SOAP 08/02/2014; 2 Chronicles 33:10-11

Today's reading: 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33; John 4

S) "¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹ Therefore the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze chains and took him to Babylon."

2 Chronicles 33:10-11 (NASB)

O) This isn't exactly a new concept, but the simplicity of v.10 made the principle very clear. I included v.11 because it details the consequences from not paying attention. The eventual silver lining to this storm cloud, is that this captivity drove Manasseh back to the LORD. In the end, he turned his heart back to God in humility. How much better had it been, if he had simply paid attention in the first place? This sends a very concise, clear message that the LORD will not be ignored.

A) From time to time, I wonder (even worry, if you will) if I am paying attention to what the LORD is speaking to me. Verse 10, and verses like it, really help me focus on the importance of prayer before (and while) I read the Bible. I want to be sure that I am receiving what God would speak to me in those moments and throughout. I believe that God can and will still speak directly to His children, but that drives home the importance of studying Scripture, so that anything I "sense" God is trying to tell me, can be validated and measured by His holy written Word. In the end, I pray God keeps me humble, and close to Him, whatever the cost. I hope and believe it won't come to such a captivity as Manasseh endured, but if it is required, then God's will be done.

P) Father, Your ways are perfect and Your plan is blessed. I don't simply want You to bless my life, and my desires, and my plans - because those will always be less, those will always be flawed, those will always pale in comparison to the glory of Your will. And that is my concern: I want You to be glorified in my life, in my desires, in the plan I am carrying out. So God, let me pay attention to You. Draw my focus to Your ways, Your will, whatever the cost. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.