SOAP 05/10/2014; Psalm 56:8

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 18; Psalm 56 Matthew 27


S) "⁸ You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?"

Psalm 56:8 (NASB)

O) This verse gives an excellent illustration of the intimacy God has with us. David knew the LORD was quite aware of his life, even to knowing his tears and recording them. This was David's strength; understanding God relationally, that God is a personal, caring God, is what separated David from so many of the other kings of Israel.

A) As a parent, you get to knowing the cries of your children. There is a distinct tone when my child is crying from injury as opposed to, say, throwing a fit. Sometimes, however, it's harder to tell. Then, it's pretty difficult to help my kids, when they cannot express themselves properly. I recently had a problem understanding what, exactly, was the cause of tears in my youngest child. She kept saying her feet were hurting her (in Disneyland). We thought for a while they were cramping. Turns out, they were falling asleep as she rode on my shoulders. Just today, I heard about a study showing how our tears are chemically different, based on why we cry. Apparently, tears of sadness, joy, pain, etc., all look different under a microscope, even though they come from the same eyes. We are wonderfully made people, and God understands us perfectly. God knows the difference between all of my tears. Even when I cannot quite express how I'm feeling, God knows. He knows me better than I know myself. He can gather my tears, classify them, and make an account of them.

P) Father, thank You for knowing me so perfectly. Don't let me ever get in the way of You ministering to me perfectly, directly. You are too wonderful for me to fully understand, and too wonderful to not fully understand me. Remind me, when my world is swirling, that You understand. You know what I am facing, and the things through which I am going. Thank You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/09/2014; 2 Samuel 17:8-10

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 17; Psalm 71; Matthew 26

S) "⁸ Moreover, Hushai said, 'You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and will not spend the night with the people. ⁹ Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, "There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom." ¹⁰ And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely lose heart; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man and those who are with him are valiant men.'"

2 Samuel 17:8-10 (NASB)

O) So, in yesterday's entry, we saw how David prayed so that the advice of Ahithophel would be fruitless. Here, we see how David's spy, Hushai, is able to thwart the advice given to David's son, by planting new advice. God takes care of the rest (see v.14). A lot of this plan of misdirection, though, relies heavily on David's reputation. Although Hushai gives some misleading information about David being apart from his men, it is mixed with a lot of truth. David was, indeed, a very good battle strategist and general. He did, in fact, have Mighty Men with him. All of Israel was well acquainted with David's military exploits.

A) This verse is an excellent example of the power of a good reputation. I don't think it should be my goal to pray and seek a good reputation, just for the sake of looking good. In fact, that would be quite dangerous for me, both because of my own struggle with arrogance and pride, but also because of what Jesus said about being careful when everyone loves you (see Luke 6:26). My heart in it, then, is the key. My reputation is just one more thing, then, that God might use for His benefit and glory. I need to behave in such a way, that my reputation is usable by the LORD.

P) Father, I want You to be able to use me in every way You will. Help me bear in mind, daily, that my actions will affect my reputation, and that will affect how You can use my reputation. I want to be credible, for Your sake. I want people to know I'm compassionate, for Your glory. I want people to know I am merciful, for Your praise. Help me walk according to these desires, so that You can bring them to pass. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/08/2014; 2 Samuel 15:31

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 15, 16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

S) "³¹ Now someone told David, saying, 'Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' And David said, 'O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.'"

2 Samuel 15:31 (NASB)

O) David was trying to prevent civil war, by allowing his own son to usurp his thrown without bloodshed. On his way out of town, he started to see where his allegiances really were, as various allies were either following him, or lagging behind. He is informed that Ahithophel, who was one of David's advisors, has turned on him. Unable to address it directly, as he is fleeing, he prays to God.

A) Sometimes, especially in the era of hyper-accessibility, I come across information upon which I cannot act immediately. Like, I'll see someone post a problem on Facebook, and I love that person, but I might be separated by several hundred miles. I cannot affect the situation, or the person, directly. What I can do, is pray. This verse is particularly poignant when I know about a person who is making a mistake and I cannot directly intervene. God can frustrate the ways of evil men, including the counsel they give to others, who would be misled by them.

P) Father, Thank You for hearing my prayers. Let me be faithfully obedient to pray, when I can physically do nothing else. Alert me, and instruct me, and show me when I need to act in prayer, to trust You to fight where I cannot. Increase my faith, to know that when I pray and request, according to Your will, it will happen in accordance to Your Word. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/07/2014; 2 Samuel 13:32-33

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 13, 14; Matthew 24

S) "³² Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, responded, 'Do not let my lord suppose they have put to death all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead; because by the intent of Absalom this has been determined since the day that he violated his sister Tamar. ³³ Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take the report to heart, namely, "all the king’s sons are dead," for only Amnon is dead.'"

