가뭄의 장기화라는 위기 자체가 종교적 분위기의 변화를...

가뭄의 장기화라는 위기 자체가 종교적 분위기의 변화를 촉진했을 수도 있다. 경제 위기 역시상당수의 백성 사이에서 야훼를 더욱 배타적이고 공격적으로 신봉하는 변화가 일어나는 데 기여했을 수 있으며, 그런 변화는 농민들의가장 강력한 지지를 받았을 것이다. 이 이야기에서 엘리야는 가난한사람 17장에 속하며, 바알을 숭배하는 엘리트들이 무자비하게 착취한전통적인 농업 공동체의 경제적 이익을 대변한다. 21장 - P341

전체적으로 볼 때 후기(기록) 예언서(이사야서부터 말라기서까지)는 전기 예언서 (여호수아서부터 열왕기까지)의 일부인 열왕기와 같은시기를 다룬다. 이 두 가지 정경의 단위는 구별되면서도 보완적이다.
이 둘은 주전 8세기부터 6세기까지 이스라엘과 유다의 통합 역사에관한 두 가지 예언적 개관이다. 이 책들은 왕의 녹을 받지 않는 독립예언자들의 목소리가 어떻게 야훼의 이름으로 주어진 도전, 곧 이스라엘 국가 지도자들의 근시안적인 종교적, 정치적 정책과 그들을 무비판적으로 따르는 이들의 잘못된 경건과 애국심에 대한 도전으로등장하게 되었는지 보여준다.  - P349

전기 예언서와 후기 예언서의 가장 중요한 차이점은 산문과 시의 차이에 있을 것이다. 산문은 전기 예언서에서, 시는 후기 예언서에서 우세하다. 하지만 성서 문학에서 이 두 가지 담론 방식은 극과극이라기보다는 연속선상에 있는 경우가 많다.  - P350

 머레이 리히텐슈타인Murray Lichtenstein 은 성서의 시가 지닌 특징을 통찰력 있게 기술한다. 그에 따르면 성서의 시는 본질적으로 하나의 "관계적 현상"이다. 왜냐하면 "그것은 그 형태와 내용을 통해 청중을 감정적 대화 속으로 직접적이고도 즉각적으로 끌어들이는 특별한 능력을 지니고 있기 때문이다 - P350

아모스의 메시지는 오늘날 관습적으로사용되는 단어의 의미에서 ‘예언자적‘이었다. 그는 엄청난 비전을 품고 사회 정의를 외치는 설교자였고, "힘없는 자를 학대하며 가난한자를 압제하며", 4:1 "정의를 쓴 쑥으로 바꾸며 공의를 땅에 던지는"57자들을 고발하는 공적 시인이었다. 아모스는 성서에서 정의를 가장탁월하게 설교한 예언자이므로, 마틴 루터 킹이 그의 말을 인용해 자신의 비전을 거듭 표현한 것은 당연했다.
오직 정의를 물 같이공의를 마르지 않는 강 같이 흐르게 할지어다. 5:24 - P353

[오늘의 한문장] 요한을 읽다

그렇다면 이 반대자들은 누구였을까? 학자들은 종종 2세기에존재했던 세 이단을 요한서신에서 가려낸 반대자들과 연계해 왔다. 케린투스, 가현설 신봉자들, 영지주의자들이 그들이다.  - P370

25On that day Joshua made a c...

25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.

26And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.

27"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."

- P154

29After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.

30And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

- P154

31Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

- P155

Joshua establishes a covenant with the tribes of Israel. A covenant is a spiritually binding agreement between two parties. It is a means of regulating a relationship that expresses commitment, mutual understanding, and promise. The essence of this particular covenant is that the people agree to serve and obey God rather than idols. - P156

While we see several covenants throughout biblical history, believers today live in the final one that Jesus Christ initiated. Referred to as the new covenant, it is the promise that God will forgive sin through Jesus and restore those who forsake their sins and turn toward Him. - P156

Let us affirm the covenant we have with Christ by continually receiving God’s Word into our hearts and seeking a deeper personal relationship with Him.
- P156

In the last scene of this book, we see that both Joshua and Eleazar the priestpass away and are buried, and we are reminded of how faithful the peoplewere to God under Joshua‘s leadership. While the passage is devoid of anyemotional language, we can feel both the weight of the memorial event andthe encouragement of seeing the faithfulness of God and the faithful obedi-ence of His people. This reminds us of another death, that of Jesus Christ,
and we remember His faithfulness to us.  - P156

