SOAP 08/01/2015; Isaiah 65:1

Today's reading: Isaiah 65, 66; Psalm 62; John 3

S) "¹ I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name."

Isaiah 65:1 (NASB)

O) This passage goes on to describe how Israel had turned their backs on the LORD, so He gave them over to what they wanted: separation from Him. What they weren't expecting, were the consequential effects of that separation. Now, in this beginning verse, we see that God is clearly talking about a different people, different than the Israelites. That would be, Gentiles, who are anyone not descending from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This was clearly fulfilled in Christ Jesus, even if the rest of the chapter isn't necessarily fulfilled. While there have always been individual prostelytes, Gentiles didn't really ever seek the LORD, since they weren't taught to do so. Nevertheless, Jesus revealed the glory of God, to be seen by every nation, whether they were seeking Him or not.

A) My own experience is a little different, in that I grew up going to church as a young kid, and then I was serving God as a teenager, but when I reached adulthood, I slid away. Then the truth of this verse, and God's unchanging character were proven again. I was decidedly not seeking Him, when He revealed Himself to me again. The Holy Spirit called out to me, when I was losing myself. I couldn't see my way through my life. Everything seemed like it was as it should be, but I could see the end of it looming, threatening doom in my marriage, career, and life. But God called to me, saying He was still there. He had never left. This is the beauty of Romans 5:8, and God told us He would do it just like that, through Isaiah's words. This is the grace of the gospel, that draws me to repentance, worship, and service to the LORD my God.

P) Father, thank You for the faithfulness You display. Thank You for always remaining beside me, waiting for me to turn and discover You once more, even though I wasn't seeking You. Keep me, Father God, never let me depart again. It is a comfort to know that, as I now seek You, I will continue to find You. Let me reflect on the grace of the gospel, the grace of the prophecy, and the grace of Your character. May that meditation continue to draw me into genuine worship. Be glorified, in Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/31/2015; Psalm 107:25, 28-29

Today's reading: Isaiah 63, 64; Psalm 107; John 2

S) "²⁵ For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
...
²⁸ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
²⁹ He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed."

Psalm 107:25, 28-29 (NASB)

O) There is no "mother nature." It is pretty plain that this is a metaphor, although this could have been a literal storm, as the disciples of Jesus experienced. This is one example, so we can't generalize about God. However, it is clear that He sometimes causes storms as a way to get our attention back on Him, and then He will calm them again.

A) Whether the storms I face are literal or spiritual, whether they are spoken by God, or the result of a fallen world affected by sin, my right response will be the same. In my trouble, I will cry to the LORD. I will ask Him to bring me out of my distress, because He can calm every storm and hush every wave.

P) Father, I know that storms come. I know that my only hope to weather a storm, is to have Christ Jesus as my foundation. It is because of Christ, that I have a right relationship with You. This is the gospel I so easily forget. In my frustrations and pain, in the chaos of my day, let me be prompted to seek You. Those trials, those storms are designed to open my stubborn lips, to cry out for help to the only one who can save me. Be glorified in my storms, in my cries, and in my rescue. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/30/2015; Isaiah 60:19

Today's reading: Isaiah 60, 61, 62; John 1

S) "¹⁹ No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
Nor for brightness will the moon give you light;
But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
And your God for your glory."

Isaiah 60:19 (NASB)

O) This whole chapter speaks of perfection to come. This is the glory that the LORD will establish. This verse is echoed by the words of John in Revelation 21:23. This is another great example, that God shatters our understanding of existence. In our limited understanding, light is a form of energy that requires some kind of (re)action (like the Sun burning gas and emitting light). However, Jesus called Himself the Light, God is referred to as the Father of Lights, and here we see that the LORD emits light, forever. In the Old Testament, there were many pagan religions that worshiped the Sun, or else some dirty who had a supposed power to control the Sun. This verse reminds us that the LORD is greater than all of those false gods. They were all imagined in a worldview that still required the Sun in order to function. God breaks the mold. He is not bound to our laws of chemistry and physics.

A) God is miraculous. I need to remember that, when I look around my world, my life. When I have struggles, it's easy to think that God can create a solution to my problem, but that misses the point all too often. God is the solution. Spending time with Him, worshiping Him, knowing Him… that is the whole point. God can still solve my problems, my real life problems. If I am struggling financially, He can create financial solutions. He is not bound to to solve that in any particular way. He can eliminate the debt, or give me more money. He can create new opportunities for me to earn money, or handle it in some altogether different way. However, as I seek Him and ask for His grace, mercy, and help in my circumstances, I must remember that He is my source of light in the darkness. Being with Him, in those prayers, is more valuable than any money could be.y relationship with Him is more fulfilling than any other relationship could be. My restoration to Him will give me more peace than any other restoration could. He will be my light, my God, and my glory.

