David's Dance (2 Samuel 6:12-23)

David's Dance (2 Samuel 6:12-23) 

1. Prologue
People express their joyful and sorrowful feelings in various ways. Dance is a way of expressing one's feeling. Except professional dancers, people usually feel like dancing when they are joyful. Even a shy person wants to dance when he or she is extremely happy.

2. First Attempt to Bring Up the Ark of God
The ark of God was a symbol that God was with the Israelites. In the beginning of this chapter 6, David and the thirty thousand chosen men of Israel went to Baale-judah to bring up the ark of God which was once captured by the Philistines. They carried it on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab where the ark has been remaining for twenty years after it was returned to Israel by the Philistines. Uzza and Ahio were driving the new cart. David and all the house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with song and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzza one of the drivers of the cart reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen stumbled. As the anger of the                                                      

LORD was kindled against Uzza, God struk him there, because he reached out his hand to the ark. Uzza died there beside the ark of God. Only the priests should have carried the ark of God on their shoulders with extreme care. God's holiness was present there in the ark and it was not to be dealt lightly. David went to the house of Abinadab without sufficient and careful preparation to bring the ark in a haste. David probably intended to use the ark for his own purpose--that is, he wanted to use it as the sign of God's protection and guaranty for his kingship.

David was disappointed very much at this and unwilling to take the ark of God into his care in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. David and other Israelites might have thought then that the ark of God was a burdensome thing. The ark remained at the house of Obed-edom for three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household although they were Gentiles.

3. Second Attempt to Bring Up the Ark of God
After a certain time period, David heard that God blessed the house of Obed-edom because of the ark. The blessing over the house of Obed-edom was a sign that God's anger had passed away. So David went there to bring up the ark of God from the house Obed-edom to the City of David with joy. At their first attempt David carried the ark on a new cart. But at this time, some men--priests--carried it on their shoulders according to God's instruction for carrying the ark. When those who bore the ark proceeded six steps, David sacrificed an ox and fatling as a sin offering. David admitted that he and his Israelites had treated the ark lightly and carelessly not according to God's instruction but according to his own thought.

Then, David began to dance before the LORd with all his might. He did not dress the royal purple clothes but a linen ephod. He was plain and humble before the eyes of God. David was dancing for the second time. His joy this time was much greater than that of the first time, because he knew that God was with him with blessings. His dance was a natural expression of his great joy and exaltation of mind. David's dance expresses a genuine act of religious vitality, of worship with a pure heart, making himself available for Yahweh's power, purpose, and presence. David and the Israelites brought up the ark with shouting the sound of all sorts of musical instruments.
                                               
4. My Own Experience
One day when I was a little boy in the first grade, a street preacher's shout stopped me. He proclaimed God's judgment day, the heaven and the hell. He demonstrated the pictures of the heaven and the hell.  The pictures of heaven did not attract me, but the pictures of the hell scared me a lot. In his pictures people in the hell were suffering very much from the burning fire. Although many years have passed, I still remember the terrifying pictures. I was trembling with fear of the horrible scenes of the hell.
I decided to attend the church not to go to heaven but not to go to hell, not to be cast into the lake of fire. Thus, to me the image of God was not the God of love but the God of horror. As I grew up, the fear of hell faded away, I didn't feel like I should go to church every Sunday. So, to me, the church became a convenient place to go whenever I liked to go. However, somehow, I wanted to find and meet Jesus, about whom pastors preached in every worship, if Jesus was really present in me. I wanted to meet him during my prayer or during my reading of the Bible. I expected his appearance before me, as God appeared to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel, and David. But, my search was in vain, and I could not find him anywhere. Later, I realized that I tried to find Him lightly out of my curiosity. After the search for Jesus for ten years or so, I concluded that there must have been no Jesus, no God in he world. Then, I stopped going to church for a while. In the mean time, I experienced a series of failures in my life. I was so disappointed and despaired that I almost lost my purpose and meaning for living. I fell into the deep swamp of depression.
In April, 1979, however, I felt that some unknown outside force dragged me near to the Bible. I strongly felt that I should try again to find Jesus desperately so that I could request Him to get me out of this troubled waters. I thought that this would be my last challenge to find him and my final attempt to get out of the deep depression. I resumed to read the Bible for more than ten hours a day. People who knew me well might have thought that I became insane. I kept reading the Bible. For eight months, I had read the Bible for almost thirty times. One day in November, 1979, while I was reading the Bible, I suddenly experienced a wonderful and mysterious thing. I felt that Jesus in me said to me: "Kunsoo, you were a sinner. But because I died for you, now your sins are forgiven, and you are saved."
                                                 
It was a still small voice with which He spoke to me. Jesus became my personal Savior in me. At this very moment, he allowed me to find the hidden treasures in he Bible. It just happened  in the twinkling of an eye. I could not hide my joy. I could not stop my tears flowing down my cheeks. This was the moment of excitement that I had been longing for such a long time. I experienced God's forgiveness of my sins. Finally, God allowed me to feel the divine presence in me. When I was so discouraged and  despaired with a worldly life, and when I felt that I lost everything, so I could not but be humble, Jesus did not abandon me, but revealed Himself in me. This time, I felt that God had been caring for me and had been within me. I felt like dancing a joyful dance with all my soul and might. This became the moment and the place of my faith that I would go back whenever I felt weary and uncertain about my whereabouts.

