SOAP 06/21/2014; 2 Kings 6:17

Today's reading: 2 Kings 6, 7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3

S) "¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

2 Kings 4:3-6 (NASB)

O) The LORD had been revealing to Elisha, the battle plans of the king of Aram. So, the king grew evermore frustrated, and went to besiege the city where Elisha was living. Elisha's servant was distraught, but Elisha assures him that they outnumber Aram's army. Seeing the spiritual side of the battle, Elisha knew that God was for him, and so no king and no army was going to defeat him.

A) It's important for me to remember a few principles from this, and then a great example. Every battle is a spiritual battle, so my eyes can be deceiving. When I face odds that look overwhelming, I remind myself that God is for me, and so I always have the advantage over my enemies. Then, there is the remarkable example, of Elisha praying for someone else's eyes to be opened. That has application to, literally, everyone I know and love. Closed eyes and ears, were a stumbling block to the Pharisees (see Matthew 13:15). Open eyes and ears come from the LORD (see Proverbs 20:12). These two things together, are every reason to pray for this daily for the people I love. I have, and will continue, to pray for their eyes (and ears) to be opened to what God is doing.

P) Father, thank You for the grace at work in my own life. I know that I am not aware of everything You're doing - not even a measurable fraction - but You opened my eyes and ears enough to see Your grace, to accept Your mercy, through the sacrifice of Your son, Jesus Christ. I pray that You open the eyes and ears of all of my loved ones, inasmuch as to receive that same revelation of grace and mercy. According to Your will, please make me aware of the spiritual battles that occur around me, and do the same in the lives of my loved ones, as well. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/20/2014; 2 Kings 4:3-6

Today's reading: 2 Kings 4, 5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2

S) "³ Then he said, 'Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. ⁴ And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full.' ⁵ So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. ⁶ When the vessels were full, she said to her son, 'Bring me another vessel.' And he said to her, 'There is not one vessel more.' And the oil stopped."

2 Kings 4:3-6 (NASB)

O) This story really, really grabbed me. This was a single-mother, widow of a prophet's son. She was in debt, in danger of losing her sons to slavery, when she comes to Elisha for help. It's the last verse here, that is so profound. First, Elisha tells the widow to get "vessels at large... from all... do not get a few." (emphasis added). Then, when we skip to v.6, we see why. God, through Elisha, gave this widow an incredible gift. He was essentially writing her a blank check! The oil didn't stop flowing, until after the last vessels were full! So, what would have happened if she had another ten vessels? Or another hundred vessels? A thousand more? Myriad more? More directly, what if Elisha had said the promise this way, "Get as many vessels as you can, because as soon as you fill the last vessel, the oil will stop." I mean, when he first gave the directions, I imagine she may have asked two or three neighbors. However, if she knew ahead of time, that however many vessels she gathered, would be filled...? What she received here, was directly limited by two things - her expectations and her preparations. With the two working together, a greater expectation and preparation, she would have thought to get more vessels, but not just thought - she actually would have obtained more vessels.



A) It is quite important to make two things clear. First, this is not an example of a "name and claim" or "prosperity gospel" that pervades certain churches. Second, this is not about greed. Financially speaking, the vessels this woman did gather, were plenty to get her out of debt and live on the remainder (see v.7). If I read this story and see that God is my provider (Jehovah Jireh), and I stop there, then I am surely more limited than the widow was. The point of this story, is to remind us that God is more than we can ever imagine. He is more powerful, more compassionate, more patient, more prosperous, more wise, more gracious, and more loving than we could ever even imagine Him to be (see Ephesians 3:20-21). When I come to God with my problem, with my circumstance, and I'm holding up the pieces of what was a hopelessly broken situation, and I beg Him to fix it, and I know He has the power to make it right, and I believe He will recreate what was shattered... am I still limiting God? Is my faith still so small? What if, while I'm clinging desperately to the disintegrated, hoping and praying and believing for the miracle of reconstitution... what if I am asking all the wrong questions? What if, instead of just meeting the need, God wants to surpass what I'm asking, beyond what I need? What if the thing God wants to give me, won't even fit in my hands? Can I dare to believe that the same God who loves me, and gives me grace in all things, would give me grace in all things? There is a careful balance, and I do not want this to become twisted into an entitled, haughty, evil thing. In humility and thankfulness we ask Him in our prayers (see Philippians 4:6). But, we need to remember that He is a Father. He is a good Father (see Matthew 7:11), and every good gift already comes from Him (see James 1:17), and it is all the same grace. So, I will let go of my version of "fixed" or "provided" and allow Him to be more. I will be bold to believe for more. I will even dare to expect more, and prepare for more.



