Title: Those Who Climb the Mountain of God
Contents
1. Words that begin
The earth, the sky, the rivers and the sea, and everything that belongs to God created by God moves in an orderly fashion, and all living things, including mankind, have sufficient conditions to live. Nevertheless, human sinfulness, selfishness, spiritual ignorance and reckless desire follow the devil's tricks to destroy nature and drive each other into pain and misery.
However, just as the bright sun is still shining on the dark clouds that will flow away, the absolute sovereignty of God, the Creator and Lord of all things, is still at work in this distorted and rebellious world.
This psalm is said to be a ceremonial song sung by King David as he moved the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem.
2. Those who can draw close to God
King David is asking who will ascend the mountain of the Lord, the Creator of the universe and Lord of all things, and who will stand in that holy place. In other words, it is asking who will worship God, have spiritual fellowship with God, and live in His grace. Then he explains:
First, your hands must be clean. This word refers to being clean in conduct, both religious and moral.
We, who believe in the Lord, are living a life that has nothing to do with the heinous sins and injustices committed by the world. However, there may be times when you have disobeyed God's Word, and there may be times when you have done things that are not pleasing to God. At least, if we are God's children who have been saved by believing in the Lord, our hands must be clean in all of them. Otherwise, you will not be able to have a relationship with God, the Lord of all things, who repays you according to your deeds, and therefore you will not be able to achieve anything. Isaiah 1:15-16 says, “When you spread out your hands, I will cover your eyes and you will pray many times, but I will not hear you, for your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves and cleanse yourselves from my sight. Forsake your evil deeds and cease your evil deeds.”
Even if a parent or child buys bread to give to a child who has seen a good house, if the children's hands are dirty, they will not give it to them and instruct them to wash their hands first. 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “Therefore, I want men everywhere to raise up holy hands in prayer, without anger and contention.” Please believe that answered prayers are prayers supported by holy deeds.
Second, the heart must be pure. Because the heart is the source of words and deeds, it is not enough to wash our hands from sin and evil.
Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, theft, false witness, and blasphemy.” Fundamentally, we must invite the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us into our hearts polluted with sinfulness, selfishness, hypocrisy, and greed. Our God, unlike all things, has given us an autonomous will to receive the Holy Spirit. Just as a patient must surrender himself to a doctor in order to be healed, so in order to purify our hearts, we must surrender our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit. If you know how to clean a dirty room but can't clean a polluted mind, isn't that a serious problem?
All kinds of good gifts and gifts from God are bound to be contained in a pure heart. In Matthew 5:8, the Lord says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Proverbs 4:23 says, “More than anything else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
The apostle James advises, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and sanctify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Third, we must not let our intentions be vain. To set one's will in vain means to set one's heart and pursue it with something truly worthless, both religiously and morally. It also meant idolatry in the Bible. In a word, it means to focus on the emptiness and emptiness.
We do not know how many people live in oblivion of their death, even though they attend countless funerals. We live in a hurry, sometimes like crazy, and sometimes exhaustively, as if we will enjoy it forever. Parents who are ignorant of their will cannot raise their children right away. A teacher who puts his mind on vain will not be able to teach his disciples right away. A public official who puts his intentions in a vague way commits an illegality. A leader who puts his intentions in vain is bound to make millions unhappy. How terrifying and horrific accidents have occurred in all directions as a result of working with vain thoughts.
King Solomon, who is the epitome of wealth and honor, confessed with the heart, “After that, I see that all the work I have done with my hands and all my toil is in vain, a chasing after the wind, and it is useless under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:11.
But we Christians must be different. I hope you will become the light of this darkened world and the salt of the decaying world, with the meaning of the Lord's words referring to us as the light and salt of the world. Also, I hope that you will live by the God of eternal love, who has prepared eternal life and the inheritance of heaven for us who believe, and pursue the above things, that is, spiritual and eternal things according to the Word.
All things in this world that God creates and provides can only achieve good results when we set our intentions right.
Fourth, do not swear falsely. Falsehood itself is unacceptable to God and man, and to deceive others by taking an oath is truly a heinous sin. In fact, some Jews have to swear to deceive, but they are afraid of being punished if they do not swear in God's name, and they will not be deceived if they just say so, so they came up with a plan after deliberation. When it does something, it swears by something like heaven or earth or a temple. By swearing in that way, you made people believe, and you took an unfair advantage.
Aware of the hypocrites who practice these detestable lies, Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-34, “You have heard that it was said to the old man, ‘Do not swear in vain, but keep your oath to the Lord. I tell you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God.”
The psalmist says in 51:6, “You want truth in the heart, and you will make wisdom known in me.” Not only should we be truthful, but we should avoid, as far as we can, vows that may result in falsehoods and detrimental vows.
A couple vowed not to speak for a month after a couple fight. If you have something to say, write it on a note.
One day, my husband went on a business trip early in the morning. My husband, who sleeps a lot in the morning, was worried and fell asleep leaving a note next to his wife, “Honey, please wake me up at 4 am.” When my husband woke up in the morning, he looked at his watch and saw that it was 7 o'clock. An angry husband is about to wake his wife and argue, but there is a note written next to her: “Honey, it’s four o’clock. Wake up quickly.” (Kim Woong-rae).
3. Consequences of spiritual fellowship with God
With faith in God, we can live a life of spiritual communion with God because we cleanse our hands, purify our hearts, do not set our minds on false ideas, and do not swear falsely. God, the creator and owner of all things, blesses and presents righteousness to children who live in spiritual fellowship. The reason is that those who live in spiritual fellowship with God are the people who seek God and those who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
It is said that there are rich people who give everything special things to a girl they like, give birth to a child, and then pass on their wealth to that child. Please believe that He not only gives us the things we need in this world in abundance, but also eternal life and the inheritance of heaven.
4. Conclusion
All of us have already believed in the Lord and have become children of God, the creator and owner of all things. I earnestly pray that you will live graciously in spiritual communion with God, both in this world and for eternity, by always keeping your hands and heart clean, keeping your mind on God's Word, and avoiding the sin of swearing falsely.
(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)