SOAP 08/28/2015; Ezekiel 1:14

Today's reading: Ezekiel 1, 2, 3; Revelation 2

S) "¹⁴ And the living beings ran to and fro like bolts of lightning."

Ezekiel 1:14 (NASB)

O) Prophetic language being what it is, makes this chapter difficult to take literally. Ezekiel spends a fair amount of ink, describing mysterious angelic beings. Among their features were four faces, four wings, hooves, seemingly living wheels, and fiery lightning (or perhaps, electric fire). Throughout the Bible, heavenly beings seem to have numerous forms. In fact, it seems that almost every mention of angelic creatures comes with new descriptions of them. This suggests a few different things, like the idea that there are simply different "species" serving the LORD in different functions. Or, perhaps angels can morph into different forms, fitting the present need. Because appearances can vary so much, as awesome as their descriptions tend to be, I try not to focus too much on their appearances. Instead, what struck me about this particular instance, was their behavior. They moved in unison, according to the lead of the spirit beneath them, and they were fast. We're talking about spiritual creations, so it's a little silly to think that any "laws" of physics should apply to them. For all I know, angels can teleport. But at the very least, Ezekiel was forced to resort to the description of the fastest known, observable motion, he could use: lightning. Even now, "lightning fast," is a common phrase because the speed of light is (according to some theories) as fast as matter could possibly move. This is how fast angels fly. For all we know, they're even faster. At the least, we know of nothing faster than an angel. This is a glimpse into the limitless resources of the LORD my God. When He commissions an angel, the angel is there. Relative to earthly measure, it's less than a tenth of a second, moving at the speed of light, to any point on the planet.

A) All of this is a little sci-fi, but relative to my own life, this verse reminds me that I serve a limitless God. He has armies of angels, who are supernaturally fast. When God sends help, there is no waiting around! I have nothing to fear, when God is on my side. It's easy to think in blanket terms, like "all-powerful" or "omni-present" and certainly God is everywhere at once. He can always intervene Himself. But, remembering that even His angels, even the created beings which are infinitely beneath Him, even they will appear at His command, before I could measure their movement, is a comforting, encouraging reminder, of the awesome Lord and Commander that I serve.

P) Father, I am in awe of the powers You command. Not only are You all-powerful, You command armies of angels of unfathomable power. I have no reason to doubt, no reason to fear, and no reason to be anything but bold in Your name. Let me continually seek Your will alone, and turn to You alone for my every hope, desire, and need. Let Your will be done. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/27/2015; Psalm 144:12

Today's reading: Jeremiah 52; Psalm 143, 144; Revelation 1

S) "¹² Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants,
And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;"

Psalm 144:12 (NASB)

O) The symbolism of this verse should be recognized, that grown up plants (at least healthy ones) are fruitful. I thought it was a little curious that David would pray this for the young sons, but I suppose it is simply to say that they would bear fruit in their lives early. This could be seen as something of a contrast to the prodigal son, who doesn't realize what faithfulness means until he is older. As for the daughters, there are a few things to consider. First, there is a surface level of value placed on beauty. I don't think that is all we can get from this, though, because there are many things used throughout the Old Testament, to convey beauty, but they often lack permanence or strength (like flowers, for example). In this case, pillars are vital parts to the structural integrity of a building. Likewise, women are vital to the structural integrity of society. That they would be beautiful while being important, should not detract from heir importance, but add to their appeal.

A) While I don't think I would pray this literally (since some of the symbolism is certainly archaic), the principles behind these prayers are still upon my heart for my children. I hope my son does start bearing righteous, good fruit, even in his young age today. I do pray that my daughters are vital to the structural integrity of their society, in their marriages, families, business, or communities. That they are beautiful is already apparent. I would certainly pray these things, elementally, across both genders for my children (that my daughters are fruitful and my son is integral), but I also would not pretend they will all be the same. Most importantly, I should be thoughtful when I pray for my children.

P) Father, You are the perfect Dad. I hope to be the best reflection of Your fatherhood that I could possibly be, and I pray for Your grace to cover me while I try to live that out. Open the eyes and ears of my children, that they would know You. Soften their hearts to the gospel, that they would be ever repentant and submitted to the lordship of Christ. Those are the most important things. From there, I pray that they are people of integrity, bearing fruit, seeking to further Your kingdom, as they love You and others. Let Ella continue to learn humility. Let Caleb learn patience. Let Kaia learn Your unconditional love. Let Your will be done in each of my children. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/26/2015; Jeremiah 51:9

Today's reading: Jeremiah 50, 51; 3 John

S) "⁹ We applied healing to Babylon, but she was not healed;
Forsake her and let us each go to his own country,
For her judgment has reached to heaven
And towers up to the very skies."