5. The Ark of God, God's Blessings
The ark of God was no longer burdensome as it was thought to be when the Israelites took care of it with fear and trembling. On the contrary, it brought them happiness, blessings, and protection against their enemies. Jesus Christ is a stumbling block and a rock of offense to those who are against Him and disobedient. But Jesus is a source of joy and blessings to those who abide in Him.

6. Michal, Daughter of Saul
In the next scene, we see that Michal daughter of Saul despised David in her mind when she saw David dancing and leaping. Later, when she came out to meet David, she said (v. 20): "How the king of Israel honored himself today before the eyes of his servants maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!" David answered (vv. 21-22): "It was before the LORD, who chose in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD, that I have danced before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor." Because of her contempt of David who was honoring and praising God with all his might, Michal was cursed and could not bear a child until the day of her death.

We may make similar mistakes to Michal's. We Christians sometimes look down upon other person's sincere and pure expression of worshiping and honoring God.                                                  

We may consider others' genuine worship of God as childish and foolish behaviors. But, we must be able to distinguish between a pure-childlike behavior and a foolish childish behavior. Others' sincere acts of worshiping and praising should not be looked down upon. We should remember that God will be pleased with people's pure heart and act of worship and praise to God, and be displeased with those who despise them.

7. Epilogue
Many years ago, I saw a two cut-cartoon in a magazine. In the first scene, a man was walking. He was bearing a sandwich-man's hanger on whose front it was written: "I am crazy about Jesus." Other people were passing by and laughing at him. In the second scene, on the back of his hanger, it was written: "Then, what are you crazy about?" How much and how long have we been crazy about worldly things--money, fame, position, etc.--without knowing where we are going? How long have we been dancing a worldly dance before the people whom we have been conscious of? We should be crazy about our LORD who brings all sorts of blessings unto us.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:13 says: "For if we are beside ourselves(=insane, crazy), it is for God; if we are in our right mind(=sane), it is for you." People was gossiping about Paul that he was crazy, for he gave up all his fame and educational background. Paul replied to them: Yes, I am crazy about Jesus my Lord. But while I am sane, I will teach the Gospel. My insanity is for God, and my sanity is for you. So, either I am insane or sane, it is okay."

Let us serve our LORD with fear and trembling of joy. Let us dance a joyful dance with all our might before our God of salvation! A-men.

You of Little Faith (Matthew 14:22-33)

You of Little Faith (Matthew 14:22-33)

In the first World Baseball Classic competition, the Korean team beat the Japanese team in both Round 1 and Round 2, then lost to them in the semifinal match. When the Korean team beat the Japanese them twice, they could not believe what they did: "How could we beat them twice when they are said to be a better team than us? It is unbelievable!!"
Then, when they had to confront the Japanese team third time, they became nervous, thinking that it is almost impossible to beat the Japanese team in all three games.
In the first two games the Korean team did not look at the situation or the probability of victory but played their best games.
But in the third game, they saw the situation and improbable probability. So, they lost to them.

One late afternoon a train crew inspected a cargo train and entered into a refrigeration compartment. However, mistakenly the compartment door was locked. He could not get out of there. He knocked and knocked but nobody was near. As he thought, "I am inside a refrigeration compartment," he felt cold.
Next morning other workers entered into the refrigeration compartment and found a man dead there. He was not frozen to death as no electricity was on in that compartment. He was dead because he thought that 'it must be freezingly cold in a refrigeration compartment.' That is, his thought about his situation in the refrigeration compartment killed him.
               
There was a man who suffered from (pulmonary) tuberculosis. Doctors gave up healing him and told him that he could live for three more months at most.
He prayed God desperately everyday. And he felt that God answered his prayer and that he was healed.
He did not die even after a year. He gained weight and looked to be very healthy. He wanted to hear a doctor's word that 'his lungs are normal now and that he is completely healed.' He went to a hospital to be examined.
The doctor, seeing the X-ray pictures of his lungs, said to him: "It is very strange. Your lungs are still in a very critical condition. And I do not know how you can still survive."
Returning from the hospital, the man thought about his lungs: 'If my lungs are so bad, I cannot live. I must be dead now.'
Then, his face became pale again and he could not get up well.
A week later he died. His thought about his lungs' condition killed him.

Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
And he himself went up on a mountainside to pray.
Jesus prayed God everyday to know his Father's will and to be guided by Him while he lived as a human being on the earth.
Meanwhile the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting against heavy waves.
It was about three o'clock early in the morning.

Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water.
When the disciples saw someone was approaching them walking on the water, they screamed in terror, thinking that it was a ghost.
Why did Jesus come to them?
He wanted to rescue them from the strong wind and heavy waves.
Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid!"
Then, Peter said to Jesus: "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you by walking on the water."
As usual, Peter's saying was very brave and surprising.
How can you think of your walking on the water although you see someone walking on the water?
               
Average people will probably deny their seeing as it is impossible for any man to walk on the water.
But Peter was different.
He asked him, "If you are surely my Master, please tell me to come to you by walking on the water."
This statement itself was out of strong faith believing that his Master could do any thing even when it looked to be impossible or improbable to happen.

Then, Jesus told him: "Come!"
What was Peter's reaction?
Did he hesitate?
No.
He got out of the boat and placed his feet on the water.
It is reminiscent of the Israelite priests, bearing the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders, stepping on the flowing River of Jordan.
Then, Peter was walking on the water as his Master was walking on the water.
But when he saw the strong wind and heavy waves, he became frightened and began to sink.
At the moment when he saw his situation of walking on the water in the midst of the strong wind and heavy waves, he thought that 'it is impossible for me to walk on the water.' And that's why he began to sink.

Then, what did he do?
Did he try to swim not to sink?
He immediately shouted: "Save me, Lord!"
This was also out of his faith, trusting his Master that he could save him.
Although Peter's faith was not strong enough to keep walking on the water--the improbable surface to walk, he had a little faith to cry out to Jesus for help.
David confessed in Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they will comfort me."
Trusting God who is with us and fixing our eyes on Him makes impossible things turn to be possible things.
Jesus says in Matthew 19:26, "With God all things are possible"; and Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things in him(=Christ) who strengthens me."
             
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and grabbed him.
And he said to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
If Peter did not doubt, fixing his eyes continuously on Jesus, he could keep walking on the water.
Our doubts may hurt or harm our faith.
Thus, we need to get rid of our doubts.
How can we remove our doubts?
We should fix our eyes and our minds on Jesus continuously as Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
When Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
And the disciples said to Jesus: "Truly you are the Son of God."
Jesus is the Lord who can let even the wind and the waves obey him (Mark 4:25-31).
When we look to Jesus at each moment every day, our faith will not die away. And we are safe and secure in him even though the surrounding conditions are so bad and insecure.
Let's pray God that He may help us to come closer to Him and to fix our eyes always on Him.

Jesus Christ Is the Same (Hebrews 13:8)

Jesus Christ Is the Same (Hebrews 13:8)

There is a Gospel song that praises the sameness of our Almighty God:
"My beloved Father, I lift Your Name on high. As Your Kingdom come in my praise, I praise the Lord of Power. Praise the Almighty God. You are always the same Lord.
Praise the Almighty God. You reign forever. I lift the Name of my Lord on high.    I lift the Name of my Lord on high. I lift the Name of my Lord on high like the flag lifted on high in the sky.
Praise the Almighty God. You are always the same Lord. Praise the Almighty God. You reign forever."

Among the historical confessions and creeds, the Chalcedonian Creed in 451 states the sameness of Jesus Christ:
"Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul <meaning human soul> and a body. He is of the same reality as God as far as his deity is concerned and of the same reality as we ourselves as far as his humanness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these "last days," for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness. ......"

There is a Korean old saying: "Ten years makes even rivers and hills changed."
All created things including human beings in this world are subject to change.
All worldly fashions and human truths are also subject to change.
There is no human truth or fashion that lasts forever
There is nothing eternal, nothing unchanging on the earth.
Yet, the author of the Hebrews tells us in 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
               
Jesus Christ is the same forever. Jesus Christ is unchanging.
The unchangeability or the sameness is characteristic of God the Creator.
Thus, when the author of the Hebrews states, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," he confesses that Jesus Christ is God.

What is unchanging or the same in Jesus Christ?
His loving-kindness(=Hesed) for His people is unchanging.
He always loves them who were created according to the image of God.
Even when he was betrayed, denied, and hanged on the cross, his loving-kindness for his people was never reduced.

His promise for his people is unchanging.
John in his Gospel 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The promises of God are valid all the time.
Jesus' promise of salvation through him is always reliable and trustworthy.
If Jesus added any word to his promise of salvation by faith, saying, "Unless you behave yourself perfectly, I will cancel my promise of salvation although you still call me 'Lord and Savior'," then his promise would not be the reliable one.

Jesus' guide and protection are the same.
His promises of guide and protection never failed.
Jesus promised his disciples in Matthew 28:20: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Jesus Christ, our God tells his people his being with them in Hebrews 13:5: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Thus, we will be safe, protected, and led in His direction by our Lord who is always with us.

