August 24 - The Kingdom of God 하나님의 나라

August 24 - The Kingdom of God

 

“I love you, O LORD, my strength.” – Psalms 18:1

 

 

The introduction to this psalm credits it to David, who gave the first version of this praise in 2 Samuel chapter 22. David was motivated by God's immense help in rescuing him from Saul and his many other enemies. In this verse, David tells God he loves Him. Deuteronomy 6:5 gives Israel the command to love the LORD with all their heart, soul, and might, and Jesus identified this command as "the great and first commandment" (Matthew 22:37–38). David's love for the LORD honored this commandment. His love for God was deep. David recognized the LORD as the one who made him victorious over his foes.After rising from the grave, Jesus met His disciples and asked Peter whether Peter loved Him. Peter had previously denied the LORD three times, but now he confessed that he loved the LORD as the LORD restored him (John 21:15–17). Like David and restored Peter, we should love the LORD; we can show our love for Him by keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

 

According to the Bible, the Kingdom of God is the dominion where God reigns. God does not have dominion over a single piece of territory, not just the earth, but God rules over the whole universe, which is His kingdom. Yet the LORD taught us to pray that the Kingdom of God may come on the earth. In other words, we are to pray that all the peoples and nations will become God’s peoples and nations, submitting themselves to His authority and sovereignty.  

 

The Kingdom of God expands even more effectively when there is love for God and a deep commitment toward Him. We see this commitment in Psalm 18:1, where the psalmist confesses, “I love you, O LORD, my strength.” This was David’s confession; he was a man after God’s heart. Our commitment to God rises from our deep, personal love for the Kingdom of God and our service and loyalty to His Kingdom. God will establish His Kingdom with His strength and power. David calls God his rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn of salvation, and stronghold (Psalms 18:2). 

 

David uses these battlefield, wartime terms metaphorically to say that God is the one who protects us in times of “war.” It is God who upholds and keeps us from falling, and it is he who grants victory over our enemies. 

 

As David was delivered from his enemies in the perils of war by calling on God, God promises to deliver us when we call on Him in Jesus' name. The LORD said, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24). Furthermore, we can drive demons out in Jesus’ name; we can overcome the powers of darkness” (Acts 16:18). Because God is our deliverer and protector, we can call on His name; we can request salvation from all circumstances; we can praise him; and we can express our love towards Him. We can be certain that God answers our prayers since He knows we love Him. Even today, God desires to hear us confess our love for Him to make petitions to Him. 

 

“Our assurance, our glory, and the sole anchor of our salvation are that Christ the Son of God is ours, and we, in turn, are in him sons of God and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, called to the hope of eternal blessedness by God's grace, not by our worth.” - John Calvin.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that God will bring a powerful revival to your nation. Ask him to bring his almighty, King-of-glory presence into your neighborhood through your example and words.

Prayer Pointer: Prayer is a powerful thing, for God has bound and tied Himself to it – Martin Luther

Bible Reading: Psalm 120-123; 1 Corinthians 6

 

 

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8월 24일 - 하나님의 나라

 

“나의 힘이 되신 여호와여 내가 주를 사랑하나이다”- 시 18:1

 

 

이 시편의 첫 부분은 사무엘하 22장에 나오는 다윗의 찬양으로 알려져 있습니다. 다윗은 사울과 여러 다른 많은 원수들로부터 보호해 주시는 하나님의 구원의 역사를 깨달았습니다. 이 구절에서 그는 하나님을 사랑한다고 고백합니다. 신명기 6:5에서 하나님은 이스라엘 백성에게 마음과 목숨과 힘을 다해 여호와를 사랑하라는 명령을 주셨고, 예수님도 이 계명에 관해 "크고 첫째 되는 계명"(마 22:37-38)이라고 말씀하셨습니다. 다윗은 이 계명에  순종하며 하나님을 깊이 사랑하였습니다. 그리고 디윗은 그의 원수들을 이기게 하신 분은 하나님이라는 사실을 잘 알고 있었습니다.    

