SOAP 08/09/2014; Jeremiah 4:10

Today's reading: Jeremiah 3, 4; John 11

S) "¹⁰ Then I said, 'Ah, Lord God! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, "You will have peace"; whereas a sword touches the throat.'"

Jeremiah 4:10 (NASB)

O) This verse sounds almost blasphemous at first. Then we have to remember two very important factors. First, God is sovereign and people are sinful. From that starting point, God had every right to punish these people, and if that involved deceiving them, so their end was swift, that is His justified right. Second, we need to remember that some of this writing is a cultural language issue. The Israelites fully accepted the sovereignty of the LORD. As such, Him allowing people to be deceived is the same as deceiving them directly.

A) Like Jeremiah, I need to acknowledge the sovereignty of God. Then, I need to remember that following Jesus does not, at all, mean I will have peace at all times (at least not as the world knows it; see John 14:27). In fact, Jesus warns several time that following Him is inviting conflict. So, I need to acknowledge that following the LORD means a hard life, but even if "a sword touches the throat." Jesus assures me life beyond death. I will not be deceived if I cling to the Word.

P) Father, You are sovereign and just. You are holy and powerful. I acknowledge that You may have hardships in line for my future, even unto death itself, but I confess that Your will for me is good. Let my life, and death, glorify Your holy name, and advance Your Kingdom and will, according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/08/2014; Jeremiah 1:7-8

Today's reading: Jeremiah 1, 2; John 10

S) "⁷ But the Lord said to me,
'Do not say, "I am a youth,"
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
^8 'Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to deliver you,' declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 1:7-8 (NASB)

O) The previous verses (4-6), the LORD called Jeremiah, and told him that He had a plan for his life. Jeremiah protested, claiming he was too young. The above verses are the LORD's response. God's first response to Jeremiah was the funniest part to me, because it makes it clear that He was not asking. He wasn't even guessing. He was just letting Jeremiah know what was certainly going to happen. The second statement is delivered with the same matter-of-fact tone. God didn't suggest that he not be afraid, but He almost dismisses it out of hand.

A) In both of these responses, Jeremiah was hearing the words of his loving Father. First, a strong correction to his perception. Second, a strong encouragement for him to have faith - and not a blind faith, but based on strong evidence. This same kind of correction/encouragement is there for me as well. Anything God would call me to do, is not a matter of my abilities or qualifications. When He calls me to something, He will be with me, all along the way, so there is nothing to fear.

P) Father, I praise You for the omniscience and omnipotence that You have. You know all, and are all-powerful, and that makes You completely trustworthy. You are good, and there is no lie in You. Open my eyes and ears, to the things You would call me to do. Correct me, Father, when I misunderstand Your statements. Help me to clearly know what You are calling me to do. Encourage me to be bold, to have faith, and to fear no one, because You are with me. According to Your will, let this be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/07/2014; Zephaniah 2:3

Today's reading: Zephaniah 1, 2, 3; John 9

S) "³ Seek the Lord,
All you humble of the earth
Who have carried out His ordinances;
Seek righteousness, seek humility.
Perhaps you will be hidden
In the day of the Lord’s anger."

Zephaniah 2:3 (NASB)

O) This admonishment is pretty straight forward. Zephaniah was prophesying great destruction, and it wasn't only the countries around Jerusalem that were going to be under the wrath of the LORD's justice. All of Judah was being warned as well, because they were feigning submission to God, but were not at all devoted to Him. So, Zephaniah offers hope to some. Throughout the Old Testament, through many of these prophets mention a remnant being preserved (Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Micah, Zephaniah 2:7, Haggai, and Zechariah). This verse shows us some of the characteristics of that remnant.

A) There is more wrath coming from the LORD, certainly as we approach the end times. That is a difficult topic to discuss, though, because it can feel fairly abstract. In truth, people have been warning about "end times" since Jesus ascended. However, we also have to allow that we've never been closer to that final judgment, and we're only getting closer. So, that means that as time moves forward, I should hope to look more and more like this remnant described here. I should seek the LORD, be humble, look to carry out His ordinances, seek righteousness, seek humility, and be hidden (with Christ, see Colossians 3:3).

P) Father, thank You for being a God who loves Your creation. On my own, I would never seek You, be humble, carry out Your ordinances, seek righteousness or humility, or be found in You. It is completely grace, that You called me to be Your own. It is only grace, that I am humbled before You. Please continue to discipline me, like a son, so that righteous character can be brought forth in me. When Your day of justice comes, I want to be found in You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/06/2014; Habakkuk 1:1-4

Today's reading: Habakkuk 1, 2, 3; John 8

S) "¹ The ^[a]oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

² How long, O Lord, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, 'Violence!'
Yet You do not save.
³ Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
⁴ Therefore the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out perverted."

Habakkuk 1:1-4 (NASB)

O) The key to this introduction, I think is to know that the footnote (that I left there) says, "Or burden". I think that gives great insight to the mindset that Habakkuk had while writing this oracle. seeing the iniquities of the people, their wickedness, destruction and violence, strife and contention; he was burdened by the knowledge of these things! He ultimately got his answer in vv. 5-11, but it was small comfort. In the end, he essentially records the vision he has about the coming judgment (ch.2), and then writes a lament (ch.3), but he does end with praise to the LORD.