God proclaims his blessing and protection to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3: "I will make you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

God encourages Joshua when he became a new leader of Israel replacing Moses in Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

God promised his people in Isaiah 43:2-3: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

In the Gospel of John Jesus declares who he is: "I am the bread of life (6:35); I am the light of the world(8:12); I am the gate for the sheep(10:7); I am the good shepherd(10:11, 14); I am the resurrection and the life(11:25); I am the way and the truth and the life(14:6); and I am the true vine(15:1)."
Jesus' declaration of "I Am" means 'Jehovah.' --That is, "He was, He is, and He will be."
Thus, Jesus Christ was the bread of life; He is the bread of life; and He will be the bread of life."
Jesus Christ was the good shepherd; He is the good shepherd; and He will be the good shepherd. And so on.

Do you believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever?
His Word is the same yesterday and today and forever.
His promises never failed, and will never fail.
His guide and protection are unchanging.
He was, is and will be with us all the time.
Isaiah in his book 40:8 tells us: "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever."
Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, stands forever; He is never changing; Jesus Christ and His truthful word are the same yesterday and today and forever.
Thus, we always should look to Jesus Christ and lean on him and his word of promises.

To Me To Live Is Christ (Phil. 1:20-26)

To Me To Live Is Christ (Phil. 1:20-26)

There is a well-known gospel song, "Christ In Me" by Gary Garcia:

      Christ in me is to live, to die is to gain
      Christ in me is to live, to die is to gain
      He's my King, He's my song, He's my life, He's my joy
      He's my strength, He's my sword, He's my peace, He's my Lord.

The songwriter Gary Garcia confesses that Jesus Christ is his King, his song, his life and his joy, his strength, his sword, his peace, and his Lord.
Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Paul was in prison in Rome when he was writing this letter to the saints, overseers and deacons in Philippi(1:1). He was thankful to God as he knew that Christ Jesus was always with him in his life and in his sufferings and would be even unto his death and beyond it.
Paul in verse 20 tells us: "For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or I die."
Paul wants to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in his body whether he lives or dies.
               
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, in Shakespeare talks to himself, "To be or not to be, that is a question." He contemplates the pros and cons of continuing life ("To be") or preferring death ("not to be"). But he is inconclusive.
For many people, to live or to die is questionable.
To many people who stay away from Jesus Christ, life is a series of worries, concerns, anxieties, and pains.
However, to them, death produces great bottomless fear of an uncertain world beyond life. They feel safer here in this worldly life no matter how miserable, painful, and poor it is. So, they prefer life to death.

Paul tells us that "To me to live is Christ."
What does he mean by this?
When he became a Christian--a follower of Christ, it is not Paul himself anymore but Jesus Christ--the Spirit of Christ who really initiates his life and who is really important in Paul's life.
Paul already confessed in Galatians 2:20 after his first mission trip: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“
Does Christ live in you?
So, for you, to live is Christ who is in you?
I hope that Paul's confession, "For to me to live is Christ," could be ours too.

Again, Paul tells us that "to die is gain."
What does he mean by this?
Why is "to die" gain?
Jesus Christ in his life and death bore much fruit.
His death accomplished his salvation-giving and life-giving ministry for us.
So, Jesus' death was gain for those who look up to him.
Jesus in John 12:24 says: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
But, here, Paul talks a little bit differently about why for him "to die is gain."
Without considering whether his death may produce much fruit or not, for him, to die means to live with Christ forever.
That is why for Paul 'to die' is gain for himself.
That is why he may prefer dying to living.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:8-9 tells us: "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."

Paul in verses 22-24 of today's passage tells us: "If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two (=to live and to die): I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."
For Paul himself he desires to depart the earthly body and be with Christ in heaven much more than to remain in the earthly body; but for the Philippians and other Christians he thinks that his staying in the body may be more necessary and more beneficial.
Why is his staying in the earthly body more necessary and more beneficial for other Christians?
Although he is in prison, he can comfort and encourage other Christians by sending letters.
               
Furthermore, Paul has confidence that his time of death is not yet arrived and that he will remain and continue with all of the Philippians for their progress and joy in the faith.
He knows that the joy of the Philippians will overflow on account of him when he returns to them from the prison in Rome.

