SOAP 09/20/2014; Psalm 130:3-4

Today's reading: Daniel 5, 6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

 S) "³ If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared."

Psalm 130:3-4 (NASB)

O) The LORD works in mysterious ways. It seems so counterintuitive to think that the mercy of the LORD would actually cause Him to be feared. But, I think it is really only true after the sober, honest evaluation of our own sins. When we have considered our many iniquities, and the depths of our rebellion against God, only then do we realize the weight of His mercy. As we begin to clearly see the fullness of that forgiveness, and everything it means, we begin to see the fullness of His sovereignty, and realize the just punishment we have been spared. When we realize how much He has forgiven, it can often lead us to realize how much wrath we truly deserved, and in turn, cause us to fear Him all the more justly.

A) This is another way, I think, that the LORD can teach me to fear Him. I need to fully consider the forgiveness I receive. I need to meditate on that mercy, and remember His sovereignty through it. In Jesus Christ, the forgiveness I receive is complete. I have no fear of His mercies ending, but understanding the punishment that was taken from me, and put on my Lord, will open my eyes to revere the LORD more fully.

P) Father, Your sovereignty is complete. You rule the earth, direct the hearts of kings, move borders, level mountains, control nature... You could, justifiably, destroy me body and soul... and yet in all of Your sovereignty, power, and knowledge, You choose forgiveness through the redemptive plan You set in place, in sending Your Son to die in my place. I can never truly understand the full scope of that forgiveness, but open my eyes to see it more. According to Your will, let me fear You more by understanding who You are, more. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/19/2014; Ezekiel 47:12

Today's reading: Ezekiel 47, 48; Luke 2

 S) "¹² By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

Ezekiel 47:12 (NASB)

O) This verse is nearly at the end of Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple. At the beginning of the chapter, he was brought outside the temple, and he is shown a spring of water that flowed from under the temple. It steadily grew as he waded through it, becoming a full river. Then, he was brought to the bank, and as he turned around, this verse shows us what he saw. There is strong symbolism throughout the Bible, connecting the imagery of flowing waters and flourishing trees, to blessings. And, furthermore, in the New Testament, there are numerous verses showing the Holy Spirit as flowing or springing water. So, this passage is really showing the effect of the Holy Spirit upon our lives. The Holy Spirit grows stronger and deeper upon us, the more we walk in Him. It blesses us on both sides. The fruit that our lives will bear, through our growth in the Holy Spirit, means spiritual strength and healing.

A) This is such a beautiful promise! It is the natural effect of walking in the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:16)! It isn't the fruition of our nature, but His nature! So, whether I am in ankle-deep (v.3), knee-deep (v.4), waist-deep (v.5), or deep enough to swim (v.6), I continue on in His Spirit, because I know that relationship will get deeper and deeper.

P) Father, thank You so much, for this encouragement to continue in Your Spirit as I walk. There are days when it feels only ankle-deep, and days when it feels deeper, but this shows me that Your nature means the longer I spend walking with You, in the Holy Spirit, the stronger and deeper the flow will be. Thank You for the growth You have brought about on the banks of my life, Father God. Keep me in that flow, and let me walk deeper and deeper with You, God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/18/2014; Ezekiel 46:9

Today's reading: Ezekiel 45, 46; Luke 1

 S) "⁹ But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out."

Ezekiel 46:9 (NASB)

O) This is an ordinance about the assembly before the LORD in the temple. This could be a simple matter of practical order. Having people flow through the temple makes sense, keeping things moving. I mean, it would take a very long time to get thousands and thousands of people through a temple, if they were all trying to leave through the same door they entered. But, having them flow through the temple, means you can have a pretty steady procession. But, there were also two symbolic elements that came to mind when I read this verse. First, I was reminded that our Father God is more concerned about getting there, than He is about how. Whether through the north or south, the people were welcomed. Second, God wants us to leave His presence changed. This ordinance reminds us that we are supposed to be going somewhere with Him.

