20250612 [새벽묵상] 신앙과 현실 사이에서 | Between Faith and Reality (시/Ps 73:1~14)

시편73:1 하나님이 참으로 이스라엘 중 마음이 정결한 자에게 선을 행하시나

1 Surely God is good to Israel,

    to those who are pure in heart.

73:2 나는 거의 넘어질 뻔하였고 나의 걸음이 미끄러질 뻔하였으니

73:3 이는 내가 악인의 형통함을 보고 오만한 자를 질투하였음이로다 

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

    I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant

    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

73:4 그들은 죽을 때에도 고통이 없고 그 힘이 강건하며

73:5 사람들이 당하는 고난이 그들에게는 없고 사람들이 당하는 재앙도 그들에게는 없나니

73:6 그러므로 교만이 그들의 목걸이요 강포가 그들의 옷이며

73:7 살찜으로 그들의 눈이 솟아나며 그들의 소득은 마음의 소원보다 많으며

73:8 그들은 능욕하며 악하게 말하며 높은 데서 거만하게 말하며

73:9 그들의 입은 하늘에 두고 그들의 혀는 땅에 두루 다니도다

73:10 그러므로 그의 백성이 이리로 돌아와서 잔에 가득한 물을 다 마시며

73:11 말하기를 하나님이 어찌 알랴 지존자에게 지식이 있으랴 하는도다

4 They have no struggles;

    their bodies are healthy and strong.

5 They are free from common human burdens;

    they are not plagued by human ills.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;

    they clothe themselves with violence.

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

    their evil imaginations have no limits.

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;

    with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

    and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 Therefore their people turn to them

    and drink up waters in abundance.

11 They say, “How would God know?

    Does the Most High know anything?”

73:12 볼지어다 이들은 악인들이라도 항상 평안하고 재물은 더욱 불어나도다

12 This is what the wicked are like—

    always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

73:13 내가 내 마음을 깨끗하게 하며 내 손을 씻어 무죄하다 한 것이 실로 헛되도다

73:14 나는 종일 재난을 당하며 아침마다 징벌을 받았도다

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

    and have washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been afflicted,

    and every morning brings new punishments.

                자 이제 다시 시편입니다. 오늘 말씀인 시편 73편은 시편 제 3권에 해당하는 부분입니다. 시편은 총 다섯권으로 구성되어있는데 그 중 오늘의 말씀이 있는 시편 제 3권은 대부분 아삽의 시와 고라 자손의 시로 이루어져 있습니다. 오늘 말씀도 아삽의 시라고 그 타이틀이 적혀 있지요. 아삽은 다윗 시대의 성가대장이었습니다. 역대상 16:4을 보면 그는 여호와의 궤 앞에서 섬기며 이스라엘 하나님 여호와를 칭송하고 감사하며 사람들로 하나님을 찬양하게 하는 자였습니다. 아마도 그는 매우 신실한 사람이었을 것입니다. 늘 하나님의 뜻을 따르려 하고 그 마음을 정결케 하며 하나님의 말씀 가운데 살아가려고 노력하는 사람이었을 것입니다. 마치 오늘 이자리에 모이신 성도 여러분들처럼 말입니다. 여러분들처럼 이렇게 새벽기도 나오는 것이 쉬운 일이 아닙니다. 여러분들도 이렇게 성실히 하나님을 예배하고 신앙생활을 하지 않습니까? 그런데 우리가 살아가다보면 우리가 교회에서 배운 것과는 세상이 너무 다른 것 같이 느껴질 때가 있습니다. 하나님은 정말 선하신 것일까요? 그렇다면 왜 의롭게 살아가려고 애쓰는 정직한 사람들이 온갖 사기와 이용을 당하고 뱀같이 교활하고 다른 사람을 등쳐먹는 사람들이 오히려 잘 되는 일들이 많은 걸까요? 이런 신앙과 현실 사이의 괴리감 때문에 여러분의 믿음이 흔들리셨던 적은 없습니까? 내가 왜 이렇게 살아야 하나 이게 무슨 소용이 있나 회의감이 든 적은 없으십니까? 여러분, 여러분만 그랬던 것이 아닙니다. 그 옛날 다윗시대의 성가대장이었던 아삽도 여러분과 똑같은 마음이었습니다. 오늘은 신앙과 현실 사이에서 라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

Good morning, church. We're back in the Book of Psalms today, specifically Psalm 73, which belongs to Book 3 of the Psalms. The Psalms are composed of five distinct books, and Book 3, where our passage is found, primarily consists of psalms by Asaph and the Sons of Korah. Today's passage is also titled as a Psalm of Asaph.

