Listen to the Cries of the Patriots

– Psalms 137:1-9, Galatians 5:13-15

 

On March 1, 1919, this nation wept, soaking the beautiful mountains and rivers of the Korean peninsula with its tears. This year marks the 81st anniversary of the day we cried out for freedom and independence, harboring the sorrow of a fallen and lost nation. It is undeniable that we were enslaved under the Japenese for nearly half a century. Every time we think of our fallen patriots and ancestors of faith who, in their love for the nation and adherence to God’s commandments, were brutally martyred, we must never forget that our nation is a land stained with tears and blood. This is a truth that no citizen of the Republic of Korea should ever forget. Are any of us alive today because of our own merits? Eighty one years ago, on this very day our parents and siblings were beaten down, and our language, culture, and national conscience were trampled to pieces. Hear their cry for freedom! Any thoughtful and patriotic citizen of Korea cannot read this nation’s history without tears.

In philosopher Ham Seok-hyeon’s book, The History of Korea Viewed Through Meaning by the philosopher Ham Seok-hyeon, it is written as follows: “This history, which I have to write while putting down my brush and wiping away my tears. This history, which I cannot write without wiping away tears. Even if one cannot read Shakespeare or know Goethe, this history must be known. Yes, when I think of this people who, for thousands of years, have been deceived, beaten, mocked, trampled upon… it is impossible to pass through without tears.”

Dear saints, our people have not yet achieved unification. The land of North Korea has been deprived of all freedom. Is there freedom of speech, freedom of residence? Our fellow brothers and sisters are being trampled upon, oppressed, starving, dressed in rags, unable to posses their own lives or dignity. They’re crying out to the heavens in tears! Many lives are tragically perishing. For those of us who share the same bloodline, it is a sorrow so heart breaking that it is unbearable. 

When we read the Bible, we find many instances where the leaders, prophets, and people of Israel expressed their love for their homeland with deep emotion and tears. Among them, Psalm 137 especially depicts the time when the people of Israel were taken captive to Babylon. Beaten, brutally captured, and dragged to a foreignland, they lost all their freedom. There was no freedom of speech! The Bible does not simply depict the patriotism of just one individual. It portrays the deep sorrow of the entire nation of Israel, making this message even more moving for us as we observe the 81st anniversary of the March 1st Movement in 1919. We must never forget Psalm 137.

The Israelites wept day and night by the flowing rivers of Babylon, longing for the  city of Zion in Jerusalem. They wept end lessly towards the holy temple where they had worshipped they holy God. Though they felt loneliness in this foreign land and longed for their homeland, they were a people who ignored God’s prophets, disrespected Moses’ laws, worshiped foreign idols, and chose to do everything that displeased God. It was so grievous that it was said, “Your iniquities have reached their fullness.” It was beyond measure! As recorded in Jeremiah 7:13, God sent proph
ets from dawn until late at night. He spoke to them seven times, but they did not listen.

Jeremiah 7:13 “And now, because you have done all these things,” declares the Lord, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer, Every night, they wept, staring at the flowing river like madmen, saying, “How precious is the nation!! How pitiful it is for a people who have lost their land!” Even though they felt loneliness in a foreign land and longed for their homeland, there was nothing they could do. Yet, in the midst of all this, today we must learn from the strong patriotism of the people of Israel.

Psalm 137:1 records, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.” Why did they have to weep by the rivers of Babylon? Was it not the tears of patriotism, the anguish of love for their homeland?

Who is the true patriot for us today? First, the patriot is the one who repents for the sins against God and their country. It is not what any denomination, pastor, or doctor says, but what God speaks through the Bible—a true patriot is one who repents for the sins against God and the country. The prophet Daniel took upon himself the sins of his ancestors and his people and repented with tears. He confessed with deep sorrow, and as a result, he received revelations about the end of the world. True patriotism must begin with the entire nation repenting before God.

The people of Israel wept when they remembered Jerusalem and Zion, first because they felt the sorrow of having to pay for the sins of rebelling against God, and they confessed and repented with tears. Before blaming or cursing anyone in the sorrow of a lost nation, they needed the humble attitude of accepting it as God’s stern judgment. The nation of Israel had forsaken God’s grace. Every time they walked down a path of rebellion, God used strong foreign nations as a rod to admonish and discipline the people of Israel. However, a voice of comfort was heard for the people being disciplined. Isaiah 10:24-25 records, “Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, ‘O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you, the way Egypt did. For in a very little while My indignation against you will be spent and My anger will be directed to their destruction.’”

God held the rod of anger against His rebellious people, but if they repented, He promised to break the nations that were used as His instrument of judgment. In Jeremiah 10:19 (ESV), it is written: “Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, ‘Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it.’” Look at God’s comfort and love. When parents discipline their children, do they beat them to death?

