SOAP 07/04/2015; Psalm 49:7-9

Today's reading: Psalm 49; 2 Kings 15, 16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1


S) "⁷ No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him-
⁸ For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever-
⁹ That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay."

Psalm 49:7-9 (NASB)

O) This passage is a warning against pride. It is a warning against a false sense of ability and security. There are no means, by their amounts or nature, that can pay for life. Humanitarian efforts, and charitable giving is all well and good. It's even awesome, when it glorifies God. However, all of it is vanity if eternal death is waiting at the end. This is why this passage specifically points to the redemption of the soul. We lack the currency for such a transaction, as to pay the ransom for life and redeem ourselves, let alone another person.

A) The illustrations given in this psalm are mostly about money and physical death, but the spiritual truths are even more important to understand. It is only in Christ that redemption is found. What this psalm really represents, is the segue from the temporal to the eternal. These topics of passing wealth, fragile life, and man's impotence, are all introductory points about their eternal reflections. How we lay up eternal treasures, how we gain life that won't fade, and how we are made truly strong, are all found in Christ and Him alone.

P) Father, in Your grace You have revealed these truths to me. Thank You for that understanding. I pray that it prompts me to a life of action, immediate action. Help me use these segues in my relationships, as opportunities to share the gospel. Help me to walk in the spirit of boldness You have already given me. Let Your will be done, as I try to redeem my brothers and sisters, not with my own currency, but by the precious blood of our Savior. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/03/2015; Psalm 48:12-14

Today's reading: Psalm 48; Isaiah 6, 7; 2 Chronicles 26, 27; Philemon

S) "¹² Walk about Zion and go around her;
Count her towers;
¹³ Consider her ramparts;
Go through her palaces,
That you may tell it to the next generation.
¹⁴ For such is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will guide us until death."

Psalm 48:12-14 (NASB)

O) The way the Israelites felt about Jerusalem and Zion sometimes seemed to border on a sort of idolatry, but the last verse in this psalm holds an important key. As long as they saw the security of their mighty capital as an extension of their security in God, that was still good. As long as they saw the beauty of their land as an extension of God's beauty, that was still good. as long as they saw the gifts of God as extensions of the Giver, as long as they saw the creations as reflections of the Creator, then it was still good. In this passage, there is a command to observe all of these things, and to see them as blessings from God, and to tell these things to the next generation. So, this passage is not about their city, towers, walls, palaces, or land, but about God Himself.

A) So many ways, American Christian culture reminds me of the culture in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Too often, we have equated the United States of America to a "Christian country" as if we were the new Zion. Just as the Jews fell to a sort of idolatry about their country, and feeling entitled because of the name they bore, there is the same temptation my own culture. When the constitution is viewed as a holy document, there is a problem. When the government is expected to be infallible and fix society, there is a problem. I love my country, monuments, landscape, and history. But, all of those things must only ever be a reflection of a good God. I should relay and teach them to my children, as a matter of praising the LORD our God, who is forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

P) Father, You have been so good to me, personally. You have been good to my people and country, here in the USA. I don't ever want to be ungrateful, unaware, or ignorant to the various ways You have been involved in bringing this country to existence. You deserve to be glorified, and this country and its accomplishments and its history are full of countless reasons to glorify You. As we approach our Independence Day, I pray that I never forget that is only a political declaration. As an individual citizen, and for my family, I pray we always remember that we are fully dependent on You, our Lord and God. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/02/2015; Psalm 47:1

Today's reading: Psalm 47; Isaiah 4, 5; Psalms 115, 116; Jude

S) "¹ O clap your hands, all peoples;
Shout to God with the voice of joy."

