20260414 [새벽묵상] 여호와께서 다스리시니 모두 기뻐할지어다 | The Lord Reigns, Let All Rejoice (시/Ps 97:1~12)

Psalm 97 (NKRV)

1 여호와께서 다스리시나니 땅은 즐거워하며 허다한 섬은 기뻐할지어다

2 구름과 흑암이 그를 둘렀고 의와 공평이 그의 보좌의 기초로다

3 불이 그의 앞에서 나와 사방의 대적들을 불사르시는도다

4 그의 번개가 세계를 비추니 땅이 보고 떨었도다

5 산들이 여호와의 앞 곧 온 땅의 주 앞에서 밀랍 같이 녹았도다

6 하늘이 그의 의를 선포하니 모든 백성이 그의 영광을 보았도다

7 조각한 신상을 섬기며 허무한 것으로 자랑하는 자는 다 수치를 당할 것이라 너희 신들아 여호와께 경배할지어다

8 여호와여 시온이 주의 심판을 듣고 기뻐하며 유다의 딸들이 즐거워하였나이다

9 여호와여 주는 온 땅 위에 지존하시고 모든 신들보다 위에 계시니이다

10 여호와를 사랑하는 너희여 악을 미워하라 그가 그의 성도의 영혼을 보전하사 악인의 손에서 건지시느니라

11 의인을 위하여 빛을 뿌리고 마음이 정직한 자를 위하여 기쁨을 뿌리시는도다

12 의인이여 너희는 여호와로 말미암아 기뻐하며 그의 거룩한 이름에 감사할지어다

Psalm 97 (NIV)

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;

let the distant shores rejoice.

2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him

and consumes his foes on every side.

4 His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all peoples see his glory.

7 All who worship images are put to shame,

those who boast in idols—

worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and rejoices

and the villages of Judah are glad

because of your judgments, LORD.

9 For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods.

10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil,

for he guards the lives of his faithful ones

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light shines  on the righteous

and joy on the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,

and praise his holy name.

여러분 우리 하나님은 온 땅 위에 지존하신 분이십니다. 믿으십니까? 지극히 높으신 하나님께서는 모든 신들보다 위에 계신 분이시지요. 자 그렇다면 그런 하나님께서 온 세상을 다스리신다는 것을 안다면 우리는 어떻게 해야 할까요? 우리는 즐거워하며 기뻐할 것입니다. 때로 우리의 상황들이 그렇지 않다고 말할 수 있습니다. 그러나 우리는 우리의 상황들이 아니라 그 위에 계시는 하나님께서 다스리심을 기억해야 할 것입니다. 그 때에 우리는 기뻐할 수 있는 것이지요. 오늘은 “여호와께서 다스리시니 모두 기뻐할지어다”라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

            본문 1절이 바로 그렇게 시작합니다. “여호와께서 다스리시나니 땅은 즐거워하며 허다한 섬은 기뻐할지어다.” 무슨 뜻일까요? 피조물은 즐거워하라 라는 뜻일까요? 자, 당시에 바다는 혼돈과 미지를 상징하는 공간이었습니다. 그래서 그 바다 위에 떠있는 허다한 섬들은 인간이 아직 다 가보지 못한 세상의 가장 가장자리, 그 다양한 세상의 끝을 말하고 있는 것이지요. 즉, 하나님의 주권이 이스라엘에 한정되지 않고 온 세상의 가장 먼 곳, 낯선 곳까지 미친다는 선언이며 바로 그 세상의 끝에서 하나님을 즐거워하고 기뻐하게 된다는 것입니다.

            그 다음 2-6절의 말씀은 하나님의 현현하심을 말하고 있습니다. 구름과 흑암이 그를 둘렀다고 합니다. 이는 시내산에 임한 하나님의 임재를 기억나게 하지요. 빽빽한 구름 가운데 임하신 하나님을 우리는 잘 알고 있습니다. 그런데 흑암 또한 하나님의 임재를 말하는 단어입니다. 출애굽기 20:21에 이런 말씀이 나오지요. “백성은 멀리 서 있고 모세는 하나님이 계신 흑암으로 가까이 가니라” 이 흑암은 하나님의 영광을 유한한 인간이 감당할 수 없기에 그 영광을 가려 주시는 자비의 장막의 역할을 합니다. 그렇기에 이 짙은 어둠은 하나님이 스스로를 숨기시는 장벽이 아니라 오히려 인간이 그분 앞에 나아가 그분의 음성을 들을 수 있도록 허락하시는 은혜의 통로인 것이지요.

