SOAP 07/19/2014; 2 Kings 17:25-26

Today's reading: 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

S) "²⁵ At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them which killed some of them. ²⁶ So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, 'The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.'"

2 Kings 17:25-26 (NASB)

O) The people mentioned in this passage were not Israelites, but they were exiles from other countries, that the Assyrians had then supplanted into Samaria, in place of the Israelites formerly driven out of the city. The new residents did well to recognize that there must have been a reason, even a divine one, for the lions coming and killing their people. When the king heard their complaint, he sent a priest of the LORD to teach them about God (vv.27-28). The real problem was manifested later in the chapter, when these new inhabitants did not revere the LORD as they should have, and they reverted to the idol worship they practiced in years past (vv.38-41).

A) Here is the problem of these inhabitants: they were seeking a god of salvation, instead of a god of sovereignty. I use a lower-case "g" there, because these people were searching in ignorance. This is very much like many people in today's world. People are searching for a solution to the problem they face. They are looking for a god of salvation - even if they do not call it that. They want a supernatural solution to a problem, but they aren't looking for a new allegiance. The LORD is the only living God, however - He gets capital letters. Furthermore, the Lord GOD is not satisfied being our god of salvation. He is sovereign. He isn't simply looking for damsels in distress, He is looking for citizens for His Kingdom. So, if I am seeking a god to save me, or even The God to save me, I will end up walking away, because I will not treat Him as Lord, as sovereign, with the faithfulness He requires. In the midst of my struggles, I should not be looking for salvation, I should be looking for sovereignty.

P) Father, You are holy, powerful, just, and sovereign. Thank You for being my Lord, my God. Rebuke me when I am tempted to treat You as a common solution to a problem. Remind me with fierce discipline, that You are my Master, and my faithfulness to You is not optional. Remind me that I am a citizen of Your Kingdom, which will never pass away. When I face a trouble, a problem, or a conflict, let me seek You because You are sovereign, not simply because You can save me. I submit to seeking Your will to be done, however You decide. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/18/2014; Isaiah 33:14-15

Today's reading: Isaiah 32, 33, 34, 35; James 2

S) "¹⁴ Sinners in Zion are terrified;
Trembling has seized the godless.
'Who among us can live with the consuming fire?
Who among us can live with continual burning?'
¹⁵ He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity,
He who rejects unjust gain
And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe;
He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed
And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;"

Isaiah 33:14-15 (NASB)

O) There is a lot to say about this passage, so we'll take it line by line.
God is speaking about His own people being guilty, and therefore, terrified.
Then, of course people who reject the LORD altogether will face judgment. All sin brings wrath.
The first thought I had about the consuming fire and continual burning, was the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, from Daniel 3. Their faithfulness to God was counted as righteousness (see Hebrews 11:34 in context of the whole chapter).
Verse 15 is not exhaustive, but it describes a righteous life. The first three points are not unfamiliar. Honesty and integrity are almost universally positive moral traits. The last two points, however, are a little more unique. Isaiah points out that hearing about bloodshed, and looking upon evil, stand in the way of a righteous walk. Perhaps the most interesting aspect, is to consider that the instruction is somewhat reactive. In life, it is nigh impossible to avoid hearing about bloodshed or looking upon evil, but this is significantly different that allowing ourselves to continue to hear and see, let alone actively seeking opportunities to hear and see.

A) These verses have a pretty broad application. The first verse is really a reminder that God's standard is perfection. Alone, we fail that standard. In Christ, however, the standard is met and we can approach the throne of grace with confidence (see Hebrews 4:16). The second verse gives some practical instruction to live a holy life, but I think the last two lines require careful consideration. They are particularly applicable in the areas of entertainment and news. In either sense, the concern should always be the relative proximity to holiness, though, and not the relative proximity to sin. If I am growing in Christ, then I am trying to maintain righteousness, not flirting with the boundaries of sin.

P) Father, You are holy and pure, righteous and good. Your instruction blesses my soul, and Your discipline makes me more like Christ. Let the Holy Spirit challenge me, to greater and greater purity, according to Your definition and will. Convict me about the things I see and hear, and let bloodshed and evil be abhorrent to me, so that I am actually grieved by them, like the righteous man, Lot. may every area of my life, including what I see and hear, glorify You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/17/2014; Isaiah 29:13

Today's reading: Isaiah 29, 30, 31; James 1

S) "¹³ Then the Lord said,

'Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of ^[e]tradition learned by rote,'"

Isaiah 29:13 (NASB)

O) This is a preface from the God, giving the reasons for the coming discipline of His people. His children were not truly committed to Him. They were going through the motions, but their hearts were not in it. In today's world, this is like going to church on Sundays, singing all of the worship songs, and maybe even filling out the note card for the sermon; all while being devoted to another, or while harboring a secret sin. In a marriage, this is the person who is secretly committing adultery while their spouse genuinely has no idea. Except, God is the faithful bridegroom, and He knows full well of the infidelity, and He is patient - to a point.

