20251022 [새벽묵상] 애통의 금식, 진리와 화평으로 변하는 영광의 축제 | The Fast of Mourning, Transformed into a Feast of Glory by Truth and Peace (슥/Zec 8:18~23)

8:18 만군의 여호와의 말씀이 내게 임하여 이르시되

18 The word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

8:19 만군의 여호와가 이같이 말하노라 넷째 달의 금식과 다섯째 달의 금식과 일곱째 달의 금식과 열째 달의 금식이 변하여 유다 족속에게 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락의 절기들이 되리니 오직 너희는 진실과 화평을 사랑할지니라

19 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.”

8:20 만군의 여호와가 이와 같이 말하노라 다시 여러 백성과 많은 성읍의 주민이 올 것이라

8:21 이 성읍 주민이 저 성읍에 가서 이르기를 우리가 속히 가서 만군의 여호와를 찾고 여호와께 은혜를 구하자 하면 나도 가겠노라 하겠으며

8:22 많은 백성과 강대한 나라들이 예루살렘으로 와서 만군의 여호와를 찾고 여호와께 은혜를 구하리라

20 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, 21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’ 22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.”

8:23 만군의 여호와가 이와 같이 말하노라 그 날에는 말이 다른 이방 백성 열 명이 유다 사람 하나의 옷자락을 잡을 것이라 곧 잡고 말하기를 하나님이 너희와 함께 하심을 들었나니 우리가 너희와 함께 가려 하노라 하리라 하시니라

23 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’”

                  예루살렘이 멸망한지 어언 70년. 포로생활의 기간동안 그리고 예루살렘으로 돌아와서도 유다 백성들은 멸망의 순간들을 기억하기위해 1년에 네번씩 금식하고 울며 애통해 하였습니다. 바벨론이 예루살렘을 포위하기 시작했던 열째 달. 예루살렘 성벽이 바벨론 군에 의해 뚫린 넷째 달. 예루살렘 성전이 파괴되었던 다섯째 달. 그리고 마지막으로 유다 총독 그달리야가 암살당했던 일곱째 달까지 그들은 스스로 금식의 절기를 지켰지요. 이 절기들은 모두 금식과 애통의 절기들이었습니다. 그러나 오늘 말씀에 하나님께서는 이 애통의 금식을 영광의 축제로 바꾸겠다고 약속하십니다. 그러면서 한가지 조건을 다십니다. 이 놀라운 전환의 조건, 그것은 바로 오직 진리와 화평을 사랑하라고 명령하십니다. 오늘은 애통의 금식, 진리와 화평으로 변하는 영광의 축제라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

Introduction

For seventy long years, Judah mourned the destruction of Jerusalem. During their exile in Babylon and even after their return, the Jewish people kept four annual fasts—weeping and lamenting to remember the moments of their ruin.

These fasts marked catastrophic moments: the tenth month when Babylon besieged Jerusalem; the fourth month when the city walls were breached; the fifth month when the Temple was destroyed; and the seventh month when Gedaliah, the governor, was assassinated. All were seasons of fasting and sorrow.

But in today’s text, God promises to transform this lamenting fast into a feast of glory. And He attaches one crucial condition to this incredible transition. The key to this reversal is simply this: “love truth and peace.” Today, I want us to reflect on this message under the title: “The Fast of Mourning, Transformed into a Feast of Glory by Truth and Peace.”

