SOAP 11/01/2014; Psalm 121:1-2

Today's reading: Psalm 121; Mark 9, 10

S) "¹ I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB)

O) This is a song of ascents, and it is such a simple song, but it remains such a powerful reminder. An assertion like this is beneficial at any time. It serves well, not only to remember who the LORD is, but what He has done. Recalling His deeds helps us put our mind on His power, faithfulness; our mind is put on his character. So, while it's helpful to sing as song like this any time, it is particularly good to sing it first thing in the day, before reading the Bible, before going to work, before going up to the temple (i.e., church service), or, ascending to the LORD's house.

A) The first thing that came to mind, when I read this Psalm, was the song by Casting Crowns, called "Praise You in This Storm" that came out almost a decade ago. When that song came out, I was just returning to God, and my life was full of uncertainty, stress, and anxieties. I remember when I first heard the song on the radio, and I had no idea who it was, but the bridge shared lines of the verses above, "I lift my eyes unto the hills/ where does my help come from?/ my help comes from the LORD/ Maker, of heaven and earth/" and those lyrics (which I didn't know were taken from this Psalm) were stuck in my head the entire day. I was moved to tears because of the simple, yet powerful confession that they possess. I spent about a week trying to track down what that song was (internet searches not being what they are nowadays), and it will still move me to tears sometimes - not just from nostalgia, but because it's such a powerful reminder of how helpless I was (and still am), and how powerful and loving God was (and still is).



P) Father God, I confess that You are my only help. I lift my eyes to seek You, the Maker of heaven and earth. You are mighty, and great, and intimately invested in my well-being. You are and amazing God, who has already done an eternity of amazing things - even in my own life. You have done countless things, blessed me with untold miracles, and unknowable grace. Remind me of this daily, and let me sing these words often, in confession and worship. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/31/2014; Job 22:22-23

Today's reading: Job 22; Mark 7, 8

S) "²² "Please receive instruction from His mouth
And establish His words in your heart.
²³ "If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored;
If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent,"

Job 22:22-23 (NASB)

O) This comes after a rather lengthy and detailed accusation from Eliphaz. The chapter sort of highlights the misunderstanding that Job's friends had. They assumed that, because so much calamity had come against Job, he must be guilty of some serious sins. We know this is false, based on the words of God Himself in the first chapter. While most of this chapter is therefore false accusations, the above verses are true, although Eliphaz still missed the point. It is good to receive instruction from God, and to establish His words in our heart. It is true, also, that when we return to the Almighty (being reconciled now through Christ), we are restored (and we are still instructed to walk in the righteousness He has given). The key, however, is to view blessings based on His definition of what "good" and "restored" and "blessed" really mean. Job was still blessed, even in His calamity, because his Lord GOD was preserving him the entire time. Let's not forget, that God was still preserving his life (see Job 2:4-6).

A) First and foremost, I must acknowledge that "blessed" is not the same as "expectations met." If I am under the mistaken impression that blessed means, "I get..." then I am constantly going to be disappointed and full of doubt. I am blessed in the simple fact that Christ Jesus died for my sins, giving me eternal life, and the hope and promise of the Holy Spirit on earth, and eternity with God. Second, I must remember that righteousness is given to me in grace, based on faith in Jesus Christ, and it is not, NOT, based on my own will, goodness, or effort. Having said that, I am called to be holy, as my God is holy. That means that I strive for behavior that matches the righteousness I am given. So, "removing unrighteousness" is a matter of thankfully honoring my Lord, but it doesn't cause my reconciliation to my Father God - that was already provided by Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). Third and last, I seek instruction from His mouth, and seek to establish His words in my heart - because of thanksgiving and love, not because of desperation or obligation. His written and holy words, i.e.: the Bible, is the only reliable, infallible, authority I can trust. It is a joy to honor God, to learn about my Father in heaven, and to know His instruction intimately (which is a footnote to "Yield" in v.21). And so, there is a sort of reversal to these verses, because of Jesus:
I believe and it is credited to me as righteousness,
then I am reconciled to God,
then I seek His instruction.

P) Father God, Your instruction and words hold life itself. You are such a good Lord, that nothing You instruct is harmful, or even benign! Everything You instruct brings life, goodness, joy, and prosperity. Open my eyes to see that, even when the blessings You add (to my eternal salvation) are not what I might expect from a worldly understanding or perspective. I want to know Your ways intimately. Let the Holy Spirit establish Your Word in my heart, firmly establish, to continue the purposes You desire in me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/30/2014; Job 21:19-21

Today's reading: Job 21; Mark 5, 6

S) "¹⁹ You say, 'God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons.'
Let God repay him so that he may know it.
²⁰ "Let his own eyes see his decay,
And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
²¹ "For what does he care for his household after him,
When the number of his months is cut off?"

