SOAP 07/12/2014; Isaiah 12:5

Today's reading: Isaiah 11, 12, 13, 14; Hebrews 9

S) "⁵ Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things;
Let this be known throughout the earth."

Isaiah 12:5 (NASB)

O) People praise all of the time. We praise celebrities for their charities. We praise co-workers for a job well done. We praise leaders for good decisions. We praise companies for great service. We are creatures that praise. Even the most cynical people will praise something or someone, somewhere, sometimes. No person, thing, or act, deserves our praise like the LORD does. The thing about the word excellent (like many adjectives of this nature), is that it is a relative term. It doesn't simply mean exceedingly good, but it really means the most good; the best. Whatever good can be done, God does it the best. We can praise others, but because of God's preeminent goodness, He deserves preeminent praise. If we're going to praise at all, God should receive it first. If we're going to praise at all, God should receive it most. And His preferred form of praise seems to be song, as again mentioned here.

A) In terms of how I will act on this Scripture, there are really only two points (or even 1a and 1b), because this verse is fairly straightforward. First, I need to be sure that I am praising the LORD as excellent. Second, my praise should be bold and purposeful. The reason I might tell someone about a bank that gave me great service (for example), is because I'm recommending that they give the bank a try. Praise is purposeful. In relation to God, the purpose of my praise is to tell everyone that God does excellently, and He alone is worthy of our devotion and obedience.

P) Father, You are excellent. Thank You for choosing me, for saving me, for drawing me to You. Let me dwell on Your excellence. Let me think on it daily, to remember how much better You are than any other. I want to give You preeminent praise. Let me be purposeful, with boldness, in my praise of You. Whether by song, or spoken testimony, or even just my daily actions, help me be bold when I glorify You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/11/2014; Isaiah 8:11-14

Today's reading: Isaiah 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 8

S) "¹¹ For thus the Lord spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

^12 'You are not to say, "It is a conspiracy!"
In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy,
And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
^13 'It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear,
And He shall be your dread.
^14 'Then He shall become a sanctuary;
But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over,
And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.'"

Isaiah 8:11-14 (NASB)

O) Isaiah was told point-blank to be counter-culture. This was written shortly before Assyria was to conquer the Kingdom of Israel. False prophecies and foolish counsel would run wild, so Isaiah is told to be wary of what the people would be saying. At the root of the point, is that trusting in God fully, is mutually exclusive, to fearing anything or anyone else. In fact, our fear of others is in direct, converse proportion to our trust in God. As it is explained in vv. 13-14, by fearing only the LORD, we are assured that He is a sanctuary to us, instead of a stumbling block or snare.

A) There is a lot to digest and apply here. I think the main focus for me, though, is the correlation between fear and trust of the LORD. That doesn't seem to make sense on the surface. Like, why would fearing Him mean I also trust Him more? But, the underlying statement here, is almost that I will fear. I don't think anyone who knows me would describe me as a fearful person, but maybe that's just because my fears are so intangible. Maybe I've had a hard time recognizing my fears. Maybe we all have fears, constantly, and some are just harder to identify. I need to make a prayerful effort to learn what I do fear, and surrender it to God. I need to replace those fears of "other" with a fear of the LORD, so that I can more fully trust Him, and He can be my sanctuary among a people full of outside fears and conspiracies.

P) Father, thank You for continuing to change me. I see grace in virtually every part of my life. In truth, open my eyes to see it in literally every part, because I acknowledge that it must be there and I just need to recognize Your grace better. Please continue to reveal the truth of my heart's condition, Lord. Show me what I actually fear. I have come to learn some of those fears more clearly, but as You continue to enlighten me to them, help me to surrender them to You. I want to fully trust You, which means to only fear You. Please be a sanctuary to me, amidst the chaos and fear that my culture exhibits. In Jesus's name I pray, amen.

SOAP 07/10/2014; Micah 6:7

Today's reading: Micah 5, 6, 7; Hebrews 7


S) "⁷ Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams,
In ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"

Micah 6:7 (NASB)

O) There are many Bible verses that touch on this idea. Scriptures like 1 Samuel 15:22 or Psalm 50:7-15, remind us that the sacrifice is just a thing. The sacrifices were never meant to be a form of negotiation, but that is exactly how they became in the eyes of God's people. It's not much different today. The last line of Micah's point in this verse, paint the contrast in the most clear light. There is nothing physical that we can do that will atone for the spiritual transgressions of our sins. This point is driven home again by Jesus, when He points over and over to sin originating inside of us, in our hearts.

