20251014 [새벽묵상] 침묵하지 않으시고 행동하시는 하나님 | The God Who Does Not Stay Silent, but Acts (슥/Zec 1:7~21)

1:7 다리오 왕 제이년 열한째 달 곧 스밧월 이십사일에 잇도의 손자 베레갸의 아들 선지자 스가랴에게 여호와의 말씀이 임하니라

The Man Among the Myrtle Trees

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

1:8 내가 밤에 보니 사람이 붉은 말을 타고 골짜기 속 화석류나무 사이에 섰고 그 뒤에는 홍마와 자줏빛 말과 백마가 있기로

8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses.

1:9 내가 말하되 내 주여 이들이 무엇이니이까 내게 말하는 천사가 내게 이르되 이들이 무엇인지 내가 네게 보이리라 하니

9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”

1:10 화석류나무 사이에 선 자가 대답하여 이르되 이는 여호와께서 땅에 두루 다니라고 보내신 자들이니라

10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”

1:11 그들이 화석류나무 사이에 선 여호와의 천사에게 말하되 우리가 땅에 두루 다녀 보니 온 땅이 평안하고 조용하더이다 하더라

11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”

1:12 여호와의 천사가 대답하여 이르되 만군의 여호와여 여호와께서 언제까지 예루살렘과 유다 성읍들을 불쌍히 여기지 아니하시려하나이까 이를 노하신 지 칠십 년이 되었나이다 하매

1:13 여호와께서 내게 말하는 천사에게 선한 말씀, 위로하는 말씀으로 대답하시더라

12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

1:14 내게 말하는 천사가 내게 이르되 너는 외쳐 이르기를 만군의 여호와의 말씀에 내가 예루살렘을 위하여 시온을 위하여 크게 질투하며

1:15 안일한 여러 나라들 때문에 심히 진노하나니 나는 조금 노하였거늘 그들은 힘을 내어 고난을 더하였음이라

14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’

1:16 그러므로 여호와가 이처럼 말하노라 내가 불쌍히 여기므로 예루살렘에 돌아왔은즉 내 집이 그 가운데에 건축되리니 예루살렘 위에 먹줄이 쳐지리라 만군의 여호와의 말이니라

16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

1:17 그가 다시 외쳐 이르기를 만군의 여호와의 말씀에 나의 성읍들이 넘치도록 다시 풍부할 것이라 여호와가 다시 시온을 위로하며 다시 예루살렘을 택하리라 하라 하니라

17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

1:18 내가 눈을 들어 본즉 네 개의 뿔이 보이기로

1:19 이에 내게 말하는 천사에게 묻되 이들이 무엇이니이까 하니 내게 대답하되 이들은 유다와 이스라엘과 예루살렘을 흩뜨린 뿔이니라

1:20 그 때에 여호와께서 대장장이 네 명을 내게 보이시기로

1:21 내가 말하되 그들이 무엇하러 왔나이까 하니 대답하여 이르시되 그 뿔들이 유다를 흩뜨려서 사람들이 능히 머리를 들지 못하게 하니 이 대장장이들이 와서 그것들을 두렵게 하고 이전의 뿔들을 들어 유다 땅을 흩뜨린 여러 나라의 뿔들을 떨어뜨리려 하느니라 하시더라

Four Horns and Four Craftsmen

18 Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”

He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?”

He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

                  학습된 무기력이라는 말이 있습니다. 피할 수 없거나 극복할 수 없는 환경에 반복적으로 노출되는 경험이 학습이 되면 이후에 실제로 자신의 능력으로 피할 수 있거나 극복할 수 있는 상황이 온다고 하더라도 그런 상황에서 회피하거나 극복하려고 하지 않고 자포자기하는 현상을 뜻하는 말이지요. 이 현상을 설명할 때 흔히 서커스단의 코끼리의 예를 들고는 합니다. 거대하고 힘이 쎈 코끼리. 마음만 먹으면 충분히 탈출하거나 곡예사를 공격할 수 있을텐데도 그저 재주만 부리고 있습니다. 비밀은 코끼리를 어릴 때 잡아와서 쇠사슬로 말뚝에 묶어 놓는 것입니다. 처음에는 격하게 저항하지만 아무리 저항해도 그 구속을 풀 수 없다는 것을 학습하게 만드는 것이지요. 그렇게 성체가 되면 묶여 있지 않은 헐렁한 사슬을 씌우기만 해도 그저 무기력하게 저항하지 않는다는 것입니다. 본문의 이스라엘 백성들이 그렇습니다. 그들이 포로생활을 하게 된 것은 분명 그들의 죄악에 대한 하나님의 심판이었습니다. 그러나 선지자 예레미야를 통해 말씀하셨던 70년의 포로생활이 이제 끝났음에도 불구하고 그들은 여전히 고난 가운데에 있었습니다. 그들은 고난을 학습하게 되었습니다. 이제는 더이상 하나님께 울부짖는 것을 포기했습니다. 그들에게 하나님은 자신들에게 화가 나 계시는, 침묵하시는 하나님이었습니다. 그러나 오늘 본문 말씀은 하나님께서 침묵하지 않으시고 행동하시는 분임을 보여줍니다. 심지어 그들이 부르짖을 수 없을 때, 주의 사자를 통하여 대신 부르짖게 하시고 그들의 회복을 약속하십니다. 오늘은 침묵하지 않으시고 행동하시는 하나님이라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