            이 다음은 하나님의 다스리심의 기준이 무엇인지 말해줍니다. “의와 공평이 그의 보좌의 기초로다.” 하나님의 왕좌의 기초가 바로 의와 공평이라는 것입니다. 이 말씀이 굉장히 중요한데 왜냐하면 이 말씀 한 구절이 2-6절의 말씀을 해석하는 기준이 되기 때문입니다. 보십시오. 불이 나와서 대적들을 불사르고 땅이 보고 떨며 산들이 밀랍같이 녹는다는 표현들이 마치 대적들을 심판하시는 심판자로서 하나님의 진노를 강조하는 것처럼 보입니다. 하지만 우리가 하나님께서 의와 공평으로 다스리신다는 것을 기억한다면 이것은 하나님 나라의 법도가 세워지는 장면이며 왕의 위엄을 드러내시는 장면이라는 것을 알 수 있는 것입니다. 하나님 앞에 어떤 대적도 설 수 없습니다. 하나님의 빛은 온 세계를 비추며 모든 피조세계는 하나님께 두려움과 복종으로 반응합니다. 영원히 견고할 것만 같았던 저 높은 산들이 온 땅의 주인 되시는 여호와 앞에서 마치 밀랍처럼 녹아버립니다. 이것이 바로 하나님의 영광이지요. 하나님께서 어떤 진노나 무엇을 하신 것이 아니라 하나님 그 자체로 이런 지존자의 위엄과 영광이 드러나는 것입니다. 그래서 6절은 선포하고 있지 않습니까? “하늘이 그의 의를 선포하니 모든 백성이 그의 영광을 보았도다” 이런 여호와께서 우리를 그 의와 공평으로 다스리시니 우리가 어찌 기뻐하지 않을 수 있겠습니까?

            7-9절 또한 마찬가지입니다. 이런 하나님을 자랑하지 않고 다른 허무한 것으로 자랑하는 자는 수치를 당할 수 밖에 없지요. 그들이 무엇을 의지하던 간에 그 모든 우상들 또한 여호와를 경배하는 그 분의 통치 아래에 있을 뿐인 것입니다. 세상의 사람들이 지금은 자랑할지 모르지만 우리는 그들이 자랑하는 것이 허무한 것임을 잘 알고 있습니다. 왜냐하면 우리 하나님 만이 온 땅 위에 지존하시고 모든 신들보다 위에 계시기 때문입니다. 그 하나님의 다스리심이 임할 때에 우리는 그것을 듣고 기뻐하며 즐거워할 것입니다.

            10-12절은 부르심입니다. 그리고 그 부르심에 응할 때에 하나님의 다스리심이 우리에게 어떻게 실제적으로 적용될 것인지 말씀하고 계십니다. 그 부르심은 무엇입니까? “여호와를 사랑하는 너희여 악을 미워하라.” 그렇습니다. 우리가 하나님을 사랑할 때에 우리는 악을 미워해야 하는 것이지요. 사랑과 미움이라는 정반대의 단어를 사용하는 것은 그 가운데 중간이 없기 때문입니다. 우리는 하나님과 악함 사이에서 모호한 태도를 취하거나 양다리를 걸칠 수 없는 것입니다. 하나님을 사랑한다면 악을 미워해야 한다는 것이지요. 그 때에 하나님께서는 약속하십니다. “그가 그의 성도의 영혼을 보전하사 악인의 손에서 건지시느니라.” 하나님의 의와 공평이 우리를 구원하실 것입니다. 하나님의 다스리심이 우리를 건져내실 것입니다. 여기서 성도란 하나님의 언약 아래에 있는 백성을 말합니다. 지존하시며 모든 신들 위에 높으신 하나님께서 당신의 언약을 따라 우리를 지켜주신다는 것입니다. 하나님께서 우리를 위하여 빛을 씨처럼 뿌리시고 기쁨 또한 뿌리신다고 합니다. 하나님께서 심으신 빛과 기쁨은 우리 안에서 자라날 것입니다. 때로 꽃이 피고 열매가 맺기까지 시간이 걸릴 수도 있겠지만 그 기다림의 과정은 하나님께서 이루실 일들에 대한 기대로 가득할 것입니다. 왜냐하면 하나님의 통치와 다스리심은 의롭고 공평하시기 때문입니다. 그 하나님의 왕되심이 우리에게 기쁨의 근원이 되는 것입니다. 그래서 우리는 여호와로 말미암아 기뻐할 수 있습니다. 그분의 거룩한 이름에 감사할 수 있는 것입니다.