A) There is a tendency I have noticed, especially after I have sinned with something of an old struggle, or an obvious transgression. I tend to want to do, act, fix something. I have a tendency to want to take on some kind of penance. This verse is an excellent reminder that there is nothing I can offer in the physical for the sin in the spiritual. That's the bigger point. All sin is a failing in my soul that creates a spiritual debit, and there is nothing physical that I can do to gain credit. Righteousness was given to Abraham by his faith. It is my faith in Jesus, and the spiritual act of repentance, that washes me clean by the sacrifice Jesus Christ gave when He died on the cross in my place. Not only is it impossible for me to negotiate in physical terms for a spiritual debt, but it's impossible to negotiate a debt that has already been cleared.

P) Father, thank You, eternally. Your amazing grace cannot be overstated. I know that I cannot fully appreciate all that you have done for me, but what I can understand humbles me. The disconnect that I see between the sin of my soul, and the attempts of my flesh, highlights the grace of my redemption. I was so completely helpless, that nothing could save me except pure grace. Thank You for doing what I could never do. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/09/2014; Micah 1:5

Today's reading: Micah 1, 2, 3, 4; Hebrews 6


S) "⁵ All this is for the rebellion of Jacob
And for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the rebellion of Jacob?
Is it not Samaria?
What is the high place of Judah?
Is it not Jerusalem?"

Micah 1:5 (NASB)

O) Micah prophesied the destruction of the capital cities of Judah and Israel (Jerusalem and Samaria, respectively). If you read through both books of Kings and/or Chronicles, the guilt that Jeroboam brought upon Israel after initially splitting the kingdom, makes it clear that the ongoing rebellion in Samaria was evil in the sight of the LORD. So, the first four lines of this verse were easily taken in stride when I read them. But then, when Jerusalem is described as "the high place of Judah," that took me aback a little. Then, I was some context about Jerusalem, and it started to make sense. Jerusalem was a city on a hill (see Joshua 15:8). It was long known for it's strong defenses (see 2 Samuel 5:6-9). It was never completely conquered (see Judges 1:21). There are many, many instances in the Bible, of the people showing great pride in their capital city. It's not always negative, but when the pride becomes misplaced, and you combine that with the actual idolatry that was taking place in the city (under certain kings), and you have a city that was praised for it's geography, where people were sacrificing to idols; you have a high place.

A) The real danger, here, is when things start becoming more than things. God blesses His people in many ways, with various manifestations. However, anytime we start to use, or even appreciate, those blessings and things, outside of the context of our Lord, then it's becoming idolatry. For example, owning a house is a huge blessing. In our culture, however, owning a house is also a form of "financial security." That is a very, very dangerous mindset for a Christian, though. If I am considering any things to be a form of security for me (savings account, house, insurance policy, weapons, city), then I am not properly acknowledging the sovereignty of God. I am basically hoping that the thing will protect me, instead of trusting that the LORD will protect me, according to His sovereign will. God may still use some of those things to perform His will, just as He strengthened Jerusalem's walls (see Psalm 51:18), but this is about focus, acknowledgement, priority, and trust in the LORD.

P) Father, thank You for the blessings You have put into my life. Thank You for the things, both tangible and intangible, with which You have surrounded me. Help me, though, to recognize when those very same things, which were intended as blessings, have become snares. I never want an accumulation of stuff to become an altar. I never want elevated status (by the world's definition) to mean I am standing in a high place. If, in Your infinite wisdom and knowledge of me, You know that part of keeping me humble is keeping me from "things," then by any and all means, keep me from those things. Let Your will be done in my life continually, to the glory of Your name alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/08/2014; Psalm 102:18

Today's reading: Hosea 13, 14; Psalm 100, 101, 102; Hebrews 5


S) "¹⁸ This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord."

Psalm 102:18 (NASB)

O) This is really the sentiment that Moses must have had, when he first undertook the writings of the Pentateuch. Before that, the entire history of Israel was kept by close oral tradition. God's purpose, is that generation to generation, His people will continue following after Him. Several times in the history of Judah, their kings found the writings of the Law, and were able to turn their hearts (and people) back toward the LORD. This verse acknowledges that our influence as people on earth can be limited, but through our writings and teachings, God can extend that influence for His purposes. We see that result in the entirety of the Bible. God supernaturally preserves the His written Word, so that future generations may know Him. This also extends to other great writings by Christians before us. While not Scripture, there is a lot to learn from the pens of men and women who are now in heaven.