There is a psychological term called "Learned Helplessness." It describes a phenomenon where repeated exposure to an unavoidable or uncontrollable situation teaches a person to simply give up. Even when the opportunity to escape or overcome the situation finally arrives, they fail to act, having been conditioned to apathy.

This phenomenon is often explained using the example of a circus elephant. A huge, powerful elephant, which could easily break free or attack its handler, simply performs tricks. The secret is how they were trained. When they were young, they were chained to a strong stake. They resisted violently at first, but soon learned that no matter how hard they fought, they couldn't break the chain. Once they reach adulthood, even a loose, thin chain is enough to keep them passive and non-resistant. They have learned helplessness.

The people of Israel in our passage were much the same.

Their seventy years of exile had been a just divine judgment for their sins. But even though the prophet Jeremiah had announced that the seventy-year term was now complete, they were still living in the midst of hardship and ruin. They had learned suffering. They had stopped crying out to God. For them, God was silent, angry, and distant.

Yet, today's passage shows us that God is a God who does not stay silent, but acts. Even when the people were too weary to cry out, God provided an intercessor to plead on their behalf and promised their full restoration. Today, I want to share a message under the title, The God Who Does Not Stay Silent, but Acts.

                  첫번째, 하나님은 우리의 고난에 먼저 응답하십니다. 오늘 본문은 스가랴가 본 두가지 환상에 대해 이야기하고 있습니다. 그 첫번째 환상은 8절을 보니 스가랴가 밤에 본 환상이라고 하지요. 대부분의 문학에서 밤이란 어두움, 즉 고난을 의미하는 경우가 많지요. 포로생활을 마치고 꿈에 그리던 예루살렘에 돌아왔는데도 아직도 고난 가운데에 처해있는 이스라엘의 상황을 말하는 것 같습니다. 스가랴가 밤에 본 이 환상이 무엇입니까? 말을 타고 있는 여호와의 천사와 그 뒤에 있는 또다른 말을 탄 자들을 보지요. 10절을 보니 여호와의 천사가 설명하기를 이들은 “땅에 두루 다니라고 보내신 자들”이라고 합니다. 하나님의 명령으로 보냄을 받아 온 땅을 순찰하는 자들이지요. 이들은 여호와의 천사에게 이렇게 보고합니다. 11절, “우리가 땅에 두루 다녀 보니 온 땅이 평안하고 조용하더이다” 이상하지 않습니까? 정작 이스라엘의 현실은 아직도 고난가운데 있는데 어떻게 온 땅이 평안하고 조용하다고 할 수 있나요? 고난 속에 있는 이스라엘을 마치 아무 일도 없는 것처럼 무시하시고 침묵하시는 걸 표현하는 것일까요? 자, 12절을 보면 이 보고의 뜻이 무엇인지 알 수 있습니다. 12절을 한번 같이 읽어보겠습니다. “여호와의 천사가 대답하여 이르되 만군의 여호와여 여호와께서 언제까지 예루살렘과 유다 성읍들을 불쌍히 여기지 아니하시려 하나이까 이를 노하신 지 칠십 년이 되었나이다 하매” 이 말씀을 통해 우리가 알 수 있는 것은 온 땅이 평안하고 조용한 것이 하나님의 뜻이 아니라는 것이지요. 이는 오히려 이스라엘을 향한 70년의 징계의 시간이 끝나고 이제는 그들을 억압하였던 여러 나라들을 향한 하나님의 심판이 임했어야 하는데 아직도 온 땅이 평안하고 조용하다고 말하는 것입니다. 즉 하나님의 진짜 의도와는 다른 일이 일어나고 있는 것이지요. 그렇다면 하나님의 진짜 의도는 무엇입니까? 14절 말씀입니다. “내가 예루살렘을 위하며 시온을 위하여 크게 질투하며” 그들을 너무나 사랑한 나머지 질투하기까지 사랑하시는 것입니다. 말씀을 가만히 보십시오. 이스라엘은 침묵하였습니다. 그러나 하나님께서는 환상을 보여주셨습니다. 온 땅을 순찰하라고 보내셨습니다. 그리고 침묵하고 있는 이스라엘 대신 천사를 통하여 중보하게 하십니다. 우리가 고난 가운데에 있을 때에 때로 고난에 너무 익숙해져서 무기력하게 침묵하고 있을 때에라도, 하나님께서는 우리의 고난을 대리하여 탄원하는 중보자를 두셨습니다. 하나님께서 우리의 고난에 먼저 응답하시는 것입니다.