Job 21:19-21 (NASB)

O) Job was lashing out, in his anger that the wicked are not punished directly. While his friends were trying to remind him that the wicked do not escape justice forever, Job was impatient, and he actually raises a valid point- if only it was completely accurate. While it was true (through most of the Old Testament), that the sins of the father had consequences for the son, even down to the 4th generation- that was not a deterred, or delayed execution of justice. The same wicked man who sinned was still being punished, but often timescale the repercussions from the LORD would carry past his own life. As Job mentioned, threatening an evil man, with punishment toward his offspring, is probably ineffective, but that's not all that happens.

A) Now, in terms of how this verse can change the way my life goes, there are two routes. On the one hand, I am thankful that our Father God no longer punishes posterity. However, on the other hand, this should make me consider the discipline I use with my children. It should be specific (the one who actually erred is the one disciplined) and immediate (as close as I can manage). It is not effective for one child to "ruin it for everyone" and it flies in the face of the grace God gives us. Adam ruined it for everyone, but Jesus Christ fixed that. It is ineffective also, to delay discipline, because it's too easy for a child to start rationalizing, calculating odds (plus, I just want to forget, because that's not discipline at all- unless it's actually mercy).

P) Father God, You are merciful and loving, even in Your discipline. Help me to recognize my own sins immediately, to confess and repent from them. With the discipline I give to my own kids, help me be decisive, wise, timely, and responsible. I am a steward of their lives, Father God, and I want to do everything I can to raise them biblically. Let Your will be done in their lives. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/29/2014; Job 20:3

Today's reading: Job 20; Mark 3, 4

S) "³ I listened to the reproof which insults me,
And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer."

Job 20:3 (NASB)

O) The third friend couldn't hold back any longer, and he finally speaks up. It is interesting, though, because he didn't simply speak out of a desire to see the truth come to light. He spoke up also, because he was personally offended. In his entire response (basically the chapter), he was actually quite right. He went on to tell how the wicked will eventually be ruined by their own evil. The problem, however, is that he missed the point because his starting place, his motives, were wrong. Even though his words were correct, they missed the mark. They were an ineffectively spoken truth, because his heart was speaking defensively.

A) Sometimes, it can be hard to not be offended. It can be equally hard to keep my mouth shut when I overhear someone say something, that I am certain is simply false. In either case, though, if my motives are not correct, not pure, then whatever truth I may speak after that, will miss the mark. My goal should not simply be to speak the truth, but to have a purpose in mind, and in my heart, to build up my brothers and sisters in the holy faith. My goal should be unity, growth and devotion to Jesus, and seeing the LORD be glorified. If my goal is to defend myself, or to simply prove some point, then no matter how correct my words are, I will still be wrong.

P) Father, You deserve all of the glory, attention, praise, and devotion. In all of my relationships, God, help me to keep You central in my mind. Help me to perpetually consider Your will in every interaction. That seems like it might get exhausting, Lord, but I trust it is still Your will for me to keep my mind on You, throughout my daily life, especially in my relationships with other people. I want to love You, by my love for others. Let my words be healing, encouraging, constructive words, even when - especially when - the words also include rebuke or admonishment. Let Your will be done in my words, relationships, and life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/28/2014; Mark 2:4-5

Today's reading: Job 19; Mark 1, 2

S) "⁴ Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. ⁵ And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'"

Mark 2:4-5 (NASB)

O) This story shows the value of forgiveness over healing (as I wrote about from Luke 5), but it also shows the irresistible truth, that faith is evinced by actions. These men, traveling already, with their friend on a pallet, do not give up when they see the impassible crowd. They are too consumed by the promise of healing for their friend, to be deterred by something so trivial as a house, literally full of people. They would not be denied by stairs, or roofing. The convictions of their faith were too strong to be denied. They believed completely, in the power of Christ Jesus, and the totality of that belief was not going to be ignored, distracted, discouraged, or quenched.

A) This retelling struck me as a little different than Luke's, in one detail especially. Here, Mark says that the friends, after they had removed the roof above Jesus, then had "dug an opening," to get to Him. Somehow, in most of the teachings (mostly Sunday school lessons, I suppose), I simply imagined the men pulling off some kind of thatched roofing. While that would still be commendable, to be sure, I always kinda thought it was an easy step (at least compared to all they must've been through to that point). But, imagining that they removed the thatch, only to see there was thick dirt still separating them from their savior… it definitely adds to the respect. When I am following the convictions of my faith, will I be stopped by dirt, after I clear the straw? I need to be sure that I am compelled to finish, especially when it gets harder and harder. The only way that is possible, is by staying focused on my purpose, and through the strength of the Lord.

