SOAP 05/12/2012; 2 Samuel 23:3-4

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 21, 22, 23; 1 Thessalonians 1
     
S)"³ “The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me,
'He who rules over men righteously,
Who rules in the fear of God,
⁴ Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
When the tender grass springs out of the earth,
Through sunshine after rain.'"
     

2 Samuel 23:3-4 (NASB)

     

O) This is such a firm, but beautiful reminder of what it means to lead. Being in charge is not about getting your way. Leading is not about giving orders. God wants a leader who is ruling righteously and who rules in the fear of Him. This is the kind of leader people will follow faithfully, because then he becomes as hopeful as the morning light, as inspiring as a clear sky, as renewing as fresh grass that shoots up and as refreshing as sunshine after rain.
     

A) This is the kind of husband I want to be. This is the kind of father I want to be. When my wife and kids think of me, I want them to know, that they know, that they know that I fear God and that I am striving for righteousness in everything I do, especially in how I lead my family. When they think of me, I want them to think of morning light, sunrises, clear skies, spring grasses, and sunshine after rain. In order for me to become this to them, I must resemble a king who rules righteously in fear of God. So, I must humble myself daily, acknowledging God's sovereign power and might, His holiness, and His justice and mercy, and I must submit myself fully to His will. Every day. Without fail.

     

P) Father, Your righteousness is too much for me alone. In Your grace I found mercy. In Your grace, only through the renewal I have in Christ, am I able to come before You. Forgive me of my sins, LORD. Cleanse me from my unrighteousness and strengthen me to uphold Your holy standard. You are great and mighty, God, and I am completely helpless without You. Aside from Your hand, I am destitute; aside from Your strong arm, I am defeated. Holy Spirit, lead me in the will of my Father. I am unable to bear the burden to lead anyone on my own. I can only do it according to Your will, God. Let me be this good ruler that King David described. Let me be this good ruler to my family, God. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/11/2012; 2 Samuel 19:24

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 19,20; Psalms 55; Matthew 28
     
S)"²⁴ Then Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace."
     

2 Samuel 19:24 (NASB)

     

O) It says "son" but it means "descendant" as Mephibosheth was actually Jonathan's son, Saul's grandson. King David showed him favor because of his covenant with Jonathan, who was closer to David than a brother. Mephibosheth had been secretly protected while David's supporters slew the household of Saul. When David discovered Mephibosheth alive, but crippled, he determined not only to preserve his life, but to bless his entire household. When David fled from his own son during Absolom's revolt, Mephibosheth explains that he wanted to follow his king, but was deceived by a wicked servant and was not able to follow on his own. Because of this, in his mourning he took on a sort of a fast. It wasn't, by any means, that he could not tend his own hygiene - he had a household of servants, less the one who deceived him I'm sure. But, he recognized that his household, his family, even his own very life was all because of the favor his king had shown him. In his gratitude and humility, he wanted to follow his king but was physically inhibited. So, rather than resign to the idea that he could do nothing, he took it upon himself to find a way to honor and thank his king, showing his devotion to the one who had redeemed his life..
     

A) I need to see myself more often as a modern-day Mephibosheth. I come from a big family with a lot of checkers in our past. There has been a lot of pain, dysfunction, and guilt in my family. The way I can view my family is really not too unlike the way Mephibosheth must view his own family line. There is sometimes a touch of shame, or at least regret, that things couldn't be different. It's not necessarily my own guilt, though I'm certainly not innocent, but it's a kind of inherited loss. In my own way, I was hopeless and helpless and hapless. I had my own injuries that were beyond my ability to heal. I felt guilt by association for the name I carried. But then, there was a miracle. Through sheer grace because of the love of the Father, Jesus offered to redeem me. In place of my family name, I was given a new legacy. In place of my own injuries, I was given healing. Instead of being destitute and desperately seeking to find my own way, I was invited to the King's table, to spend time in His presence regularly. In some metaphorical ways, Jesus is not able to reign freely in today's world. Consequently, because of various kinds of limitations, I am not always free to openly support my King. But no matter what kind of circumstances arise, no matter how my hands or feet may be bound, I must remain loyal and find ways to honor my Lord, my God, my King.

     

P) Father, I will never be able to thank You enough for the grace I found in the redemption You gave. I will never fully grasp why You loved me enough to redeem my life, despite my own ever-present guilt. But, I will continue to thank You and I will continue to seek new ways to honor You. Every part of my life, I owe to You, so I will never stop showing my devotion. I will never stop thanking my King. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/10/2012; 2 Samuel 18:12

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 18; Psalms 56; Matthew 27
     
S)"¹² The man said to Joab, 'Even if I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not put out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Protect for me the young man Absalom!"'"
     

