20260707 [새벽묵상] 여호와께서 행하신 일들을 기억하라 Remember the Works of the Lord (시/Ps 111:1~10)

111:1 할렐루야, 내가 정직한 자들의 모임과 회중 가운데에서 전심으로 여호와께 감사하리로다

1 Praise the Lord.

I will extol the Lord with all my heart

    in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

111:2 여호와께서 행하시는 일들이 크시오니 이를 즐거워하는 자들이 다 기리는도다

111:3 그의 행하시는 일이 존귀하고 엄위하며 그의 공의가 영원히 서 있도다

111:4 그의 기적을 사람이 기억하게 하셨으니 여호와는 은혜로우시고 자비로우시도다

111:5 여호와께서 자기를 경외하는 자들에게 양식을 주시며 그의 언약을 영원히 기억하시리로다

2 Great are the works of the Lord;

    they are pondered by all who delight in them.

3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

    and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

    the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;

    he remembers his covenant forever.

111:6 그가 그들에게 뭇 나라의 기업을 주사 그가 행하시는 일의 능력을 그들에게 알리셨도다

111:7 그의 손이 하는 일은 진실과 정의이며 그의 법도는 다 확실하니

111:8 영원무궁토록 정하신 바요 진실과 정의로 행하신 바로다

111:9 여호와께서 그의 백성을 속량하시며 그의 언약을 영원히 세우셨으니 그의 이름이 거룩하고 지존하시도다

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,

    giving them the lands of other nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;

    all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are established for ever and ever,

    enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He provided redemption for his people;

    he ordained his covenant forever—

    holy and awesome is his name.

111:10 여호와를 경외함이 지혜의 근본이라 그의 계명을 지키는 자는 다 훌륭한 지각을 가진 자이니 여호와를 찬양함이 영원히 계속되리로다

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

    To him belongs eternal praise.

            미국의 독립기념일은 불꽃놀이로 참 유명하지요. 그런데 올해에는 전교인 수련회가 독립기념일 주말에 잡혀서 불꽃놀이는 어렵겠다 생각하고 있었습니다. 그런데 뜻밖에도 수련회 장소였던 블랙 레이크 지역 주민들이 매우 성대하게 불꽃놀이를 해서 깜짝 놀랬습니다. 지역 주민들이 하는 불꽃놀이가 아니라 그 규모가 마치 큰 도시에서 기획한 불꽃놀이 같았어요. 나중에 생각해보니 “아! 올해가 미국 독립 250주년이어서 그런 거였구나” 하고 이해를 하게 되었습니다. 한국의 역사에 비하면 250년 밖에 되지 않는 짧은 역사를 가진 미국이지만 이들은 그들의 독립을 이토록 기쁘게 기억하고 기념하고 있는 것이지요. 오늘의 시편도 마찬가지입니다. 오늘의 시편은 하나님이 행하신 일들을 함께 기억하고 묵상하자고 제안하는 공동체 찬양시입니다. 마치 250년 전의 독립을 이렇게 성대하게 즐거워하며 기념하는 것처럼 오늘 시편의 화자도 하나님께서 행하신 일들을 함께 기념하자고 노래하고 있는 것이지요. 오늘은 “여호와께서 행하신 일들을 기억하라” 라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

Introduction: The Power of Remembering

Independence Day in the United States is famous for its spectacular fireworks. This year, since our all-church retreat was scheduled over the Independence Day weekend, I honestly thought we would miss out on the fireworks.

However, much to my surprise, the local residents of the Black Lake area put on an incredibly grand fireworks display. It didn't look like a small neighborhood celebration at all; the scale was so massive that it felt like a show planned by a major city. Later, it clicked: "Ah! This year marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, which is why it was so grand!" Compared to Korea’s thousands of years of history, America has a relatively short history of 250 years, yet its people remember and commemorate their independence with such profound joy and honor.

Today’s psalm operates in the exact same way. It is a communal song of praise that invites us to remember and meditate together on the great things God has done. Just like celebrating a 250-year-old independence with such magnificence, the psalmist is singing to urge us to commemorate the wondrous works of the Lord. Today, I want to share a message titled, "Remember the Works of the Lord."