A) This verse has been fairly familiar to me for some time now, I guess. So, when I read it, it wasn't exactly a revelation to me, but I was reflective while reading it. As I was digging into it, I found two things of note. First, the separation from God is on the people, as they "remove their hearts" actively. This is beyond the "sin separates, when I sin it's my fault" type of progression. This language really implies a more willful rebellion. The second thing was the footnote I left. It reads, "Lit commandment of rulers" and suddenly, I was thinking of this verse in a whole new context. I cannot, under any circumstance, allow my children to grow up in the church with a reverence for God that is because of my commandment to do so. Well before they reach their teenage years, I have a responsibility to show my children what it means to really be devoted to the LORD, the struggle of it, and especially the benefit of it. When they see that faithfulness to God, trust in Him, as second to none, is second to none, then they will revere Him well beyond my instruction to do so.

P) Father, thank You for continuing to discipline me. I trust that it is the proof of Your love for me, and that the discipline brings greater righteousness in me, which brings greater glory to You. Continue to discipline me according to Your will. Show me, guide me by the Holy Spirit, to lead my family in faithfulness to You. Let them see the benefit, the compassion and lovingkindness, and the eternal blessing You have secured for us, by faith in, and love of, Your Son. Whatever that takes, Lord, let it happen according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/16/2014; Isaiah 26:12

Today's reading: Isaiah 25, 26, 27, 28; Hebrews 13

S) "¹² Lord, You will establish peace for us,
Since You have also performed for us all our works."

Isaiah 26:12 (NASB)

O) This just became a new favorite verse for me. This is in the middle of a song, that Isaiah proclaims will be sung in the land of Judah (see v.1), proclaiming trust in the LORD as He is victorious over His enemies (see vv.4-5, for example). And, while the chapter mentions the protection and provision of righteous people a few times, this verse stands out because it links two very, very important things: righteousness and grace. This verse lays to rest, the idea that we can somehow attain righteousness, and therefore earn peace with God. On the contrary, it is because of the actions of the LORD, that peace is established, and it is done so by His performance, not ours. Namely, it is because of the work done on the cross, and at the resurrection, of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). This verse links two time periods by the same grace, because even before Jesus came, God chose His people - grace. And after Jesus came, even Jesus Himself reminds us that He chose us, and not the other way around - grace (see John 15:16). God's plan, even from the beginning, was to offer grace, and to do the righteousness-establishing, peace-establishing work for us.

A) The first thing to remember, is that this verse is about peace between us and God. There will still be struggles, strife, trials, and conflicts in life. We will not always have peace with others, or peace with the world. However, having peace with God establishes peace within, removes fears, and allows us to work through our life with joy and faith and hope. Another thing to remember from this verse, is that I cannot do anything to establish peace between myself and God, particularly after sin has created separation. God knows now, just as He has always known, that I will sin. He knew that, and yet sent Jesus in my place. For me to try and atone for my sins, is for me to dishonor that substitution. I think the last thing to do, in light of this verse, is to honor God by living out this truth by example. One of the biggest criticisms I hear about Christianity, is that we are "self-righteous," but that couldn't be further from the truth. By humbly and openly admitting that I do not have it all together, and that I am not perfect, I can try to change the perception one encounter at a time, and show others that having peace with God is not about some work that they'll have to do, because He already did it.

P) Father, thank You for the eternal grace that You established. Thank You for the love You have shown to Your servant. Thank You for the mercy I receive, because of the work Jesus did in taking my place. Help me to walk out this truth, sincerely showing Your grace to those around me. Keep me humble, so that my life can be used to spread the news of Your plan for redemption. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/15/2014; Isaiah 22:16-17a

Today's reading: Isaiah 22, 23, 24; Hebrews 12

S) "¹⁶ What right do you have here,
And whom do you have here,
That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here,
You who hew a tomb on the height,
You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock?
¹⁷ ‘Behold, the Lord is about to hurl you headlong, O man."

Isaiah 22:16-17a (NASB)

O) This is a big, scary charge, levied against Shebna. It's a specific prophecy, against a specific person, and it doesn't end here. This continues on down through v.23, foretelling his successor. So, while the details of this charge are not applicable to us, the warning against pride is very useful. Shebna had become a shame of his master's house, and would die in another country for it (see v.18).

