SOAP 10/27/2015; Psalm 114:3-4

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

S) "³ The sea looked and fled;
The Jordan turned back.
⁴ The mountains skipped like rams,
The hills, like lambs."

Psalm 114:3-4 (NASB)

O) This song is a brief recap of Exodus, in poetic imagery. The purpose of this type of song, is to reflect on the goodness of God. By remembering His salvation, how He redeemed them from slavery, the people are encouraged to keep faith, and remain devoted to following the LORD. Certainly, there were a great many more miracles than the few listed here, but even just these "highlights" are enough to remember how mightily God has moved on behalf of His people. When He parted the Red Sea, stopped the Jordan from flowing, made Mount Sinai quake, these events could not be missed when they happened. In a tradition of Hebraic poetry, the landscape is personified, to illustrate that God has relationship with all of His creation. Everything He has made is subject to His sovereignty. So, when He intervenes on behalf of His people, there is nothing He cannot do.

A) Sometimes, when reading through the Old Testament, there is a curiosity about why God seemed to do such elaborate things in biblical times, but not necessarily in modernity. But, there are a couple of important things for me to remember. For one thing, God moved in mighty and miraculous ways when He was establishing covenant relationships with His people. This has been true throughout the Bible, all the way up to the New Covenant, established with Jesus (considering all of the "natural" events that happened between the crucifixion and resurrection). It would be unreasonable for me to expect God to move with similar overtness, when there is no other covenant coming until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The other thing to consider, is that the purpose behind those amazing miracles, was to confirm His promises to His people. This is still, actually, the case in our world today. In our culture though, I think there may be a sort of saturation of the gospel. People in the U.S. have already heard of Jesus, and a great many who do not believe have already made up their minds to reject Him. While I think there are still large numbers who are willing to believe, by comparison the number is small. Not to mention, in our culture in the Western Hemisphere, there is a general skepticism about all things supernatural. That is a manifested lack of faith, and even when God does still move, there is a culture-imposed blindness, to deny that God is moving. I cannot chase miracles. Jesus warned about seeking signs and wonders. I already believe, and all I need is Jesus. All I need is the Bible. Certainly, I believe that God can speak directly to me (although there must be heavy caution. I am fallible, but the Bible is not), the Word of God is completely authoritative and completely sufficient. I also cannot become calloused to the finger of God at work. God is mighty and sovereign, so He can do whatever miracles He pleases, whenever He wants to do them.

P) Father, Your grace is sufficient for me. In Your goodness, Father God, You have already given me everything I need to live a righteous life in Jesus Christ, by submitting myself to Your holy written Word. Still, I want to keep a childlike faith. I want to continue to believe that You can answer prayers, both through manifested signs and wonders, and also through dreams, visions, and personal revelation. Give me every bit of discipline I ever need, to cautiously and wisely judge every external impression I have, though. I never, ever, want to misunderstand Your character, Your word, or Your will. Open my eyes and my ears, to see, hear, and believe. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/26/2015; Psalm 72:1-2

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

S) "¹ Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s son.
² May he judge Your people with righteousness
And Your afflicted with justice."

Psalm 72:1-2 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Psalm 72

O) This is a psalm of Solomon, and based on the last line of the chapter, it seems reasonable that he wrote this shortly after ascending the throne of Israel. The whole song is poetically giving characteristics of a good king, and they are almost summarized in these first two verses. Solomon, right from the start, realized that the office of king was over his head, and he would need the help of the LORD if he was ever to reign well. So, we see consistency in v.1, with Solomon's first prayers to God when he asked for wisdom to rule justly. He seemed to understand (at least initially) that being king was about serving God's people. He was king, but God was God. These people weren't his subjects, but God's children.

A) This is the same mentality I should have as a husband and dad. My wife and kids are not my subjects, living in my home to serve me. They do not exist for my pleasure and satisfaction. On the contrary, they are God's children, and I am their steward. I am keeping them safe, protected, nourished, and healthy until the LORD claims them back from me. Until that happens, it is part of my office that I would administer justice, judge them righteously, protect, serve, lead, and love them.

P) Father, You are infinite in wisdom and righteousness. I desire to resemble You, to reflect Your character. It is my hope that, when my wife and children look at me, it reflects well on their heavenly Father. So Lord, I ask for You to give their dad Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to my children and wife. May I judge Your people with righteousness and Your humble servants with justice. Let me follow You closely, Lord. Let them be following You, as they follow me following You. Help me to disciple my children. Help me to edify my wife. Be glorified in how I lead my family, and let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/25/2015; Acts 22:21-22

Today's reading: Job 16; Acts 21, 22, 23

S) "²¹ And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'

²² They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!'"