P) Father, I just have no idea, the depths of Your grace, but I want to know. Unlock my heart, God, to believe tomorrow for things I couldn't imagine yesterday. In all things, let me be ever humble, ever thankful, submitting myself to Your sovereign will. And from that place, increase my faith, God. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, to understand what You mean when You say "large... all... not few." By Your will, I thank You for meeting all of my needs, and wanting to give me more. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/19/2014; 2 Kings 1:13-15

Today's reading: 2 Kings 1, 2, 3; Psalm 82; 1 Timothy 1

S) "¹³ So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, 'O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. ¹⁴ Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.' ¹⁵ The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, 'Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.' So he arose and went down with him to the king."

2 Kings 1:13-15 (NASB)

O) Elijah was nearing the end of his time on earth. He had seen great wickedness in Israel, at the hands of Ahab and Jezebel. When their son, Ahaziah, took the throne, he was no better. He fell ill, and was seeking his future from prophets of Baal-zebub. The LORD told Elijah to intercept the king's messengers, and rebuke the king, and tell him he will surely die. So, When Ahaziah learned that it was Elijah (no doubt, he knew of his parents' hatred of him), he sent armed men to get Elijah.

A) There are two sides of this, but they are really saying the same thing - be cautious. The third captain finally had enough sense to humble himself before the prophet of the true God. Elijah had enough sense to be mindful of the warning/allowance the LORD was giving him. There are times when I will have confrontation - it is inevitable as a follower of Jesus (see Luke 6:22-23), but what is important, is to know whether or not to fight back, or flee, or concede. Like the captain, I need to be aware of the circumstances around me, before me. Like Elijah, I need to remember who my enemies are, and be prayerful about when, and how, to fight. As Christians, we are reminded that our fight is a spiritual one (see Ephesians 6:12), but there will still be physical manifestations of that spiritual fight (see Luke 22:36 or 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). The best thing to do, ultimately, is pray constantly, and implore the LORD to give me warning and instruction.

P) Father, first and foremost, I thank You for the assurance of Your victory. I know that when You are with me, I have the ultimate, final victory. Through Jesus Christ, death has lost its sting, and the grave is defeated. While I am here, though, I want to walk in every victory You will establish for me. I cannot see ahead, though, Father. Please reveal to me the hidden dangers, and approaching foes. Give me warning and instruction, so that I am prepared for every conflict, well aware of what You require from me, and what it will take for me to walk out in Your victory. Everything to Your glory, God, according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/18/2014; 2 Chronicles 18:3-4

Today's reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18, 19; Colossians 4

S) "³ Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 'Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?' And he said to him, 'I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.'
⁴ Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, 'Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.'"

2 Chronicles 18:3-4 (NASB)

O) Jehoshaphat was, by most accounts, a good king. He feared God, and did a lot to reform Judah so they would follow the LORD. If you were to rank the kings of Israel and Judah, he'd be up there. On the flip-side, Ahab was one of the worst kings ever. His evil rivaled Jeroboam himself. Here, Jehoshaphat is visiting Israel, because he'd made a treaty, and Ahab uses the visit to entreat him in war. A lot can be said for why Jehoshaphat was allying himself with the evil king, but I really want to point out the good, here. While Jehoshaphat failed to ask the LORD if his alliance was a good one, he at least recovers a step, and wants to seek God before heading off to war (although, he did prematurely commit himself). Unfortunately, even after Micaiah prophesied defeat, Jehoshaphat still goes with Ahab.

