[4고급] grounding our faith in God in the Bible
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| As Christians, | grounding our faith in God in the Bible |
| 그리스도인으로서, | 하나님을 향한 믿음을 성경에 기초하는 것은 |
| is truly important. | Only when we seek |
| 참으로 중요합니다. | 우리가 비로소 추구할 때에만, |
| to read the Bible | can we begin |
| 성경을 읽고자, | 우리는 시작할 수 있습니다. |
| a life of believing in God. | We do not believe in Satan. |
| 하나님을 믿는 삶을. | 우리는 사탄을 믿지 않습니다. |
| However, | this does not mean |
| 그러나, | 그것이 의미하는 것은 아닙니다. |
| we deny Satan. | We acknowledge Satan, |
| 사탄의 존재를 부인한다는 것을. | 우리는 사탄의 존재를 인정하지만, |
| but we do not follow him. | Therefore, |
| 그를 따르지는 않습니다. | 그러므로, |
| it means | we do not believe in him. |
| 그것은 의미합니다. | 우리가 그를 믿지 않는다는 것을. |
| In that sense, | believing does not mean acknowledging, |
| 그러한 의미에서, | 믿는다는 것은 단순히 인정하는 것이 아니라, |
| but trusting. | We follow |
| 신뢰하는 것입니다. | 우리는 따릅니다. |
| because we trust. | For example, |
| 신뢰하기 때문입니다. | 예를 들어, |
| imagine someone saying, | Believe in me. |
| 누군가가 말한다고 생각해 보십시오. | 나를 믿어라. |
| That means, | Believe and follow me. |
| 그 말의 뜻은, | 나를 믿고 따라오라.입니다. |
| Conversely, | if someone says |
| 반대로, | 누군가가 말하기를, |
| they believe | but will not follow, |
| 믿는다고 하면서도, | 따르지는 않는다면, |
| that is merely acknowledging. | They acknowledge him, |
| 그것은 단지 인정하는 것에 불과합니다. | 그들은 그를 인정하지만, |
| but do not wish | to be with him. |
| 원하지는 않습니다. | 그와 함께하는 것을. |
| Summarizing the meaning of faith | in this way, |
| 이와 같이 믿음의 의미를 정리해 보면, | 이런 식으로 |
| the work that a Christian | who believes in God |
| 그리스도인이 하는 일, | 곧 하나님을 믿는 사람이 하는 일은 |
| always does | is reading the Bible. |
| 항상 | 성경을 읽는 것입니다. |
| Non-believers may also read the Bible, | but that is not |
| 불신자들도 성경을 읽을 수는 있지만, | 그것은 |
| for the purpose of following, | but merely for acknowledging. |
| 따르기 위한 목적이 아니라, | 단지 인정하기 위한 목적입니다. |
| They simply think, | I see, |
| 그들은 단지 생각합니다. | 아, 그렇구나. |
| rather than thinking, | I must do it that way. |
| 라고 생각할 뿐, | 나도 그렇게 해야겠다는 아닙니다 |
| On the contrary, | many non-believers |
| 오히려, | 많은 불신자들은 |
| will likely not read the Bible. | The Bible instills |
| 성경을 읽으려 하지도 않을 것입니다. | 성경은 심어 줍니다. |
| in those who believe in God | a sense of conviction |
| 하나님을 믿는 사람들에게 | 확신을, |
| that | I must do it this way. |
| 곧, | 나는 이렇게 해야 한다는 확신입니다 |
| Therefore, | those who believe in God |
| 그러므로, | 하나님을 믿는 사람들은 |
| must read the Bible. | By reading the Bible, |
| 반드시 성경을 읽어야 합니다. | 성경을 읽음으로써, |
| they gain the will | to live according to its words. |
| 그들은 의지를 얻게 됩니다. | 그 말씀대로 살아가려는 의지를 말입니다. |
| What is important | is when you cherish the Bible. |
| 중요한 것은 | 성경을 귀하게 여기는 것입니다. |
