Weekly Devotion: Pslams 130; Proverbs 6

Hope in the LORD's Forgiving Love (Psalms 130.)

"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your eats be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the LORD More than the watchman for the morning; Indeed, more than the watchman for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel From all his iniquities."

This chapter reminded me some quotes from Go Set a Watchman:

"Blind, that's what I am. I never opened my eyes. I never thought to look into people's hearts, I looked only in their faces. Stone blind... Mr. Stone. Mr. Stone set a watchman in church yesterday. He should have provided me with one. I need a watchman to lead me around and declare what he seeth every hour on the hour. I need a watchman to tell me this is what a many says but this is what he means, to draw a line down the middle and say here is this justice and there is that justice and make me understand the difference."

"Every man's island, Jean Louise, everyman's watchman, is his conscience."

Watchman is the term to used describe a man whose's job is to watch and guard property when the owners are away.

I think watchman helps us to discern what is right and wrong; teaching us the morality. It is not only about discerning what is right and wrong but also living with goodness and correct/proper intention. It looks out for our conduct or character to see whether it is morally good or blameworthy.

Conscience gives us a sense to believe something beyond; something we do not see (we obviously do not see conscience but we certainty do have a sense of morality). It helps to focus internal values of building our characters rather than external values. When we are focused on external values, we only view the world the way that we look by our eyes, which is definitely not everything. If we truly want to understand something or someone the best at we could, we need to be able to beyond their faces or looks. In order to do this, we need to know who we are first internally and focus on our internal values.

We have to question everyday, "who I am," "what is my weakness," "what I can do better," "what do I feel bad right now." -> self-examination -> actions to overcome -> character!!! (life long journey as human)

The external world view is often times not true but false. We love to show ourselves that we are doing good and perfect so that we can hide our feelings and weakness (we always like to be respected; loved; considered perfect; not feel lonely; fearless; joyful; happy). What I want to remind ourselves is that this is selfish. The reason is that it does not put others in much consideration. When we show-off ourselves that we are perfect and have no problem, there are people who'll be discouraged by the false image (I have a huge empathy toward who are weak b/c I am weak.) We need to live as a human who is imperfect and makes mistakes not like a monster that scares others.

When we start to release our vulnerability and share it with others (according to right time and right person), I believe that the world will be beautiful! And I am sure more people are able to grab more internal values of true happiness and joy.

I wish I could armor myself with those internal values, but it has not happened yet because I have not acted to make this happen (also, I'm 20s; I expected to armor those values when I was 40~50s or something.) I am still constrained by external values (which I still wish that so that I could live with my heavenly father's grace, forgiveness, and love; I want to walk slowly with him to the end) and live with temptation; however, I realized that knowledge without action is useless (it is like hidden treasure that will be never used). 

Parental Counsel (Proverbs 6)

"If you have been snared with the word of your mouth, have been caught with the words of your mouth, DO this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor."

- 말해서 지키지 못할것은 말하지 말며; 말은 무겁게 쓰며 (생각중심으로); 남의 보증을 서지말며; 만약, 실수를 헀을경우에는, 겸손마음으로 찾아가 (importune -> 졸르다) 라고 하고있다.
- If you can't keep what you said, do not say; use your mouth wisely (discernment) - keep your mouth shut and use it heavily; do not give pledge for a stranger or even friends (your possessions can disappear is one day.)

"Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler."
"Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Office or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

- Sleep=poverty; gazelle = swift from the people who try to hunt you down (negatively affect you; no concern of your welfare)
- Ant = prepares! diligent! patient! -> provision; calamity will not come *unless...

"There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly evil, And one who spreads strife among brothers."

- haughty eyes = 거만한, 오만한; having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people (Often times, people mistake confidence from being haughty); a lying tongue, hands (hands that harm innocents -> criminals? -> harassment); a heart (self-interested; no concern for others -> but they'll eventually be judged), one spreads strife (tho worst one!!! GOSSIPS)

"When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you."

"For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress"

- Commandment is to keep ourselves from the evil women? The weight of adultery and evil women is pretty heavy proverbs (wise words). I wonder if this is just cultural or tradition. I think it is still applicable today.