20251023 [새벽묵상] 자기 백성을 보호하시는 여호와의 말씀 | The Word of the Lord Who Protects His People (슥/Zec 9:1~8)

9:1 여호와의 말씀이 하드락 땅에 내리며 다메섹에 머물리니 사람들과 이스라엘 모든 지파의 눈이 여호와를 우러러봄이니라

9:2 그 접경한 하맛에도 임하겠고 두로와 시돈에도 임하리니 그들이 매우 지혜로움이니라

9:3 두로는 자기를 위하여 요새를 건축하며 은을 티끌같이, 금을 거리의 진흙 같이 쌓았도다

9:4 주께서 그를 정복하시며 그의 권세를 바다에 쳐 넣으시리니 그가 불에 삼켜질지라

9:5 아스글론이 보고 무서워하며 가사도 심히 아파할 것이며 에그론은 그 소망이 수치가 되므로 역시 그러하리라 가사에는 임금이 끊어질 것이며 아스글론에는 주민이 없을 것이며

9:6 아스돗에는 잡족이 거주하리라 내가 블레셋 사람의 교만을 끊고

9:7 그의 입에서 그의 피를, 그의 잇사이에서 그 가증한 것을 제거하리니 그들도 남아서 우리 하나님께로 돌아와서 유다의 한 지도자 같이 되겠고 에그론은 여부스 사람 같이 되리라

9:8 내가 내 집을 둘러 진을 쳐서 적군을 막아 거기 왕래하지 못하게 할 것이라 포학한 자가 다시는 그 지경으로 지나가지 못하리니 이는 내가 눈으로 친히 봄이니라

1 A prophecy:

The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrak

    and will come to rest on Damascus—

for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel

    are on the Lord—

2 and on Hamath too, which borders on it,

    and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful.

3 Tyre has built herself a stronghold;

    she has heaped up silver like dust,

    and gold like the dirt of the streets.

4 But the Lord will take away her possessions

    and destroy her power on the sea,

    and she will be consumed by fire.

5 Ashkelon will see it and fear;

    Gaza will writhe in agony,

    and Ekron too, for her hope will wither.

Gaza will lose her king

    and Ashkelon will be deserted.

6 A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod,

    and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.

7 I will take the blood from their mouths,

    the forbidden food from between their teeth.

Those who are left will belong to our God

    and become a clan in Judah,

    and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

8 But I will encamp at my temple

    to guard it against marauding forces.

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,

    for now I am keeping watch.

                스가랴서 8장 말씀까지 우리는 하나님께서 유다백성들에게 예루살렘의 회복을 말씀하시고 그들이 이제 하나님의 백성으로서 어떻게 살아야하는지 이야기했었지요. 오직 너희는 진리와 화평을 사랑할지니라. 라는 말씀으로 함축 할 수 있을 것 같습니다. 자 유다백성들의 회복을 말씀하셨으니 이제 다음 단계로 나아갈 차례이지요. 무엇입니까? 이스라엘의 주변 나라들. 오늘 말씀을 보니 이스라엘 주변국들에 대한 심판을 선언하십니다. 하나님께서 이들을 언급하시고 심판하신다고 하시는 이유는, 바로 유다 백성이 포로 생활에서 돌아왔음에도 여전히 주변 강대국들의 위협과 영향력 아래 있었기 때문입니다. 오늘 말씀을 보니 그들은 매우 지혜롭고, 난공 불락의 요새 가운데 거주하며 엄청난 부를 축적한 그야말로 이 세상의 그 누구도 비길 수 없는 강대한 나라들이었습니다. 그러나 자기 백성을 보호하시는 하나님의 말씀이 임할 때에 그들은 철저한 심판을 받습니다. 그 소식이 얼마나 무서운 것인지 주변국들이 보고 두려움에 떨게 될 것이라고 말씀하십니다. 하지만 하나님의 백성은 다시는 그 누구도 그들에게 해를 입히지 못하도록 하나님께서 눈동자처럼 지키신다고 하십니다. 이제 그들은 하나님의 보호아래 안전하다는 확신을 가질 수 있게 되는 것입니다. 오늘은 자기 백성을 보호하시는 여호와의 말씀이라는 제목으로 함께 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

Up to Zechariah chapter 8, we discussed how God spoke to the people of Judah about the restoration of Jerusalem and how they should live as God’s people. This can be summarized by the command: "Only love truth and peace."

Now that the restoration of the people of Judah has been announced, it's time to move to the next stage. What is that? The surrounding nations of Israel. Today's passage declares judgment on Israel's neighbors. The reason God names and judges these nations is that even though the people of Judah had returned from exile, they were still under the threat and influence of these powerful surrounding nations.

