룻기는 사사기라는 격변의 폭풍이 지나간 후의 작고도...

 룻기는 사사기라는 격변의 폭풍이 지나간 후의 작고도 고요한 목소리다. 사사기의 대규모 폭력, 심각한 민족지도력의 문제, 이스라엘 백성 전체의 도덕적 타락이라는 장면이 지난 이후, 룻기는 평범한 소수의 삶에서 개인적 관계 가운데 일어난 구속적 사건에 대해 이야기하며 궁극적으로 이스라엘 전체를 위한 희망의 방향을 제시한다. 성서 안에서 독특하게도 이 짧은 이야기는 우 - P266

랍비 전통에 따르면 룻기는 오직 한가지 목적을 위해 기록된 책인데, "헤세드‘를 행하는 자의 보상이 얼마나 큰지 가르치기 위한 것"이다.‘ 이 책은 사사기의 궤적과는 정반대로 절망적인 상황 속에서도 상호 신실함을 특징으로 하는 인간관계가 어떻게 희망의 씨앗을 심는지 보여준다. - P267

히브리어 말장난은 보아스의 행동의 중요성을 가리킨다. 보아스는 원주민과 이민자 사이의 중요한 사회적 경계를 넘었다. 그는권력자의 위치에서 문화적으로 눈에 띄지 않는 사람의 지위를 강화하는 데 앞장섰으며, 그렇게 한 이유는 그녀의 성품에 대해 들었기때문이다. - P272

[오늘의 한문장] 리빙라이프 Living Life 2025.12 (영문판)

1The allotment for the tribe of Judah, according to its clans, extended down to the territory of Edom, to the Desert of Zin in the extreme south. - P-1

but my fellow Israelites who ...

but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.

9So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

10"Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!

11I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

12Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."

- P43

13Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

14So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

15(Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.

- P43

Joshua, Aaron’s son Eleazar, and the other leaders of Israel follow God’s instructions to Moses and assign the inheritances by lot, ensuring that the process is impartial; no tribe receives favoritism over another. The Levites, however, do not receive a large share of land, but they are given towns to live in and pasturelands for their flocks and herds because their role in the community will be serving God and the people full-time in the tabernacle. The process reflects God’s wisdom. - P44

Not all of us will receive the same amount from the Lord, and not all of us are called to serve as full-time ministers. However, each of us will receive what we need as we live out our callings to serve God and His people. - P44

Dear God, nothing in this world can satisfy as much as living my life for You. Show me what is keeping me from wholehearted devotion to You so that I can serve You well and inspire others to do the same. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P44

나는 이스라엘 안에 항상 존재하는 종교적 배교와 지배...

나는 이스라엘 안에 항상 존재하는 종교적 배교와 지배 문화로의 동화라는 위협에 저항하고 극복하도록 용기를 불어넣는 이야기로 여호수아서를 읽을 것을 제안한다. 역사적, 문학적 증거에 따르면, 이이야기는 주전 7세기 말 이스라엘 자신이 정복당한 민족, 정복당한땅이 되어 앗수르 제국의 속국이 되었을 때 처음 형성된 것으로 보인다. - P228

 "여호수아의 우뚝 솟은 모습은 모든 이스라엘 백성의 구원자가 될 수도 있는 요시야의 초상을 은유적으로 연상시키는 데 사용되었다." "
다시 말해 여호수아서는 주전 7세기 앗수르의 위협을 정교하게은유화한 책으로, 여러 세기 전 이스라엘 백성이 그 땅에 들어올 때고대 가나안 족속과 그들이 대표하는 거짓 숭배의 위협으로부터 강제적으로 그리고 완전히 분리되라는 하나님의 명령을 받은 이야기의 형태로 주조되었다. 이 책은 무력 저항이 불가능한 상황에서 종교적 동화에 대한 저항을 불러일으키고, 그 위협을 말 그대로 삶과 죽음의 문제로 제시하기 위해 고안된 텍스트다.  - P229