| God blesses | such saints. |
| 하나님께서는 복을 주십니다. | 그러한 성도들에게. |
| This is because | they have cherished |
| 왜냐하면 | 그들이 귀하게 여긴 것은 |
| God's Word and will. | Those who cherish the Bible |
| 하나님의 말씀과 뜻이기 때문입니다. | 성경을 귀하게 여기는 사람은 |
| cherish God's will, | and those who cherish God's will |
| 하나님의 뜻도 귀하게 여기며, | 하나님의 뜻을 귀하게 여기는 사람은 |
| eventually do God's work. | God blesses |
| 결국 하나님의 일을 하게 됩니다. | 하나님께서는 복을 주시고 |
| those who do His work | and continues to use them. |
| 자신의 일을 하는 사람들을 | 계속 사용하십니다. |
| They will shine forever. | That is the promise of the Bible |
| 그들은 영원히 빛날 것입니다. | 그것이 성경의 약속이며, |
| and the promise of God. | Look at Daniel 12:3. |
| 하나님의 약속입니다. | 다니엘 12장 3절을 보십시오. |
| The wise | will shine |
| 지혜 있는 자들은 | 빛날 것입니다. |
| like the brightness of the heavens, | and those who lead many |
| 하늘의 광명과 같이, | 많은 사람을 |
| to righteousness | will shine |
| 의로움으로 인도한 자들은 | 빛날 것입니다. |
| like the stars | forever. |
| 별과 같이 | 영원토록. |
| The one who leads many | to righteousness |
| 많은 사람을 | 의로움으로 인도하는 사람은 |
| is the one | who brings them back |
| 곧 | 그들을 |
| to God's Word | and does God's will. |
| 하나님의 말씀으로 돌아오게 하고, | 하나님의 뜻을 행하게 하는 사람입니다. |
| This is because | God uses each person |
| 왜냐하면 | 하나님께서는 각 사람을 사용하셔서 |
| to lead many | to righteousness. |
| 많은 사람을 | 의로움으로 이끄시기 때문입니다. |
| The Bible is thus | a manual, |
| 그러므로 성경은 | 설명서이며, |
| an instruction guide, | and a sign of promise |
| 지침서이며, | 약속의 표지판입니다. |
| that enables us | to know |
| 그것은 우리로 하여금 | 하나님의 뜻과 능력을 알고, |
| and act upon | God's will and power. |
| 그에 따라 행동하도록 | 도와줍니다. |
| However, | the words of Isaiah |
| 그러나 | 이사야의 이 말씀은 |
| that demonstrate | these biblical principles |
| 보여 주면서도, | 성경의 원리들을 |
| actually appeared | while explaining |
| 원래는 | 더 중요한 원리를 설명하는 가운데 |
| a more important principle. | In context, |
| 나타난 말씀이었습니다. | 문맥 속에서 보면, |
| there is a significance | within the text |
| 이 본문에는 | 특별한 의미가 있습니다. |
| as shown | in Isaiah 34:12 onwards. |
| 그 의미는 | 이사야 34장 12절 이하에 나타납니다. |
| Once we understand this, | it is clearly evident |
| 이것을 이해하게 되면, | 분명히 알게 됩니다. |
| that we must follow these words | and have no choice. |
| 왜 우리가 이 말씀을 따라야 하는지, | 그리고 그렇게 할 수밖에 없는지를 말입니다. |
| Let us look | at verse 12 |
| 이제 살펴봅시다. | 12절을. |
| before that. | They will call for nobles |
| 그 앞에 있는 | 그들은 귀족들을 불러 |
| to succeed the nation, | but none will be found, |
| 나라를 이어가게 하려 하지만, | 한 사람도 찾지 못할 것이며, |
| nor will all their princes be found. | Thorns will grow |
| 방백들도 남지 않을 것이다. | 가시덤불이 자랄 것이다. |
| in their palaces, | and thistles and barnyard grass |
| 그들의 궁궐에, | 엉겅퀴와 잡초가 자랄 것이다. |
| will grow | in their fortified walls; |
| 무성하게. | 그들의 견고한 성읍에. |