They discipline them once to help them recognize their mistakes and walk the right path. How blessed it was that the people of Israel, at the banks of the Babylonian river, realized their mistakes and had the oppor tunity to repent! In the past, our ancestors also wept in a foreign land after losing their country, thinking of their homeland. How ever, they only wept because of the sorrow
of losing their country, not as the Israelites who wept as they thought of Zion.

I read a booklet where Ahn Chang-ho, pennamed “Dosan”, expressed his repentance and cries: “I am a sinner of our people. God, I am a sinner of our people. This people have given me so much and loved me, yet I have done nothing for the nation. God, I am a sinner. Descendants resent their ancestors, juniors resent their seniors; all place the burden of responsibility on everyone else but themselves, all pointing fingers, “Why aren’t you doing anything, then! Why are you blaming me!” Our nation’s inability to achieve independence is all because of me! Why can we not think to pound our chests and repent in pain, and instead call that guy a scoundrel, failing to realize ourselves? Who is responsible for the down fall of our country? It is myself.” 

Dear believers, when we look at the Bible, we see that the movement of repentance is truly the movement that saves the nation. It saves you and your entire family. It saves businesses and enterprises. Job 4:7 says “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?” This means that everything fails because all have sinned. When we repent, do we simply repent with our lips? We must repent with prayer, with heartfelt sorrow.  Through prayer, when we repent of the sins we have committed knowingly or un-knowingly, God draws near to us (Deut 4:7).

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him? 

Please pray. We must pray. The reason for the downfall of individuals, business-es, and nations is not because of enemies who accuse and torment us, but because when sin becomes rampant, the price is heavy. This is the consistent message of God’s word in the Bible. That is why Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

Do not be discouraged. No matter what sin you have committed, the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross forgives all sins. So repent. You just need to go to God.  It is between you and God; no one else should interfere. How wonderful is that? Who knows the sins we have committed, knowingly or unknowingly? Only God sees. Only God knows the day we leave this world. Do not forget the words from 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, and may you con-clude your life well. 

In Jerusalem, a tower collapsed, and 18 people died instantly. This news was reported to Jesus. Jesus replied, “Do you think these people were any more sinful than you, and that is why they died? Unless you repent, you too will perish because of your sins.” Jesus spoke about this twice, in Siloam and Jerusalem (Luke 13:1-5). We are not living because we are sinless. We are alive because God is giving us a chance. How grateful we should be! 

So now, do God’s work. Do you have past sins? When we do God’s work, God sees us and shows us mercy, forgiving our sins. When we reflect on this scripture, it is truly a blessing. Believe it. There is no need for worry. If we do good deeds, our past sins will be forgiven—how wonderful is that! 

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

Luke 13:1-5 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all like wise perish.”

In the book of Proverbs, it says, “Righ teousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” When sinners appear, the righteous hide, and when the wicked are removed, the righteous in
-crease in number.

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. 

Proverbs 28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Proverbs 29:7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor, the wicked does not understand such concern.

Therefore, if there is anything we can do as believers to be patriotic for our nation and people, it’s avoiding sin. This is an undeniable truth. That is how the nation becomes enlightened. Good people must rise up like a swarm of bees. If each of us goes against God’s word and falls into corruption, committing sin, that very person becomes a traitor to the nation and people through their actions. As a whole, individuals, families, churches, nations, and peoples must start a movement of repentance. Remember how Job 4:7 records, “Who has perished being innocent?” Sin is why all fall to ruin.

Job 4:7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed?”

If each of us breaks God’s word, falls into corruption, and sins, that person is betraying the nation and the people. Jeremiah 5:1 records, “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and look now and take note. And seek in her open squares, if you can find a man, if there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her.” God says that in a city with millions of people, if there is even one person who acts justly and seeks truth, He will forgive the entire city. The sins of millions will not be remembered if even one righteous person is found.

Second, the true patriot of today is one who lives with a national conscience. The righteous are the servants of the victors. The Babylonian army mocked them, saying, “Hey! You say you believe in God. 

Sing a song of praise to your God. Play your harp and sing for us.” But the Israelites did not sing. Despite being beaten, kicked, and whipped, they prayed to be mute! We must learn that patriotism. They were commanded to sing, but how could they sing the song of the living God in a foreign land? The psalmist wrote in Psalm 137, “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you.” With such a firm national will, the passionate heart toward their homeland was beating as the nation’s pulse. God’s prophets shared in the suffering of their people. Moses is a great example of national conscience. In Hebrews 11:24-26 records, “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”

To suffer for the people and kingdom of God, for the church, and for Christ was considered greater than all the treasures of Egypt. He was looking forward to the eternal city of heaven. This is faith! The difference between those with faith and those without faith is profound. When Moses thought about the oppression and suffering of his people, even the luxurious food in Pharaoh’s palace tasted like sand. When he thought of his people, exploited and impoverished, his soft beds felt like lying on sharp thorns. Moses, who discarded tomorrow’s glory as if it were rubbish, is a
truly great leader!

