삶으로 드리는 찬양 (252) - 선하신 목자

1. 가사 살펴보기

선하신 목자 날 사랑하는 분

주 인도하는 곳 따라 가리 

주의 말씀을 나 듣기 위하여

주 인도하는 곳 가려네 

나를 푸른 초장과 쉴만한 물가로

내 선하신 목자 날 인도해

험한 산과 골짜기로 내가 다닐찌 라도 

내 선하신 목자 날 인도해 

2. 곡 소개

이 찬양은 ‘Shepherd of My Soul“이라는 찬양의 한국어 번안 곡이다. 이 찬양은 시편 23편으로부터 영감을 받은 곡으로, 오직 하나님께서 나의 선한 목자가 되시며 그분은 자신의 말씀으로 나를 가장 좋은 곳으로 이끄시며, 삶의 어려운 순간에도 하나님께서 친히 인도하신다라는 성경적인 믿음의 고백을 담은 아름다운 찬양이다. 

 

3. 말씀으로 바라보기

시편 23:1 여호와는 나의 목자시니 내게 부족함이 없으리로다 2 그가 나를 푸른 풀밭에 누이시며 쉴 만한 물 가로 인도하시는도다 3 내 영혼을 소생시키시고 자기 이름을 위하여 의의 길로 인도하시는도다 4 내가 사망의 음침한 골짜기로 다닐지라도 해를 두려워하지 않을 것은 주께서 나와 함께 하심이라 주의 지팡이와 막대기가 나를 안위하시나이다 5 주께서 내 원수의 목전에서 내게 상을 차려 주시고 기름을 내 머리에 부으셨으니 내 잔이 넘치나이다 6 내 평생에 선하심과 인자하심이 반드시 나를 따르리니 내가 여호와의 집에 영원히 살리로다

다윗의 하나님은 그를 목자처럼 인도하십니다. 하나님께서 우리에게 주신 모든 것을 소유할 때, 우리는 필요한 모든 것을 가진 셈입니다. '푸른 초장'과 '쉴 만한 물가*는 영양 공급과 안식, 그리고 평화를 상징합니다. 또한 하나님은 다윗에게 당신의 법을 가르치셔서 그가 의롭게 살게 하십니다. 다윗이 순종하며 하나님의 법에 따라 백성을 다스릴 때, 하나님의 이름이 영광을 받으십니다. 풀밭과 시냇물이 사라지고 위험한 골짜기가 나타날 때라도, 하나님의 훈육이라는 '지팡이'와 보호라는 '막대기'가 다윗의 두려움을 이기게 합니다. 그의 목자는 그가 길을 잃도록 내버려 두지 않으실 것입니다. 

성경 전체를 통틀어 하나님께서는 자기 백성의 목자로 불리십니다. 하나님께서는 이스라엘을 인도하도록 인간 목자들을 세우셨으나, 그들은 탐욕스러웠고 자신의 사명을 방치했습니다. 그래서 하나님께서는 양들을 위해 자기 목숨을 내어놓는 '선한 목자' 예수 그리스도를 보내셨습니다. 그 후 그리스도께서는 당신이 다시 오실 때까지, 피로 사신 하나님의 양 떼를 돌보도록 인간 목자들, 지역 교회의 장로와 목사들을 세우셨습니다

David Gundersen, “Psalms,” in The NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible, ed. R. Albert Mohler Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2021), 712.

4. 찬양에 대한 묵상

이 찬양은, 오직 하나님만이 우리의 목자가 되심을 고백하는 너무나 아름다운 곡이다. 목자는 양들을 사랑하고 보살피며, 동시에 양들이 목자를 따를 때에 그들이 자신의 생명을 지킬 수 있는 것이다. 인간 목자는 양을 버리거나 혹은 돌보는데 실패할 수 있겠지만, 그러나 하나님께서는 그들의 양을 온전히 지키신다. 그리고 실패한 인간 목자들을 대신하여 자신의 아들 예수 그리스도를 보내신 것이다. 

예수님께서는 자신의 양들을 위하여 생명을 버리셨다. 그리하여 그들을 온전히 자신의 것으로 만드신 것이다. 예수 그리스도를 믿고 따르도록 그들의 마음을 바꾸셨고 주님께서 친히 그들을 지키시겠다고 약속하신 것이다. 그러므로 이 찬양은, 우리의 온전한 목자 되시는 예수 그리스도를 바라보게 하며, 우리가 얼마나 큰 사랑 가운데 살아가고 있는지를 다시 한번 깨닫게 한다. 

