Rejoice in Him
주 안에서 즐거워하라
신명기(Deu) 16장
15. 네 하나님 여호와께서 택하신 곳에서 너는 이레 동안 네 하나님 여호와 앞에서 절기를 지키고 네 하나님 여호와께서 네 모든 소출과 네 손으로 행한 모든 일에 복 주실 것이니 너는 온전히 즐거워할지니라
15. For seven days celebrate the festival to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
16. 너의 가운데 모든 남자는 일 년에 세 번 곧 무교절과 칠칠절과 초막절에 네 하나님 여호와께서 택하신 곳에서 여호와를 뵈옵되 빈손으로 여호와를 뵈옵지 말고
16. Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed:
17. 각 사람이 네 하나님 여호와께서 주신 복을 따라 그 힘대로 드릴지니라
17. Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.
These 3 festivals called Passover, feast of weeks and Tabernacles, are designated for the Israelites to remember the time of leaving Egypt, eating the unleavened(누룩없는) bread, which was a time of affliction, and to celebrate the harvest, being joyful with all of them, including servants, aliens, fatherless, and the widows who live in the town. 3 times a year all the men are asked to appear and they should not come before God empty-handed. Each of them should bring any freewill offerings (a gift) in proportion to the blessings they have got from God.
This chapter helps me think of His intentions of making these festivals and I think that these are also for me to do, although the ceremonies are totally different from what I do in this modern period. And it is not the same as some heretic people serve each ones as a certain way of salvation or ways to go to Heaven.
First, I should remember the time when I was a slave in the spiritual blindness and darkness and the grace of God who has led me to get out of it. Secondly, I should remember and celebrate the dwellings of Him in the Holy Spirit within my heart. Thirdly, I should rejoice in His blessings that I have been given and share the joy with others, not only in the harvest seasons but also in the period of famine.
As the result, I could live a blissful life with joy before Him, remembering the history of His presence throughout my life and their lives as well.
Father, the world seems to get more chaotic and become darker and darker, so spiritual and political wars are no stopping and they look like getting worse. Help us see Your glory now and here, having feasts and rejoice in You: the Creator and redeemer and counselor in trinity. I only rely on Your hands and i trust in Your power.