Asaph was a choir director in King David's time. 1 Chronicles 16:4 tells us that he served before the ark of the Lord, giving praise, thanks, and leading the people in worshipping the Lord, the God of Israel. He was likely a very devout man, someone who constantly strove to follow God's will, purify his heart, and live according to God's word. Just like many of you gathered here this morning. It's not easy to come out for early morning prayer, is it? You too diligently worship God and live out your faith.

But as we go through life, don't we sometimes feel like the world is so different from what we've learned in church? Is God truly good? If so, why do honest people who try to live righteously often get cheated and taken advantage of, while those who are cunning and exploit others seem to prosper? Have you ever felt your faith shaken by this disconnect between your beliefs and reality? Have you ever felt a sense of futility, wondering, "Why am I living this way? What's the point?"

Friends, you're not alone. Asaph, the choir director from King David's time, felt the exact same way. Today, I want to share a message titled, "Between Faith and Reality."

                오늘의 본문 말씀은 크게 두 부분으로 나눌 수 있습니다. 첫부분은 악인의 형통입니다. 4절부터 12절까지의 말씀이지요. 두번째 부분은 그런 악인의 형통을 보고 믿음이 흔들리는 시인입니다. 1-3절, 그리고 13-14절 말씀이 이에 해당하지요. 먼저 악인의 형통에 대해서 이야기하겠습니다. 4절 한 번 같이 읽겠습니다. “그들은 죽을 때에도 고통이 없고 그 힘이 강건하며” 자 이게 무슨 말입니까? 하나님의 심판이 이들에게 임하지 않는다는 것입니다. 분명히 하나님을 믿는 사람이 형통하고 악인의 길은 망해야하는데, 우리는 그렇게 알고 있었는데, 죽을 때에도 고통이 없고 강건하다면 도대체 이들을 심판하시는 하나님은 어디있냐는 것이지요. 5절도 보겠습니다. “사람들이 당하는 고난이 그들에게는 없고 사람들이 당하는 재앙도 그들에게는 없나니” 사람들이 당하는 고난, 사람들이 당하는 재앙, 평범하고 선하게 살아가려는 사람들에게는 고난과 재앙이 임하는데 오히려 악인들은 마치 딴 세상 사람들인것처럼 고난도 재앙도 없대요. 자 그래서 6-9절 말씀이 이렇게 형통한 이 악인들이 어떻게 살아가는지를 보여줍니다. 6절, 교만을 목걸이처럼 차고 강포로 옷을 입는대요. 그들에게는 폭력이 마치 옷을 입는듯 일상적인 것이에요. 교만하지 않을 수가 없지요. 7절, 얼마나 많은 부를 얻었는지 그들의 소득은 마음의 소원보다 많대요. 자 이런 이들에게 눈에 보이는 것이 있을까요? 9절을 보니 입으로는 하늘을 대적하고, 혀로는 땅위의 사람들을 조롱하고 있어요. 이런 악인들의 형통함을 보고 하나님의 백성들마저 그들을 따릅니다. 10-12절은 이런 악인들을 따르는 사람들에 대해서 이야기 하고 있어요. 이들이 하는 말이 무엇입니까? 11절 함께 읽겠습니다. “말하기를 하나님이 어찌 알랴 지존자에게 지식이 있으랴 하는도다” 자 악인이 망해야하는데 오히려 너무 형통해요. 그 모습을 보고 하나님의 백성들 마저도 이제는 악인을 따르고 있어요. 그리고 그들이 하나님을 부정합니다.

1. The Prosperity of the Wicked (verses 4-12)

Today's passage can be divided into two main parts. The first part is about the prosperity of the wicked, found in verses 4 to 12. The second part describes the psalmist's wavering faith when witnessing this prosperity, which is in verses 1-3 and 13-14.

Let's first talk about the prosperity of the wicked. Let's read verse 4 together: "They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong." What does this mean? It implies that God's judgment does not come upon them. We've always believed that those who trust God prosper and the way of the wicked perishes. But if they experience no suffering, even in death, and are robust, then where is the God who judges them?

