God's Unconditional Love · Day 1
Deuteronomy 7:6-11 — a devotion
Deuteronomy 7
- 6너는 여호와 네 하나님의 성민이라 네 하나님 여호와께서 지상 만민 중에서 너를 자기 기업의 백성으로 택하셨나니For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.For you are a holy people to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
- 7여호와께서 너희를 기뻐하시고 너희를 택하심은 너희가 다른 민족보다 수효가 많은 연고가 아니라 너희는 모든 민족 중에 가장 적으니라The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:The LORD didn’t set his love on you nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples;
- 8여호와께서 다만 너희를 사랑하심을 인하여 또는 너희 열조에게 하신 맹세를 지키려 하심을 인하여 자기의 권능의 손으로 너희를 인도하여 내시되 너희를 그 종 되었던 집에서 애굽 왕 바로의 손에서 속량하셨나니But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.but because the LORD loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
- 9그런즉 너는 알라 오직 네 하나님 여호와는 하나님이시요 신실하신 하나님이시라 그를 사랑하고 그 계명을 지키는 자에게는 천 대까지 그 언약을 이행하시며 인애를 베푸시되Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;Know therefore that the LORD your God himself is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments,
- 10그를 미워하는 자에게는 당장에 보응하여 멸하시나니 여호와는 자기를 미워하는 자에게 지체하지 아니하시고 당장에 그에게 보응하시느니라And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.and repays those who hate him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him who hates him. He will repay him to his face.
- 11그런즉 너는 오늘날 내가 네게 명하는 명령과 규례와 법도를 지켜 행할지니라Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.You shall therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which I command you today, to do them.
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
Moses spoke these words to the people of Israel just before they entered the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy is a collection of sermons in which Moses, closing out forty years in the wilderness, teaches God's law and covenant once more to a new generation. Israel at the time was a small, weak nation compared to the great powers around them, facing the frightening prospect of confronting the peoples of Canaan. This passage is a core section of Deuteronomy that explains the basis of the covenant, standing between the command against idolatry before it and the call to obedience after it. Moses emphasizes that God's love is the motive for obedience — keeping the law should flow from a response of love, not from fear.
Reflection questions: 1. What does it mean to me that God loves me regardless of my qualifications or abilities? 2. If there is an area of my life where I feel unworthy, what comfort might this passage bring to that place? 3. As someone who has experienced God's unconditional love, what love can I share with the people around me today?
Today's reflection
In Deuteronomy 7, Moses explains to the people of Israel why God chose them. The surprising thing is that the reason for God's choice was not Israel's size or ability. In fact, they were the fewest of all peoples. God chose them for one reason only: because He loved them.
This is not a conditional contract but a one-sided declaration of love. Theologically, this passage reveals the core truth that God's love is not based on human merit or qualification. God begins the relationship not because of anything we have done, but because of His love for us itself.
Simply put, just as a parent's love does not depend on a child bringing home good test scores, God's love has nothing to do with our performance. Even when we are lacking and weak, He has already chosen us. Today, try laying down the thought that you must prove something to be loved. God loves you as you are, right at this moment.
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