Title: “God Who Do Great Things”
Contents
God who does great things
Psalm 126:1-6
2009. 8. 16
Liberation Day celebration
“Oh, by the grace of God”
Winston Churchill emphasized the importance of history, saying, "If we do not talk about the past just because it is the past, we will also give up our future by it."
The nation of Israel celebrates the Passover every year. They reflect on their present self by remembering the past history of the Exodus. And we often renew our prospects for the future.
Today is the Sunday commemorating the 64th anniversary of Liberation Day. I would like to think about the historical significance of Liberation Day through the words of Psalm 126.
Scholars presume that Ezra was the author of Psalm 126, written right after the Babylonian captivity. Because the content of the Psalms describes the time of Ezra. The poet praised God for doing great things in Psalm 126:2,3, saying, “The Lord has done great things for us.”
I believe that the God who has done great things for the people of Israel is also the God who has done great things for our people. Of course, I am convinced that the God who has done great things for the nation and people is also a God who does great things for each of us individually.
1. The God who does great things is the God who gives the happiness of liberation and salvation.
These are the words of Psalm 126:1-3. “When the LORD lifted up the captivity of Zion, we were like a dream. Then our mouths were full of laughter, saying, The LORD has done great things for them. We are glad that the Lord has done great things for us.”
The poet was a man who had suffered the bondage and hardships of the Babylonian captivity. The dream of the people of Israel, including him, was the liberation and salvation of the nation. However, the nation of Israel, ruled by Babylon, who worships all kinds of idols, was in a desperate state to make that dream come true.
Not only did they have no possibility of political and economic independence, but Israel's monotheistic ideology and their faith in serving only Jehovah God were also being shaken. Therefore, although the restoration of Israel was foretold through the words of Isaiah and Ezekiel, it could not be expected to come true. But, unexpectedly, God allowed the liberation and salvation of Israel through King Cyrus of Persia, who conquered Babylon. This was an event in which God fulfilled and fulfilled the prophesied promise.
The return of the Israelites from captivity was completely unexpected. As the poet confessed, it was only the liberation and salvation that God forcibly accomplished. The sudden liberation and redemption that came after 70 years of captivity was nothing but a dreamlike thrill and joy. Therefore, the poet clearly admitted that the liberation and salvation of the nation is God's work, saying, "We are glad that the Lord has done great things for us." And because of that wonderful liberation and salvation, we gave thanks and praise to God saying, “Our mouths are full of laughter, and our tongues are full of praise.” This is the happiness of individuals and people who have experienced the grace of God who does great things. That's right. I believe that those who receive liberation and salvation as a gift through the grace of God who does great things will glorify God with happiness filled with laughter and joy and praise and thanksgiving on their tongues.
Professor Min Kyung-bae (74), who has greatly contributed to the history of the Korean church as a “National Church History,” said, “I hope that the Korean church will no longer be judged as ‘wrong’ or ‘problem’. It is an urgent task to be born again as a church that can take responsibility for the church.” And as an example that confirms the satisfaction and historicity of the Korean church, the number of Christians during the March 1st Movement was 250,000, only 1.5% of the total population of 17 million, but the number of Christians arrested and killed at that time was 70% of all victims pointed out that And it is said that, when keeping the Christmas feast, the church tried to share the joy of liberation in advance by making a play about the miracle of Moses at the Red Sea rather than the birth of Jesus.
The Korean church, which made the miracle of Moses in the Red Sea on Christmas Day into a play, must have been a national church that not only participated in the means and suffering of the nation, but also planted the dream of liberation and salvation. In fact, the prospects for the liberation and salvation, independence and freedom of our people at that time were hopeless. However, the Korean church prayed with that dream. And he sacrificed his precious body.
The history of Yu Gwan-sun believes that the last prayer and devotion are the representative evidence. Some of the prayers are as follows: “God, defeat the enemy Wa, give freedom and independence to this land, and give more courage and strength to each representative who will be living tomorrow, and through this, make this nation a happy land. Lord, be with us, and give this girl courage and Give me strength, long live Korea!”
Our ancestors of faith prayed and fought for the independence and freedom of this country and this people. I firmly believed and depended on God who defeated the enemy Wa (Japan) and restored the happiness of this nation. And finally, they met the dream of liberation and salvation just like when God sent the captives of Zion back. We believe that God has done great things not only for the people of Israel but also for our people.