2 Samuel 18:12 (NASB)

     

O) This is great integrity! Too often I have heard people doing the wrong thing because some one in authority over them told them to do so. Doing the right thing is beyond simple obedience to the people who are in charge of us. The only one we should follow on blind faith is the One who created us. God wants us to be submitted to the authorities over us, so long as those authorities are not telling us to do what is wrong, or specifically, what is contrary to a higher authority. This man knew that his boss, not just a boss, but in fact, the Commander of the king's armies, was giving him a command in direct contradiction to the king's wishes, so he stood his ground in the face of who-knows-what kind of punishment - but even in the face of blatant bribary. This is great integrity!
     

A) At work, we have various pillars of our company. We have different traits that we corporately try to keep at the forefront of our business. One of those traits is "Do The Right Thing." I always point to that as the single, most important, of all the traits. It not only lines up with my attitude as a professional employee, but also with my attitude as a servant of the Almighty. If I am to be a true disciple of Christ, and if I am to walk as a child of God, and brother to Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ, then I absolutely must do the right thing, 100% of the time. It's not just a way of doing business; it's a way of life.

     

P) Father, it's only because You redeemed me that I'm able to adopt this perspective. I know that when I was not submitted to You, I was rebellious toward all authorities. I know now, because You have shown me, that it's a poisonous way to live. It skews all my perspectives and, at the very least, I can't imagine being a good husband and father if I did not, myself, respect authority. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the truth in every circumstance. Let me be obedient, but not blind. When I am confronted with a task or job or command, and it doesn't feel right or doesn't sit right with me, speak to me and let me know the truth and what the Father would have me do. When all esle fails, LORD, I will default to obedience to You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/09/2012; Psalm 71:14-15

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 17; Psalms 71; Matthew 26
     
S)"¹⁴ But as for me, I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
¹⁵ My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation all day long;
For I do not know the sum of them."
     

Psalm 71:14-15 (NASB)

      

O) There are two concepts at work here that I think are really powerful, especially in conjunction, in terms of making worship as good as possible. The first, from verse 14, is to make the commitment that God deserves more and more praise as time goes on. If He deserves praise for what He did 3000 years ago, then He certainly did more for His people in that next 1000 years, so He deserves more praise up to 2000 years ago. Pulling it forward, if He deserves praise for The Emancipation Proclamation, then He certainly deserves even more praise for the end of the Holocaust. So, the goodness of the LORD is progressive and cumulative and because of that, He doesn't simply deserve our praises continually (progressive), but also more and more (cumulative). The second thing at work, from verse 15, is to acknowledge that the salvation of the LORD is not even always known. It reminds me of the old Amy Grant song, "Angels" where she describes escaping a car accident she didn't even know was threatening her, "Though I never see with human eyes, the hands that lead me home." We will never know what God knows; we will never have His full perspective. But, that only means there are even more reasons to thank and praise Him than we'll ever realize.
      

A) I have countless reasons to praise the LORD for what He has done for me, and for what He has been doing for me, but I probably don't even know the half of it. So, if I can think of even only 1 reason to praise God, then there are probably half a dozen hidden reasons to praise Him. If I can thank Him for even only 1 thing, then there are probably dozens of reasons to thank Him that I can't even see. But that would be the minimum. The truth is, with each passing day, He deserves more and more of my worship and praise and thanks - even if I can't see what He did each day to bless, protect, and provide for me. So I will make my praise continual and increasing.

     

P) Father, Your goodness to me, the grace and mercies You've given me, it's so far beyond me that I cannot fully grasp it. Even for the parts I do understand, that I can comprehend, You deserve my eternal thanks and You are worthy of all of my praise and all of my devotion. Holy Spirit, when I have trouble focusing in worship, or when I'm feeling downcast or distracted by the world around me, reveal to me new things, hidden ways that I have been saved. Show me some of the blessings I never realized and let that inspire in me new worship and new praise. But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/08/2012; Psalm 32:3-5

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 15,16; Psalms 32; Matthew 25      
S)" ³ When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.
Selah.

⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD';
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah."
     