혼란스러운 시대를 살아가면서, 우리의 목자가 과연 누구이신가를 기억하기를 원한다. 이 찬양을 부를 때에 우리의 마음이 온전히 예수님께 집중하기 원하고, 그분의 말씀에 귀를 기울이기 원하고, 그리하여 주님의 품 안에서 평안과 은혜와 또 영적인 성장을 누리시는 모든 성도님들 되시기를 기대한다. 

* '삶으로 드리는 찬양' 전체 묵상 모음
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2022/06/1_30.html    

삶으로 드리는 찬양 (242) - 믿음과 삶

1. 가사 살펴보기

믿음과 삶을 살아내는 실력이 너무나 다른 내 모습을 볼때에
이 모습도 주가 사랑하실까 자신없는 내 모습 그저 주님 앞에 있네

나 같은 자도 사랑하여 주시고 한 번도 나를 떠나지 않으셨네
아픔 속에 주를 작게 여긴 날 꾸짖지 않으시고 내 손 잡아 주시네

오직 주님 안에 두렴없네 고난을 통해 날 만드심을 믿네
주님만이 내 모든 것 되시네 주의 강한 손 날 붙드시네

오직 주님 안에 소망있네 내 삶을 통해 영광 받으실 주님
주님만이 내 모든 것 되시네 주의 선하심 나 노래하네

 

2. 곡 소개

이 곡은, 마커스워십 2017 앨범에 수록된 곡이다. 이 곡은, 충만한 믿음으로 살아가지 못하며 때론 넘어지는 성도의 연약함에도 불구하고, 여전히 신실하게 인도하시는 하나님께만 소망을 두겠다는 아름다운 고백을 담고 있는 찬양이다.

3. 말씀으로 바라보기

로마서 7:18 내 속 곧 내 육신에 선한 것이 거하지 아니하는 줄을 아노니 원함은 내게 있으나 선을 행하는 것은 없노라 7:19 내가 원하는 바 선은 행하지 아니하고 도리어 원하지 아니하는 바 악을 행하는도다

우리는 항상 이 사실을 인정해야 합니다. 비록 복음이 이미 우리 삶에 그리스도의 선하심을 가져왔지만, 우리는 아직 그분 안에서 완전해지지 않았다는 것입니다. 그리스도를 향한 믿음을 통해 깨끗해진 신분에도 불구하고, 우리 행동에는 여전히 가증스러운 죄의 잔재가 남아 있습니다.

Robert W. Yarbrough, “Romans,” in Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version, ed. Bryan Chapell and Dane Ortlund (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 1511.

시편 103:13 아버지가 자식을 긍휼히 여김 같이 여호와께서는 자기를 경외하는 자를 긍휼히 여기시나니 103:14 이는 그가 우리의 체질을 아시며 우리가 단지 먼지뿐임을 기억하심이로다

주님은 그의 자녀들의 약점에도 불구하고 죄의 용서와 축복을 통해 그들을 향한 자비와 연민을 보여주십니다. 체질로 번역된 히브리어 단어 예체르(yetser, '우리가 만들어진 것', '우리의 형성')는 동사 야차르(yatsar)에서 유래했는데, 이는 장인이 진흙을 빚어 쓸 만한 그릇을 만드는 것을 의미합니다. 하나님께서 자신이 창조하신 존재들을 깊이 아신다는 것은 그들의 근원과 연약함을 확증해 줍니다.

Kevin R. Warstler, “Psalms,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 907.

시편 23:6 내 평생에 선하심과 인자하심이 반드시 나를 따르리니 내가 여호와의 집에 영원히 살리로다

그리스도는 그의 양들의 음성을 알아보시고, 우리의 필요를 충족시키시며, 우리를 길로 인도하시고, 재난으로부터 우리를 보호하십니다). 목자장의 음성에 귀 기울일 때, 신자의 영혼은 소생됩니다. 그리고 우리는 여호와의 집에 영원히 거하게 될 것입니다.

George Robertson and Bruce A. Ware, “Psalms,” in Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version, ed. Bryan Chapell and Dane Ortlund (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 674.

시편 37:23 여호와께서 사람의 걸음을 정하시고 그의 길을 기뻐하시나니 37:24 그는 넘어지나 아주 엎드러지지 아니함은 여호와께서 그의 손으로 붙드심이로다

여기서 진술되는 일반적인 원칙은 의인이 살면서 넘어짐을 경험할 수 있지만, 그럼에도 불구하고 주님께서 그들을 붙드시어 다시 일으키신다는 것입니다. 주님의 기쁨은 의인들이 그분의 길을 걸을 때 나타나며, 주님은 그 길을 확고하게 세우십니다. 의인들은 고난으로부터 완전히 격리되지 않지만, 고난이 닥칠 때 주님은 그들의 손을 강하게 하십니다

Allan Harman, Psalms: A Mentor Commentary, vol. 1–2, Mentor Commentaries (Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2011), 314–315.