1. God Responds First to Our Suffering

Our passage records two visions Zechariah saw. The first vision, seen in the night (v. 8)—a literary symbol for darkness and hardship—reflects Israel's situation. They were home, but still in darkness and distress.

What is this night vision about? Zechariah sees the Angel of the Lord on horseback, followed by other horsemen. In verse 10, the Angel explains that these are the ones "whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth." These patrollers report back to the Angel of the Lord: "We have patrolled the earth, and the whole earth is at rest and in peace" (v. 11).

Isn't that strange? How can the whole world be "at rest and in peace" when Israel is still suffering in ruins? Is God simply ignoring the suffering of the Israelites, acting as if nothing is wrong?

The meaning of this report is revealed in verse 12. Let's read it together:

"Then the Angel of the Lord said, 'Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with for seventy years?'" (Zechariah 1:12)

This question reveals the truth: the world’s seeming peace was not what God intended. The 70 years of judgment were over, and now judgment should have fallen on the nations that oppressed Israel. The world's quietness was an anomaly that needed correction.

What was God’s true intention? Verse 14 tells us: "Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.'" God loves them so fiercely that He is consumed with jealousy on their behalf.

Look carefully at the flow: Israel was silent. Yet, God sent the vision. He sent the patrollers. And even while the people were silent, He sent an Intercessor (the Angel) to plead on Israel’s behalf.

Even when we are so exhausted by long suffering and testing that we have learned helplessness and can only stay silent, God has provided an Intercessor to plead our suffering on our behalf. God responds first to our affliction.

                  두번째, 하나님은 우리의 삶을 회복시키시기 위해 행동하십니다. 하나님의 응답은 말씀에만 머무르는 것이 아닙니다. 현실의 회복으로 이어집니다. 먼저는 예루살렘의 회복입니다. 16절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “그러므로 여호와가 이처럼 말하노라 내가 불쌍히 여기므로 예루살렘에 돌아왔은즉 내 집이 그 가운데에 건축되리니 예루살렘 위에 먹줄이 쳐지리라 만군의 여호와의 말이니라” 내가 불쌍히 여기므로 예루살렘에 돌아오셨다고 하십니다. 하나님의 성전이 다시 건축되고 그 성에 먹줄, 즉 재건을 위한 측량줄이 쳐질 것이라고 하십니다. 17절도 마찬가지입니다. “성읍들이 넘치도록 다시 풍부할 것이라 여호와가 다시 시온을 위로하며 다시 예루살렘을 택하리라” 라고 하십니다. 다시라는 말이 몇 번이나 반복되지요. 그리고 이 말씀을 “만군의 여호와의 말이니라”라고 하시면서 이 일이 반드시 이뤄질 것임을 보장하십니다. 예루살렘을 향한 회복을 말씀하시고 난 뒤에는 이제 앞에서 얘기했었던 하나님께서 의도하지 않으셨던 일을 바로잡으시기 시작합니다. 15절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “안일한 여러 나라들 때문에 심히 진노하나니 나는 조금 노하였거늘 그들은 힘을 내어 고난을 더하였음이라” 앞에서는 크게 질투하셨다고 하셨는데 여기서는 심히 진노하신다고 하십니다. 누구에게 진노하십니까? 안일한 여러 나라들에게. 그들이 하나님이 허락하신 것 보다 더 고난을 더하였다고 합니다. 여기서 힘을 내어 고난을 더하였다는 말은 직역하면 ‘그들이 악함으로 힘을 보탰다’는 말입니다. 그렇다면 이들을 어떻게 하시겠습니까? 심판하시겠지요. 본문 18-21절 말씀은 스가랴가 본 두번째 환상으로 이스라엘을 핍박하였던 열방들에 대한 심판을 말씀하십니다. 그 환상이 무엇이었습니까? 18절을 보니 네 개의 뿔을 보이셨다고 합니다. 19절에서 천사가 친절히 설명을 해주지요. “이들은 유다와 이스라엘과 예루살렘을 흩뜨린 뿔이니라” 그런데 그 때에 20절을 보니 이번에는 대장장이 네 명을 보이십니다. 천사가 또 설명을 해주지요. 21절입니다. “이 대장장이들이 와서 그것들을 두렵게 하고 이전의 뿔들을 들어 유다 땅을 흩뜨린 여러 나라의 뿔들을 떨어뜨리려 하느니라” 하나님께서 이스라엘의 삶의 터전인 예루살렘의 회복을 말씀하시는 것 뿐만 아니라 그들의 대적, 그들을 억압하고 고통스럽게 하였던 모든 방해물들을 심판하십니다. 사방에서 일어났던 네 개의 뿔을 심판하실 네 명의 대장장이를 준비하시는 하나님. 우리는 하나님께서 우리를 회복 하시는 것 뿐만 아니라 우리를 힘들게 하였던 문제까지도 해결하실 것이라는 확실한 소망을 가질 수 있는 것입니다.