 

예수님꼐서 부활하신 후 제자들을 만나면서 베드로에게 자신을 사랑하는지 물었습니다. 베드로는 주님을 세 번 모른다고 부인했지만 예수님께서 이제 다시 회복시켜 주시는 것으로 알고 베드로는 예수님을 세번 사랑한다고 고백했습니다(요 21:15-17). 다윗과  베드로처럼 주님을 사랑한다고 고백해야 예수님의 계명을 지킴으로 사랑을 보일 수 있습니다(요 14:15).

 

하나님의 나라는 그의 통치와 다스림이 있는 모든 영역이라고 성경은 말합니다. 하나님의 통치가 다스림이 없는 곳이 없다면 이 지구와 우주 전제가 하나님이 다스리시는 하나님의 나라가 되는 것입니다. 그런데 예수님은 하나님의 나라가 이 땅 위에 임하도록 기도하라고 교훈하셨습니다. 다시 말하면 우리 그리스도인들은 모든 사람들과 모든 나라들이 하나님의 권위와 절대주권에 복종하도록 기도해야 하는 것입니다.

 

하나님의 나라는 하나님을 깊이 사랑하고 그에게 헌신하는 자세가 있어야 더욱 확장 건설되어 나갑니다. 시편 18:1에 이러한 사랑과 헌신에 대해 시편 기자는 “나의 힘이 되신 여호와여 내가 주를 사랑하나이다”라고 고백합니다. 이 고백은 하나님의 마음에 합한 자였던 다윗의 고백입니다. 하나님께 헌신하고자 하는 마음과 자세는 하나님을 깊이 사랑하게 하고 그의 나라를 위해 충성 봉사 하고자 하는 마음에서 부터 시작됩니다. 하나님의 나라는 하나님의 힘과 그의 능력으로 세워집니다. 다윗은 하나님을 반석, 요새, 건지시는 자, 방패, 구원의 뿔, 산성(시 18:2)이라고 은유적으로 표현합니다. 다윗은 싸움터와 전쟁의 시기를 은유적으로 표현하며 하나님은 싸움에서 우리를 지키시는 분이라고 강조합니다. 하나님은 우리로 븥드시고 원수들을 이기게 하시는 분이십니다.    

 

다윗이 하나님께 부르짖어 전쟁의 위험과 그의 원수들로부터 구원 받은 것처럼 우리도 예수님의 이름으로 하나님께 부르짖어 기도하면 하나님은 우리를 구원하신다고 약속하십니다.  주님은 “지금 까지는 너희가 내 이름으로 아무것도 구하지 아니하였으나 구하라 그리하면 받으리니 너희 기쁨이 충만하리라”(요16:24)고 말씀하십니다. 그리고 예수님의 이름으로 귀신도 내어 쫓고 어두움의 권세도 물리칠 수 있습니다(행16:18). 하나님은 우리의 구원이시고 보호하시는 분이기 때문에, 그의 이름을 부르면 응답하십니다. 모든 어려운 상황 에서 하나님께 구원을 요청하고, 주님을 찬양하며 사랑한다고 고백할 수 있습니다. 하나님은 우리가 그를 사랑하고 있음을 알고 있기 때문에 우리의 기도에 응답하십니다. 하나님은 오늘도 그에 대한 사랑의 고백을 듣기 원하시고 우리의 기도를 듣기 원하십니다. 

 

"우리의 확신, 우리의 영광, 우리 구원의 유일한 닻은 하나님의 아들 그리스도가 우리를 위한 분이시며, 우리는 그리스도 안에서 하나님의 아들이자 천국의 상속자이며, 우리의 가치가 아니라 하나님의 은혜로 영원한 축복의 소망으로 부르심을 받은 것입니다." - 존 칼빈

 

 

오늘의 기도: 하나님께서 당신의 나라에 강력한 부흥이 일어나도록 기도하고, 당신의 말과 본이 되는 삶을 통하여 전능하시고 영광의 왕의 임재가 당신의 이웃에게 나타나도록 간구하십시오. 

기도 지침: 기도는 강력한 것이다 그 이유는 하나님께서 도에 자신을 결속시키고 묶어 두시기 때문이다. – 마르틴 루터

성경 읽기: 시편 120-123편; 고린도전서 6장