As we see in today's passage, these nations were mighty—truly unrivaled in this world—having accumulated immense wealth, dwelling in impregnable fortresses, and being incredibly wise. Yet, when the word of God, who protects His people, came to them, they faced utter judgment. The message of this judgment was so terrifying that the surrounding nations would look on and tremble with fear. But God says He will guard His people like the apple of His eye, so that no one may harm them again. Now, they can have the confidence that they are safe under God's protection.

Today, I want to share the message under the title, "The Word of the Lord Who Protects His People."

                1절입니다. 본문은 “여호와의 말씀이” 라고 시작합니다. 이 말씀을 풀어쓰면 이렇습니다. “여호와께로부터 임한 무거운 말씀,” 즉, “심판의 신탁” 이 임하였다는 말씀입니다. 9장을 시작하는 이 말씀 하나만으로도 우리는 이 말씀의 대상이 되는 각 나라들이 이제 큰일이 났다는 것을 알 수 있지요. 자 그런데 이 두려운 여호와의 말씀이 하드락 땅에 내리며 다메섹에 머물리는 이유가 있습니다. 그것이 무엇입니까? 바로 “사람들과 이스라엘 모든 지파의 눈이 여호와를 우러러봄이니라” 그들의 눈이 왜 여호와를 우러러보았을까요? 자, “내가 산을 향하여 눈을 들리라 나의 도움이 어디서 올꼬? 나의 도움이 천지를 지으신 여호와에게서로다.” 시편 121:1-2 말씀. 아멘. 그렇습니다. 이들이 하나님의 도우심만을 구할 수 밖에 없었어요. 왜냐하면 상대가 너무 강해요. 자신들의 힘으로 이길 수 있는 상대가 아니에요. 자 한 번 보겠습니다. 2절입니다. 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “그 접경한 하맛에도 임하겠고 두로와 시돈에도 임하리니 그들이 매우 지혜로움이니라” 매우 지혜로운데 심판이 임한다니 좀 이상하지요. 자 이 말씀을 조금 이해하기 쉽게 번역해보면 이렇습니다. “매우 지혜롭다고 하는 두로와 시돈에도 경고의 말씀이 내릴 것이다.” 이들은 세상에서 매우 지혜로운 사람들이었습니다. 쉽게 말해 기술력이나 군사력에서 이길 수 있는 나라들이 아닌 것입니다. 그것 뿐만이 아닙니다. 3절을 한 번 같이 읽겠습니다. “두로는 자기를 위하여 요새를 건축하며 은을 티끌같이, 금을 거리의 진흙같이 쌓았도다” 부유함 또한 이루 말할 수 없습니다. 그런데 국방은 또 어떤가? 자기를 위하여 요새를 건축하였다고 하지 않습니까? 이 요새가 얼마나 대단한 요새냐면 바벨론의 느부갓네살 왕이 13년간 포위했음에도 불구하고 쉽게 함락되지 않았을만큼 난공불락의 요새였습니다. 자, 너무나 뛰어난 기술력과 항해술로 그당시 지중해 해상 무역을 독점했던 두로와 시돈. 또한 엄청난 부를 난공불락의 요새에 축적하여 아무도 정복할 수 없는 그들. 그러나 당신의 백성이 눈을 들어 여호와를 우러러볼 때에 어떤 일이 생깁니까? 4절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “주께서 그를 정복하시며 그의 권세를 바다에 쳐 넣으시리니 그가 불에 삼켜질지라” 철저한 심판입니다. 하나님 앞에 그 누구도 맞설 수 없는 것입니다. 4절의 말씀 앞에는 본디 “보라!” 라는 말씀이 생략되어 있습니다. 굳이 여호와로 적지 않고 온 세상의 주인되심을 강조하여 “주께서 그들을 정복하신 다는것입니다.” 인간이 아무리 물질과 지혜로 견고한 성을 쌓아도 하나님의 심판 앞에서 그 모든 것은 불에 삼켜지듯 순식간에 무너질 수 밖에 없는 것입니다.

The first verse begins with, "The burden of the word of the LORD." To elaborate, this means "a heavy message, an oracle of judgment, has come from the LORD." Just this opening statement in chapter 9 tells us that great trouble is coming upon the nations targeted by this message.

However, there is a reason why this dreadful word of the LORD falls on the land of Hadrach and rests upon Damascus. What is it? It is because "the eyes of men, even of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the LORD." Why were their eyes directed toward the LORD? As Psalm 121:1-2 says, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Amen. That's right. They had no choice but to seek God's help. Why? Because their adversaries were too strong; they were opponents that could not be defeated by their own power.