| they will become | dens for jackals |
| 그곳은 | 승냥이의 굴이 되고, |
| and dwelling places | for ostriches. |
| 거하는 처소가 될 것이다. | 타조들을 위한 |
| This passage | speaks of God's judgment. |
| 이 말씀은 | 하나님의 심판을 말합니다. |
| When God rules the world, | He judges |
| 하나님께서 세상을 다스리실 때, | 그분은 심판하십니다. |
| their wickedness and sin. | And through that judgment, |
| 사람들의 악함과 죄를. | 그리고 그 심판을 통해, |
| we come to know | how God rules the world |
| 우리는 알게 됩니다. | 하나님께서 세상을 어떻게 다스리시는지, |
| and how He destroys sin. | In this sense, |
| 그리고 죄를 어떻게 멸하시는지를. | 이런 의미에서, |
| verses 12 and 13 | also speak of |
| 12절과 13절은 | 재앙과 심판을 말합니다. |
| the various calamities and judgments | that occur |
| 곧 여러 가지 재앙과 심판을, | 일어나게 되는, |
| when God punishes | the wickedness and obstinacy |
| 하나님께서 심판하실 때, | 악함과 완고함을. |
| of each nation. | Therefore, |
| 각 나라의 | 그러므로, |
| even if the people of the world | call upon nobles |
| 세상 사람들이 | 귀족들을 불러 |
| to succeed the nation, | there will be no one, |
| 나라를 이어가게 하려고 해도, | 아무도 남지 않게 됩니다. |
| nor will there be any princes. | Branches grow |
| 방백들도 사라지게 됩니다. | 나뭇가지들이 자라고, |
| in the palaces, | and thistles |
| 궁궐에는 | 엉겅퀴와 |
| and thornbush grow | in the fortified cities. |
| 가시덤불이 무성해집니다. | 견고한 성읍들에는. |
| As people disappear | from the palaces and cities, |
| 사람들이 사라지자, | 궁궐과 성읍에서, |
| thornbushes, | thistles, |
| 가시덤불과 | 엉겅퀴와 |
| and thickets overflow. | The very meaning |
| 잡초들이 가득하게 되었습니다. | 이 말씀의 의미는 |
| of this passage | was that God |
| 분명합니다. | 하나님께서 |
| is bringing judgment. | And humans cannot prevent |
| 심판을 내리고 계신다는 것입니다. | 그리고 사람은 |
| or escape that judgment. | When humans |
| 그 심판을 막을 수도 피할 수도 없습니다. | 하나님의 심판을 받은 |
| who have received God's judgment | disappear, |
| 하나님의 심판을 받은 사람들이 | 사라지자 |
| the animals permitted by God | prosper. |
| 하나님께서 허락하신 짐승들이 | 번성하게 됩니다. |
| This appearance of prosperity | serves as a message |
| 이러한 번성의 모습은 | 하나의 메시지가 됩니다. |
| demonstrating | the certainty and severity |
| 곧 | 하나님의 심판이 |
| of God's judgment. | The wild beasts |
| 얼마나 확실하고 엄중한지를 보여 주는 메시지입니다. | 들짐승들이 |
| will meet with the wolves, | and the goats |
| 이리들과 만나고, | 들염소들이 |
| will call to their kind; | the owls |
| 서로를 부르게 될 것이다. | 올빼미는 |
| will dwell there | and make it |
| 그곳에 거하며, | 그곳을 |
| their resting place. | The owls |
| 쉼터로 삼을 것이다. | 올빼미는 |
| will nest there | and lay their eggs |
| 그곳에 둥지를 틀고, | 알을 낳고, |
| and brood them, | gathering them |
| 품어 기르며, | 새끼들을 모을 것이다. |
| in its shade; | the vultures |
| 그 그늘 아래에서. | 솔개들도 |
| will gather there, | each with his mate. |
| 그곳에 모일 것이며, | 각기 짝을 이루어 함께할 것이다. |
| The palaces or fortresses | where humans once lived |