 

4. 찬양에 대한 묵상

이 찬양은, 자녀를 인도하시는 아버지 하나님의 신실하심을 탁월하게 고백한 곡이다. 모든 성도들은 바울 사도가 그러했던 것처럼 자신의 연약함을 느낄 수 밖에 없고, 여전히 자신의 영혼 안에 죄로 인한 갈등과 어려움을 겪으며 종종 죄로 인해 넘어지는 것이다. 그러므로, 만약에 우리의 구원이 우리 자신의 손에 달려 있다면 우리는 실패할 수 밖에 없을 것이다.

그러나 성경은 신실하신 하나님에 대하여 끊임없이 말씀하신다. 그분은 창조주이시기에 우리의 연약함을 이미 충분히 알고 계신다는 것이다. 그러므로 하나님께서는, 예수 그리스도의 완전한 보혈의 능력을 우리가 힘입게 하시고, 그리스도 안에서 구원을 약속하신 아버지 하나님을 의지하게 하시는 것이다.

그러므로 성도의 인생에서 가장 중요한 것은, 다시 일어서는 것이다. 나 자신의 의로움이 아니라 예수 그리스도의 의로움을 의지하여 일어서야 한다. 낙심하지 않고 하나님의 신실하심 안에서 다시 일어섬으로 주님의 자녀의 길을 믿음으로 걸어가야 하는 것이다. 그러므로 이 찬양을 통해서 주님의 은혜와 그분의 신실하심을 다시 한번 기억하며, 믿음의 길을 용기와 확신 가운데 걸어가시는 모든 성도님들 되시기를 기대한다. 

* '삶으로 드리는 찬양' 전체 묵상 모음
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2022/06/1_30.html  

신앙의 본질로 돌아가자 부흥회 설교 (2) / 오직 은혜 (Sola Gratia) / 엡 2장 1-5절

 

* Ephesians 2:1-5 - By Grace Alone

* Introduction

Today, under the title “By Grace Alone,” I will deliver the second message of our Fall Revival Series. Through this revival, we are learning about the essence of faith under the theme “Return to the Essence of Faith.” Learning the spirit of the Reformation is a deeply meaningful process because it reminds us where our roots lie. Moreover, it helps us rediscover what true biblical faith is.

Last night, we looked together at Sola Scriptura — By Scripture Alone. At a glance, the medieval era seemed to be the golden age of the church. However, behind its appearance of glory were many unbiblical practices — the papal system, indulgences, and various distortions of truth. Yet even during that dark time, God was at work. Through His Word, He raised up reformers, and through the power of that Word, the church was reformed. That is the true meaning of the Reformation. Now today, we will take one step further and meditate together on the truth of “By Grace Alone.”

* Who Deserves to Be Celebrated on a Birthday?

Not long ago, it was my second son’s birthday. Of course, he received many congratulations from our family. He also had a joyful time with his friends and received several gifts. As the evening came and the birthday was almost over, while the whole family was gathered together, I asked my son a question: “Jion, who is your mom’s mom?” Since his grandmother is currently living with us, he immediately answered, “Grandma.” Then I asked him again, “Then, Jion, who made your mom be born into this world?” He thought for a moment and replied, “Because of Grandma, Mom was born.”

So I changed the question once more and asked, “Then, Jion, who made you be born into this world?” After thinking a bit longer, he said, “Because of Mom, I was born.” Finally, I asked the most important question: “Then, Jion, on your birthday, who should be celebrated the most, and to whom should you be most thankful?” He paused for a while, thought about it seriously, and then half-reluctantly answered, “I should thank Mom.” At that moment, I looked carefully at his face. The expression that had seemed all day like he was the center of the universe suddenly became more humble, because he realized that he did not come into this world by himself, but through his mother.

* How Did We Come to Be Here?

Now, let us apply this same principle to our spiritual lives. How did you come to believe in Jesus Christ? When I look back on my own life, I can hardly point to the exact moment I began to believe, because faith came to me so naturally. I was born into a Christian family and grew up attending church from childhood.