2 Samuel 13:32-33 (NASB)

O) This is a sort of classic game of "telephone" well before the device was invented. The report got distorted, the further it got from firsthand accounts, and David got caught up in the worst-case-scenario. It is a little interesting that it was Jonadab who gives this good advice. Earlier in the chapter, it was this same Jonadab whom gave the ill-fated advice to Absolam in the first place, which created this tragedy. That shows how a person can give wise counsel, or risky advice, and how we still need to pray to discern which is which.

A) I cannot jump to conclusions; that is perhaps the most clear and simple application. It's easy to allow things to go from molehill to mountain pretty quickly, so I have to force myself to slow down and inquire of God to determine how serious something really is. This goes for everything from local news to Facebook posts. I need to rely on the Spirit to steady my mind and give me peace, even when there are relative emergencies and tragedies.

P) Father, maintain my peace, and calm my spirit within me. Help me to seek You first, when I receive alarming news, so that I can appropriately react in obedience and submission to Your will. Let the Holy Spirit lead me in mourning, fasting, grieving, and prayer, so that I am not aimless, and so that my prayers are the most effective they can be. I don't want to spin my wheels, praying about problems that are not real, and I don't want to blow off problems that are actually severe. Give me discipline to react as You instruct me to react. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/06/2014; 2 Samuel 11:2

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23

S) " 2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance."

2 Samuel 11:2 (NASB)

O) The first verse shows how David stayed behind while his generals did the fighting (and he took the credit; see yesterday's post). That lays the groundwork for this famous sexual transgression. His laziness and greed, led to him creating opportunity. Not only did he keep himself from battle, he also got up at bedtime (ask my kids and they'll tell you, that's never a good start). then, he let himself go outside, to the rooftop. I promise, this was not random. I'm sure that Davis knew what he could see from his rooftop.

A) This is the way sin (sexual ones, at least) draws us in. It's not direct, it spirals around the eventual sin, like a whirlpool, pulling us down. If a naked lady popped up out of nowhere on my computer, I'd close it down immediately. However, if seeds are planted, and I don't kill them, I have pretty much followed this same pattern. There are always several, sort of, checkpoint moments along this way, too. David should have gone to war. He should have stayed in bed. He should have stayed indoors. He should have kept his eyes on his own house. Along my tempted way, I also need to escape; I need to get out of the whirlpool.

P) Father, forgive my failures, when I do not escape. Give me strength to follow Your Spirit's lead, an get out of temptation's ways. Help me set myself up for success. Make me more aware of my own weaknesses, so I can prepare for the worst of temptations. Thank You for the promises of Your help when I'm tempted, and the promises of Your forgiveness. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/05/2014; 1 Chronicles 20:2

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22

S) "2 David took the crown of their king from his head, and he found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there was a precious stone in it; and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount."

1 Chronicles 20:2 (NASB)

O) It's worth noting that, in v.1, it's explained that David stayed in Jerusalem at this time, when kings normally go out to war. It's noteworthy because of the trouble it caused him with Bathsheba, but also because it sets the tone for this verse. He has gotten himself to a place where other people are doing the dirty work. It's important to see warfare this way, too, since David's life of violence was keeping him from God in various ways, and he knew it. But here, this verse is an expression of taking credit for work not his own. Joab had gone out and captured this city, essentially winning this battle, and yet it is David who where's this prize of the enemy's crown (see also, 2 Samuel 12:26-30).

A) It is human (i.e. sinful) nature to want to take credit for things I didn't do directly. Even indirect credit is pretty tempting to claim. It's a funny joke for someone to compliment my wife's cooking, and for me to say, "Thank you," followed by a, "one flesh," wink, and a gun. But really, it's born of a lethal combination of laziness and greed. The solution is to submit to God in obedience, and to choose contentment.

P) Father, I don't want to take credit for the work of other people; I don't want to desire that credit, either. Humble my heart to be content with where I am in my life. Help me see that the money I make is plenty, and that the things I have are already are more than enough. I don't want to live a life chasing temporal things. Remind me of the truly valuable, eternal things. Continue to draw out righteous character in me, that embraces hard work, especially in obedience to You, Father. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/04/2014; 1 Chronicles 18:14

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 8, 9; 1 Chronicles 18, 19; Matthew 21

S) "14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people."

1 Chronicles 18:14 (NASB)

O) This isn't to say David made no mistakes. His mistakes are pretty well documented, as a matter of fact. These were his values as king, though. Justice and righteousness were goals of his administration.

A) The purpose of leading is not to have other people wait on me. The purpose of being in charge, is not to enable me to pursue whatever I want to do. God didn't create leaders, myself included, to make little hedonists. As I lead my wife and kids, everything I do should promote justice and righteousness.

P) Father, continue to correct me when I get this wrong. Remind me that I lead my wife by edifying her. Remind me that I lead my children by educating them. Forgive me for using my authority selfishly, and show me when I need to forsake my pleasurable desires, in order to correctly sacrifice my desires in the name of righteousness and justice, and godly leadership. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.