SOAP 03/27/2015; Deuteronomy 26:17

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 26

S) "¹⁷ You have today declared the Lord to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice."

Deuteronomy 26:17 (NASB)

O) This verse comes during a summary statement that Moses was making from v.16 through v.19. In it, he confirmed that the people weren't just deciding to be monotheistic, believing that there is one true God. They were declaring the name of that true God, the identity of that One to be the LORD, Jehovah, the Great I Am. Furthermore, it was not enough for them to believe, they also had to declare it. They had to proclaim it. They had to be willing to announce it to others. Finally, their declaration had to be more than words. They had to exhibit this belief, this declaration, by the ways they lived. By walking in His ways, keeping His statutes, commandments, and ordinances, by listening to His voice (all of this being exclusive to Him), they were letting their actions speak louder than their words. This way, the power and glory of God would be evident in their lives in undeniable presence.

A) This is all strikingly familiar, because God does not change. This verse is echoed in simple fashion, by Jesus in John 14:15. Declaring to be a Christian, it should be my pleasure and my goal to live my life according to His ways, His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. All of this exclusive to Him. This should all be on full display to any person who ever meets me. The goal of my life should be that the better a person knows me, the better they will know Jesus Christ. This is not because I am great, but because He is great within me. This is not because of inherent righteousness, but inherited righteousness. This is not because of, or for, my glory. This is because of, and for, His glory.

P) Father, You are great, and greatly to be praised! You have redeemed me in the most epic, romantic, dramatic story. My life should be a reflection of Your glory, because of my obedience in following You closely. Remind me constantly, that Your glory is at stake. In every interaction I have, even when I am completely alone, Your glory could be on display, if only I am aware of my impact. I want to glorify You to both the earth, and to heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/26/2015; Deuteronomy 24:4

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 24

S) "⁴ then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance."

Deuteronomy 24:4 (NASB)

O) This verse is a regulation about divorce and death. In the preceeding verses, Moses described that a husband divorced his wife, she remarried, then through divorce or death, she was again unmarried. Throughout the Bible, the significance of marriage is heavily emphasized. The concept of returning to your first love is also a common theme. So, I was having a hard time seeing why God would command that a man couldn't remarry his ex-wife under the circumstances above. But, remembering that this verse is centered around divorce, it reminds me of the link between those two concepts. When a man gave his wife a certificate of divorce, he was essentially asking to be released from his marriage vows in such a way that only death could previously accomplish. In this way, God is demanding that the decision the man made, this decision to break his covenant with his wife, God was demanding that this decision be even more serious, even more firm than the marriage itself. By declaring these stakes ahead of time, it was another layer of gravity in the seriousness of this whole messy business.

A) Let me preface this by saying that divorce is simply never what God wants (see Matthew 19:7-11). Having said that, the severity of the situation (divorce) being what it is, serves an important purpose in the life of every believer. Jesus repeatedly used marriage as a symbol of His relationship to us (the church). There were parables about His coming like a bridegroom, there were comparisons to marriage feasts, etc. So, this command from Moses now highlighting the grace and mercy involved, the amazing amount of love and compassion displayed, when God didn't simply allow us to come back to Him after we have been so spiritually adulterous - but He paved the way and sought each of us. Like so much brutality in the atoning sacrifices reminds me of the severity of my sins, the strict regulations about divorce reminds me of the complete, full, total forgiveness at work in His mercy.

P) Father, You are holy and pure. You are righteous, just, and sovereign. In Your perfect justice and wrath, I deserved death. I deserved to be divorced from You forever, with no chance of reconciliation. But, everything changed with the sacrifice of Jesus. When Christ took the cross, He willingly took my divorce upon Himself. He willingly separated Himself from You, in order to conquer sin and death where I could not. In a sense, Jesus conquered the spiritual divorce and death that I had brought upon myself. This is the beauty of the gospel. I am humbled by the grace of Your reconciliation, Lord. Help me to convey this wonderful aspect of the gospel with others. I am a child of divorce, Father, and the concept of reconciliation has always been vivid to me. Not often enough have I considered that I was the adulterer in my relationship with You. My indecency, my sins caused our divorce. But, You never abandoned me. You never left me. Even when I joined myself to others in spiritual adultery, exalting things or people to a place of lordship in my life, setting up idols in my heart - through all of that You remained ever-faithful. When Your compassion finally melted my heart, You were able to bring me back, because the divorce/death had already been endured by Your Son, Jesus Christ. This is magnificent and humbling. Help me to glorify You to others, through this truth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/25/2015; Deuteronomy 21:22-23

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 21

S) "²² “If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, ²³ his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance."

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (NASB)

O) This instruction is pretty specific to the judgment of sinners. As such, it doesn't really hold any relevance to life after the New Covenant in Jesus Christ. However, this is a foreshadow of what would eventually happen to Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ took every sin upon Himself, then He was guilty of sin worthy of death. When He was put to death, He was symbolically hung on a tree, that is, the cross. So, when Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus down from the cross, it fell perfectly in line with this command from the Law. Jesus Christ lived His life perfectly according to the Law, and died and was buried perfectly according to the Law.