But when I talk with others, I often find many stories that are quite different from mine. Some say they had never been to church before, or that their parents or grandparents were Buddhists. Yet one day, they decided to go to church—sometimes following a friend, sometimes by their own choice. When I hear such testimonies, I cannot help but think, What a remarkable decision that must have been! Just imagine: going to church for the first time, even without any believer in the family—that is a tremendous step of courage.

However, here lies the most important question: did that person come to church and believe in Jesus simply because of a great personal decision, or was there a deeper spiritual reason behind it? That is what we must examine biblically.

* We Were Dead in Our Trespasses and Sins

In today’s passage, Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” This verse powerfully reveals the true condition of our spiritual beginning. Scripture declares that we were spiritually dead.

This means that although we had physical life and appeared perfectly fine outwardly, our souls were completely disconnected from God, the source of life. To be spiritually dead means that the relationship between God and us—our Creator—was entirely broken. We did not acknowledge Him; instead, we opposed Him, disliked Him, and tried to avoid Him. That was the natural state of our souls.

So here comes the crucial question: How can a dead soul seek God on its own? Death means the absence of life. Of course, we can advise people, “You should live rightly, go to church, and believe in Jesus; otherwise your life will have no hope.” Such advice is sincere and well-intentioned—but the problem is that our words cannot bring life. If the person’s soul is dead, they cannot decide on their own to come to God.

Therefore, for a sinner to return to God, what is absolutely necessary is “total grace” — that is, “grace alone.”

* The Theological Debate on Free Will

In church history, this topic has long been a matter of serious debate. Nearly every question we wrestle with today has already been discussed and argued in depth throughout the history of the church. One of the most famous examples is the debate between Pelagius and Augustine in the fifth century, long before the Reformation. Both were respected theologians of their time, yet they held completely opposite views on salvation.

Pelagius argued that human beings have free will and that even though people are sinners, they still possess the ability to choose what is good. According to him, if a person chooses to seek God, then God adds His grace to assist that decision, and thus salvation is achieved through a combination of human will and divine help.

Augustine, however, firmly rejected that view. He insisted that since humanity is spiritually dead, there is no free will capable of choosing God. Therefore, salvation must begin entirely with God’s grace alone. In other words, God’s grace works first—He comes to us before we could ever come to Him. Only when God initiates His work in us can we be saved.

* By Nature Children of Wrath

In verse 3, Paul continues, “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” As I meditated on this passage, the phrase “carrying out the desires of the body and the mind” struck me deeply.

The great theologians such as Augustine and Luther never meant that humans have no will at all. What they meant is that every human being freely lives according to his or her own desires—but those desires are corrupted. People freely choose evil rather than good. They willingly live against God. In that sense, humans act with freedom, but it is a freedom bound to sin.

Therefore, Paul clearly declares that our natural state was that of “children of wrath.” This was not merely an unfortunate condition but a spiritually tragic one. Augustine described it this way, and Luther also agreed, saying in The Bondage of the Will, “Before God works in us, we can do nothing that profits unto salvation. The sinner does not sin by compulsion but by willing choice; he willingly and gladly does evil.”

* Therefore, God’s Total Grace Is Revealed

With this miserable human condition as the backdrop, verses 4 and 5 of today’s passage declare: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

What part of this verse touches your heart most deeply? For me, it is the word “mercy.” Mercy means compassion — to look upon the helpless with deep pity. Think about it: although humanity lives as it pleases, it still cannot return to God. People are free in one sense, but they are freely running toward destruction. What a sorrowful and hopeless reality that is!

Yet God, seeing such sinners, was moved with compassion. Because He is rich in mercy and abounding in love, He chose to show pure and undeserved grace. He came to us, sought us out, and made us alive with Christ when we were dead in sin. Therefore, Scripture declares clearly and powerfully: “By grace you have been saved.”

* The God Who Predestined Us

Scripture goes even further to explain this mystery. In Ephesians 1:3–5, it says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”

This is indeed a mysterious truth, one that goes far beyond human reason or understanding. Human nature constantly desires to boast: “I did something great; I achieved this result by my own effort.” We tend to interpret the good outcomes in life as the product of our own merit. But the Bible teaches the opposite. It declares that God, out of His mercy, saved us by choosing us in Christ before the foundation of the world.

“Predestination” means that before we ever acted, before we ever existed, God had already determined to save us. Martin Luther understood this truth as the overwhelming victory of God’s sovereignty over human free will. He wrote that through predestination, “God’s will utterly overcomes man’s will.” We cannot fully grasp its depth with human reasoning, yet this very doctrine demonstrates God’s complete and undeserved grace.

