SOAP 04/26/2014; 2 Samuel 1:11-12

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

S) "¹¹ Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so also did all the men who were with him. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan and for the people of the Lord and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword."

2 Samuel 1:11-12 (NASB)

O) Upon hearing the news of Israel's defeat, and the death of Saul and Jonathan, David's reaction is very quick. Tearing of clothes was a common symbol of distress, and David led his people in this. The act of mourning was a decision for his followers, not just an emotional response, because these people weren't necessarily fans of Saul or Jonathan. But, they mourned and wept and fasted, because their leader did, and because they acknowledged that it was justified.

A) I don't know that I've ever truly mourned someone without the emotion of missing the person. I've never chosen to mourn. I need to be more conscious of my country's victories and defeats, and be more aware of our leaders. I also think it's interesting that they fasted until evening. I often think of fasting as needing to be at least a day in order to mean anything. I should discard that notion. When something traumatic happens suddenly, but actions is still needed, it would seem fasting until evening can be perfectly justified.

P) Father, enlighten me to the happenings of my country. Show me how I can, through prayer and fasting, be used for Your glory, to affect my nation. May Your Spirit lead me in mourning, when it's appropriate, even without emotional ties; especially then, Lord. And please help me to lead my family effectively in this same discipline. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/25/2014; 1 Chronicles 10:4-5

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 30, 31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

S) "⁴ Then Saul said to his armor bearer, 'Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.' But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died."

1 Chronicles 10:4-5 (NASB)

O) To the last, Saul was fearful and foolish. He was going to die that day regardless (see 1 Samuel 28:19), but Saul took his own life in arrogance. Like he had done at other points in his life, he still tried to pass the buck, and he commanded his armor bearer to kill him; which brings up another point.

 

His armor bearer, like David, refused to kill his king, although the LORD was clearly against him. The question, though, is why exactly. David always refused because God had put Saul on the throne, and David deferred to the LORD to remove him from the throne. David would not strike against God's elected king, even knowing that he had been anointed to replace him. This armor bearer, though, was "greatly afraid." But, the Bible doesn't say, exactly, what he feared. He feared the consequences of killing the reigning king, but was it the fear of the LORD? or the fear of man? What makes this especially perplexing, is that in the next verse, he kills himself. He clearly did not fear death itself, because he takes his own life. If his fear of killing Saul was truly a fear of the LORD, it seems likely to me that he would have fled the scene and tried to live. However, if he feared being caught by the enemy, or possibly being caught by Israelites who found him next to their dead king, then his fears might have been about a fate worse than death (extreme torture, for example).

A) There are a few key things to take away from this passage. First, from Saul, I need to remember that arrogance is deadly. It will cause me to do stupid things which can cost me my life. I know this is an extreme example, but even in small doses, arrogance is dangerous. Second, from his armor bearer, I cannot be afraid to stand up for what I know is right. I think, based on David's examples of sparing Saul, the armor bearer was right to stay his hand; however, it was for the wrong reasons. That brings me to the third point, again from the armor bearer. I need to be sure that I am always fearing the LORD more than I am fearing man. Jesus warned us, in Matthew 10:28, that the wrath of man is nothing compared to the wrath of God.

P) Father, keep me from arrogance and pride, which I know will cause my own destruction. Remind me, by Your Spirit, that such sin, as all sin, is truly deadly. There are no victimless crimes, and there are no harmless sins. Father, I confess that I do not fear You as I should. I know, in my head, that You are mighty and powerful; I rely on that acknowledgement when it's for my own benefit. Help me to believe it with my whole heart, though, to behave in such a way that submits to Your sovereignty over my own life. Open my eyes to see how awesome and overwhelming Your glory really is. Help me focus and remember how easily I can be consumed by Your holiness, if not for the blood of Christ. Thank You for sparing me, in Your grace and mercy. Thank You for providing me with the cover of the righteousness of Your Son. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/24/2014; 1 Samuel 28:6

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 28, 29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

S) "⁶ When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets."

1 Samuel 28:6 (NASB)

O) For a little background, let's remember that Saul himself, after he was anointed king, prophesied on a regular basis, enough that people considered he might be an actual prophet (see 1 Samuel 10:9-12). He was familiar, if not actually accustomed, to inquiring of the LORD and hearing Him respond. Then, the Spirit of the LORD leaves Saul (see 1 Samuel 16:14), before David is anointed, and everything goes down from there. So, now facing an enemy hoard, Saul tries what he knows is proven - seeking the LORD. This time, however, there is no answer. There is no direct answer (dream), there is no interpreted answer (Urim), there is no prophetic answer (prophets).