| 과거 사람들이 살던 궁궐과 성곽이 | 한때 인간들이 거주하며 |
| and prospered, | become places |
| 번영하던 장소들이 | 이제는 장소가 됩니다. |
| where wild beasts | meet with wolves, |
| 들짐승들이 살아가는 | 곳이 되고, |
| where goats call to their kind, | and where owls dwell. |
| 들염소들이 서로를 부르는 곳이 되며, | 올빼미들이 거하는 곳이 됩니다. |
| The places | where owls nest |
| 올빼미들이 둥지를 틀고 | 번식하며, |
| and multiply, | and where vultures gather |
| 솔개들이 짝을 지어 모이는 장소는 | 원래 |
| with their mates, | were in fact places |
| 사람들이 살며 번성하던 곳이었습니다. | 실제로는 말입니다. |
| where humans once lived | and prospered. |
| 사람들이 거주하고 | 번영하던 장소였습니다. |
| Such places | have become ruins, |
| 그러한 장소들이 | 폐허가 되었고, |
| wilderness, | and wild |
| 광야가 되었으며, | 들짐승의 영역이 되었습니다. |
| due to God's judgment. | It is precisely |
| 하나님의 심판으로 말미암아. | 바로 이러한 상황 속에서 |
| at such times | that the Word of God appears. |
| 등장하는 것이 | 하나님의 말씀입니다. |
| The gathering of wild beasts | in this way |
| 들짐승들이 모이는 일 역시 | 이와 같이 |
| was an event | accomplished |
| 하나의 사건이었습니다. | 하나님에 의해 이루어진 |
| by God's will. | Search and read |
| 사건이었습니다. | 찾아 읽어 보라. |
| in the book of the LORD, | for none of these |
| 여호와의 책에서. | 이것들 가운데 |
| shall be missing, | nor shall any be |
| 빠진 것이 없고, | 것도 없다. |
| without its counterpart; | for the mouth of the LORD |
| 짝이 없는 | 이는 여호와의 입이 |
| has commanded it, | and His Spirit |
| 명령하셨고, | 그의 영이 |
| has gathered them. | We had been thinking |
| 그것들을 모으셨기 때문이다. | 우리는 지금까지 |
| only of the book of the LORD, | but originally |
| 오직 여호와의 책만 생각해 왔지만, | 원래 |
| in the words of Isaiah, | these were not books |
| 이사야의 본문에서는 | 이것들이 책이 아니라, |
| but wild beasts. | What we learn |
| 들짐승들을 가리키고 있었습니다. | 우리가 배우는 것은 |
| solely from the book of the LORD | is that the flourishing |
| 여호와의 책을 통해 | 번성이 |
| of all these wild beasts | was commanded |
| 이 모든 들짐승들의 | 이루어졌고, |
| by the mouth of the LORD | and that the Spirit of the LORD |
| 하나님의 명령에 의해 | 여호와의 영께서 |
| gathered them. | Then, |
| 그것들을 모으셨다는 사실입니다. | 그렇다면, |
| is it a false statement | that through the words of Isaiah, |
| 이사야의 말씀을 통해 | 성경 역시 |
| the Bible is missing nothing, | that none are without a counterpart, |
| 빠진 것이 없고, | 짝이 없지 않으며, |
| that the LORD commanded the Bible, | and that the Spirit of the LORD gathered them? |
| 여호와께서 명령하셨고, | 여호와의 영께서 모으셨다고 말하는 것은 잘못일까요? |
| No, it is not. | This is because |
| 그렇지 않습니다. | 왜냐하면 |
| what is truly important | is that the LORD commanded |
| 정말 중요한 것은 | 여호와께서 명령하셨고, |
| all of this | and the Spirit of the LORD gathered it. |
| 무엇보다도 | 여호와의 영께서 모으셨다는 사실이기 때문입니다. |
| God is the One | who gathers salvation |
| 하나님은 | 구원을 모으시는 분이시며, |
| through the Bible, | and He is the One |
| 성경을 통하여, | 또한 |