Let's take a look. Verse 2. Let's read it together: "It will also rest on Hamath, which borders it, and on Tyre and Sidon, though they are very skillful." It seems strange that judgment would come upon those who are "very skillful" (or very wise). If we translate this more clearly, it means: "A warning will come even upon Tyre and Sidon, who consider themselves very wise." These were the wisest people in the world. Simply put, they were nations that couldn't be beaten in technology or military power.

That's not all. Let's read verse 3 together: "For Tyre built herself a fortress, piled up silver like dust and gold like the dirt of the streets." Their wealth was beyond description. And what about their defense? It says they built a fortress for themselves. This fortress was so formidable that even Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, failed to conquer it easily, despite a 13-year siege; it was an impregnable stronghold.

Tyre and Sidon, who monopolized Mediterranean maritime trade with their superb technology and navigation skills, and accumulated immense wealth in an unconquerable fortress—no one could conquer them. Yet, what happens when God's people lift their eyes to the LORD? Let's read verse 4 together: "But the Lord will dispossess her and strike down her wealth into the sea; and she will be consumed by fire." It is a complete judgment. No one can stand against God.

Before verse 4, the word "Behold!" is implied. The text emphasizes God's sovereignty as the Lord of the whole earth, choosing not to use the name "Yahweh" but "Adonai" (the Lord). No matter how much wealth or wisdom man uses to build a strong fortress, in the face of God's judgment, all of it will instantly crumble, as if consumed by fire.

                유다 북쪽에 위치한 이방 민족들에 대한 심판 예언이 끝났습니다. 그렇다면 유다의 서남쪽의 이웃인 블레셋의 도시들은 어땠을까요? 본문 말씀에서는 이들에게 여호와의 무거운 말씀이 임하였다고는 전하고 있지 않습니다. 그러나 여호와의 말씀이 초래한 심판을 보는 것만으로도, 그 간접 경험 만으로도, 그들은 두려움에 떨며 고통 속에 지내게 된다고 말씀하십니다. 자기 백성의 대적을 향한 하나님의 심판이 얼마나 무서운 것인지를 알 수 있는 대목이지요. 5절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “아스글론이 보고 무서워하며 가사도 심히 아파할 것이며 에그론은 그 소망이 수치가 되므로 역시 그러하리라 가사에는 임금이 끊어질 것이며 아스글론에는 주민이 없을 것이며” 자 그런데 이런 심판 가운데서도 하나님께서는 이들을 향한 목적이 있으셨습니다. 6-7절 말씀에 이렇게 말씀하십니다 “내가 블레셋 사람의 교만을 끊고 그의 입에서 그의 피를, 그의 잇사이에서 그 가증한 것을 제거하리니” 하나님께서 이들의 교만을 끊으시고 그들에게서 부정한 우상 숭배의 행위를 제거하시겠다고 하십니다. 그리고 나서 그들을 어떻게 하신다고 하십니까? 7절 하반절을 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “그들도 남아서 우리 하나님께로 돌아와서 유다의 한 지도자같이 되겠고 에그론은 여부스 사람같이 되리라.” 그들의 남은 자들이 하나님께로 돌아오게 될 것이라고 말하고 있습니다. 마치 다윗이 예루살렘을 수도로 정할 때 그곳에 머물러있던 가나안족속 여부스 사람들을 몰아내었으나 그들이 솔로몬이 많은 성을 건축할 때 노예로 일하며 이스라엘에 흡수되었던 것처럼, 이 블레셋 사람들 또한 하나님께서 심판으로 완전히 멸하지 않으시고 그 남은 자들을 당신의 백성으로 받아들이신다는 것입니다. 이로서 우리가 알 수 있는 것은 하나님의 심판은 징벌에 있는 것이 아니라 죄인을 회복으로 인도하는 통로가 된다는 것을 알 수 있습니다. 이방인이라도 교만을 버리고 겸손히 돌아오는 자에게는 언약 백성이 될 수 있는 문을 열어 두셨다는 것은 이방인의 구원에 대한 놀라운 예표로 신약에서 복음이 모든 민족에게 전파되는 것과 연결되는 것입니다. 이 뿐만이 아닙니다. 하나님의 심판이 이들에게 임하고 그 심판으로부터 남은자마저 유다백성에 흡수된다면 그들은 이스라엘에게 더이상 위협이 되지 않지요. 결국 이 심판은 하나님의 백성을 보호하기 위한 목적임을 드러내는 것입니다. 그것이 8절 말씀에 잘 드러나 있습니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “내가 내 집을 둘러 진을 쳐서 적군을 막아 거기 왕래하지 못하게 할 것이라 포학한 자가 다시는 그 지경으로 지나가지 못하리니 이는 내가 눈으로 친히 봄이니라” 하나님께서 주변 강대국을 심판하시는 이유는 유다 백성을 위협하는 포학한 자의 침입으로부터 하나님의 집, 하나님의 백성을 영원히 보호하기 위하심입니다. “다시는 그 지경으로 지나가지 못하리니.” 이 뒤에는 “지금부터,” “이제는” 이라는 말씀이 생략되어 있습니다. “이제는 내가 눈으로 친히 보고 있기 때문이다” 1절에서 우리는 이스라엘 모든 지파의 눈이 여호와를 우러러보았다는 말씀을 하였습니다. 그렇게 하나님의 보호하심을 간구하였던 그들에게 8절 말씀은 여호와의 눈이 지금부터 친히 지켜보신다고 말씀하십니다. 하나님의 도우심을 간구했던 그분의 백성들은 이제 자기 백성을 보호하시는 여호와의 말씀을 듣고 자신들이 그 보호 아래 있음을 확신할 수 있는 것입니다.

