3Defend the weak and the fath...

3Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

4Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
- P140

8Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. - P141

The psalmist depicts God judging the "gods". He rebukes them for theirinjustice and for favoring the wicked over the weak and needy. Though theyare "gods," they will die like mere mortals. The psalm ends with a plea for Godto rise and judge the earth, as all the nations are His. - P141

God presides over a great assembly. He is furious with the leaders who see themselves as gods. They should care for the poor, oppressed, and fatherless, but they instead face judgment for defending the unjust and showing favoritism to the wicked. They have done nothing for the needy and socially vulnerable. - P142

We see in this psalm that God cares for all people, especially those who need Him most. Likewise, we are expected to act justly and compassionately in the society where we have been placed. - P142

Whether we are leaders or members of the community, let us shine the light of Christ in our dark world with sacrificial love and biblical justice. - P142

The psalmist continues to use the imagery of God speaking to the "gods?
The community leaders may see themselves as invincible in power and-authority, but their failure to faithfully oversee God‘s people demonstratestheir weakness. They will fall from their place of power, just like every otherruler, and they will die like every other mortal.  - P142

When we have opportunitiesto take up leadership in our families, churches, or communities, we bear agreat responsibility to fulfill our duties well. One day, we will face God andbe held responsible for how we acted.  - P142

Let us, therefore, exercise authorityappropriately in every role we undertake, not seeing ourselves as gods butrecognizing the importance of our responsibilities under the omnipresentand omnipotent God. - P142

Dear Lord, our world is filled with injustice, oppression, and deception. When I am faced with various injustices, give me courage to affirm and proclaim Your ways. - P142

May I reflect the character and message of Christ, leading well instead of being indecisive or lazy. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P142

God converses with us primarily through His words in Scripture.
We can also use His words to respond to Him.
Use the following guide to pray through this week‘s memory verse.
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the op-pressed." - Psalm 82:3 - P143

다른 사람에게 받는 대우보다 중요한 것은 하나님과의 ...

다른 사람에게 받는 대우보다 중요한 것은 하나님과의 관계입니다. 하나님은 우리의 생명을 지켜주시지만 다른 모든 것들을 항상 지켜주시지는 않습니다. 가장 중요한 것은 생명입니다.  - P205

누군가에게 공의를 베푸는 일을 멈춰서는 안 됩니다. 그것은 옳은 일이기 때문입니다. 이는 주님의 일을 행하는 데 있어 매우 중요합니다. 우리는 공의를 행하는 사람이 되어야 하지만, 우리가 행한 일로 공정한 대우를 받으려는 마음은 버려야 합니다. 우리가 주님께 헌신할 때 어떤 대우를 받는가는 그렇게 중요한 일이 아니라는 말입니다. 예수님께서 말씀하십니다. "계속 꾸준하게 내가 너에게하라고 한 것을 하거라. 내가 네 생명을 보호하리라. 만일 네가 스스로 자신을보호하려고 하면 너는 나의 구원을 받을 수 없다." - P205

우리 주변을 보면 아주 헌신된 사역자물도 하나님을 믿는 믿음 대신 상식을 자기 기준에 놓는 오류를 범합니다. 하나님보다 자신의 생각을 더 의지하는 것입니다. 누구보다 열심히 헌신하는 사람이 마치 ‘무신론자‘처럼 행한다는 사실이두렵습니다. 우리의 생명을 보호해 주신다는 하나님의 약속을 굳게 붙든다면,
세상의 기준과 상식을 뛰어넘는 일들이 가능하지 않겠습니까?  - P205

우리가 온전히 하나님을 믿으며 흔들리지 않는 삶을 사는 것이야말로 구원을 방해하는 먹구름을제거하는 일입니다. 우리가 기꺼이 헌신하며 가장 귀한 것을 붙들기로 작정할때 먹구름이 우리를 뒤덮지 못할 것입니다.
한줄노트 생명을 가진 자는 공의를 행하되, 공평한 대우받기를 갈망하지 않습니다. - P205

Jeremiah 1:8 NLT
[8] And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!"
- P205

Jeremiah 45:5 NLT
[5] Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the Lord, have spoken!’" - P205

Philippians 3:12 NLT
[12] I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
- P206

5When God went out against Eg...

5When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph. I heard an unknown voice say:

6"I removed the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket.

7In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

8Hear me, my people, and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel!

9You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.

10I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

11"But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. - P132

The psalmist calls God‘s people to rejoice in Him, recalling His deliverancefrom Egypt. God‘s people are to listen and worship Him alone but they refuse,
following their own ways instead. God laments their disobedience, longing tobless them with victory.  - P137

The psalm ends with a promise that if God‘s people
return to Him, He will protect them and provide for them abundantly. - P137

This psalm expresses God’s desire for His people to joyfully worship Him. These praises are not timid. The people are exhorted to sing for joy to the God who is their strength and to shout aloud to Him. The music comes from many instruments including some that they strike and blast during festivals. - P138

Like the nation of Israel, we should also celebrate God because He has saved His people. The immediate context of this psalm is about a people being saved from slavery in Egypt, but we have even greater reason to celebrate because of the salvation achieved through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Let us joyfully celebrate the Lord with all our might, with joyous praises of thanksgiving! - P138

God continues to speak to His people. After He reminds Israel of Hisdeliverance, warnings, and commands, God then tells His people of howthey have neglected Him. In the rest of the psalm, there is a strong emphasis on listening.  - P138