| who gathers judgment as well. | Both salvation and judgment |
| 심판도 모으시는 분이십니다. | 구원과 심판은 모두 |
| belong to God. | A similar passage |
| 하나님께 속한 것입니다. | 비슷한 말씀이 |
| appears in 2 Peter. | But the day of the Lord |
| 베드로후서에도 나옵니다. | 주의 날은 |
| will come like a thief. | In that day |
| 도둑같이 올 것입니다. | 그날에 |
| the heavens will pass away | with a great noise, |
| 하늘은 사라질 것이며, | 큰 소리와 함께, |
| and the elements | will melt |
| 만물의 요소들은 | 녹아 버릴 것입니다. |
| with intense heat, | and the earth |
| 뜨거운 불에 의해, | 땅과 |
| and everything in it | will be exposed. |
| 그 안에 있는 모든 것들은 | 드러나게 될 것입니다. |
| The events | that unfold |
| 이러한 사건들은 | 일어나게 되는, |
| when the Day of the Lord arrives, | demonstrate God's glory and power. |
| 주의 날이 임할 때, | 하나님의 영광과 능력을 보여 줍니다. |
| When all these things | are revealed, |
| 이 모든 일이 | 드러나게 되면, |
| we see | God's greatness and reign. |
| 우리는 보게 됩니다. | 하나님의 위대하심과 통치를. |
| Likewise, | through the Bible, |
| 이와 마찬가지로, | 성경을 통해서도, |
| there is God's command | and gathering |
| 하나님의 명령과 | 모으심이 있습니다. |
| that makes the Word | truly the Word. |
| 그것이 말씀을 | 참된 말씀 되게 합니다. |
| When we accept the Bible, | God's book, |
| 우리가 성경을 | 하나님의 책으로, |
| as the Word of God, | we come to understand |
| 하나님의 말씀으로 받아들일 때, | 우리는 깨닫게 됩니다. |
| the causes and consequences | of the world's changes. |
| 원인과 결과를. | 세상 변화의 |
| Through the Bible, | we realize |
| 성경을 통해, | 우리는 깨닫게 됩니다. |
| the meaning | of the world's changes |
| 가진 의미와 | 세상의 변화가 |
| and the direction of life. | Without it, |
| 인생의 방향을. | 그것이 없다면, |
| people would have known nothing | about this world |
| 사람들은 아무것도 알지 못했을 것입니다. | 이 세상에 대해서도, |
| or the meaning of existence. | The Bible reveals the world. |
| 존재의 의미에 대해서도. | 성경은 세상을 밝혀 줍니다. |
| Likewise, | the Bible shows us |
| 마찬가지로, | 성경은 우리에게 보여 줍니다. |
| what our own rewards are | and what judgment is. |
| 우리의 상급이 무엇인지, | 심판이 무엇인지를. |
| We come to see the world | within the Bible. |
| 우리는 세상을 보게 됩니다. | 성경 안에서. |
| We can see ourselves | reflected in this. |
| 또한 우리 자신을 볼 수 있습니다. | 그 안에 비추어진 모습으로. |
| In August 1945, | when atomic bombs |
| 1945년 8월, | 원자폭탄이 |
| were dropped | on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, |
| 투하되었을 때, | 히로시마와 나가사키에, |
| leaflets were distributed | in each city. |
| 전단지가 뿌려졌습니다. | 각 도시마다. |
| These leaflets | were a warning |
| 그 전단지는 | 경고문이었습니다. |
| from the United States | urging people |
| 미국이 보낸, | 사람들에게 |
| to leave the city, | as massive attacks |
| 도시를 떠나라고, | 대규모 공격이 |
| were imminent. | However, |
| 임박했기 때문이었습니다. | 그러나, |
| the citizens ignored them, | and ultimately, |
| 시민들은 그것을 무시했고, | 결국, |
| the atomic bombs | were dropped, |
| 원자폭탄이 | 투하되었습니다. |