A)  When I read the footnote, and then these verses, I immediately thought of my wife. She has also felt the burden of knowledge in this same exact way. I think that is the appropriate response to this kind of knowledge, even if we are not all given a vision and prophecy. I think what we are all called to do, though, is to mimic Habakkuk in the first two verses. I should see the sinful chaos around me as a burden, determining that it is viewed that way, defining it that way for myself. Then, like Habakkuk, I should call for help. I should ask God why I am seeing it. He may very well have a purpose, a mission for me to specifically take up, and I need to see the burden around me and ask the question, in order to ever see His mission.

P) Father, You are good and Your plan is perfect. I know that You have purpose behind everything You do, including a purpose for the things You let me see. Open my eyes, then, and my ears, to know Your will. Let me see the things I am supposed to see, and make me feel that burden. Show me the purpose to which You are calling me, and let me be found faithful to answer that mission's call. Help me to see the burden, and answer when I call to know why You've shown me, but all according to Your will alone, Father God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/05/2014; 2 Chronicles 35:21

Today's reading: 2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 35; John 7

S) "²¹ But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, 'What have we to do with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.'"

2 Chronicles 35:21 (NASB)

O) Josiah had a very good heart, a very good reign as king. In the end, his death was still caused by his inability to hear from God, when the LORD spoke through an unexpected mouth. Like many kings before him, he tried to disguise himself in battle, and he died pretending to be someone he was not. This fight was not his fight, he was not being the man whom God had called him to be, and it cost him dearly. Despite a faithful heart to follow the LORD his God, he died a sorrowful death because his ears could not hear, and his eyes could not see, the will of God.

A) There is no other way to say this, but I must be humble enough to accept that God may use unconventional means to get my attention. Now, there is a careful line between heretical "continued revelation" and the understanding that the LORD still uses people to speak into our lives today. The critical test is the written Word. All the more important, then, that I am constantly studying the Bible, to know God's will, character, and truth.

P) Father, You are sovereign and mighty. You move nations and leaders, orchestrating and executing plans that are far too great for me to comprehend alone. Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear, so that I am not washed away by Your plans, being caught up in fights that are not my own, trying to be someone that I am not. Humble me, if I refuse to humble myself, to Your sovereignty and might, to preserve my life according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/04/2014; 2 Kings 22:7

Today's reading: 2 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 34; John 6

S) "⁷ Only no accounting shall be made with them for the money delivered into their hands, for they deal faithfully."

2 Kings 22:7 (NASB)

O) When Josiah had reigned 18 years, he was 26 years old, and he began the project to restore the temple of the LORD. He had collected money from the people, free-will offerings, just as King Joash had done (see 2 Kings 12). In this verse, though, we see King Josiah letting go of control over the money and spending. This is a crucial decision to remain humble as king. He doesn't micro-manage the funding. His concern is not being sure everything is done in the most cost-effective manner. It is noteworthy, however, that this is not a blind trust that he placed in his workmen. He said, "they deal faithfully." This sheds light on two more crucial elements. First, he didn't blindly trust the workers, but he trusted their established pattern of behavior. Second, that the king knew his workmen in the first place. He was conducting business with craftsmen that had good reputations already.

A) My money is not my own. Ultimately, all that is in my hands was put there by the LORD my God. Because of this, I cannot make it my business to worry about how that money is spent, when I place that money in someone else's hands (my church, for example). Doing so will only add stress to my life, create stumbling opportunities of pride, and distract me from my truer goals. At the same time, I should be aware of the reputations that people have, when I entrust them with money for a project (again, like my church). Above all else, my own concern should be humility, to realize that the money isn't mine anyway, and my bigger concern will be for me to glorify God.

P) Father, You are the Creator of all things, sovereign and generous in my life. Keep me humble enough to know, that everything in my hands came from You, and still belongs to You. My goal is to glorify You with these hands, with the things that are in them. Let my goal always be eternal, imperishable things, not temporal, perishable things. Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/03/2014; Nahum 1:6

Today's reading: Nahum 1, 2, 3; John 5

S) "⁶  Who can stand before His indignation?

Who can endure the burning of His anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire

And the rocks are broken up by Him."

Nahum 1:6 (NASB)

O) The remarkable thing (I guess there are lots), when reading the Old Testament, is to read about the wrath of God. The execution, or even the concept, is lost on many of God's children today. Reading through the actions God carried out of His anger, can be confusing or discouraging. The most important thing to remember in reading these difficult elements of God's character, has to be remembering God's justice. He had every right to act in His indignation, because He is holy, and people are sinful. If the wages of sin is death (which it is, see Romans 6:23).

A) Recently, our counseling pastor preached on Jesus's experience in the garden of Gethsemane. The most compelling idea he brought forth, was the fact that Jesus wasn't simply facing mocking, or scourging, or even death on a cross; He was facing the full wrath of God. So, in answer to the question Nahum posed, (which was rhetorical, I'm sure), the answer is Jesus alone. This draws me to humble thanksgiving, knowing that only He could face that righteous wrath, and so He did, so I didn't have to face it myself.

P) Father, I confess that You are totally justified in Your righteous indignation and holy wrath. I am humbled at the thought, the realization, that Your Son took that head-on. When I consider His sacrifice, taking the punishment that was ruled for my sins, help me to remember to think past the cross, even. Remind me that it was the full weight of Your wrath, that He faced. Help me to fully respect that, by fully revering Your justified anger. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.