Jeremiah 51:9 (NASB)

O) The word "towers" is a verb here, literally meaning is lifted, according to its footnote. Jeremiah had written down a long prophecy against Babylon because, while that nation was used by the LORD to execute His judgment against nations (including Judah), they would eventually rebel against God themselves, becoming too arrogant. What is interesting, though, is that there is no indication that this prophecy was to be read to the Babylonians. Instead, vv.59-60 seem to suggest this prophecy against Babylon was read to the Israelites in exile. This was not a warning to repent, like Jonah spoke to a secular nation, but it seems more along the lines of assuring God's people that their oppressors would not persist, but would come to justice eventually. What particularly stood out to me about this verse, is that it starts with a phrase reminiscent of Jeremiah 29:7, and it seems that perhaps the exiles would have been seeking the good of their contemporaries, to no avail. By the time this prophecy would be fulfilled, the judgment would have been reached, and there would be no healing to be had.

A) Usually, I avoid "doom and gloom" points of view. However, the recent direction of the United States seems foreboding. I have also always shied away from considering the U.S.A. to be a "Christian nation," as I feel that is in stark contrast to the disestablishmentarianism, upon which our country really was founded. Having a government appoint a national religion, even if it is my own, is a scary thing. What happens when that government decides to change which religion will be the national religion? That brings me to the point about the verse above. In a lot of ways, Christians should really see themselves as God's People in exile. The Israelites of Jeremiah's day were citizens of God's Kingdom (as I am) living in a country that was not their own (as I am). The secular government of that country started off accomplishing the will of God (as mine did), but took a decided turn against the LORD (as mine did). The righteous people of that time would have prayed for their city (as I have), but it would eventually be ineffective at bringing healing (as ours has, it seems). According to the verse above, that leaves a very clear command for me to follow: to forsake my country and go to my own country. Only, in this sense, this cannot be literally applied to me. First of all, I was born in the U.S.A. and I have no single, familial heritage. Second, what makes me similar to these exiles, is that I have citizenship in the Kingdom of God. So it is to that Kingdom that I must return. To forsake my country, the United States of America, is not to deport myself, but to alter my point of view, to make certain that my allegiance is to Christ my King, alone. To go to my own country, is to live in Christ. This is becoming more and more important, as the judgment of this country may be on its way. Now again, I am not "crying wolf" or predicting destruction, or anything like that. What I am confessing, is that I have nothing to fear, as I rest my relationship with my God and King, Jesus Christ.

P) Father, Your judgment is always just. Your are holy and righteous, just as You are full of lovingkindness and compassion. If You judge this country, there is none who could stand against You, neither with power nor with justice. I trust in Your judgment. I also confess that I have nothing to fear, so long as I remember my true citizenship in Your Kingdom. Forgive me of my sins, Father God. Help me to walk in the Holy Spirit, to accomplish Your will and not mine. Be glorified in me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/25/2015; Jeremiah 38:14

Today's reading: Jeremiah 37, 38, 39; Psalm 79; 2 John

S) "¹⁴ Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance that is in the house of the Lord; and the king said to Jeremiah, 'I am going to ask you something; do not hide anything from me.'"

Jeremiah 38:14 (NASB)

O) Jeremiah never hid his prophecies. There are verses which suggest that he may have wanted to hold his tongue, but apparently he could not (e.g., Jeremiah 20:9). So, there would have been no reason for Zedekiah to question Jeremiah's integrity, in terms of speaking the truth. Jeremiah had given at least half a dozen different prophecies, all saying the same thing: destruction is nigh. Here, I think Zedekiah had a sense the end was near. This seems to be his last conversation with Zedekiah, as the very next chapter tells of the final exile. Because of his response in v.14, I think Zedekiah must have known what Jeremiah would answer, but he asked anyway. This was a private conversation, the king had apparently arranged that (see v.27). So, we see a man struggling with the truth. He wasn't struggling to hear the truth. He was struggling with accepting the truth.

A) The example Zedekiah left me, is a stark reminder that I do not get infinite opportunities. I have the truth in the Bible. The Holy Spirit convicts me in my heart. My conscience, informed by Scripture, warns me. When I am tempted to disobedience, tempted to sin, there is no grappling to understand what is true. There is grappling with accepting what is true. This struggle can feel very isolating, as it's almost always a hidden struggle in my heart, and other people don't usually know when I am battling temptation. So, how do I make sure my reaction is different than this doomed king? The first, is to recognize that I do not get unlimited tries. Every time I am confronted with the truth, I must treat it as the last chance I have to accept what is right and conform to the truth as God defines it. The second, is to resist the urge to make this a private struggle. Zedekiah was a man moved by fears (see v.19), and it isolated him. Lastly, but sort of tied with the second point, is the necessity to choose wise counsel. This king certainly had advisors, but they were wicked as well, unable to accept the truth of the words of the LORD. The counsel I seek must be rooted in the same desire to conform to Scripture, to allow God's truth to shape our lives. .