Psalm 47:1 (NASB)

O) This whole psalm is a great invitation to worship and praise the LORD! From the start, there is a call to get excited, to participate in the celebratory song! The word translated, "joy" can also be, "ringing cry" and it's communicating an unhindered shout. This exhortation to clap (if they have any rhythm at all) is to get the congregation on the same page. Clapping to a song unifies people. A marching army uses songs to get their steps in time with each other, to unify their move. The shout to God with a ringing cry, a voice of joy, is to tear down walls. Like an army applying concerted forces, everyone fighting with all available vigor, on the same front. This is not to break physical walls, like Jericho (although God could repeat that miracle), but instead to break down the walls of the hearts of the people. Shouting, clapping, these are actions to involve the whole self of the worshiper, and to join that individual with all of the other surrounding individuals.

A) Worshiping alone is a worthwhile use of time, but I cannot neglect the importance of corporate worship. Worship also covers a lot more actions than simply referring to songs sung. But, the context of this verse reminds me that singing songs, even shouting songs, with others, is purposeful. When I am in a worship service, a congregation of my brothers and sisters, it is missing the point for me to be content, singing quietly among the throng. There should be an energy, and enthusiasm! Worship is not about my own gratification, though. Getting excited is not the point, it's the vehicle. The point is to glorify God and to accomplish His purposes. Because it is not about me, it is not up to me to decide I don't "feel" like worshiping. I participate in corporate worship for the sake of God's glory, and to encourage and build up my brothers and sisters (on some level), by unifying my worship with theirs.

P) Father, You are worth all of my energy. You are worthy of my claps and my shouts! You deserve my exhaustive, thorough, sincere worship and praise! Help me to remember that my worship of You is not, in the least, about me. Remind me that my primary purpose is to glorify You and honor You. Behind that, remind me that my participation in corporate worship affects the lives of my brothers and sisters, as they seek to join united praise and worship. Remind me that my efforts to worship will have an impact on some of those around me, as people seek to worship You with all of their strength, clapping and shouting. Let me never forget all of the reasons I have to be excited about being Your son. Be glorified in my worship, and let it accomplish Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/01/2015; Psalm 46:10

Today's reading: Psalm 46; Isaiah 1, 2, 3; Titus 1, 2, 3

S ) "¹⁰ Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10 (NASB)

O) When we read the context of the entire psalm, the writers speak of the landscape of their world being in upheaval. It speaks about other people in uproar, countries tottering, and the earth melting So, when we read the verse above, God is reminding His people that He is still sovereign through the worst of circumstances. No matter what the reaction is at any present disaster, He is still in control. He will, eventually, be exalted among the nations and in the earth.

A) Be still. Focus. The LORD is still God. Whether the upheaval is climate change, wars, disasters, or political reforms, I must still myself. I must remember that He is God. He will be exalted, lifted up among the people of the earth. He will be above the entire globe, and no one will miss Him on that day (see Matthew 24:27). There is a lot of unrest in the world today. There is a lot of worry, even among people who profess to be Christians. However, there is a direct inverted correlation between worry and how well we know God. The more I slow down and remember who He is, the less I will worry about anything. The more I am worrying about anything, the more I need to remember to be still and remember Him.

P) Father, thank You for getting me, Lord. I have known anxiety. I have known overwhelming worry. That is where You first found me, in desperate need for peace and calm in a storm. Later in my life, I saw a severe storm on the horizon of my life. You called me back, reminding me that the only refuge I was going to find, would be sheltered in Your refuge. You reminded me who You are, and called me to stop trying to outrun that storm that was coming. Thank You, Father God, for making me still. Be exalted. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/30/2015; Psalm 45:10-11

Today's reading: Psalm 45

S ) "¹⁰ Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear:
Forget your people and your father’s house;
¹¹ Then the King will desire your beauty.
Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him."