The prophecy of judgment against the northern foreign nations of Judah has ended. What about the Philistine cities, the neighbors to the southwest of Judah? The text does not explicitly state that the heavy word of the LORD fell upon them. However, just by witnessing the judgment brought about by the word of the LORD—even that indirect experience—is enough to make them tremble in fear and anguish. This shows us how terrifying God's judgment is toward the adversaries of His people.

Let's read verse 5 together: "Ashkelon will see it and be afraid; Gaza also will writhe in anguish, and Ekron too, because her hope is a delusion. The king will perish from Gaza and Ashkelon will be without inhabitants."

Yet, even in the midst of this judgment, God had a purpose for them. Verses 6-7 state: "I will cut off the pride of the Philistines and take the blood from their mouths, the forbidden food from between their teeth." God says He will cut off their pride and remove their corrupt, idolatrous practices. And then, what does He do with them? Let's read the latter part of verse 7: "They too will become a remnant for our God, and they will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron like the Jebusites."

It says their remnant will return to God. Just as David conquered Jerusalem and absorbed the remaining Jebusites, who later worked as laborers when Solomon built his many cities, these Philistines are not completely destroyed by God's judgment. Instead, their remnant is accepted as His people. From this, we understand that God's judgment is not solely for punishment, but also serves as a conduit to lead sinners to restoration. That the door to the covenant people was left open for Gentiles who cast aside their pride and humbly return is a wonderful prefigurement of the salvation of the Gentiles, connecting to the spread of the Gospel to all nations in the New Testament.

Not only that. If judgment comes upon these nations, and even their remnant is absorbed into Judah, they will no longer pose a threat to Israel. Ultimately, this judgment is revealed to be for the purpose of protecting God's people. This is clearly shown in verse 8. Let's read it together: "But I will encamp at my temple to guard it against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch."

The reason God judges the surrounding nations is to eternally protect the House of God—His people—from the invasion of the "oppressor" who threatens Judah. "Never again will an oppressor overrun my people." Following this phrase, the meaning "from now on" or "now" is implied. "Now, because I Myself am keeping watch." In verse 1, we read that the eyes of all the tribes of Israel were directed toward the LORD. To those who sought God's protection, verse 8 says that the eye of the LORD Himself will watch over them from now on. The people who pleaded for God's help can now hear the word of the LORD who protects His people and be assured that they are under His defense.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 자기 백성을 보호하시는 여호와의 말씀 앞에 이 세상의 누구든 맞설 수 없습니다. 세상은 두로와 같이 자기 힘과 능력과 재력을 의지하며 하나님 없이도 안전하다 착각합니다. 그러나 그들의 끝은 모래 위에 쌓은 성과 같이 순식간에 스러지고 마는 것이지요. 우리는 비록 약할지라도 우리가 진리와 화평을 사랑하며 하나님을 향하여 눈을 들 때에 하나님께서는 우리의 대적을 심판하시고 우리를 보호하십니다. 하나님이 진을 치시고 포학한 자가 다시는 지나가지 못하게 하십니다. 하나님의 눈이 우리를 지키실 것입니다. 자기 백성을 보호하시는 하나님만을 의지하시는 여러분되시기를 주님의 이름으로 축원합니다.

Let me conclude the message. No one in this world can stand against the word of the LORD who protects His people. The world, like Tyre, relies on its own strength, ability, and wealth, falsely believing it is safe without God. Yet, their end is to be instantly swept away, like a sandcastle built on the shore.

Though we may be weak, when we lift our eyes to God, He judges our adversaries and protects us. God will encamp around us and prevent the oppressor from passing through again. The eye of the LORD will guard us. I pray that you will be people who rely only on the God who protects His people. Amen.