P) Father, let me remember that You are not bound by any of my own understanding. You will do what You say You will do, because You are who You have said You are. Let me fully trust that You can, not only create a solution, but be a solution, in the midst of any tribulation I might experience. God, I pray You are the most glorified in my life. When I experience Your miraculous grace, let me tell more of the Giver, than of the gift. Keep me in my right mind, in a right perspective, according to Your will. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/29/2015; Isaiah 57:15

Today's reading: Isaiah 57, 58, 59; Psalm 103; 2 Peter 3

S) "¹⁵ For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
'I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

Isaiah 57:15 (NASB)

O) This is the wonder of the LORD our God. Despite His holiness, His nature that He is altogether above us, beyond us, and unreachable, He chooses to dwell with the contrite and lowly of spirit. There was simply no way for us to ever bridge the gap that existed between our small, hopeless, and helpless position, to reach up to His standard, His dwelling place, His refuge. He was too perfect for us to reach him; we were too broken. He was too full of life for us to survive Him; we were too full of death. But the LORD, full of compassion and grace, in His patience and lovingkindness, came to us. Over and over, He reached out to His people, to establish covenant with them. The ultimate, final covenant being perfected in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our Savior came to dwell fully with the contrite and lowly of spirit, that we might experience Him from our limited ability to perceive Him.

A) Verses like this remind me of just how hopeless and helpless I was, before I encountered Christ Jesus. I am humbled and drawn into thanksgiving, praise, and worship. This verse, being in the Old Testament, is a reminder that the heart of the LORD has always been one of compassion, love, grace, and mercy. Always, He has desired for the broken relationship to be restored. Always, He has desired reconciliation with His creation. This is the whole point of ministry. This is the gospel that should be shared. Jesus came to manifestly display the reality of this verse, and my testimony is a reflection of this verse in action.

P) Father, thank You for having character that never changes. You are the same, from the beginning to the end. You have always intended to seek me out. It was always Your purpose to commune with me. When I was lowly in spirit, You revived me. When I was contrite, You gave me life. Thank You, God, for saving me. Thank You for dwelling, not only in Your high and holy place, but also with the contrite and lowly in spirit. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/28/2015; Isaiah 54:17

Today's reading: Isaiah 53, 54, 55, 56; 2 Peter 2

S) "¹⁷ 'No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me,' declares the Lord."

Isaiah 54:17 (NASB)

O) This is a wonderful promise, that is quoted quite often by contemporary Christians. By its wording, it is not really a conditional promise, per se. Reading carefully, though, we see that this promise is made to specific people. The third line defines who has claim to this promise. This is reserved for the servants of the LORD. The easiest way to understand that phrase practically, is to remember that servants do something for their master (see James 2:14-17 and Matthew 25:37-40). Next, we must examine that this verse does not say, "No weapon will be formed against you," and it does not say, "no one will accuse you in judgment," and in fact, it suggests quite the opposite. We must remember what Paul taught in Ephesians 6, though, that the weapons and warfare of Christians is not flesh and blood, but spiritual. That means that there could very well be physical weapons formed against us, even true servants of the LORD, that will indeed prosper against our physical, temporal bodies. But, to die as a servant of Christ is great gain (see Philippians 1:21). The same is true for the accusations that will come. There will be Christians who are accused, convicted, and condemned in this physical world, all wrongly done. However, to be mistreated for doing right, finds favor with God (see 1 Peter 2:20). Lastly, our vindication is from the LORD. If our redemption is from Him, and vengeance belongs to Him, then our vindication is up to Him alone. If that doesn't happen until we are glorified in Christ, then that is God's sovereign timing.

A) Everything about this promise is built on the premise that I am a servant of the LORD. That means my life is not my own. It means that I relinquish my own motives, my own priorities. I am laying down my own desires, to take up His cause. I am seeking His glory, not my own. I am working for His purposes, not mine. This promise reminds me, that if I am serving Him, then I have nothing to fear. However, if I am not serving Him, then I should feel like Lumiere said in "Beauty and The Beast".