                  그렇다면 먼저 이들이 왜 이렇게 일년에 네번씩 금식과 애통을 해야하는 상황에 놓였는가? 앞에서 말했던 것처럼 예루살렘이 멸망했기 때문이지요. 그렇다면 그 멸망을 초래한 근본 원인은 무엇입니까? 스가랴 7:9-10에 하나님께서 직접 그 원인을 이렇게 설명하십니다. “만군의 여호와가 이같이 말하여 이르시기를 너희는 진실한 재판을 행하며 서로 인애와 긍휼을 베풀며 과부와 고아와 나그네와 궁핍한 자를 압제하지 말며 서로 해하려고 마음에 도모하지 말라 하였으나” 그들은 그 말씀을 듣지 않았지요. 그래서 하나님께서는 그들에게 크게 진노하셨다고 하셨습니다. 사실 이것은 무척 놀라운 일입니다. 왜냐하면, 하나님께서 이들에게 너희들이 우상숭배하였기 때문에 내가 너희에게 진노하였다 말씀하시 않으셨어요. 나에게 드리는 예배를 소홀히 하였기 때문에 내가 너희에게 진노하였다 말씀하지 않으셨습니다. 만군의 여호와께서 직접 설명하신 예루살렘을 향한 진노의 원인은 바로 그들의 삶 가운데 진리와 화평을 사랑하는 것이 없었다는 것입니다. 그렇다면 진리와 화평을 사랑하는 것이 도대체 왜 이렇게까지 중요한 것일까요? 그것은 이것이 바로 하나님의 성품이시기 때문입니다.

I. The Root Cause of Mourning: A Deficiency in God's Character

First, why were the people forced into a situation requiring four annual fasts and lamentations? Because Jerusalem was destroyed. But what was the root cause of that destruction? God Himself explains it plainly in Zechariah 7:9-10:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

They did not listen. And for that reason, God declared He was greatly angry with them. This is quite astonishing. He didn't primarily say, “I am angry because you practiced idolatry.” Nor did He say, “I am angry because you neglected the Temple worship I prescribed.” The Lord of hosts pinpointed the source of His wrath: the lack of love for truth and peace in their daily lives.

Why are truth and peace (justice and mercy) so fundamentally important? Because they are the very nature of God.

어제 우리가 함께 보았듯이 7장에서는 그렇게 이들의 겉모습뿐인 종교생활을 꾸짖으셨던 하나님께서 8장에서는 예루살렘의 회복에 대한 약속을 하십니다. 그런데 자세히 보시면 이 말씀들에 하나님이 누구신가에 대한 힌트가 있습니다. 8:3입니다. “여호와가 이같이 말하노라 내가 시온에 돌아와 예루살렘 가운데에 거하리니 예루살렘은 진리의 성읍이라 일컫겠고” 하나님께서 예루살렘에 다시 임재하시겠다고 약속하셨습니다. 하나님께서 거하시는 그 예루살렘 성, 사람들이 무어라 부르게 될 것이라고 말씀하십니까? 네, 진리의 성읍이라 일컫게 될 것이라고 하십니다. 하나님이 계시는 하나님의 성을 진리의 성이라고 한다면 하나님은 어떤 분입니까? 진리, 즉 신실하신 분이십니다. 어제나 오늘이나 동일하시기 때문에 참되시는 분. 바로 그분이 우리 하나님이시지요. 8:8도 마찬가지입니다. “예루살렘 가운데에 거주하게 하리니 그들은 내 백성이 되고 나는 진리와 공의로 그들의 하나님이 되리라” 하나님의 백성에게 하나님께서는 “나는 진리와 공의로 그들의 하나님이 되리라.”라고 말씀하십니다. 진리와 공의, 진리와 화평은 하나님의 성품인 것입니다. 그래서 하나님께서는 당신의 백성들에게 당신의 성품을 따라 살아가라고 명령하시는 것입니다. 8장에서 이들의 구원과 회복을 약속하시며 말씀하셨던 16-17절의 말씀도 앞에서 보았던 7:9-10절의 요구와 정확히 일치합니다. “너희가 행할 일은 이러하니라 너희는 이웃과 더불어 진리를 말하며 너희 성문에서 진실하고 화평한 재판을 베풀고 마음에 서로 해하기를 도모하지 말며 거짓 맹세를 좋아하지 말라” 이는 무엇입니까? 바로 진리와 공의, 진리와 화평입니다. 그렇다면 이들이 본문의  19절의 말씀처럼 진리와 화평을 사랑한다면 어떤일이 일어나게 될까요?

As we see in Chapter 8, after rebuking their superficial religion in Chapter 7, God promises the recovery of Jerusalem. Yet, even in the promise of restoration, we find a hint about who God is. Look at Zechariah 8:3:

“Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the Faithful City..."