Our Christian life is meaningful when it is connected with Christ.
In the same manner our death is also meaningful when it is connected with Christ.
Paul in Romans 14:7-9 tells us: "None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be the Lord both of the dead and of the living."
Paul did not live to himself but to Christ who lived in him.
Paul did not die to himself but to Christ who died for him on the cross and was risen for him to give him eternal life.
Paul witnessed Jesus Christ to the end of the earth and never denied Christ.
He wad beheaded not because of his own crimes but because of his testimonies of Jesus Christ.
Paul was not afraid of death at all as he knew that he would be with Christ forever when his soul departed his body.
So to Paul, to live was Christ and to die was gain.
Do you live not to yourself but to Christ who lives in you?
Are you willing to die not to yourself but to Christ who died for you on the cross and was risen for you to give you eternal life?
Do you believe that you will be with Christ forever when your soul departs your earthly body?
Then, to you and to me also, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

While We Were Still Weak (Romans 5:6-11)

While We Were Still Weak (Romans 5:6-11)

“While we were still weak (or powerless)," at the right time Christ died for us, the ungodly; God shows his love for us in that "while we were yet sinners" Christ died for us; "while we were enemies of God," we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
God let his Son Jesus Christ die on the cross to show his love for us, the ungodly, the sinners, and his enemies.

More than 2,000 years ago, before Christ, God told Abraham to offer his only son Isaac as a burnt offering on one of the mountains at Moriah.
Abraham was willing to offer his only son Isaac whom he loved more than his own life for God because he loved God more than anything else in the world.
God was well pleased with Abraham's heart of loving God and stopped him killing his only son Isaac.
However, God the Father let his only son Jesus killed on the cross in Jerusalem which is the same location with Moriah to show his love for us.
               
Were we worthy to be loved by God?Paul says "No.!"
We were weak, we were ungodly, we were sinners, and we were enemies of God.
Yet God loved us.
Why?
It is because God created us according to his own image, according to his own likeness.
And God is the God of love.
Parents love their children.
Their children fight each other and do not listen to their parents.
The parents still love them very much.
Why?
It is because they are their children.
Yet, the parents wish that their children could listen to them and live happy life.

Did God love us because we believe in him through Jesus Christ?
Paul says, "No!"
God knew and loved us even when we were enemies of Him, even before we knew Him, and even much before we were born.
God told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

How much did God love us?
He shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, God's most beloved only begotten Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for us.
God's love for us is everlasting.
Isn't it amazing??
Paul in verse 7 says, "Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die."
Are you willing to die for your righteous or good friend, brother or sister?
It is not easy to die for any good or righteous person although you owe him or her very much.

How much then do you love your God?
Do you love your God more than anything else in the world?
Are you willing to follow Jesus God the Son leaving all things behind?
Are you willing to sacrifice those things that you regard most important in your life -- your money, your family members, your business, your position, your fame, or your study?
Are you willing to be a witness of Jesus?
The word "witness" in Greek is "μάρτυρος (marturos)" meaning a martyr.
Are you willing to die for Jesus for his name's sake and for his Gospel's sake?

What are the results of God's love for us?
We earned justification through our faith, peace with God, the promise of salvation and eternal life.

So, what shall we do?We rejoice in God through Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
And we will be witnesses of Jesus and his everlasting love for us to those who do not know his love yet.

Christian World View

                                             Christian Worldview

Although Apostle John says in 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (KJV),” he states in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  The world and the things in it have been corrupted since the first Adam’s fall, yet God still loves the people who were created according to His image and likeness. As Christians we should not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2) but try to transform this society and this world according to the will of God and His instructions.

Jesus Christ commanded his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” I believe that teaching students in this world is one of the very important Christian ministries than can transform this society and this world according to God’s instructions.

God wants to save this world spiritually and materially. The Greek word, “oikonomia,” corresponds to the English word, “economy.” Its meanings in the Bible include “stewardship or the management of the household” (Luke 16:2-4), “mission or dispensation of (spreading) the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:17), and God’s plan or dispensation of human salvation” (Eph. 1:10). I believe that God wants His people to be saved not only spiritually but also materially. By “material salvation,” I mean that God’s people can also be saved materially in this world by learning economics of God – learning how to manage their time, money, and life according to the will of God and His instructions.

I want to teach students economics of sharing, which Jesus once taught his disciples. When a great multitude of people were around him in a desert place, Jesus told his disciples, “They need not depart, give ye them eat” (Matt. 14:16). And he gave the loaves to his disciples to let them distribute them to the multitude (Matt. 14:19). Apostle Paul also mentioned this economics of sharing in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, ‘He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack’ (cf. Exodus 16:18).”

As a person who teaches economics, I want to connect my knowledge in economics with my faith in God and His instructions. So, I will keep trying to find a way to let people know the sound economics of God that they can learn from the Bible and apply its principles to their daily living accordingly.

The Story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

The Story of the Tower of Babel" (Genesis 11:1-9)

Some church leaders make use of people's mind of competition by publishing all donators' names and offering amounts densely on the bulletin. When people see all the donators' names and offering amounts, they may be forced to offer more money out of their wrong mind of competition or of pride. However, this is not what God wants to see from us.
From Adam's time till the affair of the tower of Babel, all the people in the world spoke the same language.
We still have some existing evidences for this fact. The most ancient words that people have been using are such as mother, father, fire, and the numbers one, two, and three.
If you compare some different languages for the word 'mother' for example, you may find that every language for the word mother contains 'm' sound.
In the case of the word 'father,' every language contains one of the labial consonants ‘b,' 'p' or 'f.'
               
