Title Foundation for Survival and Prosperity, May 1st
Foundation for survival and prosperity
The plight of ancient Israel
The situation in which today's text is being proclaimed can be explained from two perspectives. One is that it is the moment at the end of Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Israel's wilderness life was a period in which they experienced a crisis of survival, although they gained freedom through liberation from Egypt. Neither the individual nor the nation can obtain all the good things. On the other hand, you have to go through the difficulties of living in the world while you are mentally free. Now that all countries are pursuing economic and welfare omnipotence, on the other hand, it also means giving up the spiritual and spiritual world. Although manna and quails ensured the minimum survival, this moment, when they had to put an end to their lives in the wilderness, which had been plagued with indescribable difficulties and inconveniences, is both an opportunity and a crisis for the people of Israel. So Moses would have been compelled to preach to them.
Another situation Israel is facing is the civilization of Canaan, which is completely different from the previous wilderness. In other words, they are on the verge of entering Canaan, whose living conditions have improved beyond words compared to their wilderness life. The people of Israel must have been uneasy in the face of the unknown world, but overall, it is highly likely that they are full of dreams. It is similar to the feelings of people who immigrated to the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Israel may have been so excited that they could not sleep at the thought that the land that Yahweh the God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had come true before them. They must have been excited about the wonderful new world that was unfolding before them. Not only them, but us too, lose focus at the moment when we think we can have or achieve whatever we want in our lifetime. Moses is preaching the word of God to the Israelites in such a situation.
survival and prosperity
The two situations described above, namely, the fact that the wilderness life was over and the fact that the purpose of entering Canaan was for the purpose of entering Canaan points to a more fundamental situation in our human life. The wilderness life was a life based on survival. For 40 years Israel has been focused only on the fact that they are alive. This means that we focus on the deepest world of life. No luxury life, no beauty or popular entertainment was possible for them. A sense of urgency for survival engulfed them, not knowing when and what kind of danger might come. However, through such a process, they could believe that Yahweh God ensured their survival.
Life in Canaan is completely different from that. Look at verse 3. “So, you Israel, listen. Practice it with all your heart. Then you will prosper and multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.” The dream of all mankind is literally expressed in these words. The reason people visit shamans and fortune tellers is also because they want their business and their descendants to prosper. In today's political circles, the people who say, "Take care of the people's livelihood, why not take care of the people's livelihoods?" is also a voice to get points from the people who are paying attention to prospering.
Why would you not believe it?
The foolishness and trial and error of Israel that we can see in the Old Testament do not lie in anything else, but in the fact that it is difficult or nearly impossible to believe in God itself. Does this sound strange to you? Is it easy or difficult to believe in Jesus? Do not take it as meaning that it is difficult to go to church every week and worship, or it is difficult to keep a life of giving and Christian character. It is rather easy to think of such a religious act as belief. Most people devote all their energies to reinforcing them, and fall into some form of religious fanaticism. The reason people fall for that kind of enthusiasm is because it's easy.
To say that religious zealots are easy means that those things easily provoke us. People are made to move according to the force that moves them. The capitalism that dominates us does not lose its power because it stimulates us. Think about it. It is said that the average annual salary of Samsung employees is 67 million won, and the average annual salary of a director level is 67 billion won. Mid-level executives will be somewhere in the middle. Because of that situation, everyone is struggling to get a job at a large company. The board of directors society is progressing in such a structure that the unions of large companies and the unions of subcontractors are inevitably opposed. Under such circumstances, can any one or two people claim true liberation and equality of labor?
Look at verse 4. “Listen, you Israel. Our God is Yahweh. There is only one Yahweh.” Israel had to be told that Yahweh alone is God. This means that they did not like to think of Yahweh as God. It is obvious that Israel, who will enter Canaan, will turn their eyes to Baal, the god of fertility worshiped by Canaan. On the surface they may say that they believe in Yahweh, the God of Abraham, but in the end it is Baal that dominates their consciousness. Seeing these results, Moses shouted out the fact that only Yahweh is God, almost as if it were a 'right reading'.
Look at verse 5. “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your heart, with all your might, and with all your might.” We call repeatedly to focus on Yahweh. Because one word is not enough to believe and live in God, Yahweh, now Moses is preaching like a novice. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength. This is the reason why it is difficult to believe in Yahweh. A belief is a lie unless you stake your whole being.
Shema
That's right. Only this dependence on God and unity is the foundation on which the people of Israel can survive and thrive beyond all the new cultural conditions and circumstances they will encounter in Canaan. Moses proclaims ‘Shema’ (Hear!) in verses 3 and 4 of today’s text. Listening to God's Word was the right way for them to become one with God.
If God's Word does not actually rule our lives, we will never be able to exist and thrive under any circumstances. Of course, even if we do not have the Word of God, we can live with everything that others will envy. But in such a life, emptiness and meaninglessness come in an instant. That emptiness and meaninglessness makes us seek life that stimulates us again. In order to achieve such a stimulating life, many people not only do not hesitate to make a previous pitch, but in the process, our spirituality is exhausted and destroyed. You must not be mistaken. It is an illusion to think that achieving something in this world will make you happy or content. All of our work is empty unless we are in communion with God through the Word of God.
How can we hear the word of God? Should I live with the Bible in my body like a talisman? Can I cling to bible study? Is worshiping often the shortcut to ‘Shema’? No one path can be said to be the only path. It is necessary to access the Word of God as often as possible according to your circumstances and study it properly. As long as we frequently come into contact with the Bible with the right attitude, we will go into the depths of the Word without realizing it. For those who have entered the deep world of the Word, the foundation for surviving in this world, the foundation for thriving in a true sense is now in place. Because only God can fill our lives spiritually.