A) The phrase, "accursed of God" is also more literally translated, "the curse of God." By reading the verse in that more literal translation, gives some added depth when I read some of the Nee Testament verses about Jesus fulfilling Law (see Galatians 3:13). So, while the above verse is not directly applicable to my life in the New Covenant, it is a present reminder that the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus were all four parts of fulfilling various prophecies. The Old Testament, including the Law of Moses and the prophets, all pointed to the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. In the blessings and the curses, Jesus fulfilled it all. This verse is a reminder of a warning, but it really speaks to me about God's nature as our gracious God, and that is reason to praise Him.

P) Father, Your wisdom and knowledge are complete. There is nothing outside Your notice, and nothing catches You by surprise. This command, given by the mouth and pen of Moses, even this was written with Your perfect knowledge of the death and burial of Jesus Christ. From beginning to end, Your plan to reconcile Yourself to lost people was perfectly executed. This unfathomable depth to Your knowledge and grace of the gospel, I want to share with others. Embolden me, Father, to share my faith and the impact of the gospel in my life. Open eyes to see and ears to hear, so that Your name is glorified! Provide opportunities, Lord, as I commit myself to obediently share the gospel, even this day, even this moment. Let Your will continue to be done, as more and more people come to salvation. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/24/2015; Deuteronomy 19:9

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 19

S) "⁹ if you carefully observe all this commandment which I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in His ways always—then you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three."

Deuteronomy 19:9 (NASB)

O) In Israel, there were cities of refuge set aside for the Levites. These cities served as havens for people who were guilty of killing someone without premeditation. They were described as being a "manslayer," (see vv.4-6), and they were not necessarily deserving of death. Initially, the people were told to set up three cities to serve this purpose. Then there was the verse above. When the instruction about these cities is conveyed in Numbers 35, it is simply recorded as being six cities. There are two things at work through the above verse, then. First, the above verse is predicated on God's fulfillment of promise (see v.8), and those promises to the Israelites hinged on their own obedience to His commands. So, in Numbers 35 when they simply jump to six cities, it is likely because their obedience (and promise fulfillment) was an assumption. Second, the verse above shows us that obedience reveals a love of the LORD. Loving God (which includes obedience) leads to merciful character.

A) Jesus was pretty clear also, when He said if I love Him, I will obey Him (see John 14:15). Obeying Jesus is really about becoming His disciple, becoming more and more Christ-like in His character, motivation, and action. At the root of all of this is loving Him. When I pursue Jesus, when I make disciplined efforts to strengthen my relationship with Him, that is when true change will occur. I should be concerned with obedience (walking in His ways), and I should be concerned with character (e.g., being merciful), but at the root of all of that, am I choosing to love the Lord my GOD with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength? That is the goal. The goal is not being more peaceful. The goal is not walking in righteousness. The goal is to be with Jesus Christ. In the current state of the world and my flesh, I cannot have pure intimacy with Christ. In the meantime, I must choose to spend time in the Bible (see John 1), spend time in worship (see Psalm 22:3), and spend time in prayer, waiting upon the Lord (see Psalm 130).

P) Father, I want to lay aside distractions. Your goodness and love continue to draw me close. I confess that my pride has led me astray, even in the way I have tried to serve You. I have tried to walk in righteousness by my own strength. I have tried to have faith by my own optimism. I am sorry for such foolishness, Father God. You are a consuming fire, LORD. Burn away everything that comes between us. Help me to refocus on the most important thing: my relationship with You, God. Rebuke me, Lord, anytime I am trying to do it on my own, even trying to follow You on my own strengths, abilities, or disciplines. Be glorified in my life, as I am made less and You are made more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/23/2015; Deuteronomy 18:9

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 18

S) "⁹ When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations."

Deuteronomy 18:9 (NASB)

O) The Israelites were receiving instruction, here, about how to behave in the Promised Land. Moses reminded them again, that the previous inhabitants of the Promised Land were being expelled for their behaviors. Imitating those behaviors (as described in general in vv.10-11) would result in guilt for Israel, just as it had for the Canaanites and everyone else in the region. The root of those sins, is that people are trying to live life apart from God. They are trying to obtain life, knowledge, power, and purpose outside of His rule and reign. All of these detestable practices were an attempt to replace the LORD, usurping His rightful place as King in the lives of each individual.