A) So, to focus on the positive for a bit, I need to emphasize that it's never too late to pray about it (whatever "it" I'm facing). Obviously, I pay attention to Jehoshaphat's first mistake, and pray before I align myself with others in such a committed way. Also, prayer does no good if I am not obedient to the words of God. However, I need to remember, especially when I do sense that I may have gotten myself into trouble, that it's never too late to pray about it. Like a GPS, God will say, "redirecting route" and give me correction. Maybe my mistake will still cost me something, but God's ways are still better than my ways. His remedies, fixes, damage-control, etc. - all better than anything I will come up with myself.

P) Father, You are exceedingly good, and Your grace covers all of my errors. Remind me, especially when I realize I've acted foolishly, to seek You once again. When I find Your word, instruction, or warning, let me heed it with all obedience. I humble myself and acknowledge that Your ways are incomparably better than my ways. Thank You for making the most of my mistakes when I do turn to You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/17/2014; 1 Kings 20:13

Today's reading: 1 Kings 20, 21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

S) "¹³ Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, 'Thus says the Lord, "Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the Lord."'"

1 Kings 20:13 (NASB)

O) What incredible grace! This Ahab, the same who just witnessed Elijah's victory over the prophets of baal and asherah but failed to change his heart (see SOAP 06/16/2014), the same who is later described as unique in his evil (see 1 Kings 21:25) - this Ahab is about to receive unmatched grace! He was literally about to forfeit the women, children, gold, and silver of his nation (see vv.5-9) to a foreign king. Instead, God intervenes and prevents a stupid, grievous mistake. Not only does God stop him from doing this foolish thing, the LORD actually gives him a victory over this same foreign king! So, it's not just that God prevented a negative, but He actually created a positive. Amazing grace, indeed.

A) Examples like this tend to make me appreciate grace in a new way. I'd already been reading/writing about God giving apparent prosperity to the wicked (see SOAP 06/15/2014), and so the magnitude of this grace really just slapped me in the face. But that's the trick of grace, isn't it? In human terms, we are amazed when grace covers such incredible atrocities, but in God's terms, grace is grace is grace. The grace God has for me when I lie about something trivial, is the same grace He had for Ahab. We tend to think of grace in amounts though, don't we? I think that's an error. What was the grace that was required from God to save Ahab? Was it not the fact that "The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness"? (see Exodus 34:6, Psalm 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, and more). And, that is the same exact grace that I have been given. There is this idea that His grace builds a bridge for us to reconnect with God. Sometimes, we get caught up in measuring that gap, though. The danger is that we trick ourselves into thinking that we aren't so bad. Like, we look around, seeing the length of grace-bridge other people are crossing, and we see ours as so much smaller. Like, somehow, we didn't need "as much" grace. But that's a lie! We needed the exact. same. amount. You know what that amount is? Complete! The amount is: all of it! This grace, which is amazing when seen in Saul's conversion to Paul (see Acts 9), is easier to accept when we can see a human purpose. The Apostle Paul was crucial in the expansion of the church, writing of the Bible, and spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. What did Ahab do, after receiving such grace? Murdered a man and stole his vineyard (see 1 Kings 21). That takes the grace from amazing, to just baffling. But, isn't that the point of grace? The nature of grace, especially in light of the gospel, is that God gives it as an absolute gift, because God doesn't give grace that just barely makes up for our deficiencies. We know this because He gives grace irrespective of our relative deficiencies. It's all the same, immeasurable, inconceivable grace! So, with that, I stop trying to quantify, or qualify, the grace given to me. His grace is in everything good in my life. His grace is infinite, and it is not limited in scope - only my ability to see it is limited in scope.