If we simply listen to God and obey Him, He is quick torescue and restore us. Let us not make the same mistakes that His peoplemade in the past.  - P138

Let us not live day by day ignoring God. Rather, let uslisten to Him by reading and obeying the life-giving commands He hasprovided in Scripture.  - P138

Sometimes, God‘s commands may seem restrictiveor undesirable, but following them pleases the Lord, protects us, and fuelsour love for Him. - P138

Christian obedience is an obedience from the inside out, not from the outside in."
- Joe Rigney - P138

Dear God, You are what brings me joy. Even when I feel discouraged and disappointed, You remain the joy of my salvation. - P139

Open my ears so that I may hear You. Help me listen to and obey Your wonderful decrees. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P139

[오늘의 한문장] 하나님의 시선

고린도후서 6:1, 4-5, 10 새번역
[1] 우리는 하나님과 함께 일하는 사람으로서 여러분에게 권면합니다. 하나님의 은혜를 헛되이 받지 않도록 하십시오.
[4] 우리는 무슨 일에서나 하나님의 일꾼답게 처신합니다. 우리는 많이 참으면서, 환난과 궁핍과 곤경과 [5] 매 맞음과 옥에 갇힘과 난동과 수고와 잠을 자지 못함과 굶주림을 겪습니다.
[10] 근심하는 사람 같으나 항상 기뻐하고, 가난한 사람 같으나 많은 사람을 부요하게 하고, 아무것도 가지지 않은 사람 같으나 모든 것을 가진 사람입니다.
- P204

기도는 그 자체가하나님의 은혜를 끌어올리는 실제적인 행동입니다. "따라서 ‘기도할 시간을 낼수 있을 때까지 참자‘라고 말하지 마십시오. ‘지금‘ 기도하십시오. 필요의 순간에 하나님의 은혜를 길어내십시오. 기도는 가장 실제적인 것입니다."   - P204

한줄노트 기도는 사역을 위한 준비 단계가 아니라, 지금 하나님의 넘치는 자비를 경험하는 통로입니다. - P204

지금 하나님의 은혜를 경험하지 못하는 이유는 ‘과거에 받은 은혜‘를 붙들고 있기 때문입니다. 은혜는 ‘지금‘ 흘러넘치는하나님의 자비여야 합니다. "당신이 과거에 받은 은혜는 오늘을 위해서는 아무런 역사를 일으키지 못합니다." 챔버스는 오늘 묵상에서 ‘승리하는 궁핍(povertytriumphant)‘이라는 표현을 씁니다. 우리가 적극적으로 궁핍해져서 승리한다는말입니다. 우리에게 있는 모든 것을 쏟아붓는 데 소심하지 말아야 합니다. 하나님께서 주신 것을 쏟아부으면, 우리가 충분히 사용할 수 있도록 하나님께서 채우실 것이기 때문입니다. 이 신비를 경험하는 사람이 ‘지금‘ 은혜를 경험하는 사람입니다.
- P204

한줄노트 ‘나중‘이 아닌 ‘지금‘ 은혜를 받아야 합니다. 영적 세계에서 가장 중요한 단어는 ‘지금‘입니다. - P204

3Restore us, O God; make your...

3Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. - P132

7Restore us, God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. - P132

8You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.

9You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.

11Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.

- P132

12Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

13Boars from the forest ravage it, and insects from the fields feed on it.

14Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine,

15the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.

16Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.

17Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.

19Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

- P133

The psalmist pleads with God to restore Israel. He calls on the Shepherd ofIsrael to awaken His might and save His people.  - P133

He laments the sorrow andderision that have come as a result of God‘s anger. He asks God revive Hispeople that they may call on His name. - P133

Asaph writes a psalm of communal lament. The first half of the psalm con-tains the nation‘s cry for deliverance. The people call upon their Shepherdand ask for His restoration and salvation. The psalm also laments Israel‘sdreadful state and their being an object of derision and mockery to theirneighbors and enemies. Although this psalm was sung as a community, weas individual believers can also apply its theme of repentance.  - P134

We shouldrepeatedly ask for God to turn us away from our habitual sins and to helpus turn toward Him.  - P134

May we not follow the path of disobedience towardinevitable destruction and instead seek repentance from our sins.  - P134

Let useagerly and humbly seek God and anticipate His restoration and salvation. - P134

The rest of the psalm revisits Israel‘s history, including God‘s faithfulnessin the past. The people were brought out of Egypt and nations were drivenout before them. However, now the people are left vulnerable as the pro-tection of the Lord has lifted from them. The people ask for God to returnand watch over them once again.  - P134

When we face the negative consequencesof our sins, it can feel as though God has abandoned us because we haveprioritized our own desires and comfort over obedience to Him.  - P134

In thosemoments of discomfort and pain, we should repent and remember God‘s love for us.  - P134

We should seek His restoration and obey and worship Him once again. - P134

Heavenly Father, You are the forgiver of sin. Sometimes I neglect You and prioritize myself over You, and still You are patient with me. In love, You discipline me, not to hurt me but to save me. Thank you that You are near and faithful. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P135

"Jesus is the true vine (John 15:1-6). Only through uniting with him by faith can webecome branches and have God‘s life flow into us. Through him we can be revived."
-Timothy Keller - P134