| resulting in great casualties. | In this way, |
| 그리고 엄청난 희생이 발생했습니다. | 이와 같이, |
| the Word of God | serves as a signal |
| 하나님의 말씀은 | 알리는 신호가 됩니다. |
| of God's power. | Today, |
| 하나님의 능력을 | 오늘 우리는 |
| we must remember | that the principles of the Bible |
| 기억해야 합니다. | 성경의 원리가 |
| are fully manifested | in our own lives, |
| 우리 삶 속에서 | 온전히 나타난다는 사실을. |
| and that God commands | and God gathers. |
| 그리고 하나님께서 명령하시고, | 하나님께서 모으신다는 사실을. |
| Furthermore, | we must become those |
| 더 나아가, | 우리는 그런 사람이 되어야 합니다. |
| who follow God | within His Word. |
| 하나님을 따르는, | 그분의 말씀 안에서. |
| When we do so, | we will realize |
| 우리가 그렇게 할 때, | 우리는 깨닫게 될 것입니다. |
| the reason | He gave us the Bible, |
| 하나님께서 | 왜 성경을 주셨는지를. |
| fulfill His will, | and become those |
| 그리고 그분의 뜻을 이루며, | 하나님께 영광을 돌림으로써 |
| who rejoice in Him | by giving Him glory |
| 그분 안에서 기뻐하는 사람이 될 것입니다. | 그분께 영광을 돌리며, |
| through that will. | I pray |
| 그 뜻을 통해. | 저는 기도합니다. |
| in the name of the Lord | that such grace |
| 주님의 이름으로, | 이러한 은혜가 |
| may overflow | upon all of us. |
| 풍성히 넘쳐 나기를. | 우리 모두에게. |
23 Isaiah 34; 12-16 The principles of the Bible show God's work_1
June 14, 2026. Sunday. Sunday Morning.
Overview: God's will is being applied to the whole, not just the part, #74 Godliness
[Isa] 34:12 They will call for nobles to succeed the nation, but none will be found, nor will any of their princes be found.
[Isa] 34:13 Thorns will grow in their palaces, and thistles and sedges will grow in their fortified cities; they will become dens for jackals and dwelling places for ostriches.
[Isa] 34:14 The wild beasts will meet with the wolves, and the goats will call to their kind; the owls will dwell there and make it their resting place.
[Isa] 34:15 The owls will nest there and lay their eggs and brood them, gathering them in its shade; the vultures will gather there, each with his mate.
[Isa] 34:16 Search and read in the book of the LORD; none of these will be missing, nor will any be without its mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.
Praise: 79. Lord God All the world He created, [Chapter 63] The Lord rules the world
[Chapter 400] In the waters of rough trials, [Chapter 138] Wherever the sunlight shines
As Christians, grounding our faith in God in the Bible is truly important. Only when we seek to read the Bible can we begin a life of believing in God. We do not believe in Satan. However, this does not mean we deny Satan. We acknowledge Satan, but we do not follow him. Therefore, it means we do not believe in him. In that sense, believing does not mean acknowledging, but trusting. We follow because we trust.