A) Who I was will sometimes affect who I will become. What I've done will sometimes affect what I can do. But, most importantly, regardless of my origin, and regardless of my future, I get to spend time with the LORD as long as I am in His presence. It sounds crazy to say it, but I sometimes forget that I am the temple (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). The more I dwell on that, instead of my past or my future, the more peace and joy I will have manifesting in my life.

P) Father, I want to be changed by You when I am in Your presence. I don't want to leave the same as I came. I think of that when I go to church or Life Group on Sundays, but I seldom think of it daily, as it relates to Your indwelling Holy Spirit. So, open my eyes to the truth of Your presence. Help me to realize, and appreciate, and associate that truth more consistently in my life. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/17/2014; Ezekiel 43:10-12

Today's reading: Ezekiel 42, 43, 44; Revelation 22

 S) "¹⁰ As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. ¹¹ If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, its structure, its exits, its entrances, all its designs, all its statutes, and all its laws. And write it in their sight, so that they may observe its whole design and all its statutes and do them.¹² This is the law of the house: its entire area on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house."

Ezekiel 43:10-12 (NASB)

O) After reading through roughly three chapters, detailing the measurements and designs of this temple, can bring to mind questions of purpose. And then, coming to this passage, we see that there is a spiritual purpose, in addition to the practical purpose. This plan for the temple is holy and pure, and after reading its description in the preceding chapters, its holiness is almost tangible. The effect of that confrontation of holiness, is our contrasting unrighteousness becomes undeniable. So, in a sense, the description of this temple becomes a sort of separating test. Those who are convicted by it's holiness, will in turn repent, and then choose to observe its whole design and its statutes, to keep it holy.

A) Everything throughout the Bible, really reveals God's nature. After all, the Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, so reading anything from the Bible is an encounter with the LORD. This is what makes Hebrews 4:12 so true. But, the chapters like the ones preceding this, still have the effect described in the above passage. Reading descriptions of something so holy, so perfect, reminds me that I am still so far away from being perfect. It is humbling, and I bring myself back to the cross in humble repentance, with a contrite heart, and I ask my Father God to continue His work in me.

P) Father, the depths of Your holiness and perfect are immeasurable. As I read Your holy words, and I am convicted and reminded of my own imperfection, my sin, it reminds me how tremendously blessed I am. Your graces are innumerable, and Your mercies are unending. Please continue to perfect me, by the Holy Spirit within me, until the day of completion. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/16/2014; Psalm 128:4

Today's reading: Ezekiel 40, 41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

 S) "⁴ Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord."

Psalm 128:4 (NASB)

O) This is a very short Psalm, and I almost highlighted its entirety, but this verse is the crux of the small song, and so it serves to carry the promise of the whole. This chapter briefly describes some of the blessings that come from fearing the LORD, such as provision, happiness, a fruitful marriage and thriving children. I mean, if you imagine the stereotypical family from the 50's, the family we see pictured in a soup advertisement, that's what this psalm is describing (without the oppression and abuse that was secretly prevalent).

A) Everything hinges on this verse. Without the fear of the LORD, I have no right to expect any of these blessings. Fearing God is still a struggle for me, but it helps to be reminded of what is at stake. Right now, I see my children thriving, my marriage is blessed, and I've not lacked food to eat in a long, long time. But, that doesn't mean it will always be this way. Just like He did with Job, the LORD can test me, allowing me to suffer all sorts of trials. That is His justified right as a sovereign Lord. That is the righteous power and plan that I must respect in reverent fear. I trust, though, in His goodness. Even if He afflicted me as such, I trust that it is for my good - or even more importantly - for His glory in the end.

