經歷和享受包羅萬有的基督，在他們的生活和服事中遵行父神的旨意，成為在基督裡那些藉著基督的勝利來戰勝撒但的混亂，為新造完成神聖的經綸，並採取實際的生活方式，建造召會作基督的身體的人。
對於所有願意付出任何主耶穌所要求我們的代價來接受訓練、在生活中成熟並充分準備好成為基督的新婦、熱愛祂的顯現並渴望祂的到來的人而言，這次夏季訓練將是十分特別的祝福。
Dear brothers,
Brother Ron has written a short paragraph (see below) to highlight the immense importance of the upcoming July training and to encourage the saints to sign up for this training.
You may feel to forward this to some of the saints in your places.
The July 2021 training will cover Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. The 12 messages will not be mere summaries of the Life-study messages on these books but will release light, life, and truth regarding the mysterious intrinsic significance of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. The writing of the outlines involved intense spiritual warfare. This indicates two matters: (1) that the enemy is opposed to the content of these 12 training messages and fights against them; (2) that this training is of great importance in the eyes of God, for these messages will enable the saints to experience and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ, to do the will of the Father in their life and service, to become in Christ those who will conquer the satanic chaos by the victory of Christ and accomplish the divine economy for the new creation, and to take the way of life in reality for the building up of the church as the Body of Christ. This training will be a special blessing to all those who are willing to pay whatever price the Lord requires for us to be trained, matured in life, and fully prepared to be the prepared bride of Christ, loving His appearing and longing for His coming.
———
Church in Anaheim
親愛的聖徒們，
我要感謝你們眾人，在我們勞苦編寫《約書亞記、士師記、路得記結晶讀經》的所有綱要時，為我們禱告。我們都知道，當我們在主的工作中作任何事時，都是“身體的事＂。我可以說，無論Ron弟兄和我為這些綱要編寫了甚麼，都實在是在身體裏、藉着身體、並為着身體作的。我覺得這些綱要是出自作我們源頭的主，藉着作我們憑藉的主，並歸於主，好使祂得榮耀。我們對主滿了感謝，祂讓我們在為着建造基督的身體、豫備祂的新婦、並引進祂的國度之一切勞苦中，得以經歷並享受祂作為我們神的憐憫的心腸。
我必須作個人的見證，自從李弟兄離世與主同在之後，在我所勞苦編寫的許多綱要中，這次訓練的這些綱要對我來說是最困難的。我當時覺得對於我所編寫的每一篇綱要，我正在進入新的啟示和對基督新鮮經歷之“未曾探索的領域(unexplored territory)＂中。當然，這是在我持續不斷的軟弱當中完成的，但我感謝主，藉着眾聖徒的禱告，祂作了我們勞苦的彀用恩典。
我真心懇求眾聖徒不要錯過這次訓練，因為我相信這將是我們迄今為止最好的訓練。如果有任何聖徒錯過這次訓練，這將是他們極大的損失，因為我們全心相信，這些綱要是那靈在我們裏面並同着我們採取另一大步時，向眾召會現今的說話，要豫備我們成為祂的新婦，以迎接祂的回來。
以下是摘自綱要的六個要點，可以讓你感受到主從祂的職事而來寶貴而最新的說話：
一、約書亞能實行神的話上所寫之一切的訣竅，以及他能亨通、順利、剛強、壯膽，取得神應許之地的訣竅，乃是他晝夜默想神的話，不讓神的話離開他的口；『你的口』（書一8）這話表明默想主要是藉著大聲說話來實行。
“這辭意義豐富，原文含示敬拜、與自己交談、以及大聲說話。默想話乃是藉著仔細揣摩而品嘗、享受它。禱告、對自己說話和讚美主，也可包括在默想話中。默想神的話乃是享受祂的話作為祂的氣，（提後三 16，）因而被神注入、將神吸入、並接受屬靈的滋養。＂（見詩篇一一九 15 與註 1）。 默想神的話，甚至比禱讀更豐富、更廣闊、更包羅，因這包含禱告、敬拜、享受、交談、下拜、甚至舉手接受神的話；（一一九 48；）向神的話舉手，指我們熱誠歡樂的接受它，並對它說，阿們。（尼八 5～6。）
二、我們若要進入、據有並享受包羅萬有的基督這美地的實際，就必須在主的同在裏去；我們無論作甚麼，都必須注意我們有否神的同在。
李弟兄說，“我年輕時，人教導我各種得勝、聖別、並屬靈的方法。然而，這些方法沒有一樣管用。至終，經過六十八年以上的經歷，我發現除了主的同在以外，沒有一樣管用。祂與我們同在，乃是一切。＂（摘自《約書亞記生命讀經》，第八篇）
三、我們該接受、經歷並享受基督作我們的王、我們的主、我們的頭、和我們的丈夫，使祂成為我們的祝福，也使我們對眾聖徒和眾召會成為祝福的管道。
四、我們沒有權利與主離婚，沒有理由離棄祂；我們必須接受祂，愛祂，尊重祂，尊敬祂，看重祂，高舉祂，緊聯於祂，並棄絕撒但到極點；這樣我們就必蒙福；以耶和華為主、為頭、為王、為丈夫的每一國家、每一社會、每一團體和每一個人，是有福的。（詩三三 12。）
五、路得記是士師記的附錄，記載一對夫婦佳美的故事，明亮而芬芳；這故事裏的主角—路得—猶如荊棘中長出的百合花，又如黑夜裏明亮的星。
（當拿俄米決定回到美地的伯利恆時）路得告訴拿俄米－“不要催我離開你回去不跟隨你。你往那裏去，我也往那裏去；你在那裏住宿，我也在那裏住宿；你的民就是我的民，你的神就是我的神。你在那裏死，我也在那裏死，也葬在那裏。除非死能使你我相離，不然，願耶和華重重的降罰與我。＂（路得記一 16~17。）這是路得揀選神和祂的國，為着成就神關於基督的經綸。
六、我們都必須渴望成為波阿斯，顧到別人對基督的享受，並且是召會生活中的柱子。此外，我們需要看見羅馬七章一至六節“兩個丈夫＂的大啟示，以及它們如何應用於波阿斯和路得作為基督與召會的豫表。
我覺得任何一個蒙主祝福，決定參加要來之夏季訓練的人，都像路得一樣，揀選了這目標：與神的選民一同有分於享受基督，以產生基督，好滿足今天神與人的需要。
願主繁增的恩典與你們眾人同在。
在基督裏， 艾德-馬克斯（Ed Marks）
Dear Saints,
I want to thank all of you for your prayers for our labor on all of the outlines on the Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. We all know that when we do anything in the work of the Lord, it is a “Body matter.” I can say that truly whatever Ron and I composed for these outlines was something done in the Body, through the Body, and for the Body. I feel that these outlines came out from the Lord as our source, through the Lord as our means, and to the Lord for His glory. We are full of thanks to the Lord for allowing us to experience and enjoy Him as the merciful compassions of our God in all of our labor for the building up of Christ’s Body, the preparation of His bride, and the ushering in of His kingdom. I must testify personally that out of the many outlines on which I have labored since Brother Lee went to be with the Lord, these were the most difficult for me. I felt that I was entering into “unexplored territory” of new revelations and fresh experiences of Christ for each outline on which I worked. This, of course, was done in the midst of my continual weaknesses, but I thank the Lord for being our all-sufficient and laboring grace through the prayers of all the saints.