For example, imagine someone saying, "Believe in me." That means, "Believe and follow me." Conversely, if someone says they believe but will not follow, that is merely acknowledging. They acknowledge him, but do not wish to be with him. Summarizing the meaning of faith in this way, the work that a Christian who believes in God always does is reading the Bible. Non-believers may also read the Bible, but that is not for the purpose of following, but merely for acknowledging. They simply think, "I see," rather than thinking, "I must do it that way." On the contrary, many non-believers will likely not read the Bible. The Bible instills in those who believe in God a sense of conviction that "I must do it this way." Therefore, those who believe in God must read the Bible. By reading the Bible, they gain the will to live according to its words.
Today's message demonstrates the principles by which the Word of God, which is believed in and followed, acquires authority and power. Isaiah chapter 34 appears in doctrinal textbooks and serves as a reference verse when demonstrating that the Bible consists of 66 books. Look at verse 16.
“[Isa] 34:16 Look in the book of the LORD and read it. None of these shall be missing, nor shall any be without its counterpart; for the mouth of the LORD has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.”
The statement that nothing is missing from the book of the LORD and none lacks its counterpart shows that the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament form pairs, resulting in a total of 66 books. Furthermore, it explains that the principle behind this is that the mouth of the LORD commanded it and His Spirit gathered them. Through these words, we come to understand that the reason the Bible became 66 books is precisely because of God's gathering. It was not that humans recorded and gathered the Bible to form 66 books, but rather that God had people record them, thereby creating the Bible as we know it today.
This is precisely what demonstrates the specialness of the Bible. The Bible is not meaningful only for its recorded content. There is the working of God who gathers and preserves that content. If the Bible were merely a written book, it would not have exerted any particular authority or efficacy. However, because there is a God who protects, works, and guides through that book, reading the Bible and striving to live according to its words becomes a meaningful and valuable endeavor. This is because it is an act of seeking to know and keep God's will. God watches over and blesses the saints who regard His word as important. The Bible itself explains God's working.
Of course, does God punish someone if they tear, burn, or disregard the book? No, He does not. Nor does God punish a believer simply because they accidentally tear the book, scribble on it, or spill water on it, rendering it unreadable. The problem is not treating the Bible badly. Since not believing in God is a sin in the first place, any wrongdoing against the Bible adds to the sin of not believing, and will eventually result in judgment all at once. He is simply leaving it alone for now.
What is important is when you cherish the Bible. God blesses such saints. This is because they have cherished God’s Word and will. Those who cherish the Bible cherish God’s will, and those who cherish God’s will eventually do God’s work. God blesses those who do His work and continues to use them. They will shine forever. That is the promise of the Bible and the promise of God. Look at Daniel 12:3.
“[Dan] 12:3 The wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”
The one who leads many to righteousness is the one who brings them back to God’s Word and does God’s will. This is because God uses each person to lead many to righteousness. The Bible is thus a manual, an instruction guide, and a sign of promise that enables us to know and act upon God's will and power.
However, the words of Isaiah that demonstrate these biblical principles actually appeared while explaining a more important principle. In context, there is a significance within the text as shown in Isaiah 34:12 onwards. Once we understand this, it is clearly evident that we must follow these words and have no choice. Let us look at verse 12 before that.
“[Isa] 34:12 They will call for nobles to succeed the nation, but none will be found, nor will all their princes be found.
[Isa] 34:13 Thorns will grow in their palaces, and thistles and barnyard grass will grow in their fortified walls; they will become dens for jackals and dwelling places for ostriches.”
This passage speaks of God's judgment. When God rules the world, He judges their wickedness and sin. And through that judgment, we come to know how God rules the world and how He destroys sin. In this sense, verses 12 and 13 also speak of the various calamities and judgments that occur when God punishes the wickedness and obstinacy of each nation.
Therefore, even if the people of the world call upon nobles to succeed the nation, there will be no one, nor will there be any princes. Branches grow in the palaces, and thistles and thornbush grow in the fortified cities; thornbush signifies a thicket of thorns. As people disappear from the palaces and cities, thornbushes, thistles, and thickets overflow. The very meaning of this passage was that God is bringing judgment. And humans cannot prevent or escape that judgment.