P) Father, You are unimaginably good to Your servants. I am blessed, that You would even invite me into Your household. I was destitute, dying, helpless, and hopeless. Then, You called me into Your presence. You restored me, healed me, became my help and my hope. I cannot repay You, because my debt is beyond my means. I couldn't pay my own debt, because I lacked the correct currency for such a transaction. So, forever indebted to You, I can only serve You. You could demand that, and be a harsh and strict, unloving Master. But that is not who You are, and that is not how You treat Your servants. I came to You because I of my need. I stay with You because of my joy. It is my joy to be covered with such powerful promises. It is my joy to spend time with You. It is my pleasure to do Your will. Be glorified in my life, Lord. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/27/2015; Isaiah 50:4

Today's reading: Isaiah 50, 51, 52; Psalm 92; 2 Peter 1

S) "⁴ The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple."

Isaiah 50:4 (NASB)

O) The context of this passage does make it a little unclear who is talking. In the previous verses of the chapter, it is clear that the LORD was speaking (as it plainly states in v.1). However, for that to carry directly to verse 4 and beyond, seems a little out of place, considering the references back to the LORD. There is capitalization in the translation, suggesting that it is prophecy where the Messiah would be the speaker (i.e., through Isaiah), and that seems likely. Having said that, there is nothing particularly divine about the verse above, so it really could have been Isaiah speaking for himself. Also, the phrase "tongue of disciples" is a little unclear. However, the cause and purpose are quite clear. The LORD gifted the tongue, to minister to the weary. Then later in the verse, God is credited with continued life (awakening each morning), in order to continue learning from God, to be a better disciple.

A) This is almost something I can pray verbatim. Calling myself a Christian, is declaring that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is my heart's desire, that I would learn to speak as His disciple, especially that I would learn how to sustain the weary with a word - a word of encouragement, a word of admonishment, or simply a word of Scripture. God continues to give me life, day after day, in His grace. I don't want to waste this time He is giving each day. I want my ears to be open, to listen and learn to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ. Primarily, that will come through a deeper understanding of Scripture as I study the Bible everyday.

P) Father, You are so gracious in Your plans. It was Your will, nothing less than what pleased You, to redeem my life. You did this on purpose, it was not random or accidental. I don't want to neglect Your purposes. I confess that I have been woefully distracted, selfish, and lazy. I need to take drastic measures, I think. Give me the strength I need, and the encouragement, to take the next step by faith. Lord, please give me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. Continue to awaken me morning by morning, and awaken my ear to listen as a disciple. Let me be prepared for use, according to Your will and purposes. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 07/26/2015; Isaiah 46:9-10

Today's reading: Isaiah 46, 47, 48, 49; 1 Peter 5

S) "⁹ Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';"

Isaiah 46:9-10 (NASB)

O) The context of this passage, is again that Isaiah was delivering a prophecy about the exile of God's people, because of their unfaithfulness to Him, and their eventual restoration. This passage reveals, in an unmistakable way, a crucial point of God's character. From the beginning, He knew the end. There has never been any part of time that has ever been unfamiliar to the LORD. In the context of this particular chapter, God is revealing that Judah would be taken by Babylon, according to His purpose. Throughout the Bible, prophets were sent to declare what was going to take place, according to the words of God. This was repeatedly stated to reveal that the LORD had done those things, so that the people could not mistake their circumstances as the doing of false-gods, or simply as happenstance. Verse 10 also shows a glimpse (I say "glimpse" because this can be such a deep topic) of God's sovereignty. At the very least, the good pleasure of God was to reconcile people to Himself. That was the purpose of the gospel, and there can be no doubt that He accomplished His good pleasure in Jesus Christ.

A) My response to this is, and should continue to be, humble awe. I must remember that nothing is surprising to my God. He knew every circumstance I would ever face, from the beginning. I should rest in His perfect knowledge, and trust in His good pleasure, that what He wills to happen He will make happen. In what He allows to happen, He still has a plan. The LORD is bigger than I could imagine, in His knowledge and power.

P) Father, I am humbled by the scope of Your knowledge. You know the details of every time, place, person, and thing. More than just being omniscient, and prescient, You are good. You don't simply watch, idly perceiving what takes place. If You only knew, but did not act, there would be little difference to my life, than if I served a false God. But, You are alive! You act! You move on behalf of Your people, according to Your good pleasure! You always had a plan of redemption, through Jesus Christ, and that plan was intended for my benefit as well. Let me meditate on Your character, and worship You in spirit and in truth. Be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.