'아버지’ in Korean contains the 'b' sound, 'father' in English contains the 'f' sound, and 'Pater' in Greek contains the 'p' sound. But, 'b' 'f' and 'p' are all the same labial consonants.
'불‘ in Korean, '火’ in Chinese, 'fire' in English, 'feuer' in German, and 'pur' in Greek contain the 'b,' 'p' or 'f' which are also all the same labial consonants.
'Prometheus' in the Greek myth was a god who stole 'fire' from the god's palace and brought it down to the human world.
Ancient people could count or had the expression of only one, two, and three in number. Beyond the number three, they could not count or they didn't have an expression.
'하나‘ in Korean, '一’ in Chinese, 'one' in English, 'ein' in German, 'hen'(ἕν) in Greek are also from the same origin. Only difference is whether you pronounce it with smooth breathing or with rough breathing. You may say either 'Allelujah' or 'Hallelujah.'
'둘‘ in Korean, ’two' in English, 'duo'(δύο) in Greek contain the same dental consonants.
A hieroglyphic or a pictograph, the Chinese characters were made about 4,500 years ago, that is, 2,500 years BC.
They suggest that the Chinese ancestors obviously knew the events of creation, Noah's ark, and the affair of the Tower of Babel, etc.
For instance, '복(福)‘ in Chinese points to the event that God placed a person in the garden of Eden.
'주(舟)‘ in Chinese means 'a small ship', but '선(船)’ means 'a big ship.'
How many people can board on a big ship?
At least eight people according to them!!
Who were those eight people?
Noah and his wife, Ham, Shem, Japheth and their wives on Noah's ark. Noah's ark was the first big ship that had eight people on it excluding all sorts of animals.
'홍(洪)‘ in Chinese means a great flood.
When there was a great flood on the earth, eight people cooperated to survive.
The Chinese ancestors worshipped a god in heaven. They called him shandai(上帝). The Hebrew God Almighty was called 'Shaddai' or 'El-Shaddai in Genesis 17:1 and Psalm 91:1. Shandai and Shaddai point to the same god, the Almighty Jehovah God.
               
There was a man called Nimrod among the descendants of Ham, one of Noah's sons.
Nimord was a mighty hunter (Gen. 10:9). As he was very brave and strong, many people thought that it would be good if he could be their king and rule over them.
So, they decided to work together and build a big city, and they wanted to build a great and tall tower in this city Shinar. They wanted the tower to be very strong.
They said to each other: "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly."
They used baked brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.
I constructed a retaining wall using the natural stones instead of bricks for my garden, but I found that the stone retaining wall is easily fallen down.
They used bricks with tar to make their high tower strong and not to be easily collapsed.
Why did they want to build a high tower?
The answer is in verse 4: "Then they said (to each other): 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.'"
Firstly, they wanted not only their tower but also themselves to reach heavens.
What's wrong with this?
They wanted to be like God.
How was Eve tempted by the serpent?
When the serpent told the woman, "When you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God" (Gen. 3:5), she took some and ate it, and she also gave some to her husband, Adam.
Human beings were created by God the Creator.
We must know who we are.
We should not go beyond our boundary into God's domain.
Secondly, they wanted to make a name for themselves.
People want to donate more if their names are published in a newspaper or are told on a TV. Being famous is what most people want.
If you become famous, many people may show their respects to you.
But, if you become famous, you may be too much proud of yourself.
So, instead of glorifying God's name, you may want to glorify your own name.
               
Some biblical scholars claim that the purpose of their building a high strong tower was to worship God more seriously getting closer to Him, as the high towers or altars are now being used for that purpose for their god in that region.
But even if this were true, God was not pleased with them very much because this was not what God instructed them to do.
Thirdly, they wanted not to be scattered over the face of the whole earth.
What was wrong with this?
This was the result of their unbelief.
They did not believe God's promise to Noah and his sons in Genesis 9:11,
"I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood, never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."
So, they wanted to build a high tower to survive from a future potential great flood.
God did not like their intention and plan and said in verses 6-7:
"If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."
God scattered them from there over all the earth.
Then, they stopped building the city and the tower.
The tower was called "Babel."
The original meaning of "Babel" is "a gate of God" or "a gate to God."
But when God confused the people's language and scattered them, the meaning of the word was also changed to "confusion."
What shall we do to be better Christians?
We have to search ourselves whether we have something wrong in our conducts and speeches by the Word of God.
We try to show our whole trust upon God and lean on Him in our everyday lives.
We try not to be arrogant or proud of ourselves too much but to be humble before God.