여호수아 이야기는 신명기 역사가들의 시대에 이스라엘이 직면한 도전을 극화하기 위해 그보다 훨씬 이전 시기의 문화적 기억을 끌어오며, 이스라엘에게 대가를 치르는(그리고 가능하다면 공격적인) 저항의 자세를 촉구한다. ‘문화적 기억‘이라는 개념은 사회인류학에서 쓰이다가 성서학 연구에 도입된 것으로, 검증 가능한 사실보다는 집단 구성원들이 공유하는 이야기에 기반을 두고 과거를 이해하는 방향을 제시한다. 그것은 "기억된 역사"이며, 기억의 목표는 집단의 정체성을 명확히 하고 강화하며 미래에 대한 희망을 창출하는것이다."  - P230

여호수아서의 가장 놀라운 점은, 공식 역사 기록에서 거의찾아보기 힘든 정직한 태도로 이스라엘의 역사를 ‘기억‘한다는 데 있다. 이 책은 이스라엘의 (상대적으로 소수에 불과한) 영적 성공과 함께이스라엘의 실패를 보여주며, 그 내용은 흥미로운 이야기부터 끔찍한 이야기까지 다양하다. 더 나아가 이스라엘과 그 하나님에 대한 언약적 신실함을 보여주기 위한 가나안인들의 단호한 노력도 서술한다 - P230

이스라엘에 의한, 이스라엘에 대한 이러한 솔직한 비판은 이스라엘이 그 땅에서 고난을 겪은 전체 이야기 (여호수아서-열왕기) 내내 계속되며, 바벨론 유배에서 절정에 이른다. 이러한 특징적인 어조는 이모음집의 전통적인 명칭인 전기 예언서가 현대의 명칭인 신명기 역사서보다 더 나은 표현이 될 수 있는 이유를 보여준다. 여호수아서는일종의 예언적 계시다. 여기서 계시는 신학자 로완 윌리엄스가 말하는 것처럼, "특정한 과거, 곧 ‘생성적‘으로 보이는 과거에 비추어 현재의 삶을 의문시하고 주의를 기울일 때 나타나는 개념이다."  - P231

다른모든 예언서와 마찬가지로 여호수아서는 세심한 독자들에게 자신에대해 질문하는 태도를 고취시킨다. 특히 우리가 종교적, 문화적 타자에 대해 품는 타고난 우월감과 관련해 말하는 많은 이야기들에 의문을 제기한다. 더 나아가 고대 근동의 정복 이야기와 명백히 대조적인것은, 여호수아서가 공포에 질린 가나안인들을, 그리고 적과 맞선 상황에서도 편들기를 거부하는 신적 전사를 생생히 묘사함으로써 전쟁의 폭력성을 미묘하고도 예리하게 비판한다는 점이다. - P231

기독교 신구약성서에서 ‘정복하다‘를 의미하는히브리어와 그리스어 nikean 동사가 거의 항상 은유적으로 기능한다는 점은 주목할 만하다. 그것은 하나님께 반대하는 세력에게 거둔영적인 승리를 나타낸다. 아마도 가장 초기의 성서적 언급이라 볼 수있는 것으로는, 예언자 미가의 "[하나님] 우리의 죄악을 발로 밟으신다"라는 선언이 있다. 미카7:19 동사 ‘카바쉬 ‘k-b-sh‘의 가장 유명한 성서적사례는 창세기 첫 장에 나오는데, 여기서 인간은 "생육하고 번성하여땅에 충만하라, 땅을 정복하라"창 1:28는 명령을 받는다.  - P231

[오늘의 한문장] 리빙라이프 Living Life 2025.12 (영문판)

32This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho.

33But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

- P39

These verses describe the territory given as an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben. The boundaries of the fertile land are described in detail, and the Israelites are reminded that they defeated the king of the Amorites and the princes who were allied with him in order to receive this land. The Israelites also remember that they put to the sword Balaam, who practiced divination. God’s people remember that He has not only granted a rich inheritance for the tribe of Reuben but that He has also led them to triumph over powerful enemies. - P40

We can see that God cares about the details of His promises and that He can help us overcome any challenge, even ones that seem intimidating and impossible. - P40

Heavenly Father, I know that You love me and care about the details in my life. When I face difficult decisions, lead me by Your Spirit so that I might make the wisest choice. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen. - P41