Before the world began, God chose us in Christ. Then, at the appointed time, the Holy Spirit caused us to be born again and, ultimately, led us to believe in Jesus Christ. That is why Luther boldly declared in The Bondage of the Will: “The Holy Spirit alone works all these things in us, without us; He creates and preserves us anew.”

* Total Grace vs. Partial Grace

Now let us think about what we truly gain from this biblical truth—“By Grace Alone.” From both the message of Ephesians and Luther’s theological understanding, we arrive at this conclusion: “The salvation of the saints is guaranteed by God alone.”

Even if we talk with other Christians—or even with Catholics—there is hardly anyone who denies grace. Everyone says, “We are saved by grace,” because that phrase is written clearly in the Bible. Yet the crucial difference between the true heirs of the Reformation and others lies in this question: Do we believe in grace alone, or do we merely believe in grace?

If we say “By Grace Alone,” we confess that God chose us, predestined us, and saved us entirely by His grace. But if we say only “by grace,” it implies that I first chose God, and that God simply helped me a little with His grace—that salvation is achieved by cooperation between God and me. That may sound similar, but in truth, it is an enormous difference.

The gospel of grace alone proclaims that salvation depends not on human will or decision but solely on God’s sovereign grace. This is why true believers can find assurance and peace. Salvation that begins with God’s grace will never fail, because it depends entirely on Him, not on us.

* Those Who Feel Anxious About Their Salvation

What happens if we forget or neglect this truth of “By Grace Alone”? The result is that our salvation becomes uncertain and unstable. In other words, if God helps but I fail, then everything is lost.

Let us ask ourselves honestly: how could someone like me—so weak, so imperfect—ever trust in myself? Deep down, we all know that we are not perfect. We know we are sinners full of flaws and failures. Therefore, those who think of grace only as “God helping me when I try” will inevitably live with anxiety about their salvation.

Outwardly, they may seem faithful and diligent in their spiritual life, but deep inside, they constantly worry: “Can someone like me truly be saved?” Such doubt and uneasiness fill their hearts. And when we deny God’s total grace, the opposite problem also arises—spiritual pride.

If we compare ourselves to others and think, “I am more faithful than that person; I made better choices,” then pride creeps in. We begin to think, “My effort, my decision, my faithfulness have brought me here.” Without realizing it, we believe that we play an important part in our own salvation. That pride quietly replaces gratitude, and grace no longer amazes the heart.

* Our Salvation Is Guaranteed

However, the biblical truth of “By Grace Alone” brings both peace and humility to the believer’s heart. In Romans 8:38–39, Paul proclaims: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Here, Paul is not simply speaking of love, but of absolute love—a love that nothing in this world can break. Though there are countless forces that try to shake our faith and pull us down, Paul assures us that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.

When we connect this to Ephesians, we understand something profound: the grace that God granted us before the foundation of the world is far greater than any hardship or sin we may experience in life. Because our salvation rests on God’s eternal grace, it cannot be shaken. That is why believers can live with confidence—not in themselves, but in the unchanging grace of God.

* The Triune God Works in Our Salvation

Finally, let us pay attention to how Ephesians 1 describes the work of the Triune God in our salvation. This chapter beautifully proclaims that our salvation is the perfect work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God the Father chose us before time began. God the Son redeemed us by His blood and forgave our sins. God the Holy Spirit gave us faith and became the seal and guarantee of our salvation. Verse 7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

Then verses 13–14 continue, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Through these verses, we see clearly that salvation does not begin with our weak and temporary decision, nor does it end with our effort. Rather, salvation is a divine drama written and completed entirely by God’s grace. The Father’s choosing, the Son’s redemption, and the Spirit’s sealing together display how our salvation is accomplished by grace alone, from beginning to end.

* Humbly Praise the Lord

In conclusion, before this great biblical truth of “By Grace Alone,” what can we offer to God except our humility? Our humility must be complete, because we have done nothing to earn salvation, and even now, our salvation continues only by God’s grace. Therefore, throughout our lives, both before God and before people, we have no choice but to remain humble.

At the same time, this humility naturally leads us to praise. Ephesians 1 begins with the words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” and ends with, “to the praise of his glorious grace.” The entire story of salvation starts and ends with praise to God’s grace.

So, dearly beloved, my earnest prayer is this: may you grow deeper in your understanding of God’s total and undeserved grace. May your hearts overflow with joy and thanksgiving in that grace. And may you spend your whole life praising the God who had mercy on you, trusting in Him, loving Him, and living by faith.