Psalm 45:10-11 (NASB)

O) This psalm is a celebration of the king's wedding. It's full of hopeful words about the victory of the LORD and joy and blessings. Putting ourselves in the time period makes it a little easier for us to read these verses. It would be culturally uncomfortable to attend a wedding today, where the bride bows before the groom. However, just like the rest of this psalm, these two verses are full of symbolism (which isn't to say that this woman did not literally bow before her king and husband. See 1 Peter 3:6, for reference). Asking the bride to forget her people and father's house is a symbol of dying to who she was in her primary identity. This is the same symbolism at work when a bride takes the surname of her husband. It is to declare that, in marriage I am no longer who I was (part of another family), and I am now joined together with my husband in something new. The bride is not biologically new, and does not literally gain familial amnesia. This is the same principle at work in Genesis 2:24. The same is true for the "bow down" phrase. That is a symbol of submitting to her husband's authority. This is not to suffer tyranny. After all, the Bible makes it very clear that leadership is about service. These verses might have been literal at the time, but they are always symbolic. As such, they are still quite applicable to how marriage should still be today.

A) When I was only with my wife for a few years, I remember an incident (although the details are quite forgotten)... the topic of the discussion is lost to my memory, but I remember that we were at odds about something. I remember her asserting something that her dad said, as true, though it was contrary to what I was arguing. For all I know now, she and my father-in-law could have been totally correct. What I do remember very clearly, though, is a tremendous disappointment. In that moment, it felt like my wife was literally choosing her dad over me. This is well over a decade ago, but it still came to mind when I read the verse above. Certainly, with how our marriage has grown, my wife has proven time and time again to be completely faithful to me. If the same exact conflict were duplicated today, I have no doubts that she would respond much differently, even if she still held an opposing view from me. But, as I was remembering that incident (however faintly), I was quickly convicted. When I am reading these verses, I am not the king. That is a capital "K" on that King. Jesus is the King. I am the bride (part of His church, His bride). I want Jesus to desire me, to want my relationship, to value my bridehood. How is that done? I cut ties to who I was before I took His name. Then the King will desire my beauty, as one wholly devoted to Him. And I will bow down to Him, because He is my Lord. I will subject myself to His authority, not because He is a tyrant, but because He has served me.

P) Father, You have arranged a marriage for me. There was a time that I rebelled against that marriage. I didn't know better, but now I do. Still, I confess that I have wasted time trying to identify myself with who I used to be. I have tried to keep some of my own independence. In my marriage to Christ, I took His name, but I have not been wholly devoted. That is my goal, though, Lord. Thank You for the grace You show, in Your complete faithfulness to me, despite my repeated infidelity. I bow myself to the authority of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Willing to forsake who I was, to turn my back on all else when they oppose my relationship to my Lord, I will be Yours God. Have Your way with Your bride, and let us all celebrate in joy, hope, victory, and peace. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/29/2015; Psalm 44:1

Today's reading: Psalm 44

S ) "¹ O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old."

Psalm 44:1 (NASB)

O) The Bible is replete with verses about one generation teaching the next generation (or failing to do so). This is an interesting psalm as a whole, because it starts with a correct premise. This was written by the sons of Korah, and they had apparently learned of the LORD'S great power and might. They are able to recount His wonders and praise Him for them. Then, they describe how they are rejected and seem to be abandoned by God, yet they cannot see the cause. They declare their faithfulness, and yet God is not for them, and they are confused. One of the narratives that comes through the Old Testament, is the cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness, desperation, repentance, back to unfaithfulness. Their unfaithfulness as a nation is what caused their oppression under various rulers until their kingdom was established, but then ultimately caused their exile from both Israel and Judah. So, in this psalm, we have a people who claim to be faithful to the LORD their God, yet He is apparently not for them. Either they are mistaken about their faithfulness, or they are mistaken about their God. At various times throughout their history, the people of Israel would idolize the ark of the covenant. They would tout it into battle, assuming it meant their victory. Or, they would idolize the city of Jerusalem or Mount Zion, assuming their existence meant their victory. In either case, in a sense, they were idolizing their own name. The rationale would look something like this:
Because they are Israelites, they are special.
Because they are special, they are God's chosen people.
Because they are God's chosen people, God is pleased with them.
Because God is pleased with them, God will fight for them.
It is true that they were Israelites. However, they were not chosen because they were special. They were special because they were chosen. Furthermore, God was not pleased because they were chosen, but God chooses people with whom He is pleased.
Now, this is all supposing these people, who were originally singing this psalm, were unknowingly unfaithful. But, let's suppose for a moment that they were truly faithful to God. Then the other explanation is that they misunderstood God. He does not error and He is good. We do not always know the fullness of God's motives (in fact, I'd say more often than not, we are simply unable to comprehend that fullness, with no hope to understand until perfection comes). When I read verse 22, I can see how maybe these people might have had some idea of that. However, when read as a whole, this psalm comes across as pretty hopeless. It would seem everything comes back to the beginning. Their fathers correctly shared their testimony of God's great deliverances, power, and might. It would seem, however, that their fathers did not teach them that God is still good in the face of adversity. God is still Good, even when He allows loss.