God promises to dwell among them again. And what will the people call the city where God resides? The Faithful City—the City of Truth. If the city of God is the city of truth, then God Himself is the Truth—the One who is constant, reliable, and authentic yesterday, today, and forever.

Zechariah 8:8 echoes this: “...they shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.” Truth, faithfulness, and righteousness—these are the attributes of God. This is why He commands His people to live according to His own character.

Notice how the specific demands for restored behavior in Zechariah 8:16-17 perfectly match the warnings given in 7:9-10.

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and do not love a false oath; for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

What is this? It is the core of Truth and Peace.

먼저는 이들의 금식의 절기가 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락의 절기들이 될 것입니다. 19절 말씀 같이 읽어보겠습니다. “만군의 여호와가 이같이 말하노라 넷째 달의 금식과 다섯째 달의 금식과 일곱째 달의 금식과 열째 달의 금식이 변하여 유다 족속에게 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락의 절기들이 되리니 오직 너희는 진리와 화평을 사랑할지니라” 7장에서 벧엘 사람들이 하나님께 계속 금식을 해야하는지 물었던 절기는 다섯째 달의 금식 하나였습니다. 그러나 오늘 하나님께서 말씀하시는 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락의 절기들은 몇개입니까? 이들이 언급하지 조차 않았던 넷째 달과, 일곱째 달과 열째 달, 모두 합하여 네 번의 절기가 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락의 절기가 될 것이라고 약속하십니다. 이는 갑절의 갑절에 해당하는 기쁨이지요. 또한 금식 하나의 슬픔이 바뀌어 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락이 된다고 말씀하지 않으십니까? 이는 실로 너무나 놀라운 변화입니다. 자, 먼저는 이렇게 예루살렘과 유다에 하나님의 기쁨의 회복과 구원이 일어납니다.

II. Transformation: From Fasting to Feasting by Loving Truth and Peace

So, what happens if they embrace the core command of loving truth and peace (v. 19)?

First, their fasts are transformed into joyous celebrations. Let’s read verse 19 together:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”

In Chapter 7, the people only asked about one fast—the fifth month. But here, God promises to transform all four of their mourning observances into seasons of joy and gladness! Not only are four fasts reversed, but each single sorrow is replaced by a trio of delight: joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts. This is truly an incredible transformation!

This shows that God’s restoration begins with Jerusalem and Judah—a recovery of internal spiritual health.

하지만 여기서 끝나지 않지요. 21절을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “이 성읍 주민이 저 성읍에 가서 이르기를 우리가 속히 가서 만군의 여호와를 찾고 여호와께 은혜를 구하자 하면 나도 가겠노라 하겠으며” 도대체 예루살렘에 대해서 무슨 소문이 돌았는지 각 지역에 있는 사람들이 다른 성읍에 가서 우리도 가자. 속히 가자. “가서 여호와께 은혜를 구하자.” “우리가 만군의 여호와를 찾자.”라고 서로 말한다는 거에요. 그렇게 말을 하면 또 듣는 사람이, “그래? 그럼 나도 갈래.” 라고 한대요. 열방의 사람들이 몰려 들어온다는 거에요. 아니 도대체 그들이 무슨 말을 들었길래? 이렇게 열정적으로 자진해서 몰려온다는 것인가? 23절 말씀 함께 읽겠습니다. “만군의 여호와가 이와 같이 말하노라 그 날에는 말이 다른 이방 백성 열 명이 유다 사람 하나의 옷자락을 잡을 것이라 곧 잡고 말하기를 하나님이 너희와 함께 하심을 들었나니 우리가 너희와 함께 가려 하노라 하리라 하시니라” 무슨 말을 들었다고요? “하나님이 너희와 함께 하심을 들었나니” 여러분 이들이 옷자락을 잡고 놓지 않는다고 합니다. 우리도 너희와 같이 가겠다. 너희를 놓칠 수 없다. 왜요? “하나님이 너희와 함께 하심을 들었나니” 여러분 이들은 무슨 성전을 보고서 아니면 예배하는 장면을 보고서 몰려온 것이 아닙니다. 이들 가운데 있는 진리와 화평을 사랑하는 것을 보고 하나님이 이들과 함께하심을 들은 것입니다. 요한일서 4:12 말씀입니다. “어느 때나 하나님을 본 사람이 없으되 만일 우리가 서로 사랑하면 하나님이 우리 안에 거하시고 그의 사랑이 우리 안에 온전히 이루어지느니라” “만일 우리가 서로 사랑하면 하나님이 우리 안에 거하시고” 우리가 진리와 화평을 사랑함으로 서로를 사랑하면 하나님이 우리 안에 거하시고 그 하나님이 우리와 함께 하심을 열방이 듣고 그 하나님을 찾아 그 여호와께 은혜를 구하려 나도 가겠노라 라고 말한다는 것입니다.

