Title: The problem of the self-confident
Contents
1. Words that begin
There are times when I feel sad and upset because there are not enough people to do my best. In a world full of indecisive people, flattering, flattering people, and people who do what others tell them to do, you can't tell how cool and refreshing it is just to see people doing their best. However, even people with convictions can have serious problems because of their beliefs.
Therefore, those who want to work according to their beliefs and live according to their beliefs must keep three things in mind. First, beliefs must be universally valid. Second, we must be humble in the sense that we do not know what the consequences of our actions today will be tomorrow. Third, beliefs must conform to the will of God.
A belief that does not have these three elements, especially a belief that is not in accord with God's will, will inevitably make others unhappy as well as themselves.
2. Jephthah’s vow prayer, inspired by the Holy Spirit
In the days of the judges, the Ammonites were encamping in Gilead to attack Israel, and the Israeli forces were encamping at Mizpah against them. At that time, Jephthah, a great warrior from Gilead, was commanded by the people and became the head and commander of Israel to wage war. First, Jephthah prayed to God and sent messengers to the king of Ammon to negotiate, but it ended without any profit.
At that very moment, the Spirit of God came upon Jephthah, and Jephthah, who received a revelation, commanded to advance toward the Ammonites. On the way to the march, Jephthah made a vow to God as a leader of faith. If God allows them to return victoriously, then whoever comes out of the door of their house and welcomes them will offer it as a burnt offering to God.
The evil custom of burning people for sacrifice was practiced by pagan neighboring countries. But Jephthah made a vow to God that he would commit such an evil habit. It was not a vow from anyone, no pressure from anyone, not because of the urgency of the situation, it was a vow made purely by self-confidence.
Jephthah thought it was safe for anyone in his household to come out to welcome him as triumphant general and burn him to death. Moreover, I thought it was a very good job because it was dedicated to God. Moreover, since he is the supreme leader and a messenger of God who works under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he thought that all his thoughts and actions were automatically in line with God's will.
But in reality, Jephthah was tainted with his idolatry. He made the mistake of disregarding the human rights and even the lives of non-family slaves, household workers, and subordinates. They too have forgotten that they are God's creatures. Jephthah should have known that not only he and his family, the supreme leader, deserved to live, but that all those who were despised were certainly worthy of living before God.
Jephthah's vow prayer was not universally valid, and Jephthah himself was the supreme leader and anointed messenger of God, so he thought that whatever he did was God's will, but he had no idea who would be the one who went out to welcome him and died in the fire. Couldn't. The crucial problem is that Jephthah's vow prayer was not God's will at all, as he thought. To put it more clearly, it was a direct rejection of God's will. Micah 6:8 says, “Son of man, the Lord has shown you what is good; but what the Lord asks of you is not to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Proverbs 20:25 says, “If you make a vow to sanctify this thing without permission, and after that you examine it, it becomes a net.”
With common sense, you might wonder whether Jephthah, a person who could have been chosen by Israel to become a commander, really didn't know that. Isn't it? But in fact, this is where the serious human problem lies. In other words, it has risen to a higher position. Because he was better than others, Almighty God recognized him and anointed him as a leader. That's it. “Who am I?” Am I not a leader inspired by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God? So, aren't all my thoughts, words, and actions according to God's will? Unfortunately, this thought makes you even stronger.
Perhaps Jephthah remembered Abraham's story of sacrificing Isaac and prayed such a vow. If so, he has completely misunderstood that statement. God's command to Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering was a kind of test for Abraham, who showed a tendency to love his son Isaac, who was 100 years old, more than the Absolute One who gave him his son. This can be seen from the action of God who stopped Abraham when he obeyed, bound his son on a pyre, put him on the pyre and tried to catch him. In fact, don't you know well that God prepared a ram for Abraham to use as a burnt offering?
The leaders of the world are no different in principle. But there seems to be no such consciousness. No matter how difficult the country's economic situation is, the people roll over and over like fallen leaves in the wind of untimely layoffs, but if you're a leader elected by them, you can import and drink 2 million won a bottle and 144,000 won a glass, and drink it at your child's wedding. I hope that the thoughts that it's okay to fly a celebratory plane and that if you're angry you might bleed the same kind of leader with a cup, disappear. Fortunately, apologies, and most leaders take comfort in not doing so. Once upon a time, there was a scene in which a male and female member of parliament from a foreign country grabbed their hair and threw their fists into a brawl.
All leaders, whether pastors or world leaders, are leaders, so they must not follow their own convictions, but must work according to their convictions based on the suspension of those who have elected them. What's more, if you work according to God's will, there is nothing more to say.
3. A man and a woman welcomed at the door
With the help of Almighty God, Jephthah defeated the twenty towns from Aroer to Minnith, and achieved a great slaughter with a great slaughter as far as Abel Grammim. But Jephthah, who had won this great victory, did not foresee great misfortune before he could enjoy the joy of this great victory. Of course, that unhappiness is not caused by victory, but because of the vows and prayers he made to his utmost as a leader.
When Jephthah triumphed, Jephthah's only daughter, who knew nothing, grabbed Sogo and danced outside the door to welcome her father, the triumphal general. So how was Jephthah's heart torn? He tore his clothes and said, “Sorry, my daughter, you are one of those who make me miserable, and you are one of those who trouble me.” and fell into grief. No matter how grievous they are, they still misunderstand the cause of their unhappiness.
The virgin daughter, who heard from Jephthah, expressed her filial piety to follow the vows her father made to God. The daughter was so desperate, terrified, and afraid to die as a virgin, so she only asked her to wait two months. Jephthah, who had such a beautiful faith and filial piety, had to burn himself to death due to his erroneous beliefs.
4. Conclusion
Not everything you do with your own convictions is good, and not everything you do with your convictions is beneficial. Never shout about tomorrow's work. You must believe in God. Only when we are based on the will of God can we have universal validity. You have to live and work with that belief.
No matter how dire the situation may be, it is not to make a vow in vain. Praying according to God's will and receiving answers according to God's will is the most desirable attitude of faith.
Just because I became a leader, because I received God's grace yesterday, and because I received the revelation of the Holy Spirit yesterday, all my actions today do not automatically coincide with God's will. I sincerely hope that you will live and work in God's new grace every day.
(Poongseong Methodist Church. Book: Complete Commentary on 27 New Testament Books/ Interpretation of Difficult Scriptures I, II/ Salvation Before Jesus Came/Paul’s Understanding of Man/ Prosperous Prayer/ Seasonal Sermonbooks/ Sermonbook 18. T. 426 -3051)