Renewal of Worship (Romans 12:1-2)

Renewal of Worship (Romans 12:1-2)

Polycarp, bishop of the church in Smyrna in the second century was caught and brought to the proconsul to be martyred. But, seeing Polycarp's old age, the proconsul told him: "Respect your age. Swear by the genius of Caesar, repent, say: 'Away with the Atheists.'" Polycarp was silent for a while. The proconsul pressed him, saying: "Take the oath and I will let you go. Revile Christ!" Then, Polycarp answered: "For eighty-six years have I been his servant, and he has done me nothing wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King who saved me."
The proconsul persisted again, saying: "Swear by the genius of Caesar!" Polycarp answered: "If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the genius of Caesar, as you say, and pretend that you are ignorant who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the doctrine of Christianity, fix a day and listen."
The proconsul said: "I have wild beasts, I will deliver you to them, unless you repent." Polycarp answered: "Call for them, for repentance from better to worse is not allowed to us; but it is good to change from evil to righteousness."
The proconsul said: "I will cause you to be consumed by fire, if you despise the beasts, unless you repent." Polycarp responded: "You threaten with fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment.
             
But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will." Polycarp was so brave before death, as he was so sure about what would wait for him.
However, we, Christians, are not all so brave and peaceful in mind in all circumstances. Sometimes, whether we are rich or poor, whether we are young or old, we are naturally afraid of what will happen in the future, after retirement, and after death. Sometimes we feel that we are abandoned by our family members, or church members, or other friends. Or, we find ourselves who are complaining to God about his ill-treatment or unfairness (or partiality).
In the early church period, those Christians who were in Rome lived together in a catacomb, which was a underground public cemetery. They lived a communal life there escaping from the lookout of the Roman government. The Christians in Rome praised God and worshipped Him there. Although there were neither gracious hymns nor the holy Bible yet, they praised the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the salvation of human beings. They enjoyed those hours of singing and praying. Some of them were from rich families, but they gave up all things and joined other Christians in the communal life in a catacomb as they regarded the life of following and witnessing Jesus as the most valuable matter.
Some wall paintings were found in the catacombs. The paintings were about Jesus' last supper with his disciples and the resurrected Jesus. They longed to see Jesus very much. As Christians who attend church, what are you longing for?
A church should not be a members-only-club like Costco or Price Club where its members are privileged to enjoy their rights. It should be a place for Christian disciples who decided to follow Jesus and serve others as Jesus served us by sacrificing ourselves. A "Christian" may be different from a "church member."
Even though you are a church member, you may not be a Christian in the true sense, as Paul claims in Romans 8:9, "Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him."

In Romans 12:1-2 Paul urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
What is a living sacrifice?
The word soma(σώμα), body in Greek, means not only our physical bodies but also our whole beings, ourselves--personality or the whole person.
             
Thus, our bodies as a living sacrifice are our God-loving and God-pleasing life.
A Christian's worship is not limited within a sanctuary but is extended through his or her life in a Christian community and in a society to which he or she belongs. Our worship with our bodies, that is, with our lives, is our spiritual worship.
When you visit Israel, particularly the Old City of Jerusalem, you may feel that this is a compact area of three different religions-Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Inside the wall that surrounds the Old City, there are the Wailing Wall, the remnant of Herod's Temple, the two beautiful Islamic mosques -- El Axa Mosque and Omar Mosque, and the Holy Sepulchre.
Among the two Islamic mosques, Omar Mosque is also called the Dome of Rock as it has a huge rock inside. This rock is claimed to be the rock on which Abraham laid his son as a burnt offering. The Muslims claim that the son whom Abraham laid on it was not Isaac but Ishmael.
In Genesis 22:1 God calls Abraham to test him: "Abraham! Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."
Abraham may be confused: "What kind of God is He who is commanding me to offer my son Isaac as a burnt offering whom He gave me at my age of 100?"
Abraham cannot understand or fathom God. But the Scripture describes that 'Abraham obeys God in silence without any complaints.'
This is not because Abraham does not love his son Isaac, the son of promise. It is much easier for him to give his own life to God. It is very painful for Abraham to see his son Isaac dying as a burnt offering. But he does not complain to God, because he loves God more than anything else in the world, and he has absolute trust in Him.
Early in the next morning, Abraham rises and saddles his donkey, and takes Isaac and two of his young men. He cuts the wood for the burnt offering, and sets out to go to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day, they arrive at the bottom of the mountain where Abraham should offer Isaac.
Abraham tells his two young men in verse 5: "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
Abraham considers offering his beloved son Isaac to God as an act of worship.
             
