Title Genesis 1:1
Contents
Everyone! Unhappiness is not that I don't have what I want, but that I don't know what I have. Instead of feeling frustrated, disappointed, and resentful thinking about what you don't have, believe that amazing emotions and miracles happen when you do your best with what you have.
Today's text is the story of the ancient Israelites after returning from the Babylonian captivity, after rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and gathering in front of the floodgates to listen to the word of God. After 70 years of captivity, they return to their dream homeland, but they have absolutely nothing. The temple in Jerusalem that boasted so much was demolished and the walls were demolished. The vineyards were also desolate. Where did all those people go, there were no people to be seen on the desolate streets, and no houses to live in. But the returning people had the word of God. Everything else was gone, but the law still remained with them. In the past, they neglected the word of God, hated hearing the law, and opposed those who taught the law, but now they returned after 70 years, and what they needed the most was God's law.
The thirst for the word of God, which they had not heard for the past 70 years, caused the returning Israelites to gather in the square in front of the floodgates of the newly built Jerusalem city. And there they hear the law of God. The fact that they were able to hear the law of God they wanted to hear from Jsl., which they had dreamed of during the Babylonian captivity itself, was a thrill and joy for them.
As we read these verses, we can imagine to some extent the expressions and emotions of the people who gathered in the square in front of the floodgate at that time. They have a sincere attitude to listen to God's law with great longing, and regardless of age or sex, they listened to the Word without knowing the passage of time, and their expressions were earnest, sincere, and hot. In the words introduced in verse 1 and below, it is said that all the people returning from captivity at that time gathered in the square in front of the floodgates and heard God's law. Ezra, the scribe, stands on a specially made wooden pulpit, and Ezra reads the book of the law while the priests on the left and right are protesting.
But at this time, when Ezra opened the book of the law, all the people stood up and heard the word. Originally, the Israelites stood up when they prayed and sat down to listen to the word. However, the word of God at this moment was so precious and reverent that we could not just sit and listen to it, so all the people stood up and listened to the word. The fear of God and utter obedience to the Word did not keep them still. When Ezra opened the book of the law in the pulpit, all the people who had gathered there stood up. And whenever they heard the word, the people raised their hands high and said, Amen, Amen, and bowed their faces to the ground and worshiped God.
If we look closely at these words, we listened to God's law for as much as six hours. Verse 3 says, “From dawn to midday in the square in front of the floodgates, he read in the presence of men and women who could understand, and all the peoples gave ear to the book of the law.” From dawn to noon, I listened to the Word for six hours, but it was not by force. They gathered voluntarily, asked to voluntarily bring the book of the law, and everyone who could understand the law, regardless of age or sex, heard the law. It must be an amazing revival meeting. The people gathered with spiritual longing voluntarily wanted to hear the word, and with an attitude not to miss a single word, they gathered in the square in front of the water gate as soon as the day dawned and held an unprecedented revival sacrificial meeting. When the Word was heard through God's servant Ezra, those who read the Word became one, and a spiritual revival took place.
1. The revival Sagyeonghoe in the square in front of the water gate was a revival movement of the Word as it was in the text.
All the people listened to the word from dawn to midday. He read the law and interpreted the words he read. While listening to the Word, there was repentance and a new decision. In verse 9 of today's text, it is said that all the people who heard the words of this law wept. When the thirsty souls heard the word again, they were sweet as honey and sweeter than honey in the cluster. So, not knowing the time passing, I stood there for 6 hours and listened to the Word.
In Romans 10:17, it says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." Where did you say faith comes from? Yes, by hearing, faith comes from hearing the words of Christ. Therefore, what we need to know clearly is that the work of faith cannot take place without the Word. What we call our beliefs is different from our subjective convictions. Some people just say "I believe" or "I believe", but the important thing is, 'What do you believe?' will do Just because you say "I believe" on your own terms or how you feel, doesn't mean that person is a good believer.
