평강의 왕(THE PRINCE OF PEACE)

💙 평강의 왕

 ✝  이사야 9:1 - 9:7 

“그의 이름은 기묘자라, 모사라, 전능하신 하나님이라, 영존하시는 아버지라, 평강의 왕이라 할 것임이라”
[이사야 9:6]

존은 감기가 폐렴으로 진행되어 입원하게 되었습니다. 같은 시기에 그의 어머니도 암 진단을 받고 같은 병원의 위층에 입원하게 되자 존은 어머니와 자신의 건강을 걱정하며 너무 힘들어 했습니다. 
그러던 중 성탄 전야에 라디오에서 흘러나오는 캐럴 “거룩한 밤”을 들으면서 하나님의 평강이 그의 가슴 깊이 흘러 넘쳤습니다. 그는 사랑의 구주께서 태어나신 밤을 노래하는 가사를 귀기울여 들었습니다. 
“온 땅이 주의 나심 기뻐하며 희망의 아침 밝아오도다.” 그 순간, 자신과 어머니에 대한 걱정이 사라졌습니다. 

우리에게 나신 “사랑의 구주” 예수님은 이사야가 예언했듯이 “평강의 왕”이십니다(이사야 9:6). 예수님은 아기로 이 세상에 오셔서 “죽음의 그림자가 둘린 땅에 사는 자들”에게 빛과 구원을 주시면서 이 예언을 성취하셨습니다 (마태복음 4:16; 이사야 9:2 참조). 
예수님은 그분이 사랑하는 사람들이 환난과 죽음을 맞이할 때조차도 평강을 보여주시고 평강으로 인도해 주십니다.

그 병원에서 존은 예수님의 탄생을 묵상하면서 모든 지각에 뛰어난 평강을 경험했습니다(빌립보서 4:7). 이렇게 하나님을 만난 경험은 그가 성탄절에 가족과 떨어져 무균실에 누워있을 때에도 그의 믿음과 감사의 마음을 굳건히 해주었습니다. 
우리도 모두 하나님으로부터 평강과 소망의 선물을 받기를 기원합니다

어려운 상황에서 어떻게 하나님의 평강을 경험해 보셨습니까? 이사야 9장 6절에 나오는 하나님의 이름 중 어느 이름이 당신에게 지금 가장 절실히 필요합니까? 왜 그렇습니까?

<평강의 하나님, 제가 많은 일로 고민되고 방황할 때 하나님께로 돌이켜 평강의 선물을 받을 수 있도록 도와주소서.>

1. 전에 고통 받던 자들에게는 흑암이 없으리로다 옛적에는 여호와께서 스불론 땅과 납달리 땅이 멸시를 당하게 하셨더니 후에는 해변 길과 요단 저쪽 이방의 갈릴리를 영화롭게 하셨느니라 2. 흑암에 행하던 백성이 큰 빛을 보고 사망의 그늘진 땅에 거주하던 자에게 빛이 비치도다 3. 주께서 이 나라를 창성하게 하시며 그 즐거움을 더하게 하셨으므로 추수하는 즐거움과 탈취물을 나눌 때의 즐거움 같이 그들이 주 앞에서 즐거워하오니 4. 이는 그들이 무겁게 멘 멍에와 그들의 어깨의 채찍과 그 압제자의 막대기를 주께서 꺾으시되 미디안의 날과 같이 하셨음이니이다 5. 어지러이 싸우는 군인들의 신과 피 묻은 겉옷이 불에 섶 같이 살라지리니 6. 이는 한 아기가 우리에게 났고 한 아들을 우리에게 주신 바 되었는데 그의 어깨에는 정사를 메었고 그의 이름은 기묘자라, 모사라, 전능하신 하나님이라, 영존하시는 아버지라, 평강의 왕이라 할 것임이라 7. 그 정사와 평강의 더함이 무궁하며 또 다윗의 왕좌와 그의 나라에 군림하여 그 나라를 굳게 세우고 지금 이후로 영원히 정의와 공의로 그것을 보존하실 것이라 만군의 여호와의 열심이 이를 이루시리하

💙 THE PRINCE OF PEACE

 ✝  Isaiah 9:1 - 9:7 

“And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
[ ISAIAH 9:6 ]

When John’s cold turned into pneumonia, he ended up in the hospital. At the same time, his mother  was being treated for cancer a few floors above him, and he felt overwhelmed with worries about her and about his own health. 
Then on Christmas Eve, when the radio played the carol “O Holy Night,” John was flooded with a deep  sense of God’s peace. 
He listened to the words about it being the night of the dear Savior’s birth: “A thrill of hope the weary  soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” In that moment, his worries about himself and his mother vanished.
This “dear Savior” born to us, Jesus, is the “Prince of Peace,” as Isaiah prophesied (ISAIAH 9:6). 

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He came to earth as a baby, bringing light and salvation to “those  living in the land of the shadow of death” (MATTHEW 4:16; SEE ISAIAH 9:2). 
He embodies and gives peace to those He loves, even when they face hardship and death.

There in the hospital, John experienced the peace that passes all understanding (PHILIPPIANS 4:7) as he pondered the birth of Jesus. This encounter with God strengthened his faith and sense of gratitude as  he lay in that sterile room away from his family at Christmas. 
May we too receive God’s gift of peace and hope.  AMY BOUCHER PY

How have you experienced God’s peace in the midst of a difficult situation? 
Which aspect of God in Isaiah 9:6 do you most need today? Why?

<God of peace, when I’m anxious and fretting about many things, help me to turn to You and receive Your gift of peace.>

1. Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan -- 2. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.