Nehemiah 13:10-22
10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.
11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
12 All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms.
13 I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
14 Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.
느헤미야가 성벽재건을 마치고 바사왕에게 돌아가 있는 사이에 이스라엘 백성들은 제대로 신앙생활을 하지 않았습니다. 백성들은 십일조 생활을 하지 않았고, 모든 레위지파 사람들, 찬양사역자들 등의 성전 봉사자들은 생계유지를 위해 성전을 떠났습니다. 느헤미야는 "왜 하나님의 성전이 방치되고 있는가?"라고 하며 지도자들을 꾸짖었고, 유다 백성들은 곡식, 포도주, 기름의 십일조를 가져왔습니다. 백성들이 십일조를 내면서 다시 성전에 필요한 사람들을 임명하게 됩니다.
While Nehemiah had returned to the king of Persia after completing the rebuilding of the wall, the Israelites were not living out their faith properly. The people neglected giving their tithes, and all the Levites, worship leaders, and other temple servants had left the temple to sustain themselves. Nehemiah rebuked the leaders, asking, "Why is the house of God neglected?" In response, the people of Judah brought their tithes of grain, wine, and oil. As the people gave their tithes, those needed for service in the temple were appointed once again.
우리는 예배를 드리는 목적 외에도 나의 신앙생활을 위해 교회를 다니고, 믿음의 공동체에서 친교를 하고, 말씀을 배우는 등 교회의 중요성을 잘 알고, 교회를 잘 활용합니다. 하지만 나의 목적을 위해 누리고만 있는 것은 아닐까요? 우리 학생들이 한 시간 일찍 와서 교회를 청소하고 가꾸는 모습을 보면 교회를 소중하게 여기는 마음을 알 수 있습니다. 예수그리스도를 영접한 우리 자신도 그리스도의 몸이고 교회입니다. 우리의 육신을 깨끗하게 하고 소중하게 가꾸어야 합니다. 술, 담배, 마약 등 육신에 해로운 것들로 성전을 더럽히면 안되겠습니다.
We understand the importance of the church and make good use of it not only for the purpose of worship but also for our spiritual lives. We attend church to fellowship within the faith community, learn the Word, and grow in our faith. However, could it be that we are only enjoying it for our own purposes? When I see our students arriving an hour early to clean and maintain the church, I can sense their appreciation for it. We, who have received Jesus Christ, are also the body of Christ and the church. We must keep our bodies clean and cherish them. We should not defile the temple with harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.
16 People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.
17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day?
18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”
19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.
21 But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath.
22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.
그 당시 예루살렘에는 안식일에 예배를 드리기 위해 성전에 모이기 때문에 장사하는 사람들에게는 안식일이 장사하기 좋은 날이었고 많은 유대 사람들이 각종 먹거리와 물건을 팔았습니다. 느헤미야는 안식일을 거룩하게 지키라는 율법에 반하는 이런 행위를 금지시켰습니다. 오늘날에도 주일에는 교회에 사람들이 많이 모입니다. 교회에 모이는 사람들을 대상으로 자신의 이익을 위해 무엇을 하려는 유혹이 많이 있습니다. 그러나 우리는 영적으로 민감해져야 합니다. 하나님은 어떤 것을 좋아하고 어떤 것을 싫어하실까요?
At that time, in Jerusalem, people gathered at the temple to worship on the Sabbath, making it a favorable day for merchants to conduct business, and many Jews sold various foods and goods. Nehemiah prohibited such actions, which went against the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. Today, many people also gather at churches on Sundays. There are many temptations to take advantage of those who come to church for personal gain. However, we must become spiritually sensitive. What does God like, and what does He dislike?
몇 백년 후 또 다시 예루살렘에서 예수님이 성전에서 장사하는 사람들을 봅니다. "예수께서 성전에 들어가서 성전 안에서 매매하는 자들을 다 쫓아내시고, 돈 바꾸는 자들의 상과 비둘기 파는 자들의 의자를 엎으시며, 그들에게 이르시되 '기록된 바 내 집은 기도하는 집이라 일컬음을 받으리라 하였거늘 너희는 그것을 강도의 소굴로 만들었다' 하시니."(마태복음 21:12-13) 영적으로 깨어서 하나님의 성전이 방치되는 것을 못느끼는 일이 없어야겠습니다. 교회에 친구를 만나러, 게임을 하러, 먹으러만 오는 것 같다면 오늘의 말씀을 다시한번 기억합시다.
Several hundred years later, Jesus sees people selling goods in the temple in Jerusalem again. "Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, 'It is written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer," but you make it a den of robbers.'" (Matthew 21:12-13). We must be spiritually awake and ensure that we do not neglect God's temple. If it seems like we come to church just to meet friends, play games, or eat, let’s remember today's message once again.