The important thing is that there is an objective promise first, and when you say 'I believe' about that promise, this is belief. . Faith is the heart that accepts God's word and promises after they have been made. In other words, the heart that accepts and accepts the objective truth from my side is faith. There is nothing, and saying "I believe" does not mean that it is not faith. Such a thing is nothing more than one's own subjective convictions, whether "believe it or not".
there must be a word By hearing the Word, faith is created and spiritual revival takes place. Faith does not come from time or position, but when we humbly accept the Word and accept and obey it on my side. Therefore, everyone, what do you think if a person has not heard or read the Bible, but one day he went up a mountain and met Jesus while meditating? It's impossible. In nine out of ten cases, it is a history of cults or shamanistic evil spirits.
There is real revival in the Word of God. In the Word of God, there is the true work of faith and the work of the Holy Spirit. There is true happiness, freedom, and healing in the Word of God. There is life and power in the Word of God. Therefore, we must return to the Word of God, just like the Israelites of old. Because here is a way to live, here is our hope, and there is true joy in this word of God.
2. The revival sakyunghoe in the square in front of the floodgates was the revival sakyunghoe that responded with 『Amen』.
Let's look at verse 6 of the text (Nehemiah 8:6). "Ezra blessed the Lord God, the great God, and all the people raised up their hands and answered, Amen, Amen, and bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." It has the meaning of "I agree with you" and also the meaning of an oath that "I will definitely do that". That is why we say 'Amen' when we pray, 'Amen' when we sing hymns, and 'Amen' when we listen to the Word. Also, the word 『Amen』 also includes the meanings of 'Truly' and 'Truly'. We say "Amen" in the sense of "That word is true", "It is true", "I believe so".
In the Bible, when you say 'Amen', in the book of Revelation, you say 'Amen' after the hymn. When the heavenly angels and the 24 elders in heaven sang hymns to the Lord, the four living creatures said 'Amen', and the elders bowed down and worshiped. After the blessing, he said 'Amen'. In Romans 15:33, when he said, "The God of peace be with you all," he answered with 'Amen', and in Galatians 6:18, after the blessing, he said 'Amen'.
Everyone! As such, 『Amen』 is the language of our Christian blessing and the universal language. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, it says: "Any number of the promises of God are yes in Christ, so that through him we say 'Amen' to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20) What does it mean? He said 'Amen' to glorify God. A life that glorifies God is the primary purpose of life for all of us. It was said that saying 'Amen' would bring glory to God, but why would you hesitate to say 'Amen'?
'Amen' has the meaning of affirmation, the meaning of obedience, and the meaning of praise. 『Amen』 is like a key that opens a closed mind, and has the ability to transform a negative, rebellious and unbelieving mind into a positive and obedient one. When the devil tries to arouse doubts in our hearts or to sow disobedience, we believe that if we say 'Amen', the devil will be surprised and flee.
However, one thing to keep in mind here is that it is better to avoid the habitual 'amen' or the more slanderous 'amen'. When you attend a certain meeting, the instructor is afraid to say 'Amen'. There is also an almost automated 'Amen' and a mechanical 'Amen'. For example, if you say, "If you believe you will go to hell, please say 'Amen'" and say 'Amen'. Also, there are people who say 'Amen' even when they say, "Someone is sick and is dead." Hearing the content, if the content is God's word or if I affirm it, I should say 'Amen', not cover it up and say 'Amen'. When you say 'I am ruined' or 'I have left the church', I do not say 'Amen'. What should I say in this case? Yes, then 'Lord!' I should say
'Amen' should also be used wisely, but remember that saying 'Amen' without thinking or understanding the meaning is not the right attitude. According to today's text, when the ancient Israelites gathered in the square in front of the floodgates all day and listened to the word of God spoken by Ezra, they answered 'Amen'. He raised his hand and said, 'Amen, Amen. When I heard the words of God's wrath and rebuke, I said 'Amen, Amen'. When I heard God's word of blessing and the word of the covenant, I said 'Amen, Amen'. It was the words they longed for so much that they could not just sit still and listen to them. They got up and listened to the Word, raised their hands and said, 'Amen, Amen.'
Dear saints, There must be an answer of 'Amen' before the words of promise, grace, and blessings given to me. I hope there is a confession of 'Amen'. A person who is humble before the word says 'Amen'. Those who want to obey the Word respond with 'Amen'. Those who open their hearts and accept God's grace respond with 'Amen'. I pray in the name of the Lord that all of you become all people of 'Amen'.