P) Father, Your grace opened my eyes to see the truth. You spoke, giving me open ears to hear the love in Your words. You took my heart of stone, and gave me a heart of flesh, so that I could accept the truth of the gospel. I do not want to become deceived again, fooled into sinning when I am tempted to ignore the truth I have already accepted. I do not want to believe the lies. I know the truth. I have heard the truth. I want to walk in the truth. When I am struggling with temptation, Lord, remind me also that I do not have unlimited tries. Help me to treat every warning, every conviction, as if it is the last I will hear. Let me be desperate to conform to Your will, without delay. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/24/2015; Psalm 74:8

Today's reading: Jeremiah 33, 34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5

S) "⁸ They said in their heart, 'Let us completely subdue them.'
They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land"

Psalm 74:8 (NASB)

O) This psalm describes the destruction of the temple (which occurred around 580 BC., at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar). This was either written prophetically (by the Asaph of King David's time), or it was written by a contemporary of Jeremiah (or Jeremiah himself, as it mirrors some of Lamentations), and was given to the descendants of Asaph, who ministered by Asaph's name. In either case, the verse above does capture the posture of the Babylonians, as they destroyed nation after nation, displacing the inhabitants, and attempting to strip them of the heritage they had from their homelands (this is seen in greater detail in the book of Daniel). In this particular instance, everything of value was removed from the temple of God in a couple phases, and eventually the temple was destroyed. It would be rebuilt later, after the return from exile, only to be destroyed again ultimately, in 70 AD. This was hundreds of years before we would understand Jesus to be the ultimate propitiation for sins, before understanding that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, as the body of Christ. At the time, the relationship that Israel had with God, revolved around the temple sacrifice, as the only way they could atone for their sins and maintain their relationship with the LORD. Because of the necessity of righteous sacrifices, this was seen as a devastating blow.

A) The gospel changes everything. In the gospel, there are several victorious things happening. First of all, there is the final sacrifice for sins, so no further blood must be shed for us to be made righteous before God the Father. Second, Jesus prophesied that worship would change, as people would no longer need to go on a pilgrimage in order to worship the Father, but God would be worshiped in spirit and in truth, wherever the believer was. This is tied to the third change, which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promised to us with His return to Heaven. Now, there is a personal, present, immediate communion with the Spirit of God, wherever the believer is. All of this together brings us to the point of this verse, relative to me today: no one can subdue me. The simplest way to express this, would be to say that the old covenant existed externally from the individual people, but the new covenant exists internally within the individual believer. There are currently, in my world today, large groups of people trying to destroy Christianity. At the very least, there are places in the world today, where persecution is so severe, that they are trying to purge Christianity from their lands. Destroying church buildings is only the beginning. But, even if an oppressor wanted to destroy my body, or the bodies of every believer (as we are corporately the body of Christ, the corporate temple of God, and also individual temples of God), that would only further serve the spread of the gospel, because it would make us like our Lord, who died for righteousness sake. No, this verse above reminds me that the victory I have in Christ is secured on both eternal and temporal levels.

P) Father, thank You for the victory I have in Christ. Let me remember, daily, just how complete the victory is. On the cross, it truly was finished. Everything I need was provided in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of my Savior. You provided everything I could ever need, in that. With what You have already done, I truly have nothing to fear. Jesus already overcame the world, so in Him I have every victory. Be glorified, as I walk boldly in my faith, undefeated. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 08/23/2015; 1 John 4:19

Today's reading: Jeremiah 31, 32; 1 John 4

S) "¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us."

1 John 4:19 NASB)

O) This chapter explores and examines many facets of this truth, which is summed up simply in te above verse. There are two main elements at work. First, this verse is reflexive. Initially, we are only able to love, because God loves us. That goes back to our created state, that we even were created. It is found in te image we bear, as we are creative because we bear the image of our creative God. The reflex of love is magnified when we have relationship with God, understanding His grace, mercy, compassion, and lovingkindness. Second, this verse is active. Reading this verse in context, we see that love is a command. We are holy, because He is holy first. We are merciful, because He was first merciful to us. We love, because He loved us first.

A) Somehow, I had mostly only ever read this verse in its first facet, that God enables me to love because He first loved me. Reading it this morning, though, I see a much stronger context that this is a command, as much as it could be anything else. I'm sure that has a lot to do with where I am in my spiritual life now, relative to earlier in my faith. In my life today, I am in a position to love more Christians in a real, practical way, than ever before. Certainly, in raising my family, and my sister who is living with us. But also, we are serving younger kids at church (fourth and fifth graders), and that takes effort. Also, being in a life group, I had to learn loving by choice as a reality, because relationships can get messy when they get meaningful. Early in my life in Christ, I marveled at the very ability within me, my capacity to love. I don't want to take that for granted, when loving is easy. It is easy to love my wife, but that is grace from God. It is easy to love my kids, but that is a gift from God, too. Whether it is proactive or reflexive, it starts with God's love.

P) Father, thank You for the grace at work in the love I have. You loved me first, creating me in Your image, also as a creature who loves others. I have not always had the best examples of love, but You have always been perfect in Your example of everything to me. Also, I didn't love You, when You first loved me. In a sense, You made an example out of me, that I could follow that example, to love others. Let me be faithful with this gift of grace You've given me, to love. Be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.