P) Father, You are too good for me to be distracted as I have been. In Your sovereign might, and holy justice, I deserved wrath, destruction, and death. Over and over, You prove to be patient and kind. Please forgive me for the times I have quit too soon, on the missions You have given me. Thank You for the grace You have shown, that You continue to call me for Your purposes. May my faith increase, to undeniable, irresistible levels that compel me to act upon them, in obedience to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/27/2014; Job 18:2-4

Today's reading: Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27, 28

S) "² 'How long will you hunt for words?
Show understanding and then we can talk.
³ 'Why are we regarded as beasts,
As stupid in your eyes?
⁴ 'O you who tear yourself in your anger—For your sake is the earth to be abandoned,
Or the rock to be moved from its place?'"

Job 18:2-4 (NASB)

O) This time, it is Bildad who was replying to Job. This time, he was speaking to the futility of many words, when a person doesn't seem to want actual resolution. Job's responses to his friends were dismissive to this point, regarding their advice as stupid (and perhaps, rightly so). Meanwhile, he was continuing to lash out in anger (at least verbally, if v.4 is figurative). In the last verse above, Bildad challenged Job to consider, that he might be thinking too self-centered about the whole situation. The point he was making, was that if Job wasn't willing to hear them out, if he was only interested in arguing, and he was going to pre-dismiss the words of his friends, and if Job was only going to see the situation from his own perspective, then that was going to be a problem. Bildad went on to describe the fate of the wicked, and how they will only be doomed to perish by their own wicked schemes - in a sense, he was bringing to light that if Job was not willing to have a rational discussion, he was no better off than every other wicked person, doomed to die for their wickedness, by their wickedness.

A) Like so much of the story of Job has been, there is a two-sided application. First, it is super-challenging to take criticisms like the ones presented by Bildad. I need to trust my wife, brothers, and friends, that they do not criticize lightly. If someone comes to me, I need to recognize the significance of that situation, and hear them out. I cannot let my pride close my ears, and not hear what they are speaking, because it very well could be that the Lord is speaking through them.
On the flip-side, if I am trying to counsel someone, and they are simply not willing to try and understand, then I may need to simply let the matter go. If a person is not willing to talk something through, if they are stuck in a self-centered mindset, only willing to see their own perspective on a matter, and dismissing my words before they leave my mouth, then I can truly do nothing for them.

P) Father, You are truly unique in Your divine ability to pierce walls, and to take a heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. You performed this miracle, by the Holy Spirit, within my own life. I know firsthand, the amount of grace that is involved in that kind of redemption. I never want to waste the work You have done in my life, by closing my own eyes and ears. Father God, continue to humble me, so that I can receive admonishment and rebuke from You, even when it comes through other people - especially when it comes through others. When I am tasked with that same duty, to counsel someone, guide me by Your Spirit. Make me aware when my words are fruitless, and let me then rely only on the work of the Holy Spirit in that person's life, because my words will be futile. Give me freedom on both sides, Father God, to celebrate Your work in my own life, and through me. In this, and everything, let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/26/2014; Job 17:9

Today's reading: Job 17; Acts 24, 25, 26

S) "⁹ Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way,
And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger."

Job 17:9 (NASB)

O) While Job is continuing to debate his struggles, this verse comes a little bit out of nowhere, as Job's speech had a decidedly negative tone. Then, this verse breaks through, seeming to offer hope in a hopeless time. The righteous man he mentions, though, is the observer of his affliction. This isn't so much a promise of how God blesses the righteous, but a commentary about His ways. The righteous man cannot abide injustice, and Job makes his comments almost as if he is seeking an avenger in his afflictions.

A) The main thing I take away from this verse, is actually an encouragement that thean of God I want to be, is still coming. As I pursue my Lord Jesus, I am being shaped more and more into the man He intends for me to be. It will not be overnight change, but God will continue to make me stronger and stronger. This is the normal course God intends. Walking in righteousness becomes easier, the more I do it. The more I allow myself to be used for God's purpose, the more He will use me (even if I never avenge a Job-type injustice).

P) Father, Your plans are vast, and much to great for me to see in full. I do not pretend to be anyone, but if You would use me for anything, to accomplish any part of Your will, then let it be so, God. Thank You for strengthening my hands. for teaching me Your ways. Thank Yoy for the holy Bible, Your authoritative words. Let me continue to be shaped for Your purposes, and let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.