Preach and praise (Jeremiah 31:7-14)
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Jeremiah 31:7-14
Preach and praise
There are three things everyone regrets when they get older. The first is ‘be patient’. In fact, we get angry over things that are nothing in the end. So, after some time has passed, I regret that ‘I will be patient a little longer then’. Moreover, in the later years of life, these thoughts come to mind more and more. Second, I regret that I 'have fun'. I cherish it for passing it on to my children, but I hope you don't drink it and spend a little for yourself. Third, I regret saying, ‘I will give.’ When it comes time to die, it is only then that I regret not giving much and living.
The second most important thing in life is ‘the person sitting next to me’. Most people who can't get married don't get married because they don't know the value of the person sitting next to them and try to find them elsewhere. Isn't there a saying, 'Be good when you're there'? The person sitting next to me is the most precious person.
The third important thing in life is ‘what I am doing’. There's something really stupid people always say. “I look like someone who can do something like this!” But when you see people who actually say that, it's overkill.
In the text that God gave us today through the prophet Jeremiah, God told us how to live without regret in the last years of life and what is really important in our lives.
Let's read verse 7 together. “This is what the LORD says: Stand ye before the nations and shout for joy for Jacob; preach and praise and say, O LORD, save the remnant of your people Israel.” Amen.
God has commanded us three things in the text. The first is the command to 'shout', the second is the command to preach, and the third is the command to praise. However, in the original Hebrew Bible, there is one more command to ‘sing’. The word translated “Cry for Jacob for joy” in our language is translated correctly, “Sing for Jacob and shout for joy.” There are two commands in this verse: ‘sing’ and ‘shout;’, but in the Bible in our language, the command to “sing” is omitted and only the command to “shout” is translated.
Why was the command to 'sing' to me omitted? I thought about it. And the conclusion I have come to is that the command to 'praise' is a great and amazing thing that cannot be compared with the command to 'sing'. I thought.
'Song' is 'sing' in English, and the sound of a bird chirping, a stream flowing, bullets or wind, even the sound of boiling water in a kettle or buzzing of insects are all called sing.
However, ‘praise’ is only used to praise God. When you say ‘Praise God’, say ‘Praise be to God!’, not ‘Sing be to God!’. Anyone can sing, but praise is a noble and blessed thing that can only be done by those who call God their Father, and only the children of God who are sojourners on this earth because they have an address in heaven.
The most important thing in life is to praise God. Nothing is more important than this. All things in the world can only be done while in the flesh. However, praise is something we will continue to do even after we go to heaven. Therefore, nothing is more important than praise. The time right now is precious, the person sitting next to me is precious, and the work I am doing is precious, but nothing more precious than praise.
Today we worship together with the Global Youth Orchestra. God loves our church and our members and has sent us an orchestra to sing beautiful praises to. They are a visiting orchestra that goes around the world at their own expense and sings beautiful praises. Those who visit Chuncheon through our church go to areas where they don't usually have the opportunity to listen to music and spread the love of God. They hold 13 concerts in one week. For them, praise is the most important thing. Praise is the most important thing, not just for them, but for all of us.
But our praise does not end here. If the praise ends on this earth, the praise has no meaning. The psalmist said, “Let everyone who breathes praise.” This means to praise until the day when you stop breathing. I hope that all of you will become saints praising the Lord until the day the Lord calls him to that country.
Also, we must preach the Lord so that we do not regret it in the last years of our lives. On the day the Lord comes, the Lord asks me, “Why did you come alone?” “Why didn’t you bring your best friend?” “Why didn’t you bring your beloved wife, your beloved husband, and your beloved children? How can you stand alone before the Lord if you ask him, saying, “I really love you? In order not to regret the day you stand before the Lord, you must tell it. “The day of the coming of the Lord is at hand.” It must be communicated in time or out of season. You must tell them to believe in Jesus. That's the way to live without regrets.
I hope that all of you who were present here will preach the Lord and become saints with no regrets on that day.