2. God Acts to Restore Our Lives

God's response does not stop with words of comfort; it continues into the reality of restoration. First, the restoration of Jerusalem is promised. Verse 16:

"Therefore, this is what the Lord says: 'I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt in it, and the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,' declares the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 1:16)

God says He will return with mercy. The Temple will be rebuilt, and the measuring line—the builder's tool—will be stretched over the city, guaranteeing reconstruction. Verse 17 reinforces this: "The Lord will again comfort Zion and once more choose Jerusalem." The word "again" is repeated, showing God's guaranteed commitment.

Next, God begins to correct the situation that He did not intend (the world being "at rest"). Verse 15: "I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added greatly to the calamity." God is fiercely angry with the nations that felt secure and went beyond the punishment God had allowed, actively worsening the Israelites’ suffering. The phrase "added greatly to the calamity" literally means "they helped forward the evil."

How will God deal with them? The second vision, verses 18-21, deals with the judgment on the nations that persecuted Israel. Zechariah sees four horns (v. 18). The Angel explains: "These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem" (v. 19).

Then, in verse 20, God shows him four craftsmen (smiths). The Angel explains their purpose in verse 21: "These have come to terrify them and throw down those nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in a scattering attack."

God not only promised the restoration of Jerusalem but also prepared four smiths to judge and tear down the enemies—the four horns—that oppressed them. God is the one who acts to remove the obstacles and resolve the issues that afflicted His people. We can have certain hope that God will not only restore us but will also deal with the problems that caused us pain.

                  말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘의 말씀을 통해 우리는 하나님께서 침묵하지 않으시고 행동하시는 분이라는 것을 나누었습니다. 우리가 때로 오랜 고난과 시련에 지쳐 무기력을 학습할 때에도 하나님께서는 우리의 어려움에 먼저 응답하십니다. 우리의 고난을 대리하여 탄원하시는 중보자, 예수그리스도를 우리에게 주셨습니다. 예수님께서 우리를 대신하여 십자가에서 돌아가심으로 우리는 자유를 얻었습니다. 그 자유는 우리의 삶을 회복시키시고 우리의 대적들로부터 우리를 보호하십니다. 침묵하지 않으시고 행동하시는 하나님을 통해 우리는 고난 중에도 확실한 소망을 가질 수 있는 것입니다.

Conclusion

Through today's passage, we have shared that God is one who does not stay silent, but acts.

When we are exhausted by long affliction and struggle with learned helplessness, God responds first to our difficulties. He has given us the Intercessor, Jesus Christ, to plead our cause. Jesus died on the cross on our behalf, securing our freedom.

That freedom guarantees that God will restore our lives and protect us from our enemies. Because God does not stay silent, but acts, we can have certain hope even in the midst of our deepest suffering. Amen.