Now, we have the opportunityto respond with faithful obedience to Him. Let us not be idle but moveforward in serving Him and working to build up His kingdom. - P156

ofI am reminded of the closing scene of Joshua‘s life. After many yearsleading Israel and following God into the promised land, Joshua gave hisfinal talk: "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... but asfor me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15),
Today is December 31, 2025. Like Wooden‘s players and Joshua‘s people,
we stand in the middle of a transition. The year is ending and a new seasonlies ahead. We can take this opportunity to remember God‘s faithfulnessthis year. We can write out who He has been for us and what He has done.
We can ask ourselves once again whom we will serve and recommit our-selves and our households to serving the Lord. - P156

Dear God, thank you for the covenant we have with Christ. As this year comes to an end, I want to commit to continue serving You and building up Your kingdom. Guide me to be a blessing to You and to the people around me this coming year. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P157

사자와 나귀가 시체를 지키고 있는 장면 13:28 같...

사자와 나귀가 시체를 지키고 있는 장면 13:28 같은일부 세부 사항은 공상적으로 보일 수 있지만, 우리의 선호나 종교적편견과는 달리 나쁜 일이 실제로 선한 이들에게 일어난다는 현실주의적 주장이 강하게 깔려 있다. 요컨대 성서 내러티브는 인간 경험의복잡성을 부정하는 뻔한 말을 거부하므로, 하나의 직선을 따라 전개되지 않는 도덕적 상상력을 불러일으킨다. - P334

소국 유다의 야망에 유리하게 작용했다. 앗수르는 최종 붕괴 주전 612년를 향해 가고 있었고 바벨론의 해는 아직 떠오르지 않았으므로, 일시적인 권력 공백기가 발생했다. 북왕국 이스라엘은 한 세기 전에 멸망했고, 요시야는 한때 다윗 왕국이었던 영토의 일부를 회복할 수 있었다. 이러한 상황에서 신명기 역사가들은 이스라엘과 유다 왕권의 굴곡진 역사를 복된 결말로 이끈 것처럼 보이는 요시야‘에게 ‘문학적기념비를 세웠다. 하지만 유다의 정치적 행운은 오래가지 못했다.
요시야가 파라오 느고의 손에 전사하고, 왕하 23:29 약 20년 후에는 예루살렘의 함락과 함께 다윗 왕조가 멸망한다. 그 이후에는 비극적인 결말을 가진 새로운 역사가 필요했다. 무명의 ‘유다에서 온 하나님의사람‘ 이야기는 그런 사건들의 결과로 더욱 깊은 울림을 얻게 된다. - P337

16Then the people answered, ˝...

16Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!

17It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.

18And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God."

- P150

19Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.

- P150

14
"Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. - P150

23"Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel."

24And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey him."
- P151

Joshua urges Israel to fear and serve the Lord. He challenges them to choosewhom they will serve and declares that he and his household will serve theLord. The people respond that they will serve the Lord, recalling His deliver-ance and protection. Joshua warns of the consequences of forsaking the Lord,
and the people affirm their commitment to serve Him. - P151

As Joshua continues his final speech to the tribes of Israel, he reaffirms the people’s covenant with God and calls them to choose whom they will serve: God or the competing idols in the region. Joshua understands the temptations they face, but regardless of what each person decides, Joshua proclaims that he and his family will serve the one true God who has been faithful to Israel since the very beginning. - P152

Like Joshua, let our households set the example for others in choosing the Lord, faithfully serving the One who has been faithful to us. - P152

May we remember how God saved each of us and remain committed to Him, refusing to abandon the One who will never abandon us. - P152

As Joshua speaks with the people about their commitment to God, hemakes a shocking statement: Israel is not able to serve God, and He willnot forgive their rebellion and sins. At first glance, this negative declarationseems to contradict Joshua‘sa few versesing God solely by their owonate call to the people justprior. However, the message is clear: The Israelites are not capable of obey-will, and they will not be forgiven when theyallow their sins to persist and grow.  - P152

We are blessed because we can seek thedivine grace of forgiveness that is extended through the righteousness ofChrist. Let us recognize the holiness and jealousy of God, and repent of ourhabitual sins, determined to tolerate them no more. - P152

Heavenly Father, You are holy and rightfully jealous as no idol is worthy of competing with You for my love. I now reject all idols and repent of my persistent sins. I desire to live in Your holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P153