Body

            먼저 본문의 여호와께서 행하시는 일들을 함께 살펴보기 원합니다. 2절, “여호와께서 행하시는 일들이 크시오니” 라고 고백하고 있습니다. 3절은 또 어떻습니까? 함께 한 번 읽어보겠습니다. “그의 행하시는 일이 존귀하고 엄위하며 그의 의가 영원히 서 있도다” 여러분 대체 여호와께서 무슨 일을 행하셨기에 여호와께서 하신 일이 이렇게 크고 존귀하며 엄위하고 그분의 의로움이 영원히 계속된다고 말하고 있는 것일까요? 그것은 5-6절에서 힌트를 얻을 수 있습니다. 5절에서 “여호와께서 자기를 경외하는 자들에게 양식을 주시며” 라고 말하고 있는데 여기서 말하는 양식이란 우리가 흔히 생각하는 식사나 떡과 같은 음식을 말하는 것이 아닙니다. 이 양식은 맹수가 갈기갈기 찢어놓은 사냥감, 즉, 먹이를 말하는 것입니다. 마치 새끼 대신 암사자가 사냥을 나가서 숨통을 끊어놓은 사냥감을 새끼에게 던져주듯이 말입니다. 여호와를 경외하는 자들을 위하여 여호와께서 사냥을 나가시는 것입니다. 이것은 전투가 아닙니다. 일방적인 사냥인 것입니다. 6절을 보십시오. 함께 읽어보겠습니다. “그가 그들에게 뭇 나라의 기업을 주사 그가 행하시는 일의 능력을 그들에게 알리셨도다” 그 사냥감이 무엇이었습니까? 뭇 나라, 이방 민족들의 유산을 취하여 그들에게 주셨습니다. 여호와께서 가나안 땅을 정복하여 그들에게 유산으로 주신 것입니다. 우리가 민수기를 묵상할 때에 가나안 정복은 철저히 여호와의 전쟁이었음을 함께 보시지 않았습니까? 이것은 실로 놀라운 일입니다. 이스라엘 민족이 살았던 시대는 이미 각 지역을 제국들이 점령하던 시대였습니다. 그러나 하나님께서는 그 제국들에게서 이스라엘을 건져내셨습니다. 하나님께서 모세를 부르실 때에 뭐라고 말씀하십니까? 출애굽기 3:7-8입니다. “내가 애굽에 있는 내 백성의 고통을 분명히 보고 그들이 그들의 감독자로 말미암아 부르짖음을 듣고 그 근심을 알고 내가 내려가서 그들을 애굽인의 손에서 건져내고” 이집트와 같은 대제국에서 아무 힘없는 이스라엘 백성을 자기 백성으로 삼으시고 그들의 고통을 보고, 부르짖음을 듣고 그 근심을 알고 내려가셔서 그들을 건져내신 분이 바로 그들의 왕이신 여호와이신 것입니다. 9절 말씀이 이를 요약하고 있습니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “여호와께서 그의 백성을 속량하시며 그의 언약을 영원히 세우셨으니 그의 이름이 거룩하고 지존하시도다” 아멘.

1. The Glorious and Powerful Hunting of the Lord

First, let us look at the works that the Lord performs. Verse 2 confesses:

“Great are the works of the Lord.”

And what does verse 3 say? Let us read it together:

“Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.”

What on earth did the Lord do that makes His deeds so great, glorious, majestic, and His righteousness eternal? We can find a clue in verses 5 and 6. Verse 5 states:

“He provides food for those who fear him.”

The word used for "food" here doesn't simply mean an ordinary meal or bread. In the original Hebrew text, this food refers to "prey" that a wild beast has torn apart. Just like a lioness goes out to hunt, slaughters the prey, and throws it to her cubs, the Lord goes out to hunt on behalf of those who fear Him. This is not a balanced battle; it is a completely one-sided hunt by God.

Look at verse 6. Let us read it together:

“He has shown his people the power of his works in giving them the lands of other nations.”

What was that prey? He took the inheritance of the Gentile nations and handed it over to His people. The Lord conquered the land of Canaan and gave it to them as their inheritance. When we meditated on the Book of Numbers, didn't we see that the conquest of Canaan was strictly the Lord’s war? This is truly remarkable.

During the era of ancient Israel, powerful empires were already dominating the regions. Yet, God delivered Israel out of those massive empires. When God called Moses, what did He say? Exodus 3:7–8 declares:

“I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians...”

Out of a colossal empire like Egypt, He took a helpless group of slaves as His own people. Their King, the Lord, saw their misery, heard their cries, knew their suffering, and came down to rescue them. Verse 9 summarizes this beautifully. Let us read it together:

“He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name.”

Amen.