A) In the New Covenant, we are given the Holy Spirit, according to promise, by our faith in the gospel (see Ephesians 1:13). I really believe this is a crucial element in avoiding Saul's mistake. Just because the Holy Spirit is with me forever, does not mean that I am hearing from God correctly or clearly. When Saul failed to hear from God, he turned to a medium (v.7) to conjure for him, the dead spirit of Samuel (vv.8-19), because he had lost all hope in hearing from God himself. Instead, he sought perversion. For myself, I might still hear from God through a dream, and I still believe we have words of prophecy. Instead of the Urim, however, we have the Bible - the unfailing, perfect, holy word of God. The most important thing I have, though, is the assurance that the Holy Spirit will continue with me. So, when I face an enemy hoard, a confusing future, a desperate situation, I can seek the LORD directly, by the Holy Spirit and the Word. And, if I am not hearing clearly, I know that He has not abandoned me, so I can persevere in seeking Him. Saul's example is a cautionary tale of what happens if I give up seeking God in a holy way, and I chase a perverted, distorted, evil version of what I know to be right.

P) Father, give me patience to wait upon You, when I am seeking Your ways, Lord. Please speak to me, in dreams and visions, through Your holy Word, through the prophecies of others, and let me be attentive to Your words, God. Let me discern clearly, testing everything according to Your Word, which is proven, and holy, and constant. Help me persevere, when I cannot perceive Your answer, LORD. Increase my faith, to know that You are with me, to trust that You will answer according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/23/2014; 1 Samuel 27:12

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10

S) "¹² So Achish believed David, saying, 'He has surely made himself odious among his people Israel; therefore he will become my servant forever.'"

1 Samuel 27:12 (NASB)

O) There are two different points to make, both stemming from one principle. David did not become odious to Israel because of his defection, and he did not serve Achish forever (although, he never betrayed Achish). When it comes to the ways of the LORD, we cannot rely on our own wisdom. In every other setting, it is not much of a presumption, that a high-ranking officer of a kingdom, who deserts and joins an enemy's ranks, becomes a nationally hated individual. This would be like general Patton becoming a Nazi in 1944. However, the hand of the LORD was on David continually, and also throughout this sort of exile. He was already anointed by Samuel, in the LORD's will, to be king over Israel. Also, David and the Philistines were still used to accomplish the LORD's victories over His adversaries, both domestic (see 1 Samuel 28:19) and foreign (see 1 Samuel 30:26).

A) This is a perfect example of how the LORD can sometimes completely defy worldly logic. I need to remember that, before anything else, above all prevailing wisdom, the will of the LORD supercedes all plans. I can make perfectly rational decisions that completely fall apart, because they are not aligned with His will. So, paramount to every decision I make, I must seek the will of the Father, before I make plans. The more important the decision, the more I need to discover His will. For that matter, even determining the importance of a particular decision, should be predicated on prayer and Scripture, and letting Him show me its importance.

P) Father, open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear, that I may know Your will. Let the Holy Spirit speak to me, directly, through the Bible, through others, and please let me know Your words and Your ways. I choose now, to be obedient to Your commands, God. I know that Your plans are the only plans that matter. Show me my place in what You have planned, that I may be used according to Your will.  In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/22/2014; 1 Samuel 25:36-38

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 25, 26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

S) "³⁶ Then Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she did not tell him anything at all until the morning light. ³⁷ But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. ³⁸ About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died."

1 Samuel 25:36-38 (NASB)

O) I had a hard time narrowing my scope on this story. Abigail is such an intriguing person, that she warrants some very deep consideration. But, when I did focus, what really struck me was her faithfulness. Earlier in the story, we're told that Abigail was beautiful and intelligent, while her husband was foolish and harsh. Yet, he was a successful man. He was wealthy, with a thriving business. How many men are foolish and harsh, and successful? As the story unfolds, you see that it is Abigail, whose faithfulness to her husband, and their household, that makes it all work. Even when her husband (whose name means "fool," by the way) makes a fatal mistake, in opposing the anointed king of Israel (although he had not, yet, been coronated), she doesn't just flee to preserve her own life. She risks much, and hurries to make it right, covering her husband's folly. Love covers a multitude of sins, indeed! (1 Peter 4:8). Because of all of the precedent, I have every reason to believe that when she decided to wait until her husband was sober, it was with no malice, and was to prevent ruining his feast. In the end, her faithfulness could not save him. It's hard to know if the end of v.37 is literal, or figurative, but I know that in either case, the last 10 days must've been very hardest for Abigail, yet she remains his wife to the end.