III. The Final Fruit: God’s Presence Evidenced to the Nations

But the restoration doesn't end locally; it expands globally. Look at verse 21:

“The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself will go.’”

A rumor has spread about Jerusalem, and now people in the surrounding regions are saying, “Let’s go quickly! Let’s seek the Lord of hosts!” And when someone hears this, they respond, “Count me in! I’ll go too!” Nations are streaming in.

What did they hear? What was the compelling motivation for this mass pilgrimage? Let’s read verse 23:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the skirt of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

They heard something: “We have heard that God is with you.”

They weren't drawn by a magnificent new Temple structure or elaborate worship rituals. They were drawn because they saw a community characterized by truth and peace—a community where people rendered true judgments, showed mercy, and did not devise evil in their hearts. They witnessed the presence of God in their mutual love and justice.

This is perfectly echoed in the New Testament. 1 John 4:12 says:

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

When we love one another through truth and peace, God dwells in us, and His love is fully manifested. It is that visible, tangible evidence of God’s presence that the nations hear about, and it is what draws them to seek the Lord.

말씀을 맺습니다. 오늘 말씀은 스가랴서 7-8장 전체를 함축하는 말씀입니다. 하나님께 다섯째 달 금식의 절기를 계속 지켜야 하는지 물어보는 이들에게 하나님께서 주시는 말씀은 어쩌면 이 한가지의 말씀인지도 모릅니다. 너희가 왜 애통하게 되었는지 기억하라. 그것은 너희가 진리와 화평을 사랑하지 않았기 때문이다. 그러나 너희의 금식 절기를 기쁨과 즐거움과 희락의 절기로 바꿀것이니, 오직 너희는 진리와 화평을 사랑할지니라. 그것이 무엇입니까? 이웃과 더불어 진리를 말하며 진실하고 화평한 재판을 베풀고 서로 인애와 긍휼을 베풀며 과부와 고아와 나그네와 궁핍한 자를 압제하지 말며 마음에 서로 해하기를 도모하지 말며 거짓 맹세를 좋아하지 말라. 우리가 우리의 삶의 자리에서 진리와 화평을 사랑할 때에 세상은 우리를 통해 “하나님이 너희와 함께 하심을” 보고 하나님을 찾아올 것입니다. 애통의 금식이 진리와 화평으로 변하는 그 영광의 축제에 참여하시는 여러분 되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.  

Conclusion

This passage in Zechariah 8 encapsulates the entire message of Chapters 7 and 8. To those who asked if they should continue their fasts, God essentially gave one powerful answer: Remember why you mourned. It was because you did not love truth and peace. But I will transform your fasts into feasts of joy, if only you will love truth and peace.

This call is for us today. God is not asking for mere outward religious performance; He is demanding the inward reality of His character—Truth and Peace—to be demonstrated in our outward relationships.

When we, as a church, love truth and peace in our families, workplaces, and communities—speaking truthfully, seeking reconciliation, and showing genuine compassion to those in need—the world will look at us and say, “We have heard that God is with you.”

May we participate in this glorious feast by loving truth and peace, so that the presence of God in our lives becomes the compelling witness that draws the world to the Lord of hosts. Amen.