AC.588, 창6:6, '땅 위에 사람 지으셨음을 한탄하사' (AC.586a-590)

6절, 땅 위에 사람 지으셨음을 한탄하사 마음에 근심하시고 And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

 

588

But it is predicated of the Lord that he “repents,” and “is grieved at heart,” because there appears to be such a feeling in all human mercy, so that what is said here of the Lord’s “repenting” and “grieving” is spoken according to the appearance, as in many other passages in the Word. What the mercy of the Lord is none can know, because it infinitely transcends the understanding of man; but what the mercy of man is we all know to be to repent and grieve; and unless a man were to form his idea of mercy according to his own apprehension, he could not have any conception of it, and thus he could not be instructed; and this is the reason why human properties are often predicated of the attributes of Jehovah or the Lord, as that Jehovah or the Lord punishes, leads into temptation, destroys, and is angry; when yet he never punishes anyone, never leads any into temptation, never destroys any, and is never angry. But as even such things as these are predicated of the Lord, it follows that repentance also and grief may be predicated of him; for the predication of the one follows from that of the other, as plainly appears from the following passages in the Word.

 

[2] In Ezekiel:

 

이와 같이 내 노가 다한즉 그들을 향한 분이 풀려서 내 마음이 가라앉으리라 내 분이 그들에게 다한즉 나 여호와가 열심으로 말한 줄을 그들이 알리라 (겔5:13) Mine anger shall be consummated, I will make my wrath to rest, and it shall repent me. (Ezek. 5:13)

 

Here, because “anger” and “wrath” are predicated, “repentance” is predicated also. In Zechariah:

 

14만군의 여호와가 이같이 말하노라 너희 조상들이 나를 격노하게 하였을 때에 내가 그들에게 재앙을 내리기로 뜻하고 뉘우치지 아니하였으나 15이제 내가 다시 예루살렘과 유다 족속에게 은혜를 베풀기로 뜻하였나니 너희는 두려워하지 말지니라 (슥8:14-15) As I thought to do evil when your fathers provoked me to anger, saith Jehovah Zebaoth, and it repented me not, so again I will think in those days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. (Zech. 8:14–15)

 

Here it is said that Jehovah “thought to do evil,” and yet he never thinks to do evil to any, but good to all and to everyone. In Moses, when he prayed forbearance of the face of Jehovah:

 

12어찌하여 애굽 사람들이 이르기를 여호와가 자기의 백성을 산에서 죽이고 지면에서 진멸하려는 악한 의도로 인도해 내었다고 말하게 하시려 하나이까 주의 맹렬한 노를 그치시고 뜻을 돌이키사 주의 백성에게 이 화를 내리지 마옵소서, 14여호와께서 뜻을 돌이키사 말씀하신 화를 그 백성에게 내리지 아니하시니라 (출32:12, 14) Turn from the wrath of thine anger and repent thee of this evil against thy people; and Jehovah repented of the evil which he said he would do unto his people. (Exod. 32:12, 14)

 

Here also the “wrath of anger” is attributed to Jehovah, and consequently “repentance.” In Jonah, the king of Nineveh said:

 

하나님이 뜻을 돌이키시고 그 진노를 그치사 우리가 멸망하지 않게 하시리라 그렇지 않을 줄을 누가 알겠느냐 한지라 (욘3:9) Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent, and turn from the heat of his anger, that we perish not? (Jonah 3:9)

 

Here similarly “repentance” is predicated because “anger” is.

 

[3] In Hosea:

 

8에브라임이여 내가 어찌 너를 놓겠느냐 이스라엘이여 내가 어찌 너를 버리겠느냐 내가 어찌 너를 아드마 같이 놓겠느냐 어찌 너를 스보임 같이 두겠느냐 내 마음이 내 속에서 돌이키어 나의 긍휼이 온전히 불붙듯 하도다 9내가 나의 맹렬한 진노를 나타내지 아니하며 내가 다시는 에브라임을 멸하지 아니하리니 이는 내가 하나님이요 사람이 아님이라 네 가운데 있는 거룩한 이니 진노함으로 네게 임하지 아니하리라 (호11:8-9) My heart is turned within me; my repentings are kindled together; I will not execute the wrath of mine anger; (Hos. 11:8–9)

 

where likewise it is said of the heart that “repentings were kindled,” just as in the passage we are considering it is said that he “grieved at heart.” “Repentings” plainly denote great mercy. So in Joel:

 

너희는 옷을 찢지 말고 마음을 찢고 너희 하나님 여호와께로 돌아올지어다 그는 은혜로우시며 자비로우시며 노하기를 더디하시며 인애가 크시사 뜻을 돌이켜 재앙을 내리지 아니하시나니 (욜2:13) Turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, and repenteth of the evil; (Joel 2:13)

 

where also to “repent” manifestly denotes mercy. In Jeremiah:

 

그들이 듣고 혹시 각각 그 악한 길에서 돌아오리라 그리하면 내가 그들의 악행으로 말미암아 그들에게 재앙을 내리려 하던 뜻을 돌이키리라 (렘26:3) If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, and it repent me of the evil, (Jer. 26:3)

 

signifying to have mercy. Again:

 

만일 내가 말한 그 민족이 그의 악에서 돌이키면 내가 그에게 내리기로 생각하였던 재앙에 대하여 뜻을 돌이키겠고 (렘18:8) If that nation turn from their evil, it shall repent me of the evil; (Jer. 18:8)

 

where also to “repent” denotes to have mercy provided they would turn. For it is man who turns the Lord’s mercy away from himself: the Lord never turns it away from man.