Title Counsel to Elders and Congregations
Contents
about:blank
Psalm 34:12-22
12. Who is the person who longs for life and wants to be blessed with a long life?
13. Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from deceitful words.
14. Forsake evil and do good; seek and pursue peace.
15. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.
16. The face of the LORD is with evildoers, and he seeks to cut off their traces from the earth.
17. The righteous cried out, and the LORD heard them and delivered them out of all their troubles.
18. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19. Many troubles are with the righteous, but the LORD delivers them from all their troubles.
20. He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21. Evil will kill the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22. The LORD redeems the souls of his servants, and all who take refuge in him will be held accountable.
1 Peter 5:1-11
1. I exhort the elders among you that I am a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, and a sharer of the glory that will be revealed.
2. Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God, not for an unclean person, but with a cheerful will.
3. Do not take a position of claiming over those you have entrusted to you, but be an example to the flock.
4. Then you will receive the crown of glory that will not fade when the Chief Shepherd appears.
5. In the same way, young people, be submissive to the elders, and all gird yourselves with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6. Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, for in due time he will exalt you.
7. Cast all your anxieties on the Lord, for he counsels you.
8. Be sober and awake, for your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9. Resist him, strong in the faith, knowing that your brethren in the world suffer the same things.
10. The God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in Christ, who has suffered for a little while, will himself restore you, strengthen, strengthen and establish you.
11. Power be with him for ever and ever, Amen.
Content
Subject: Counsel to Elders and Congregations
Text: Psalm 34:12-22, 1 Peter 5:1-11,
There is a proverb that goes to the mountains to avoid roe deer and meets a tiger. This is when David, who had to live a life of fugitive life from the threat of Saul, took refuge in Achish, king of Gath, a neighboring country (1 Samuel 21:10-15). When Achish's servants hear about the true identity of David who killed Goliath, they are gripped with even greater fear. David's heart at that time was expressed from 'fearing Saul' (1 Samuel 21:10) to 'very afraid of Achish' (1 Samuel 21:12). By pretending to be crazy in front of Achish, he barely escapes the crisis (1 Samuel 21:13-15). After taking refuge in the land of Moab for a while, he heard the words of the prophet Gad and returned to the land of Judah (1 Samuel 22:3-5). Psalm 34 recalls David's moments of crisis and instructs others based on the truth he realized. They sing that trust in the Lord and the fear of the Lord are the only way to live (verses 1-11).
The wish of verse 12 must be for all human beings. He speaks of caution in language life (verse 13). He tells us to seek and follow good deeds and peace (verse 14). Because the Lord sees and hears (15-17). For transgressions and sins, ask for forgiveness through repentance (verse 18). He said that there are many hardships that God's children must go through, but it is not irrelevant to God's will to accomplish. In the end, He rescues us from all suffering and leads to the salvation of our souls (Psalm 34:19-22).
The New Testament text (1 Peter 5:1-11) is an exhortation given through Peter to the elders and congregations of the church in distress. It divides Christians into elders and congregations. It is not a class distinction, but a distinction between missions and roles. Those who are called ?쐃lders??are people with extraordinary responsibilities within the church. It is a responsibility delegated by God and from the congregation. He exhorts us to do three things not to do and three things to do (verses 2 and 3) for the responsibility of receiving this double delegation. 1) Don't do it out of necessity, but do it voluntarily according to God's will. 2) Do not do it for dirty people, but do it with a pleasant will. 3) Do not take a claiming attitude toward those entrusted to you, but only be an example to the flock. He also reveals the reward. ?쏛nd you will receive the crown of glory that will not fade when the Chief Shepherd appears??(1 Peter 5:4).
Those who are called ?쁸oung men??(1 Peter 5:5) are another member of the church, the congregation. It is not a distinction between age and age, but a distinction between the order of the spiritual world. Especially when the church is in trouble, the spiritual order of the community is important. He tells the elders, who are spiritual leaders, to gird themselves with obedience and humility. Rather than saying that the elders should follow the individual guidance of the elders, it is following the decision and order through the official body of the church. The power of the devil that harms the church is always looking for someone to devour like a roaring lion. It is a force that disturbs the order of the community and brings spiritual death to anyone who deviates from grace in the midst of it. It is a force that we must resist by strengthening our faith (1 Peter 5:5-9). There are words of comfort and blessing. ?쏷he God of all grace, who called you into his glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you, make you strong, and establish you. May the power be with him for ever and ever. Amen??(1 Peter 5:10, 11). Hallelujah!