            자, 여호와께서 행하시는 일들이 이렇게 위대하고 존귀하고 엄위합니다. 우리를 대신하여 대적을 사냥하시고 우리의 왕이 되셔서 진실과 정의로 다스리시는 하나님이십니다. 본문은 그런 하나님을 경외해야 한다고 합니다. 그 경외란 지혜의 근본, 으뜸이라고 합니다. 그렇다면 어떻게 하는 것이 하나님을 경외하는 것입니까? 첫째 공동체와 함께 전심으로 하나님께 감사하는 것입니다. 1절이 이를 말하고 있습니다. “내가 정직한 자들의 모임과 회중 가운데에서 전심으로 여호와께 감사하리로다” 두번째는 하나님이 행하신 일들을 기억하며, 즐거워하고 그것을 연구해야합니다. 우리 각자의 삶 가운데 행하신 하나님의 일들 뿐만 아니라 우리 공동체 가운데 행하신 일들, 그리고 궁극적으로는 하나님의 말씀 가운데 행하신 일들을 기억하며 즐거워하고 그것을 연구해야한다는 것입니다. 이를 말하고 있는 것이 2절입니다. 그런데 우리가 한가지 잊지 말아야 할 것이 있습니다. 우리가 하나님께서 우리 가운데 행하신 놀라운 일들을 기억할 수 있는 것은 바로 하나님의 은혜와 자비로우심 때문이라는 것입니다. 4절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “그의 기적을 사람이 기억하게 하셨으니 여호와는 은혜로우시고 자비로우시도다” 우리의 힘으로 기억할 수 있는 것이 아닙니다. 하나님께서 우리에게 기억하게 하시는 것입니다. 이것이 은혜인 이유는 우리가 여호와께서 행하신 일들을 기억할 때에 여호와께서도 “자기를 경외하는 자들에게… 그의 언약을 영원히 기억하”실 것이기 때문입니다. 그것이 바로 5절에서 말하고 있는 것입니다.

2. How to Fear the Lord: Remembering His Grace

The works of the Lord are indeed great, glorious, and majestic. He hunts down our enemies on our behalf, becomes our King, and rules with truth and justice. The scripture tells us that we must fear this God, and that this fear is the beginning—the very crown—of wisdom.

Then, what does it practically mean to fear God?

• First, it means to give thanks to the Lord with all our heart alongside the community. Verse 1 declares: “I will praise the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.”

• Second, we must remember, delight in, and ponder the works He has done. We must remember and rejoice in not only the things God has done in our individual lives but also what He has done within our faith community, and ultimately, what He has accomplished through His Word. This is the core of verse 2.

However, there is one crucial thing we must never forget. The only reason we can even remember the wonderful things God has done among us is because of His grace and compassion. Look at verse 4. Let us read it together:

“He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.”

We do not remember by our own human strength or intellect. God graciously enables us to remember. This is pure grace because when we remember the works of the Lord, He also promises to “remember his covenant forever” for those who fear Him. That is exactly what verse 5 is declaring.

            말씀을 맺습니다. 미국이라는 한 나라의 독립, 실로 크게 기념할 만한 일입니다. 그러나 우리에게는 그와 비교할 수 없는 기억하고 감사하며 즐거워하고 기려야하는 일이 있습니다. 그것은 바로 여호와께서 행하신 일입니다. 9절의 말씀을 원문에 맞게 번역하면 “그가 백성들에게 구원을 보내주셨다, 곧, 그의 언약이 영원하도록 안수하셨다”라고 번역이 됩니다. 그 구원이 누구입니까? 바로 우리를 위하여 십자가에서 돌아가신 예수 그리스도이십니다. 우리의 고통을 분명히 보시고 우리의 부르짖음을 듣고 그 근심을 알고 우리에게 내려오셔서 우리를 건져내신 예수님, 우리는 그를 경외하며 그의 계명을 지키며 영원히 그를 찬양해야 할 것입니다.

Conclusion: Our Ultimate Deliverer

Let us conclude. The independence of a nation like the United States is truly a great event to commemorate. However, we have an incomparably greater event to remember, give thanks for, delight in, and honor. It is the grand work that the Lord has performed for us.

If you translate verse 9 according to the original text, it reads:

“He sent salvation to his people; he established his covenant to last forever.”

Who is this ultimate salvation? It is Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for us. Jesus saw our misery, heard our cries, knew our deep suffering, and came down to this earth to rescue us. As a people who have received this redemption, we must fear Him, keep His commandments, and praise His holy name forever.

Let us pray.