Let's look at verse 5 as well: "They are free from common human burdens; they are not afflicted like other people." "Common human burdens," "afflicted like other people"—ordinary, good-hearted people experience hardship and affliction, but the wicked, it seems, live in a different world, untouched by suffering or calamity.

Verses 6-9 show us how these prosperous wicked people live. Verse 6 says, "They wear pride as a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence." For them, violence is as commonplace as wearing clothes. And of course, they are arrogant. Verse 7 tells us how much wealth they've acquired: "From their callous hearts comes malice; their evil imaginations have no limits." They have more than their hearts could ever desire. And do these people have any regard for God? Verse 9 reveals that "they mouth blasphemies against heaven; their tongues swagger through the earth." They blaspheme God and mock people on earth.

Witnessing the prosperity of such wicked people, even God's own people begin to follow them. Verses 10-12 speak of those who follow these wicked individuals. What do they say? Let's read verse 11 together: "They say, 'How would God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?'" The wicked should be punished, yet they are incredibly prosperous. Seeing this, even God's people begin to follow the wicked. And they deny God.

이것이 오늘 시편의 시인이 본 현실이에요. 마음이 흔들리는 정도가 아니에요. 신앙의 근간이 흔들립니다. 1절을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “하나님이 참으로 이스라엘 중 마음이 정결한 자에게 선을 행하시나” 하나님이 참으로 라고 유독 강조를 하고 있어요. 왜 그럴까요? 내 마음이 너무 힘든거에요. 그렇게라도 스스로에게 납득을 시키고 싶은거에요. 하나님이 마음이 정결한 자에게 선을 행하시는 것이 신앙생활에 있어서 당연한 명제에요. 그런데 막상 현실이 그렇지 않아요. 그래서 어떻게 되었습니까? 2절 함께 읽겠습니다. “나는 거의 넘어질 뻔하였고 나의 걸음이 미끄러질 뻔하였으니” 여러분 이 표현은 심각한 영적인 위기를 말하고 있는 것이에요. 신앙을 잃을 뻔 하였다는 말이에요. 그래서 13절에서 무어라고 말하고 있습니까? “내가 내 마음을 깨끗하게 하며 내 손을 씻어 무죄하다 한 것이 실로 헛되도다” 자 앞의 1절에서 하나님이 참으로… 정결한 자에게 선을 행하신다. 라고 했어요. 그런데 13절에서 뭐라구요? 내 마음을 깨끗하게…한 것이 실로 헛되도다. 앞에서 ‘참으로’ 라고 강조했던 표현이 뒤에서 ‘실로’ 헛되다 라면서 강조하고 있어요. 여러분 이 시편을 기록한 사람의 마음이 얼마나 힘들었는지 느껴지시나요? 자 3절에서 “이는 내가 악인의 형통함을 보고 오만한 자를 질투하였음이로다.” 악인이 형통하다고 할때에 이 형통함이란 원문으로보면 우리 너무나 잘아는 ‘샬롬’ 입니다. 여러분 ‘샬롬’이 무엇입니까? 하나님이 주시는 참 평안입니다. 그런데 악인이 지금 이렇게 ‘샬롬’ 하고 있대요. 아까 5절에서 악인들에게는 고난도 없고 재앙도 없다고 했었잖아요. 그런데 14절을 보니 뭐라고 말하고 있나요? “나는 종일 재난을 당하며 아침마다 징벌을 받았도다” 여러분, 여러분이 이런 상황이라면 여러분의 믿음이 흔들리지 않을 수 있겠습니까? 오늘 본문을 다윗 시대의 성가대장이었던 아삽이 썼다고 합니다. 아삽이 믿음이 없어서 이런 시를 썼을까요? 여러분들처럼 아니 어쩌면 여러분들 보다도 더 신앙이 좋았던 사람일 수도 있어요. 그러나 그런 사람마저도 오늘 말씀을 보니 실로 헛되도다 라고 말을 하고 있습니다. 거의 넘어질 뻔한 것 같지 않아요. 이미 넘어진 것 같습니다.

2. The Psalmist's Wavering Faith (verses 1-3, 13-14)

This is the reality the psalmist saw. His heart wasn't just troubled; the very foundation of his faith was shaken. Let's read verse 1 together: "Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart." The psalmist emphasizes "surely." Why? Because his heart is in such distress. He's trying to convince himself. The idea that God is good to the pure in heart is a fundamental truth of the faith. But the reality he sees doesn't align with it.