A) My own children must not hear only of the happiness I have enjoyed with my Lord. They must also hear about the sorrows I endured with Him as well. It is good for me to teach my children of the provision, protection, and deliverance the Lord has given me. However, I would be doing them a disservice if I did not also tell them about the loss, the pain, and the suffering that I have seen while following Jesus Christ. They in order to correctly teach about the sovereignty of the LORD, I must paint a complete picture, telling the whole story. Otherwise, I am setting them up for failure the very first time they face a hardship that the LORD Himself has allowed into their lives. God willing, my children will all grow up as Christians. However, they cannot idolize that name, thinking that it means entitlement to anything. The New Testament positively discusses suffering, loss, hardship, grief, and pain almost as much as it describes anything else that might feel good. So, I do not want to raise hedonist "Christian" children, who are seeking what feels good, or feels right. I want them to know that the LORD is for them based on their faith in Christ. I want them to know that being a disciple of Christ means they will surely (at some point, maybe many points) suffer as their Master suffered. Through all of that, I want them to know He is worth it.

P) Father, I don't want to teach my children a prosperity gospel. I don't wan them to be shocked when life is hard and You don't make it easier for them. I know that You use circumstances for our good, and even what our enemies intend for evil, You will use for good. But, I also know that doesn't mean You make life easier, but that You make Your children stronger. You empower us by the Holy Spirit to endure more. You give us a joyful perspective about life's harder times. Give me wisdom, Father, to teach my children well. Open their eyes and ears, to know Your goodness despite their circumstances. Let Your will be done, not ours. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 06/28/2015; Psalm 43:1

Today's reading: Psalm 43

S ) "¹ Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!"

Psalm 43:1 (NASB)

O) David was a king of a nation. He was a skilled warrior and tactician, and God used him in a great many military victories. He was also, however, a diplomat. He sought peace with various countries, although it was to varying degrees of success. Above all else, though, he knew that it was God alone who would give him success in his military or his politics. David understood that God held victory in His hands, and it was according to God's will that he would succeed or fail.

A) Given the political and moral climate changes in my own country recently, when I read this, the first thing that came to mind was that the ungodly nation that seems the most threatening to me might be my own. The deceitful and unjust man is becoming the common citizen. This verse reminds me that politics, nations, ideals, and governments will change like the wind does. However, God never changes. My safety, security, and well-being are all dependent on the LORD alone, not man-made institutions. The strength of the church (that is, God's people in Christ) will always rest on our commitment and reliance on Him, and on nothing else. The church does not belong to the United States. The United States does not belong to the church. We are citizens in a kingdom that is not of this world. We belong to the kingdom of heaven. Every other kingdom, colony, principality, nation, or government, is therefore ungodly.

P) Father, help me keep my head on straight. I need to focus on Your kingdom, Your sovereignty, Your authority, and Your will. You have commissioned me to Your purposes, and everything else should be peripheral. With the turning tides of my country, remind me that this country is not actually my own. As I strive to uphold Your standard, and proclaim truth and love, I pray that You protect and keep me. Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! Let Your will be done, and be glorified before every nation, people, and tongue. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.