A) It's not hard to put myself into this story. My wife is beautiful and intelligent, and she often makes up for my folly. Ideally, every marriage would have a balance, that the husband and wife are able to lean on each other, in Christ, to edify and strengthen on another. Sometimes, it's easy to feel like I'm the one making the bigger mistakes, more often. It's easy, because I have an enemy against me, whispering lies to me. And, the truth is, Kristin is hearing the same lies about herself. What's the truth? Our covenant with each other, before God, is bigger than our mistakes. I have the confidence that my wife is with me to the end, as I am for her. I can use Abigail's example of grace and mercy to her spouse, as an example of how to treat Kristin, as she also treats me.

P) Father, You know that I can be quite a foolish beast, indeed. And I am so thankful, that You have given me such a beauty for a wife. Remind me, God, when I am guilty, that my wife's love for me is bigger than my sins. Remind me, Father, that our marriage is so full of Your grace. Thank You for the amazing wife I have. Help shape me into better husband for her. I don't just want to be a good husband, I want to be a godly one. Let our marriage be a positive, holy example for our kids, all three of them, to know how You intend marriage to be. Help us both, Kristin and me, to honor You with our marriage at all times.  In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/21/2014; 1 Chronicles 8:34

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 24; Psalm 57, 58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8

S) "³⁴ The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal became the father of Micah. ³⁵ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tarea and Ahaz. ³⁶ Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza. ³⁷ Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. ³⁸ Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. ³⁹ The sons of Eshek his brother were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second and Eliphelet the third. ⁴⁰ The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons and grandsons, 150 of them. All these were of the sons of Benjamin."

1 Chronicles 8:34 (NASB)

O) "Merib-baal" translates to "Contender with Baal," and he is the first proof of David keeping his word to Jonathan. The excerpt goes on to list more than 10 generations from Saul. This is a reminder to keep our word with others, but also a testament to the power of our commitments, when God is behind them. Truly, it is a testament to God's sovereignty.

A) First, I need to be faithful with my word, whether to God or people. If I say I am going to do something, I must follow through with it. It should be this way with all of my commitments to people and God, without embellishment or dramatic statements (see James 5:12). This should be matter-of-fact, and I should be trustworthy. The next step, is to pray about my commitments, so that I am committing them, then, to God. David had no direct way to ensure the line of Jonathan, in and of himself. However, this was a promise that they made, together with God, which is ultimately what made it the covenant that it was.

P) Father, discipline my tongue, and also my will to keep my word, to be trustworthy. Help me commit to You, what I say to others. When I say, "I will," hold me accountable, Lord. I want to have the self discipline to carry out my commitments, but if it takes the discipline of a father, then treat me as a son, and do not withhold Your hand to correct me, Father. And, like David did for Jonathan, please safeguard my generations. Like Jonathan's son, may my own son be a contender against idolatry? Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/20/2014; Psalm 31:7-8

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31, 54; Matthew 7



S) "⁷ I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
⁸ And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a large place."

Psalm 31:7-8 (NASB)

O) In many of the Psalms, David sings about enemies that were very real, life-threatening enemies. These lines are simple thanksgiving for the deliverance he has in the LORD. The one term he uses here, really stood out to me, though. He says, "given me over" and it strikes me as a similar term to "turned me over." That is to say, David might have actually carried some guilt with his enemies, here. I don't know when this particular Psalm was written, but there's precedent for it. Yet, God delivered him.

A) It's easy to disassociate with some of the psalms, because of their historical context. One thing I share with David here, though, is a very real enemy. Like David, my enemy seeks my life constantly. Unlike David, I don't (to my knowledge) have people seeking my physical death. My enemy is satan, and he wants to steal, kill, and destroy whatever he can of me. Like David, my sins put a definite responsibility of this danger, on me. Unlike David, my sins are washed clean by the blood of Christ (David's were too, post mortum).  Like David, I should rejoice in the fact that the LORD has not handed me over to my enemy, but instead He delivers me from my self-inflicted afflictions.



P) Father, thank You for the lovingkindness You show me. You know the troubles of my soul, even the self-destructive ones, and You give me mercy. Let me rejoice in this simple, eternal truth.  In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.