            말씀을 맺습니다. 하나님은 온 땅 위에 지존하십니다. 모든 신들보다 위에 계십니다. 그분의 영광과 위엄은 모든 피조세계가 떨며 녹아내리고 경배합니다. 바로 그 하나님이 의와 공평으로 우리를 다스리십니다. 우리가 하나님을 사랑한다면 우리는 악을 미워해야 합니다. 우리 안에 허무한 것을 섬기거나 자랑하고 있었다면 이제는 내려놓아야 할 때입니다. 그분의 다스리심이 우리를 구원하시고 우리 안에 빛과 기쁨을 심으실 것입니다. 그 하나님을 함께 기뻐하기 원합니다.

[Introduction: The Basis of Our Joy]

Friends, our God is the Most High over all the earth. Do you believe this? Our God is exalted far above all gods. If we truly recognize that such a God reigns over the whole world, how should we respond? We should be filled with delight and joy.

At times, our circumstances might scream the opposite. However, we must remember not the situation itself, but the God who stands above it and rules over it. That is when we can truly rejoice. Today, I want to share a message titled: “The Lord Reigns, Let All Rejoice.”

[1. A Sovereignty That Reaches the Ends of the Earth]

Verse 1 begins with this grand declaration: “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” What does this mean? Is it just a command for nature to be happy?

In the ancient world, the sea was a symbol of chaos and the unknown. Therefore, the “many coastlands” (or islands) scattered across the sea represented the very edges of the world—the diverse places humans had not yet reached. This is a declaration that God’s sovereignty is not confined to Israel; it reaches the furthest, most unfamiliar corners of the globe. Even at the ends of the earth, people find their joy in Him.

[2. Darkness: A Veil of Mercy]

Verses 2–6 describe the "Theophany"—the manifestation of God. It says clouds and thick darkness surround Him. This reminds us of God’s presence on Mount Sinai. We know the God who descended in a thick cloud. Interestingly, "darkness" is also a word used to describe God’s presence. Exodus 20:21 says, “The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.”

This darkness serves as a "veil of mercy." Because finite humans cannot endure the raw brilliance of God’s glory, He covers that glory so we might survive His presence. Therefore, this deep darkness is not a barrier for God to hide Himself, but rather a channel of grace that allows us to approach Him and hear His voice.

[3. The Foundation of the Throne: Righteousness and Justice]

The psalmist then reveals the standard of God's rule: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” This is a vital verse because it serves as the lens through which we interpret verses 2–6.

Look at the imagery: fire consuming adversaries, the earth trembling, and mountains melting like wax. At first glance, this might look like a display of terrifying wrath. But when we remember that God rules with righteousness and justice, we realize these are scenes of the King’s majesty being revealed and the laws of His Kingdom being established. No adversary can stand before Him. His light illuminates the world, and all creation responds with awe and submission. Mountains that seemed eternally firm melt like wax before the Lord of all the earth. This is His glory. It is not that God is "doing" something out of anger; rather, His sheer presence reveals the majesty of the Supreme Being. Verse 6 declares: “The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.”

[4. The Call: Love the Lord, Hate Evil]

Verses 10–12 are a call to action. They show us how God’s reign practically applies to our lives. What is that call? “O you who love the Lord, hate evil!” The psalmist uses the opposites—love and hate—because there is no middle ground. We cannot maintain an ambiguous attitude or keep one foot in God’s camp and the other in evil. If you love God, you must hate what He hates. When we answer this call, God gives us a promise: “He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Here, "saints" refers to the people under God’s covenant. The Most High, who is above all gods, protects us according to His faithful covenant. The text also says that light is "sown" like a seed for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Light and joy planted by God will grow within us. It may take time for the flowers to bloom and the fruit to ripen, but the waiting period is filled with expectation because God is the one doing the work. His reign is righteous and just, and His kingship is the source of our joy.

[Conclusion: Rejoice in the Holy Name]

In conclusion: God is the Most High over all the earth. He is exalted far above all gods. His glory and majesty cause all creation to tremble and bow. This very God rules us with righteousness and justice.

If we love Him, we must hate evil. If we have been serving or boasting in "vain things," now is the time to lay them down. His reign will deliver us and plant light and joy in our souls. Let us rejoice together in this King.

Amen.