Our Republic of Korea is not just South Korea, it includes North Korea as well. Have you ever wept for this, with the same heartache of losing a child? We only say empty words, like, “That’s so sad and unfortunate. How pitiful.” Have we ever fasted and prayed for our country and people, like the prophets of Israel did throughout history? Daniel fasted and prayed for 21 days as he wept bitterly for his country and people. Only by loving God with all your heart can you truly be patriotic. 

Today, there are too many people on this earth who are trapped in their obsession with nationalist ideologies or state supremacy, making their own people even more miserable. True patriotism comes from knowing God. Only when you believe in and love God can you truly love your country and your people. In the epitaph of Japanese scholar Uchimura Kanzō, it is written: “I for Japan; Japan for the world; the world for Christ; and all for God.” Leaders like Hitler, the dictators of the Soviet Union, and the war criminals of Japan, indulged in nationalism and disturbed world peace.  They cruelly beat, robbed, and slaughtered weaker nations under the guise of patriotism. Are they truly patriots?

The Apostle Paul once said to the Cor-inthians, “If anyone does not love theLord, he is to be accursed.” (1 Cor 16:22). These are terrifying words of judgment. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to this earth for the sins of mankind, and see how much He suffered! He was punched, kicked, whipped, nailed to the cross with both hands and feet, crowned with thorns, and stabbed in the side with a spear. He was sent to forgive the sins of mankind. We must love God and prioritize His work above all else. Because we love God, we can entrust our country to Him. We must not entrust it to people for all people lie(Ps 33:10-12; 1 Chr 29:11-12). God is the one who claims life and death, fortune and misfortune. The history of victory and triumph is in God’s hands. I bless in the name of the Lord that there will be a living history of loving God and entrusting our nation, Korea, and our entire people to Him in faith. Psalm 144 and 150 declare, “How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!”

When thinking of our homeland, many concerns arise. I urge you to entrust it to God. Patriotism and love for the nation are not distant or lofty ideals. It is about each person living honestly. Students must study diligently. Children should love, respect, and honor their parents. Parents should love their children. Workers in factories must strive to produce goods diligently. Public servants should serve kindly, and judges must conduct fair and impartial trials. Soldiers should do their best indefending the country, and farmers must work hard, producing crops with a sincere heart for the health of the people. Merchants should live in a society based on mutual trust, without deceit.

When I think of our country, I have many concerns. I hope you leave it to God. Patriotism is not something that is far away, nor is it something that is high up. A patriot is someone who lives honestly. Students should study hard. Children should love and respect their parents and be filial to them. Parents should also love their children. Factories should work hard to make products with sincerity. Civil servants should serve kindly, and judges should judge fairly and honestly. Soldiers should do their best to defend the country, and farmers should produce grain with sweat
and a sincere heart for the health of the people. Merchants should live in a society where people trust each other without deception.

This church is a house of prayer for all people. Without prayer, it will perish. Believers must pray. Pray with your heart, mind, and spirit! Simply repeating with your lips, “Lord, Lord, I believe,” is not enough! God looks at the heart. If until today you have not been able to love your children, husband, or wife, then before you sleep to night, search in your heart and repent deeply before God in the name of Jesus, and you will be forgiven. Then, receive new strength and become a driving force in advancement for the nation and people, and may you experience the amazing work
of becoming a true patriot of this country. I bless this upon you in the name of the Lord!

Let us pray.
God, we thank You. Eighty-one years ago, our people realized the sorrow of their nation having lost all her rights, people, and sovereignty. And realizing this sorrow, our people, stood fearlessly before guns and swords and threw up their unarmed, bare hands and cried out, “Long Live Korean Independence!” Though 81 years have passed, let that cry of faith still echo in our hearts and consciences as we remember that time. We cannot live without our nation. We cannot live without our people. We are not alone. As we love our nation together, bless us so that the Republic of Korea may be a country we can take pride in, a nation respected by the world, a nation where its people are honored everywhere. May we not just speak of loving our country, but make us realize that true patriotism begins with not committing sin. Help each of us strive to live righteously, making every effort to avoid sin and bearing the fruit of prayer before You until the day we enter Your kingdom. I offer this prayer with gratitude in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Rev. Abraham Park’s sermon
March 5, 2000, Sunday Main Worship

 

*You can also read this article on the 'True Peace' online platform.
(http://champyungan.com/blog/archives/25342)