This is Psalm 116:7-10. “Return to your peace, my soul. The LORD is hospitable to you. You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. I will walk before the LORD in the living land. Even when it was said that I had suffered greatly, I believed.” Amen!
We believe that the God who does great things for us is the God of salvation who has delivered us from death, the God of comfort who has delivered us from tears, and the God of recovery and victory who rescues us from falling. Therefore, I believe that those who firmly believe in God and pray even in the midst of great suffering will experience God's grace as if in a dream, which will surely give them hospitality and give them peace.
2. The God who does great things is the God who gives us the hope of prosperity and unification.
This is Psalm 126:4-6. “O LORD, send our captives back to the southern brook. Those who sow with tears will reap with joy. Whoever goes out weeping to sow seed will surely return with joy, carrying her sheaves.”
The poet vividly confessed and praised the thrill and joy of salvation from the Babylonian captivity, and longed for a solution to the remaining problems. There were two main things. One was the reconstruction and prosperity of the devastated motherland, and the other was the complete return and reunification of the compatriots who were still in captivity. Therefore, the poet praised God for the happiness of liberation and salvation, and entrusted the remaining tasks of the nation to God who does great things.
I saw an editorial in a newspaper saying, “We pay attention to the dazzling progress of Korean companies.” Hyundai and Kia Motors are said to have surpassed Ford of the US to rank 4th for the first time in history with 2153,000 units in the world car sales ranking in the first half of this year. In the mobile phone market in North America, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are competing for first and second positions in the North American mobile phone market, and the combined share of the two companies is said to be 47.3%. It is said that one in two mobile phones sold in North America will be ‘Made in Korea’. In addition, there is good news. While the global economy is in serious crisis, it cannot be a coincidence that Korean companies are making great strides. I believe that it is the grace of God, like making streams flow in the southern desert and reaping the altars with joy.
Korea's phenomenal church growth and economic development have been realized beyond expectations. However, the prospects for unification remain bleak. North Korea freed American journalists. However, the lost South Korean fishermen are not returning what they plan to use for the hostage operation. A North Korean fishing boat that came down to the south on the same day is in stark contrast to returning home without incident. North Korea's anti-human, anti-humanitarian, and anti-national behavior is not that much. Becoming a Christian in North Korea means preparing yourself for death. Currently, it is estimated that there are about 30,000 Christians working in secret in North Korea. The North Korean authorities are fighting a war against religion to maintain the system by stipulating that “religion and superstition are like poison that undermines the socialist ideological foundation and paralyzes class consciousness.” At a press conference held at the Gwanghwamun Press Center on July 24, the Commission of Investigation on Crimes Against Humanitarianism revealed that “Christians in North Korea are being publicly executed.” “We must file Kim Jong-il with the International Criminal Court and give the North Korean people freedom. .” he insisted.
Just as the 6 25 war is not over yet, in fact, the 8 15 liberation is still unfinished. However, I believe that God, who has already done great things for us, will soon return the grace of unification in God's hands as well as the southern streams. Just as the poet wept and sowed for this, we too should pray with confidence and hope.
These are the words of Ezekiel 37:21-22. “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will bring the children of Israel out of the nations from which they were taken into captivity, and I will gather them from all around them and bring them back to their own land, and I will make them one kingdom in all the mountains of Israel in that land, and one king will rule over them all. It shall not be a nation, nor shall it be divided into two kingdoms.” Amen!
The God who does great things for us is the God who will gather North Korean defectors from all over China and Southeast Asia, bring them back to this South Korean land, and set the people of North Korea free so that we can welcome the day of reunification and prosperity as a nation and a people. I believe you are Therefore, we believe that those who trust God who does great things and who pray and persevere in hope will experience the reflection and unity of God who will surely return the southern streams together.
Dr. Syngman Rhee, the founding president of the Republic of Korea, said, “Our people should know how difficult and difficult it was to regain the independence of a lost country, and by reflecting on the unfortunate history of the past, we should never again be subjected to the yoke of any middle-class slave. This is the will I give to our nation.” He left the words of Galatians 5:1.
“Christ has set us free, so stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery” Amen!
We believe that the God who does great things for us is the God who gives us the happiness of liberation and salvation, and also the God who gives us the hope of prosperity and unification. I earnestly pray in the name of the Lord that the grace of God who does great things will be more abundant for our country and nation, all churches today and all our saints. Amen!
“Only for the glory of God!”