P) Father, You are holy and justified in all of Your ways. I declare and proclaim that You are sovereign over all of Your creation, and You are the Lord of my life. Have Your way with me, and let Your will alone be done. Thank You for the promise, that the fear of Your holiness brings blessings. Open my eyes and ears, to perceive You correctly, that I will fear You appropriately, and You alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/15/2014; Ezekiel 39:28

Today's reading: Ezekiel 38, 39; Psalm 145; Revelation 20

S) "²⁸ Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer."

Ezekiel 39:28 (NASB)

O) This is near the end of a prophecy, describing a future invasion of Israel (ch.38), and then the destruction of those invaders (vv.1-24), and finally the restoration of Israel (vv.25-29). What stands out here, though, is the word "because" nestled in the middle, there. "Then they will know..." and He says it is "because I made them go into exile..." But it is not because of any random punishment. It is not because of a restoration, that they knew He was the LORD their God. It was because a prophecy that was hundreds of years old already, was coming to pass. God told Moses, who warned the people, that their unfaithfulness to Him would mean their exile from the Promised Land. The LORD proves Himself God because what He says will happen, is exactly what happens - over and over and over and over and over.

A) How do I know the LORD to be my God? When I listen to what He has said, do what He has commanded, and see whether or not His words are trustworthy. When His words are proven, as they always have been, as they always will be, but proven in my own life, then I will know He is God, my God. This isn't a one-time proposition, either. Just as this verse came hundreds of years into the timeline of God's people, after countless examples of His words being proven true, so I continue to know with more and more assurance, and in more depth, who the LORD my God is, by continuing to see His promises, warnings, and words coming to pass.

P) Father, Your words are true. You never lie, and You prove Yourself wise, powerful, sovereign, and good. Open my eyes and ears, to continually learn how true Your words are, over and over, forever. Help me to take notice, to understand Your words, so that when they are fulfilled I am quickly recognizing them as the fulfillment of Your promises. Let Your will be done in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 09/14/2014; Psalm 110:2

Today's reading: Ezekiel 36, 37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

S) "² The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
'Rule in the midst of Your enemies.'"

Psalm 110:2 (NASB)

O) The first thing to know, is that this chapter is a prophetic song, written by King David, about Jesus Christ, the LORD's Messiah. It cannot be taken out of context, to be claimed as some kind of promise to any believer. However, I does show some characteristics about God, and there are some things that really stood out too me. First, it is the LORD who stretches the scepter, not the Messiah King. This really clarifies that when the Messiah came, it was never going to be a matter of a man, however anointed, who would exercise some kind of military prowess to overthrow governments. The second thing that stood out to me, was the command to rule. In fact, I had to re-read the verse, because my brain expected (and I misread) this as "[You will] rule..." which is not what it says, at all. There is a striking difference. The way I sort of, expected, to read that, would have been more along the lines of a simple prophecy. The way God spoke it, it was clearly a command. It was a task, an order, it was something that must be done. The last part, the really intriguing part, was that the ruling was to be done in the midst of His enemies. That certainly stirs up a concept of coinciding, or covert existence, doesn't it? Ruling in the midst of enemies seems to mean that the enemies have not been vanquished. The enemies must continue to exist, if He is to rule in their midst. This is remarkable, in view of the Kingdom Jesus actually established (as opposed to the more political or military kingdom that some expected their Messiah to begin).

A) That last command is a flashing red light, an eye-catching reminder, that God's ways are not our ways, and that the LORD wants me to be involved in my future. While He will certainly do things on my behalf (like stretching the scepter), He also commands my involvement (like the command to rule). Furthermore, my expectations, and the way the world does things, can be pretty far off base. It is important that I am allowing the LORD to be the commander of my life, because using any other source as instruction, is little better than a guessing game.

P) Father, You are sovereign, and everything in my life is Yours to command. You have done countless things for me, out of sheer grace, and I am humbled and thankful. I never want to become complacent, Father, thinking or expecting that You will do something for me, when You are actually commanding me to take action in it. Open my eyes and ears, to know Your command, to follow Your directions, to obey what You would have me do. Let Your will be done, to be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.