P) Father, Your grace really is beyond my understanding it wholly. But God, I thank You that I am starting to understand some of it, if not the sum of it. Help me accept Your grace for all that it is, despite my inability to grasp it for all that it is. Discipline my heart, to stop comparing the grace I see in my life, with what I see in the lives of others. Remind me that it is all the same, inexplicable, logic-defying grace. Thank You for this grace, which overcomes my circumstances, and overwhelms my sensibilities. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/16/2014; 1 Kings 18:21

Today's reading: 1 Kings 17, 18, 19; Colossians 2

S) "²¹ Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people did not answer him a word."

1 Kings 18:21 (NASB)

O) This is a huge confrontation, as Elijah squares off with 850 idolatrous priests, in front of a nation, on top of a mountain! I mean, it really doesn't get much more intense than this. This fight is very much like David vs. Goliath. While David fought Goliath physically, Elijah fought these men prayerfully. In both cases, it was to prove the power and reality of the LORD. Both men shared a common, vital characteristic - they both had faith that was tested. Elijah was able to be so bold because he had become entirely convinced that the LORD was God, irrefutably. In the end, his fath on display is as simple as his proposition.

A) While there is a good lesson to learn about bold faith, I think this verse really demands that I answer Elijah's question. I think the only appropriate answer to give, is to say, "No longer!" Then again, this isn't really about words, it's about actions. It's a daily call, to acknowledge the LORD, to submit to Him as sovereign, and to forsake anything else that would divide my devotion to Him. Just as these people would see, as this chapter unfolds, I have seen the power of God at work right in front of me, within me. So, the real challenge is to relive the fight. By playing the victories in my head, over and over, it will force me to acknowledge Him; I will have to answer Elijah's question, every time I remember when the LORD slew a giant for me, every time I remember when the fire of God burned undeniably.

P) Father, I have such a terrible habit of replaying all of my defeats, over and over, in my head. It does no good, and is obviously a ploy of the enemy. I want to break that habit, God. Help me start a new habit, LORD. I want to relive the victories You have given me. Remind me, Father, of the rescue mission You completed. Remind me of the amazing grace You gave me, even before I knew You. Remind me of the provision You've proven, of the healing You have given, of the freedom You have established. I want to relive the championship You have wrought for me, to remember that You are God, and there is no other. The LORD is God, and I will serve Him alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/15/2014; 1 Kings 16:29-30

Today's reading: 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15, 16; Colossians 1

S) "²⁹ Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. ³⁰ Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him."

1 Kings 16:29-30 (NASB)

O) This Ahab, he was one of the most evil kings of Israel ever, and was the difinitively worst up to this point. In the history just before him, though, we see a string of kings who are dethroned and destroyed for their wickedness, some only being king a matter of days. There are many Psalms and Proverbs, regarding the mystery of successful, evil men. The above verses struck me, though, because they were such a vivid example of that mystery. Why does the LORD allow such men to rule? And for twenty-two years? That is one of the longest reigns of all the kings of Israel, and it came from one of the worst.

A) We pretty much never see the full picture of what God is doing. In fact, we usually only see a part of it, if even that. But, I must continue to put my trust in the sovereignty and goodness of God. Fully trusting Him doesn't just mean that I accept my place, in not knowing all of the details. Trusting Him also means that I give up my desire to have all of the information. Knowledge is useless if it doesn't change our behavior. So, if I'm choosing obedience regardless of whether or not I have all of the details of God's plans, then that means the knowledge of such details is actually useless to me. I give up the desire for useless knowledge. I trust that He knows why He is allowing evil men to live, and I control what I actually can control: my own obedience and devotion to Him.

P) Father, I concede that You are a mystery to me. Your ways are too great for me to fully understand, and so I forfeit my desire to have all of Your knowledge, I humbly admit that I could not give You counsel, even if I did have all of the facts. So, I choose obedience, with however much of Your plan You choose to reveal. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.