Title: Waters of Rest (Psalm 23:6)
Contents Sambok The rise of heat has disappeared, and now it is the season to feel the cool energy in the morning and evening. Korea has four distinct seasons, and each season has its own characteristics. Especially, summer is a good season to give people a break from work for a year.
This summer is also the holiday season, and many people have gone to the mountains, rivers, and the sea for a vacation.
Today, through the words of this text, I would like to give you a message while thinking about 'what should a true Christian's rest be like'. People spend their entire lives working. However, occasional stable rest is also needed for the pleasure of working, a source for starting a new job, and recovery of energy.
In 1964, the Nobel Peace Prize of the year was awarded to black civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. His following confession sometimes reminds us of how fragile humans are, and at the same time tells us that comfortable rest is essential. "Amid conflicts, frustrations, and endless tasks, I sometimes feel that I should take a break to accept something, but I can't and I'm just giving in. There are times when I also need a break. I seriously feel the need to re-energize after being released.”
If a person works without rest for the rest of his life, not only will his efficiency not increase, but he will also often collapse from overwork because he cannot handle his physical strength. So God has given us rest. He gave us a rest so that we could work during the day and rest at night. He allowed us to rest on Sunday after working for 6 days. As we can see in the Old Testament, He gave us a sabbatical year once every 7 years, and every 50 years He gave us a year of festival called the Jubilee. He also set them free and gave rest to the earth and animals. In this way, the reason that He made humans work and give them rest every time is because humans cannot live by work alone.
Every summer vacation should be more enjoyable and comfortable, but since our country has a large population, the land is small, and places to rest outside are limited, there are many times when we come back exhausted like a person returning from a war rather than going to rest. Then, where is the resting place for people of faith, and what is true rest?
1. A place where there is no shortage.
Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” As the saying goes, when the Lord becomes my shepherd, the Lord makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us to still waters.
The shepherd knows the needs of his sheep. Jesus said in John 6:35, "He who comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst." is.
2. It is where God's protection is.
As Psalm 23:4 says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me." where it is. Also, the psalmist sings in Psalm 4:8, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, and the Lord is the only one who makes me dwell in safety." The Lord is your keeper... he will guard your entrance and exit from now on to everlasting.” He confessed that God has always protected him.
God protects us. Wherever I go, those who have the confidence that God is with them and guides me can rest in peace. Our resting waters are not elsewhere, but in our
A place where we are protected by God's staff and staff from disease, tribulation, hardship, and danger. This is a haven and a place to rest.
3. This is where the soul gets revived.
The word most used by modern people is fatigue. This fatigue can be seen as a phenomenon in which physical, mental, and spiritual fatigue are compounded together. To an unbeliever, the word fatigue of the soul may not make sense. Some of the saints may wonder what it is like to have a tired soul. Just as the body must rest when it is tired, so the mind must rest when it is tired. So is the soul. When the soul is tired and loses strength, everything is lost. When the soul is revived, both the mind and body gain strength (resuscitation). In other words, physical and mental rest where the soul does not rest is not true rest. If so, where can we get the rejuvenation of our souls? It is a place of prayer, hymns, worship, and the Word. I hope that the rest of this year will also be a time to pray earnestly and read the Bible in search of a place where you can get resuscitation of your tired and discouraged souls.
4. A place overflowing with faith and gratitude.
In the short sentences of the text, the contents of faith and gratitude appear several times. "I shall not lack." "I am not afraid of harm." “You reward me, my cup overflows.” “The goodness and mercy of God will surely follow me.” Confessions of praise and thanks are recorded, saying, “In the house of the Lord I will dwell forever.” If I have a firm belief that God is with me and my gratitude for the great grace that God has given me so far, wherever I go, wherever I am, it is a still water, green pasture.
Saints! I pray in the name of the Lord that a life that gives true rest and new vitality to all continues.