When humans who have received God's judgment disappear, the animals permitted by God prosper. This appearance of prosperity serves as a message demonstrating the certainty and severity of God's judgment. “[Isa] 34:14 The wild beasts will meet with the wolves, and the goats will call to their kind; the owls will dwell there and make it their resting place.
[Isa] 34:15 The owls will nest there and lay their eggs and brood them, and gather them in its shade; the kites will gather there, each with his mate.”
The palaces or fortresses where humans once lived become places where wild beasts meet with wolves, where goats call to their kind, and where owls dwell. The places where owls nest and multiply, and where kites gather with their mates, were in fact places where humans once lived and prospered. Such places have become ruins, wilderness, and wild due to God’s judgment.
It is precisely at such times that the Word of God appears. The gathering of wild beasts in this way was an event accomplished by God’s will. “[Isa] 34:16 ‘Search and read in the book of the LORD, for none of these shall be missing, nor shall any be without its counterpart; for the mouth of the LORD has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.’”
We had been thinking only of the book of the LORD, but originally, in the words of Isaiah, these were not books but wild beasts. What we learn solely from the book of the LORD is that the flourishing of all these wild beasts was commanded by the mouth of the LORD and that the Spirit of the LORD gathered them. Then, is it a false statement that through the words of Isaiah, the Bible is missing nothing, that none are without a counterpart, that the LORD commanded the Bible, and that the Spirit of the LORD gathered them? No, it is not. This is because what is truly important is that the LORD commanded all of this and the Spirit of the LORD gathered it. God is the One who gathers salvation through the Bible, and He is the One who gathers judgment as well. Both salvation and judgment belong to God.
A similar passage appears in 2 Peter. “[2 Peter] 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. In that day the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with intense heat, and the earth and everything in it will be exposed.”
The events that unfold when the Day of the Lord arrives demonstrate God’s glory and power. When all these things are revealed, we see God’s greatness and reign. Likewise, through the Bible, there is God’s command and gathering that makes the Word truly the Word. When we accept the Bible, God’s book, as the Word of God, we come to understand the causes and consequences of the world’s changes. Through the Bible, we realize the meaning of the world’s changes and the direction of life. Without it, people would have known nothing about this world or the meaning of existence. The Bible reveals the world. Likewise, the Bible shows us what our own rewards are and what judgment is. We come to see the world within the Bible. We can see ourselves reflected in this.
In August 1945, when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, leaflets were distributed in each city. These leaflets were a warning from the United States urging people to leave the city, as massive attacks were imminent. However, the citizens ignored them, and ultimately, the atomic bombs were dropped, resulting in great casualties. In this way, the Word of God serves as a signal of God's power.
Today, we must remember that the principles of the Bible are fully manifested in our own lives, and that God commands and God gathers. Furthermore, we must become those who follow God within His Word. When we do so, we will realize the reason He gave us the Bible, fulfill His will, and become those who rejoice in Him by giving Him glory through that will. I pray in the name of the Lord that such grace may overflow upon all of us.
*Summary
1. Reading the Bible, the Word of God, is for the purpose of believing in and following God.
2. The Bible is not merely a record; it demonstrates the working of God who commands and gathers.
3. The Bible is not a partial or limited text, but God's explanation that reveals the principles and direction of the whole world.
*학습방법1
1.읽기: 학습내용을 의미어구에 따라서 한 줄씩 읽어보기
2.듣기: 학습내용을 의미어구에 따라서 미디어를 새창으로 열고 한 줄씩 들어보기3.쓰기: 학습내용을 보면서 한 줄씩 한글을 영어로 표현하여 써보기
4.말하기: 학습내용을 보면서 한 줄씩 한글을 영어로 표현하여 말하기