A) This verse was a prayer to me for my children, before I was even married. When I was a teenager, struggling to follow God when it felt like everyone near me was against me, I found this verse, and it became a prayer for me. While my own children are here, now, I hope to some day have grandchildren, and then great-grandchildren, and on and on. It would be an incredible honor, if some of these entries were preserved for those generations. This verse is a reminder of opportunity, that extends beyond Bible study, also. I have said it for some time, but I the value of recording my own testimonies cannot be understated. The Bible is a constant, and through the grace and providence of God, it will be available for future generations. But, my own family can benefit from hearing my testimonies about the goodness of God. The LORD can use that to build faith and bring victory in their lives as well.

P) Father, I want to thank You first, for all of my testimony. You have been so very good to me, for so very long, even beyond what I really know. However, for the goodness I do know, for the miracles, provisions, healings, and grace that I can acknowledge, I thank You. Please help me; motivate and guide me. I want to be able to tell my offspring, my future generations, not just my thoughts about various Scriptures, but also how much You changed my life, in so many ways. If it is in Your will, let them hear of it, that they may praise Your name. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/07/2014; Hosea 10:12

Today's reading: Hosea 10, 11, 12; Psalm 73; Hebrews 4


S) "¹² Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you."

Hosea 10:12 (NASB)

O) This verse is a call to repentance. Hosea uses farming terms to describe how seeking the LORD, and serving Him, and obeying Him, takes determined effort. When a farmer sows seed, he does so with a view to harvest. The word "kindness," there, can also be translated as "loyalty." When a farmer is reaping, he does so faithfully for what he has sown. God is calling for the same kind of labored efforts to be made in following after Him. Fallow ground is soil that may have previously been plowed, but has no seed in it. Usually, that is to allow the soil to become fertile again through crop rotation. Hosea called to the readers to prepare their unfruitful hearts, seek the LORD, and remain faithful until He brings about righteousness through grace.

A) The highlight, to me, is really the second line. As in Matthew 13:23, I need to treat my heart as soil, and God's word is the seed. There have been areas of my heart (talents, passions, desires) that have not been particularly fruitful, and I haven't necessarily allowed God's seed to really penetrate those areas. As God softens those areas of my heart, it is up to me to prepare myself to receive from the LORD. I need to seek Him out, for His words to be sown, and allow Him to bring forth righteous fruit in new areas of my heart.

P) Father, thank You for humbling me, and softening my heart, and showing me the areas in which I still need to grow. Give me the courage I need, and the discipline it takes, to make the changes I know need to happen. Motivate me to action. Help me to see the long term perspective, God. Help me to sow with a view to righteousness, obtained by grace, and let me seek You earnestly. Open my eyes to see the very real benefit of giving every area of my heart to You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/06/2014; Hosea 7:3

Today's reading: Hosea 6, 7, 8, 9; Hebrews 3


S) "³ With their wickedness they make the king glad,
And the princes with their lies."

Hosea 7:3 (NASB)

O) Today's political environment has developed a severe mistrust of politicians. We acknowledge that, like Hosea described, they are often pleased with wickedness and lies. And yet, we seem to be surprised whenever politics lead our country away from Christianity (morals or practices). Because our government is based on election, I do think we still have an obligation to vote prayerfully, but we also need to remember that authority is established by God (see Romans 12:1). That presents a different perspective. Then, as Hosea points out, our focus shifts from the "king" and "princes" to the people.

A) When we read Revelation, we realize that there will not be a single "Christian country" in the world, at some point. I don't think there is anything wrong with hoping the United States remains faithful to God (or as faithful as possible), but I think we might be spinning our wheels, fighting something that is inevitable, while neglecting what God would have us do otherwise. I think we may never change the direction of the leadership of our country. Abortion will probably always be legal, as will gay marriage. Teachers are never going to be able to read the Bible in public classrooms, or lead students in prayer. So, our focus must return to the people, the individuals. I need to put my focus on the community around me. I need to love them, lead them to Jesus, show them the hope of the LORD, and exemplify the contrast between what God wants, and what our king and princes want.

P) Father, thank You for being my King. Thank You for bringing me forth, and opening my eyes to see Your ways, and my ears to hear Your words. Put my focus where You want it, according to Your will. Help me be focused on the areas You want me to address. Let Your will be done in my country, and in my life personally, as I seek to please You, and You alone, God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.