Psalm 32:3-5 (NASB)

      

O) I was hesitant to include all 3 of these verses, because the one that really stood out to me was just verse 3, but I felt like the inclusion of 4 and 5 would keep some good perspective so this doesn't come out sounding like King David was depressed. This is actually quite the celebratory psalm, as David acknowledges his sin and the greatness of God's forgiveness. Verse 3, in particular, stood out because it's such a familiar feeling. When we, as children of God, hide our sins, it eats away at us. It's not because of some misguided guilt or shame, though, it's because we know that it's not who we truly are. We know that's not what we were made to be. It eats away at us because sin is death and  we know how life should feel.

     
A) Embracing verse 5 is really the most simple, clearest way to apply this passage. When I'm feeling downcast, when I feel like I'm wasting away in depression all day long, and at night my heart feels heavy, when I feel drained like from the heat of summer - this is when I need to stop and search my heart for the missed sin. I need to acknowledge my sin to God, uncover my iniquity. After I confess my transgression to the LORD, truly  repenting, He will forgive me. Then I will find rest when it seems elusive (see also Acts 3:19).

     

P) Father, forgive me of my sins. Even today, I can look back and rattle off so many errors I made. My sins are clear before me, LORD, but they are not who You've created me to be. They are now unnatural to my recreated self in You. Holy Spirit, help me reset my attitude and refresh me this evening. Give me peace and rest tonight. Tomorrow let me start my day walking in step with You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/07/2012; Matthew 24:12

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 13,14; Matthew 24
     
S)"¹² Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold."
     

Matthew 24:12 (NASB)

     

O) This verse reminds me of Psalm 119, where the laws and statutes of God are regarded with genuine affection. There's a certain parallel in the respect of authority and obedience, and the ability to love. One element that comes quickly to mind is that, in the absence of law, everything is done in selfishness, and selfishness is poisonous to love. On the flip-side, the ability to obey and the ability to respect law requires humility, which is nurishing to love.

     
A) In this verse, Jesus is speaking of the end-times and while it's always been said that, "We are nearing the end-times" and others scoff, it's always been true. We're simply getting closer and closer. That's the problem with some people being convinced of some global expiration date. Every time a man calls himself a Christian and also declares God told him the date the world will end, it makes every Christian seem like they're not coloring with a full box of crayons... It's a progressive thing, that we're nearing the end-times. All I have to do is look at the love of most and see how warm it is - or how cold. Jesus also mentions wars, earthquakes, famines, and global disasters. All of those also seem to be increasing, but the love grown cold is the only one I can directly affect. The verse says, "most people's love" not everyone, then. Not me. Not my children. By choosing to love God's ways over my own, I will preserve the warmth of love in my life. I will teach my children to do the same.

     

P) Father, Your ways are truly good and perfect. Your commands bring life and prosperity. Your discipline brings righteousness and good character. Father, I want only Your ways to rule in my life. Holy Spirit, continue to speak to me and shape me into the man I'm called to be. For the sake of preserving warm love in my life, let me always place Your statutes above all other priorities in my life, LORD. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/06/2012; Psalm 51:16-17

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 11,12; Psalms 51; Matthew 23
     
S)"¹⁶ For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. "
     

Psalm 51:16-17 (NASB)

     

O) This psalm has been one of my favorites for a long time. The feelings of remorse and repentence that he writes in this psalm are just so familiar and there's comfort in knowing that the LORD is merciful. This verse in particular, though, shows the root of repentance, I think. God doesn't want us to pay for our sins through some kind of sacrifice. He wants to see that we recognize the need for His mercy. He wants to see that we have foresaken our pride in favor of submitting to Him.
As a side note, there's a footnote in this passage linking verse 17 to Psalm 34:18.

     
A) There's a concept that people have to "hit rock bottom" before change will happen. Here's what I think, because this is my experience and this is what these verses show me. People have to get to a point where their own actions have broken their own heart. True change comes from submission to God. I know that because I've lived it. True submission only happened in my life when my own actions caused my own heart to break. I had no one to blame but myself. From there, my Father in heaven was able to mend my broken heart and heal my broken spirit the way only He can do. In order to remain repentant and remain submitted to God, I can never forget the things that broke my heart, the things from which I have been forgiven.

     

P) Father, Your mercy to me is too much to be called "great" and I can never repay the debt I have created. I can only thank You that in Your holiness You have compassion and in Your justice there was redemption through Your Son. My actions have broken my own heart in my past. While I have been forgiven and You have healed me, I pray that I never forget those experiences. Let me always remember how You have saved me. Holy Spirit, remind me of mercy shown to Your servant. Encourage me that the sins of my past are truly forgiven and that if or when I sin again, that in a contrite heart I will be forgiven and healed again. Strengthen me, though, to walk in Your righteousness. Strengthen me to remain upright in all Your ways, LORD. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.