I would truly implore all the saints not to miss this training because I believe that it will be the best training that we have ever had so far. If any of the saints miss this training, this will be a great loss to them, because we believe with all of our heart that these outlines are the up-to-date speaking of the Spirit to all the churches in His taking another major step in and with us to prepare us to be His bride for His coming back.
The following are six significant points from the outlines that may give you a sense of the precious and up-to-date speaking of the Lord from His ministry:
- The key to Joshua’s carrying out all that is written in God’s Word and the key to his prosperity, success, strength, and courage in taking the God-promised land were for him to not let God’s word depart from his mouth by musing upon it day and night; the words “your mouth” (in Josh. 1:8) show that musing was mainly practiced by speaking aloud. “The Hebrew word for muse is rich in meaning; it implies to worship, to converse with oneself, and to speak aloud; to muse on the word is to taste and enjoy it through careful considering. Prayer, speaking to oneself, and praising the Lord may also be included in musing on the word; to muse on the word of God is to enjoy His word as His breath (2 Tim. 3:16) and thus to be infused with God, to breathe God in, and to receive spiritual nourishment” (see Psalm 119:15 and footnote 1). Musing upon the word is even richer, broader, and more inclusive than pray-reading, for it includes prayer, worship, enjoyment, conversation, bowing down, and even lifting up our hand to receive God’s word ( Psa. 119:48); to lift up our hand unto the word of God is to indicate that we receive it warmly and gladly and that we say Amen to it (Neh. 8:5-6).
- If we would enter, possess, and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ as the reality of the good land, we must do so by the presence of the Lord; regardless of what we do, we must pay attention to whether or not we have God’s presence. Brother Lee said—“In my youth I was taught various ways to overcome, to be victorious, to be holy, and to be spiritual. However, not any of these ways worked. Eventually, through more than sixty-eight years of experience, I have found out that nothing works but the Lord’s presence. His being with us is everything”–Lifestudy of Joshua, p. 48.
- We should take, experience, and enjoy Christ as our King, our Lord, our Head, and our Husband so that He can be our blessing to make us a channel of blessing to the saints and all the churches.
- We have no right to divorce the Lord and no reason to forsake Him; we must take Him, love Him, honor Him, respect Him, regard Him, exalt Him, and cling to Him, rejecting Satan to the uttermost; then we will be blessed; blessed is everyone–nation, society, group, and individual–whose Lord, Head, King, and Husband is Jehovah (Psa. 33:12).
- Ruth, as an appendix to the book of Judges, is the record of a couple’s excellent story, bright and aromatic; the main character in this story, Ruth, is like a lily growing out of brambles and a bright star in the dark night. Ruth told Naomi (when she decided to return to Bethlehem in the good land)—“Do not entreat me to leave you and turn away from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you dwell, I will dwell; and your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die; and there I will be buried. Jehovah do so to me, and more as well, if anything but death parts me from you” (Ruth 1:16-17). This was Ruth’s choosing God and His kingdom for the carrying out of God’s economy concerning Christ.
- We all must aspire to be Boaz’s who take care of others’ enjoyment of Christ and who are pillars in the church life. In addition to this, we need to see the great revelation of the “two husbands” in Romans 7:1-6 and how they apply to Boaz and Ruth as a type of Christ and the church. I feel that anyone who is blessed by the Lord to make the decision to be in this upcoming summer training is to be like Ruth, who chose the goal of participating with God’s elect in the enjoyment of Christ to bring forth Christ in order to meet today’s need of both God and men.
May the Lord’s multiplied grace be with all of you.
In Christ, Ed Marks