인생의 과정(THE COURSE OF A LIFETIME)

 💙 인생의 과정

 ✝  역대하 24:2 - 24:16 

“제사장 여호야다가 세상에 사는 모든 날에 요아스가 여호와 보시기에 정직하게 행하였으며”[역대하 24:2]

다양한 곡을 부르는 2인조 포크송 그룹 ‘오버 더 라인’의 가수 겸 작곡가 린포드 데트와일러는 이렇게 말합니다. “젊은 예능인이 물을 수 있는 질문은 다양한데, 그중 하나가 ‘내가 유명해지려면 어떻게 해야 하나요?’라는 것입니다.” 데트와일러는 그 같은 목표는 “자신의 안팎으로 온갖 파괴적인 것들이 드나들게 문을 활짝 여는 것”이라고 경고합니다. 그 대신 그와 그의 아내는 “평생에 걸쳐 계속 성장하는” 화려하지 않은 음악의 길을 선택했습니다.

여호야다라는 이름은 우리에게 익숙하지는 않지만 평생 하나님께 헌신한 사람을 상징하는 이름입니다. 요아스 왕의 통치 기간 동안 여호야다는 제사장으로 섬겼는데 그 덕분에 왕은 재임 중 대부분을 잘 다스릴 수 있었습니다. 요아스가 겨우 일곱 살 때에 여호야다는 그를 적법한 왕으로 세우는 중간 역할을 잘 했습니다(열왕기하 11:1-16). 그러나 이것은 어떤 권력 장악도 아니었으며, 요아스의 대관식에서도 여호야다는 “왕과 백성에게 여호와와 언약을 맺어 여호와의 백성이 되게 했습니다”(17절). 그는 절실히 필요했던 개혁들을 단행하여 그의 약속을 지켰습니다. “여호야다가 사는 동안에는 번제를 여호와의 전에 항상 드렸더라”(역대하 24:14). 여호야다는 그의 헌신으로 말미암아 “다윗 성에 왕들과 함께 장사되었습니다”(16절).

유진 피터슨 목사는 그 같은 하나님 중심의 삶을 “같은 방향으로의 오랜 순종”이라고 부릅니다. 명성이나 권력, 자아실현에 몰두하는 이 세상에서 오히려 그 같은 순종이 더 두드러지는 것은 그야말로 역설적인 사실입니다

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지금까지의 당신의 삶의 방향을 어떻게 설명할 수 있겠습니까? 어떻게 달라지게 해달라고 하나님께 기도하시겠습니까?

<사랑하는 하나님, 이제는 덧없는 것을 찾지 말고 제 삶을 위해 주님과 주님의 지혜를 찾게 도와주소서.>

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[역대하 24:2 - 24:16]
2. 제사장 여호야다가 세상에 사는 모든 날에 요아스가 여호와 보시기에 정직하게 행하였으며
13. 기술자들이 맡아서 수리하는 공사가 점점 진척되므로 하나님의 전을 이전 모양대로 견고하게 하니라
14. 공사를 마친 후에 그 남은 돈을 왕과 여호야다 앞으로 가져왔으므로 그것으로 여호와의 전에 쓸 그릇을 만들었으니 곧 섬겨 제사 드리는 그릇이며 또 숟가락과 금은 그릇들이라 여호야다가 세상에 사는 모든 날에 여호와의 전에 항상 번제를 드렸더라
15. ○여호야다가 나이가 많고 늙어서 죽으니 죽을 때에 백삼십 세라
16. 무리가 다윗 성 여러 왕의 묘실 중에 장사하였으니 이는 그가 이스라엘과 하나님과 그의 성전에 대하여 선을 행하였음이더라

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💙 THE COURSE OF A LIFETIME

 ✝  Chronicles 24:2 - 24:16 

“ Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest. “
[ 2 CHRONICLES 24:2 ]

“ There are different questions a young artist can ask,” says singer-songwriter Linford Detweiler of eclectic folk duo Over the Rhine. “One is, ‘What must I do to be famous?’ ”
Detweiler warns that such a goal “swings the door open to all manner of destructive forces from both within and without.” He and his wife have instead chosen a less flashy musical road in which they “continue to grow over the course of an entire lifetime.” 

The name Jehoiada isn’t readily recognized, yet it’s synonymous with a lifetime of dedication to God. He served as priest during the reign of King Joash, who for the most part ruled well—thanks to Jehoiada.
When Joash was just seven years old, Jehoiada had been the catalyst in installing him as rightful king (2 KINGS 11:1–16). 
But this was no power grab. At Joash’s coronation, Jehoiada “made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people” (V. 17). He kept his word, implement- ing badly needed reforms. “As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord” (2 CHRONICLES 24:14). For his dedication, Jehoiada “was buried with the kings in the City of David” (V. 16).

Eugene Peterson calls such a God-focused life “a long obedience in the same direction.” Ironically, it’s such obedience that stands out in a world bent on fame, power, and self-fulfillment.
-TIM GUSTAFSON

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How would you describe the direction of your life to this point? 
What changes might you want to ask God to help you make?

<Dear God, help me pursue You and Your wisdom for my life instead of the fleeting things I’ve been seeking.>

[Chronicles 24:2 - 24:16]
2. And Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
13. So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored the house of God according to its specifications, and strengthened it.
14. And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for the service and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
15. Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death.
16. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and to God and His house.