A) Sometimes we like to pretend that culture today is so advanced and different than ancient cultures. While there are many, many advantages to our current times, people still struggle with the same basic questions. What happens to us when we die is a fundamental issue that we cannot truly solve ourselves. This verse reminded me of buying life insurance. Even that term just seems like a misnomer. When we die, man cannot assure us of anything, and we cannot ensure anything, but we can insure our life? I'm not saying that having life insurance is a bad thing, but it cannot be our hope. We cannot depend on it. We cannot put too much weight (and very little can tip those scales) on what happens on earth, when we depart it. I need to remember that my resting place on earth is of no consequence. I need to trust that the LORD will continue to provide for my family when I am gone. I need to focus on where I'll be going when I leave this world, which has nothing to do with a grave stone.

P) Father, thank You for giving me a more eternal perspective about my life. Help me to see the more important elements of daily life, as well as the direction of my life as a whole. Free me from concern about the things I cannot change. I trust You wholly with my loved ones when I am gone, because I commit to trusting You with them while I am here. Help me be faithful and obedient, as You direct me, according to Your will, and not my own. Give me the courage to break from society's expectations, and conform instead to Your will alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/14/2014; Isaiah 19:22

Today's reading: Isaiah 19, 20, 21; Hebrews 11

S) "²² The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them."

Isaiah 19:22 (NASB)

O) This is a great example of the difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment does not care about healing. Punishment is only the consequence, the retribution for the offense. This passage, however, is about Egypt being included in the blessings God's people will receive, because they turn and acknowledge the LORD. The punishment changes, becoming discipline, because the hardship brings about growth and healing.

A) Whenever I can, I avoid spanking my children. I really use it as a last resort, especially now that they are getting a little bit older. On the rare occasion that their behavior warrants it, though, I include an important practice. Not only do I lay out the exact reasons for the consequence, referring back to the initial warnings, then to their offense; after I have spanked them, I offer to hug them. I never want the last contact we make to be a painful occurrence. I want them to walk away knowing that my intent, the purpose, is growth and healing. I pray that the practice continues to bring righteous discipline, and that when they are grown they will look back and see how purposeful it was.

P) Father, thank You for the discipline I receive. Please continue to love me, by bringing hardship against me when my behavior needs to change, and nothing else is working. Discipline me as my Father, according to Your sovereign will. Please bless the discipline I use with my children. Continue to guide me, and give me wisdom, to know how and when to discipline. Please bless the discipline I use, that it is effective beyond my own planning, to bring up the character in them that You desire. Help me to be a loving dad, and never a punishing dad. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/13/2014; Isaiah 15:5

Today's reading: Isaiah 15, 16, 17, 18; Hebrews 10

S) "⁵ My heart cries out for Moab;
His fugitives are as far as Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah,
For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping;
Surely on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of distress over their ruin."

Isaiah 15:5 (NASB)

O) This chapter is an oracle against Moab, a nation that had a long and bitter history with the Israelites. Going as far back as Number 22, when Balak sends for Balaam, Moab has been in conflict with God's people. So, with this oracle foretelling of Moab's downfall, this verse took me off guard. It's not that I expected celebration at Moab's destruction (because, in fact, there are many passages of Scripture that warn against that sentiment), but I didn't exactly expect a heart cry. I expected something a little more along the lines of a "no love lost" type of sentiment. As brutal as the Old Testament times could be, we still have a compassionate God who wants compassionate people.

A) Compassion was a struggle for me when I wasn't serving God. I was very bitter, and prideful, and callous toward others. I saw the struggles people around me might have as their own battle. I sort of took on the same brutal mentality as the X-Men super-villain, Apocalypse. I figured it was survival of the fittest, and if people couldn't suck it up and get themselves out of their situation, then they basically deserved to be there. It breaks my heart to think of that, now. I was so hopelessly helpless, and I had no idea. It wasn't my own determination and will that saved me from my sin, or from the destruction that was in my future. It was pure grace, by the compassion of God. It is that same compassion that I received, that changed my heart to compassion toward others. When I see the struggles of others, even those who oppose God's people, it should grieve me. If it doesn't, then I need to confess to God, and humbly ask Him to soften my heart, to make it compassionate like His.

P) Father, thank You for changing me, beginning with my heart. Open my eyes to recognize any hardness of heart, so that I am committed to love, as You love. Help me to see the afflictions of others with an empathy that moves me to prayer, so that I am seeking their good, even if they are against me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.