A) When reading virtually any passage from the Pentateuch regarding the Promised Land, we can almost replace the words "Promised Land" with the words, "life in obedience to Christ." After all, the Promised Land was to be God's people, living under God's sovereignty, to fulfill God's purposes. This is the same as our lives as disciples in Christ. God's Kingdom is no longer a political or military kingdom, but it is no less impactful. In the above verse, there is perhaps no more powerful word than "imitate," as it applies to me here and now. That word covers a lot of ground. This verse falls very much in line with 3 John 11. God wants a holy people, because that glorifies Him. By setting myself apart from culture, different than culture, that is what will shine like a beacon, drawing the world to me so I can share the gospel. By doing things His way, and not the world's way, I am living proof of the power of the gospel. When I try to follow the examples of the world, then I am essentially rebelling against my King, trying to gain some kind of independence from His kingdom. This is a hard and fast line, drawing a clear distinction that I am either with Him, or against Him.

P) Father, I don't want to imitate anything ungodly. I want my life to reflect Your glory, and Yours alone. You are worthy, You are holy, You are good, You are just, You are sovereign. Open my eyes and ears, to know Your ways more and more fully. Give me discernment about my life, and my heart, to know what areas You are calling me to change. If there are areas in my life that I have been keeping as my own false-sovereign area, please make them known to me and give me the courage and strength to give them up to You. Show me any areas in my life that are actually imitations of the world's way of doing things, instead of Your way of doing things. Let Your will alone be done in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/22/2015; Deuteronomy 14:26

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 14

S) "²⁶ You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household."

Deuteronomy 14:26 (NASB)

O) The people were receiving instruction about what to do if they are too far away from a holy sanctuary, and they cannot offer their tithe. God told them to liquidate their tithe (grain or livestock), and then essentially throw a party for their household! This is the character of the LORD: He wants His people to rejoice in Him. The purpose of tithing is twofold. The first purpose was to provide a share for the priesthood, since they had no portion of land. The second purpose is to teach the tither, to hold the blessings of God with an open hand. God is not trying to rob His people; He wants His people to be cheerful givers. Tithing is not a burden, but a blessing.

A) Sometimes, thinking of God as a party-throwing-Dad is hard for me. It's revealed throughout Scripture, though. Jesus compared heaven to a wedding feast. The LORD commanded His people to celebrate Jubilee, and various annual feasts. And there is the above verse. The most crucial, and must-not-be-missed portion of the passage above, though, is the phrase, "in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice," This does not give me free reign to act however I want, claiming that "I'm rejoicing in the presence of the LORD." This was a very specific verse, in the context of tithing that is not brought into the temple. But, it conveys the grace that God has toward His children. I need to see the blessings behind God's commands, and remember that He is interested in my joy, me and my household.

P) Father, I want to honor You with my tithe. You have so faithfully provided for me, and I want to faithfully give back to You, Lord. I am sometimes easily distracted, God. I lose focus on the purposes behind tithing. This passage of Your words reminds me of the focus: joy. I am supposed to tithe because it shifts my emphasis from chasing money, to chasing You. Remind me to hold Your blessings with an open hand, Lord. I want to be a blessing to others, with what You have given me. I want to obediently serve Your purposes with the resources You have entrusted to me. Help me remember that tithing is not a spiritual bill to pay, but a discipline of humility, thanksgiving, and joy. I want to celebrate in what You have given me, whether I am able to give it back to bless others, or celebrate Your faithfulness to me with my family. When I am stressed about money, remind me that You are sovereign in Your provision. Help me to fully, joyfully trust You completely in the area of finances. Be glorified in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/21/2015; Deuteronomy 11:2

Today's reading: Deuteronomy 11

S) "² Know this day that I am not speaking with your sons who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of the Lord your God—His greatness, His mighty hand and His outstretched arm,"

Deuteronomy 11:2 (NASB)

O) Moses was about to lay out a chapter full of blessings that God has in store for His obedient children. Moses did not leave any room to claim ignorance about te ways of God. This generation saw the power of the LORD at work firsthand. They knew His standard, His holiness, and His wrath. God was not trying to trick anyone. He was, and has always been, the one to reach out to His children first. He desired relationship and made the way. He put it all out on the table, defining all of the terms. While Moses does eventually get to the curses for disobedienc, this chapter is still about God's blessings. So, this warning is also a matter of remembering God's grace, love, and mercy. There would be many imposters who would come to deceive and mislead Israel, but Moses is warning them not to be fooled. They have seen the goodness of their Lord, and should not be fooled by counterfeits.

A) Ignorance is not an excuse in God's eyes. I cannot live my life under self-deluding lies about God's standard, holiness, or wrath. Not only should I be careful to protect my reverence toward my Maker, I also need to remember His goodness. There are a lot of supposed answers that the world wants to feed me, to rob God of His glory. There are many shiny things to be found and had, that would usurp His place on the throne of my heart. But, not only is the Bible clear about God's rightful place as the most desirable heart-treasure, I have also seen the goodness of God firsthand. I am without excuse.

P) Father, it is a humbling gift of grace to know Your blessings firsthand. You have been so good to me, that I cannot rightly express sufficient thanks. Please forgive my ungrateful heart. Be glorified, Lord. Be magnified and let me sing Your praises for the mighty works You have done for me, God. Help me to reflect often, on both the truth of Your Word and Your power in my testimony. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.