So, what happened? Let's read verse 2 together: "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold." Friends, this expression describes a severe spiritual crisis. He's saying he almost lost his faith. So what does he say in verse 13? "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence."

In verse 1, he emphasizes "surely...God is good to Israel." But in verse 13, he declares, "surely in vain I have kept my heart pure." The emphasis he used in verse 1 for truth now carries the weight of futility. Can you feel how much distress the person who wrote this psalm was in?

Verse 3 states, "For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." When it speaks of the prosperity of the wicked, the original Hebrew word for "prosperity" is 'shalom' – a word we know so well. Friends, what is 'shalom'? It is the true peace that comes from God. But now, the wicked are experiencing this 'shalom.' As we saw in verse 5, the wicked had no suffering or calamity. But look at what verse 14 says: "All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments."

Friends, if you were in this situation, how could your faith not be shaken? We know this psalm was written by Asaph, the choir director in King David's time. Did Asaph write this psalm because he lacked faith? He might have had more faith than any of you. Yet, even a person like him, as we see in today's passage, declared, "surely in vain." He doesn't seem to have almost slipped; he seems to have already fallen.

말씀을 맺습니다. 여러분 중에도 신앙과 현실사이에서 마음이 너무나 어려운 분이 계실 수 있습니다. “내가 이렇게 하나님을 섬겼는데 어떻게 하나님이 내게 이렇게 하실 수 있나,” 원망스러운 분 계실 수 있어요. 만약 오늘 이 말씀을 듣고 계신 분이나 읽고 계신 분이 계시다면 저는 이 말씀을 꼭 드리고 싶습니다. 여러분의 그 억울한 마음,  신앙 생활이 아무 소용 없는 것 같은 그 회의감, 도대체 하나님은 어디 계신가하고 부르짖는 여러분의 그 울분, 하나님께서 거절하지 않으십니다. “네가 어떻게 내게 억울해 할 수 있느냐, 네가 감히 어떻게 나를 의심할 수 있느냐, 네가 어떻게 내게 분노할 수 있느냐” 하나님 말씀하지 않으십니다. 여러분의 그 마음 그대로 하나님 다 받으십니다. 우리 하나님 크신 분이세요. 여러분이 그 마음을 하나님께로 가지고 나오시면 그 마음 다 받으실 수 있는 분이십니다. 그걸 어떻게 아냐구요? 여러분 오늘 아삽이 마음이 무너졌던 이야기를 시편에 쓰고 있습니다. 아무런 가감없이 그가 느꼈던 그 부조리함 그대로 그는 자신의 실족한 마음을 그대로 이 시편에 쏟아내고 있어요. 그리고 이 시편이 시편 제 3권의 첫번째 시편입니다. 그리고 그의 고백은 하나님의 말씀의 일부가 되었습니다. 여러분이 가지고 있는 신앙과 현실사이에서의 모든 질문, 의심, 고통, 분노 다 하나님께 쏟아내십시오. 하나님께서 여러분의 그 마음을 거절하지 않으시고 다 받아주실 것입니다. 함께 기도하시겠습니다.

Conclusion

To conclude, some of you may be experiencing immense difficulty in your hearts, caught between your faith and the harsh realities of life. You might feel resentful, thinking, "I've served God this way, how could God do this to me?" Or you might feel that your faith journey is pointless.

If you are listening to or reading this message today, I want to tell you this: God does not reject your feelings of injustice, your doubts that spiritual life is meaningless, or your cries of anguish wondering where God is. God does not say, "How dare you feel wronged by me? How dare you doubt me? How dare you be angry with me?" God says nothing of the sort. He receives all your feelings just as they are. Our God is a great God. If you bring those feelings to Him, He is able to receive them all.

How do I know this? Because today, Asaph pours out the story of his broken heart in this Psalm. Without any reservation or exaggeration, he expresses the absurdity he felt, his utter spiritual downfall. And this Psalm is the very first Psalm in Book 3. And his confession became part of God's Word.

So, bring all your questions, doubts, pain, and anger caught between faith and reality, and pour them out to God. God will not reject your heart; He will receive it all.

Let us pray.