Arriving at the place where God has shown him, Abraham builds an altar there and lays the wood in order. He ties his son Isaac and lays him on the altar, on the top of the wood. God is still silent.
'Ah, I should kill Isaac as a burnt offering!' He reaches out his hand and takes the knife to kill his son.
But at this very moment, the angel of the LORD calls him urgently from heaven and says: "Abraham, Abraham!" "Here I am."
"Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, for me."
The tension like an eve of a stormy day has passed away. Abraham passed the final test by God by offering his son Isaac to Him without killing him.
Although God commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering, He did not take Isaac's life. Instead He provided a ram for Abraham.
However, 2,000 years later God Himself offered His beloved son Jesus as a burnt offering on the cross of Calvary to prove His love toward us once and for all.
This morning, I want to meditate on Moriah.
Where is Moriah?
What is the significance of Moriah?
Moriah is the place where Abraham, according to God's instruction, would give his only son Isaac as a burnt offering, that is, would give his only son's life.
Moriah is the place where Solomon's Temple was built according to 2 Chronicle 3:1, "Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah."
Moriah is the place where God wanted the Israelites his people to worship him in his temple with their whole strengths, with their whole hearts, with their whole minds, and with their whole lives.
Furthermore, Moriah is the place where God showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Jesus Christ his son died for us.
God proved his love by giving his only beloved son Jesus as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah, that is, Mount Calvary.
             
Where is your Moriah?
Moriah is your church, the sanctuary, where every Sunday you decide to give your mind, your life to God.
Moriah is your living place where you decide to present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, the place of your spiritual worship.
As a pastor or as an elder or as a Christian, what do you want to sacrifice in your life for God who gave you His only Son Jesus Christ for your salvation?
Let us give our hands, feet, and whole selves to worship Him with our bodies and to please Him with our lives.

My Cup Overflows (Psalm 23:1-6)

My Cup Overflows (Psalm 23:1-6)

 

A Hindu proverb says, "If you cry because the sun has set, your tears will not let you see the stars (at night)."
As a Christian we may live sometimes in a painful situation, some other times in a sorrowful situation, but we should not be too much painful nor too much sorrowful, because we will never lose our Lord who is our good Shepherd.
Our Lord, as the God of grace and mercy, bestows His grace abundantly upon us.

David was one of the most beloved men by God in the Bible.
Although he was the last one among Jesse's eight sons and a shepherd, God let him become a king of Israel succeeding King Saul.
He was a man of prayer.
But his life was not so easy and peaceful.
During his lifetime, David was frequently chased by his beloved ones--by his father-in-law, Saul, and by his beloved son, Absalom, and by his men.
Thus, sometimes, his heart was broken very much, and he did not know where to go to hide himself from them.
Yet, David confesses: "I shall not want."
As the LORD is the good Shepherd, Jehovah-Roi and the Provider, Jehovah-Jireh, he believes that his shortage may be overcome sooner or later. Thus, he confesses that "I shall not want" in advance.
David prays for the guidance of God as He did in the past for him as the good Shepherd who made him lie down in green pastures and lead him beside still waters. As the good Shepherd, the Lord never forsook him nor betrayed him even when his beloved son and his closest friend forsook him and betrayed him.
               

Jesus tells us in John 10:14-15, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep."
Our good shepherd Jesus Christ never forsakes us nor betrays us even when our close friends leave us or betray us.
He laid down his life for us on the cross.
Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever was with us, is with us, and will be with us forever.

As David is chased by his beloved ones, his soul is troubled and he does not know where to go.
But, he believes that God, the good Shepherd, will restore or refresh his soul and will lead him in his right paths for his name's sake.
Jesus Christ came down to us to restore our souls and lead us in his right paths for his name's sake.
Have you ever walked through the valley of death--the most lonesome or disappointed path?
You feel that there is nobody who can get you out of there.
But, you need to know that there is God, Jehovah-Shammah who is there to rescue you from the deepest swamp in your life.
So David confesses: "I fear no evil, for you, my LORD, are with me."
A shepherd carries a rod and a staff. A rod is used to make a path throughout the bush or to take a sheep out of the bush or out of the thicket. And a staff is used to protect the flock from the attack of wild animals.
Thus, the sheep will not fear anything including wild animals when they are with their shepherd. Their shepherd comfort them.
               
According to the Israelite custom, a host of a house anoints his guest's head with expensive oil when his guest is a special person.
The LORD treats each one of us as a special guest in His house.
So, He anoints each one of us with most precious oil in His house.
This oil may mean God's blessings and grace upon us.
As the host of the universe, God blesses us who lean on Him and trust Him most with His abundant blessings.
What are the most blessings that God bestowed upon us?
He gave us his beloved Son Jesus Christ, and because of Him we are given salvation and eternal life.
So each one of us will confess in our every day life although sometimes it is a painful one,
"My cup, my life overflows with the blessings and grace of my Lord."

Our LORD is the God of goodness and mercy.
He shows his goodness and mercy when we seek Him in our despair or in sorrow.
As the good Shepherd as well as the Host of the heavenly house, He will always be with us throughout our entire lives.
So, what will you say about your LORD?
We will say: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (=I have everything I need). As He is my heavenly host, my cup overflows. As His mercy and His goodness shall follow me all the days of my life, I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."