August 21 - Listening or Presuming? 경청과 추정

August 21 - Listening or Presuming?

 

“So David inquired of God: Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD answered him, “Go. I will hand them over to you.” - 1 Chronicles 14:10.

 

 

Finally, David was king over all of Israel. The Philistines likely heard and remembered when David came to them for refuge against Saul. They had to capture him. So they arrived and began to raid the Valley of Rephaim. David had heard they were coming and marched out to meet them. He asked God, “Should I go out to meet the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” God assured David He would help him, and the battle was won. David also conquered the Philistines’ “gods” and burned them because they were abandoned there in the valley.

 

Again, David asked God what he should do. God instructed him not to attack directly but to circle and wait in the aspen trees [or poplar, balsam, mulberry]. When he heard the sound of a “going”—or marching troops in the tops of the trees, that was the time to spring a surprise attack, the sign that God was there to go with him to victory. What if we prayed like David did, truly open to God’s instructions? 

 

One of the wonderful things about our God is that he loves to speak to us. He wants us to keep coming to Him regularly for counsel, just as David did. David could have assumed that since God had anointed him as king, God would want David to march against his enemies when they attacked. But despite his open relationship with the LORD, David never presumed to know the LORD’s direction for a given situation. He knew attempting to extend God’s Kingdom without His specific instructions was dangerous. 

 

Earlier in Israel’s history, Joshua’s forces were defeated or deceived twice because he did not inquire of  the LORD before moving ahead with plans to conquer the Promised Land (Joshua 7-9). Our hearts can also be deceived into believing we have all the wisdom to form our evangelism strategies or perform other good deeds. We need God to help develop and finetune our plans so that the forces of darkness will be defeated.  Are you making your strategies without seeking God in prayer?

 

“God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as his chisel for sculpting our lives. felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away.” - J. I. Packer.

 

 

Today’s’ Prayer: Praise God as the blessed and only Ruler over all things (1 Timothy 6:15). Thank him for sustaining all things by his powerful Word and holding all things together. Confess any situation in which you have resisted God’s rule. Commit yourself to know and do his will. Ask the LORD to put a hedge of protection around you and your loved one. Pray for the government to do public justice to protect the freedoms and rights of individuals, groups, and institutions. Pray that you may “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Offer to be used by God to reach certain individuals.

Prayer Pointer: Prayer is the most vital force in world evangelism – Anonymous 

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:1-48; 1 Corinthians 3

 

 

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8월 21일 - 경청과 추정

 

“다윗이 하나님께 물어 가로되 내가 불레셋 사람을 치러 올라가리이까 주께서 저희를 내 손에 붙이시겠나이까 여호와께서 이르시되 올라가라 내가 저희를 네 손에 붙이리라 하신지라” – 대상 14:10

 

 

마침내 다윗이 온 이스라엘의 왕이 되었습니다. 다윗은 사울을 피해 블레셋에 왔다는 소문을 듣고 과거에 다윗이 그들에게 왔던 적이 있음을 기억했습니다. 불레셋 사람들은 다윗을 사로잡기 위해 르바임 골짜기에 있는 그를 습격하기 시작할 때 다윗은 불레셋 사람과 싸우기 위해 전진했습니다. 다윗은 하나님께 "내가 블레셋 사람들을 싸우러 나가야 합니까? 내 손에 그들을 넘겨 주시겠습니까?" 라고 물었을 때 하나님은 다윗을 도와주셨고 전쟁에서 승리하게 하신 것입니다. 다윗은 블레셋 사람들이 골짜기에 버린 우상들을 모두 불태웠습니다. 

 

다윗은 다시 하나님께 어떻게 무엇을 해야 할 것인가를 물었습니다. 하나님은 다윗에게 정면에서 공격하지 말고 주위를 돌아 뽕나무에서 기다리라고 지시하셨습니다. 다윗은 뽕나무 꼭대기에서 군대의 행군하는 소리를 듣고 기습 공격을 하게 되었는데 이것이 하나님께서 이미 다윗으로 승리하도록 그 자리에 그와 함께 하신다는 신호였기 때문입니다. 우리가 다윗처럼 기도하고 하나님의 지시를 온전히 따른다는 어떻겠습니까? 

 

하나님의 놀라운 속성 중의 하나는 하나님은 우리에게 말씀하시기를 좋아하신다는 것입니다. 다윗이 그리했던 것처럼 하나님은 우리가 계속 정기적으로 그에게 나아가 말씀 둗는 것을 기대하십니다. 하나님께서 다윗을 왕으로 세우셨기 때문에 다윗이 공격을 당하면 하나님께서 전쟁에 함께 나가기를 원하셨다고 생각할 수 있습니다. 그러나 하나님과의 친밀한 관계에도 불구하고 다윗은 어떤 상황에도 주님의 지시를 추정하지 않았습니다. 그는 하나님의 구체적인 지시 없이 그의 나라를 확장하려고 노력하는 것이 위험하다는 것을 잘 알고 있었습니다. . 

 

이스라엘 역사 초기에 여호수아의 군대가 약속의 땅을 정복하는 계획을 추진하면서 먼저 하나님께 묻지 않았기 때문에 두 번이나 전쟁에 패하거나 기만 당했습니다(수 7-9장). 우리가 전도하기 위헤 자신들의 전도 전략을 세운다거나 어떤 선행을 수행하는 데 필요한 모든 지혜를 가지고 있다고 믿으면 실패하고 기만 당할 수 있습니다. 우리에게는 어둠의 세력을 물리치고 우리의 계획을 발전시키고 세밀하게 조정하고 도와주시는 하나님의 간섭이 절대적으로 필요합니다. 기도로 하나님게 둗지 않고 자신의 전략을 세우지는 않습니까?

 

"하나님은 우리의 삶을 다듬기 위해 만성적인 고통과 연약과 다른 고난들을 도구로 사용하십니다. 연약함을 느끼면 힘을 얻으려고 매일 그리스도께 더 깊이 의지하게 됩니다. 우리가 약하다고 느낄수록 더 강하게 주님을 의지할 수 있습니다. 우리가 더 강하게 의지할수록 영적으로 더 강해지고, 우리의 육신이 쇠약해져도 영적으로 더 강해집니다." - J. I. 패커

 

 

오늘의 기도: 하나님을 모든 것의 복되시고 유일한 주권자로 찬양하고 (딤전 6:15), 능력의 말씀과 모든 것을 유지하시고 관리하시는 하나님께 감사하십시오.  당신의 삶 가운데서 하나님의 통치를 반대한 죄에 대해 고백하십시오. 당신과 당신의 사랑하는 자들 주위를 보호의 울타리를 막아달라고 주님께 간구하십시오. 정부가 공의를 행하고, 개인과 집단, 그리고 기관의 자유와 권리를 보호할 수 있도록 기도하십시오. 당신의 “빛이 사람앞에 비치게 하여….착한 행실을 보고 하늘에 계신 아버지께 영광을” 돌리도록 기도하십시오 (마 5:16), 어떤 특별한 사람들에게 복음을 전할 수 있도록 자신을 하나님께 드리십시오.

기도지침: 기도는 세계선교와 전도에 가장 필수적인 힘이다. - 작자미상   

성경 읽기: 시편 119:1-48; 고린도전서 3장