의로운 삶과 행복-Righteousness and Happiness (영어묵상문) 기본 카테고리

2004.02.21 02:50 HaeShin Yoo Edit

영어로 쓴 묵상문인데, 저도 영어가 모국어 아니라 문법적 문제도 있고 읽는 사람도 아니므로 좀 힘들겠지만 혹시 유익을 받을 수 있을까 하여 올립니다.


2004/2/20
Dear Lord, this morning I read Ez 32:12-33:20. The satire on the fall of Egypt and in parallel to it, the future of Israel is mentioned.
Ezekiel’s mission. His mission was warning. Not on just a event. Not on what they will be treated by nation. But on exhortation for righteous life based on the coming sword of God’s judgment. This is the mission of the minister of the word of God. With word of judgment I should teach people to life of righteousness and life. Sin is death. Righteousness is life.
The problem for Israel was that they probably thought that the fall of Jerusalem and exile was not just judgment of God. But God implies that the reason they were deported was that they having relied on their past righteousness or statue of the people of God, they freely committed sin. In God’s order there is no way that sinful life can give a meaningful life and prosperity. Sin by definition is related to the quality of unhappiness and death. Righteousness by definition is life.
Even thought the concepts of righteousness and life are different, they refer the came reality, the same kind of life and same kind of people. In God’s creation there is no way that a life can be both righteous and deadly. Neither a life which is sinful and happy. The life lived with righteousness is a living life. The life with sin is the life of death. Or the righteous life is happiness, and the sinful life is unhappiness.
This principle is always true in whatever time of the world. In Eden, Sinai, Canaan, and in the Early Christian community. Even in eternity, in the new heaven and the new earth.
It is true that in this world the unrighteous have health and wealth, and the righteous suffer. However in reality, as Calvin said, the conscience of the unrighteous is pricking them with the torment of the hell. On the other hand the righteous enjoys the happiness, tranquility even in their suffering and persecution.  Moreover, there is perfect harmony between righteousness and happiness. God will judge and brig all life situation to its due situation.
Since God is not a lazy god, but working, or exerting his providence and judgment. He provide what is good to the righteousness and punishing the unjust. The exact way of providence is always hidden from us, but the reality and God’s presence and providence is always clear. Between the certainty of reality and the obliviousness of our knowledge of it, lies faith. The prayer of saints are struggle between their conviction of presence and providence of God, and actual experience of absence of God and his righteous providence. Another struggle lies between their status of adoption and remnant of sin. Why should I suffer without reason. Why am I sinning against God and his word?  The solution to this both problems was provided by their prayers. Through prayers they could examine their spirituality, and finally being sorry that they sinned and more over  being confident that God is good and compassionate, slow to anger, they boldly approached to divine throne, yet asking for his mercy.
The coming to God gave conviction of forgiveness and recovered the joy of salvation; thus they praised God, oftentimes bringing the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Even though we do not continue the external from of sacrifice, we still continue the verbal praise and prayer exemplified by them.
The coming to God with legal cause was more complicated. Since the change does not lie in the praying saints, but in the impious adversaries. They should repent or be punished. Normally in the tormenting  long period of time between his affliction and solution, the prayer of saints become serious, sometimes bringing even God himself into accusation for his delay of judgment and execution. Different from the prayer for their sin, this prayer for their suffering oftentimes are solved, even before the actual change of their adversaries by the conviction, or renewed conviction on the certainty of what God will do. The God whom he knows will certainly will execute justice; even the offspring of their adversaries will be punished.
This solution of faith on the issue of suffering is really peculiar in Christian faith. Since the real problems are in the market, streets, but solutions are in the temple and prayer room. Rather the solution is God’s presence and his providence. Since prayers meet God who knows what is going on in their lives and who will execute justice on their behalf, they have already the solution. Or the conviction in God is a ever sure promise that God will eventually solve their problems. The emergence of faith before the actual change of their life is solution. Or faith is the solution to their life. For faith is directed to God, the Father and Redeemer, rather than to events or law of life. The best happiness in life is enjoying God. If their problems initiated prayer to God, problems are not unpleasant invaders, but blessed ushers to real blessing. The problem move them to God.
In any sincere prayer, there is a movement of soul from its life situation to the spiritual reality underlying life. In the life full of tedious problems and unpleasant conflicts, the spiritual dimension emerges as prayer goes on. In that spiritual reality the most real is God. The clarified vision of life includes God, his kingdom (church), and anti-God community.  Those who are against us will change into either friends or enemies of God. This being the case, God himself will deal those who are attacking me. The burden to contrive solution now moves from them to God. In this state emerges peace of mind. That is why David could sleep well even surrounded by arrows of enemies.
Lord, about your righteous judgment in Ez, I want to reflect later.