Acts 22:21-22 (NASB)

O) Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem, just as he expected (see Acts 21:11). When the men at the temple were stirring, the commander of a Roman cohort heard there was a riot forming, and came to Paul's rescue. It's noteworthy that the Roman officer wasn't really concerned with the religious dispute, so much as he was keeping the peace. In doing so, he was going to take Paul into his barracks for his own safety, until the matter could be settled legally. Before going in, Paul asked if he could address the crowd, and because of Paul's pedigree, he was allowed. This is where chapter 21 starts, as Paul began addressing the crowd in Hebrew. As he was giving his testimony, all was going well - inasmuch as the people weren't rioting, violently trying to get to Paul. They were a captive audience, all the way through Paul's testimony, right up to the point that Jesus told Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. At that point, the people could no longer restrain themselves, as they snapped back into their mob mentality.

A) This verse is a solemn warning, a cautionary tale, about giving testimony. By no means, should fear ever dictate my actions. Regardless of whether the action is good or bad, if it is driven by fear, then it's still not the way I should behave. So, it makes no more sense for me to be scared out of testifying, than it would be for me to be scared into sharing my testimony. But, what Paul's example reminds me, is that people will reject my testimony, even suddenly, because of their own hardened hearts. It really has nothing to do with me, or the words I choose. This was surely not the first time Paul had shared what happened to him. In fact, I would reckon that he had his testimony pretty well rehearsed. When I am telling people what God has done, to me and in me, they certainly could be taking well, up to some point. I should not be surprised - or discouraged - that they might suddenly turn and reject my words. It is not up to me to force anyone to accept the truth when I tell it, it is only up to me to tell it. They might accept the majority of my witness, and only reject one part of it. There could be any point in my own testimony, that could be hard for a person to accept. That simple rejection might very well be enough for them to reject the whole. If it is, I can only hope and pray that God softens their heart, opens their eyes, and opens their ears.

P) Father, Your grace and goodness deserve to be shared. Your righteousness and power deserve to be feared. Let me fear You alone, Lord. Help me to cast aside any fear of men. You alone know the heart of a man. It is not really for me to know if a person will accept or reject my testimony. I cannot see the condition of their heart. It is only up to me to share, and if they accept it or reject it,  I can go from there. So, let me follow Paul's example, in boldly proclaiming what You have done for me. Let me share what Jesus has done to me and in my life. If people hear me out, and accept it, then hallelujah. If people reject me because of the Name, then hallelujah. But, let me be bold and courageous, regardless of if, or when, they stop listening. Be glorified, and let Your will be done in my life and in the world. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/24/2015; Psalm 70:4

Today's reading: Job 15; Acts 19, 20*

S) "⁴ Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
'Let God be magnified.'"

Psalm 70:4 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Psalm 70

O) This is a short Psalm from David. In it, he asked for hasty deliverance, as men sought his life and delighted in his hurt. But, even though this is such a short Psalm, and David needed help in such an urgent, literal way, he still made time to express this point. In the middle of his calamity, while he was seeking God, and hoping for His salvation, David was still making the whole situation about God's glory. Regardless of the impending doom, David's concern was still that God would receive the honor that is due to Him. As much as I am sure David would like to have been saved, just for the easing of struggle, it also seems he genuinely saw his tribulations as opportunities for God to reveal His glory to the world, and his hope was that God would do just that.

A) Rarely, do I have the presence of mind in the midst of trials, to hope that God's glory is manifested for others to see. I will confess that all too often, when I am seeking God and hoping for His salvation, it's still all about me. So, I must shift my focus, especially in my times of need. That God would be magnified through my life, in my need, must be my ultimate goal. If my suffering is part of His plan to reveal Himself to others, then I should desire to suffer every day. Sure, there can be a conflict of will. After all, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, that His cup be taken from Him. Still, He bent His own will to that of the Father, and denied His original desire to conform to the desire of the Father. In me, I have the power to choose what I will want. My desires do not define me or direct me. So, in the midst of my own tribulation, I may desire reprieve, but I will choose to desire that God is magnified above all else. If my deliverance magnifies Him, hallelujah. If my suffering magnifies Him, hallelujah.

P) Father God, You should be magnified in every part of my life. When I am immersed in Your Word, this is easy to remember. However, all too often I am distracted away, and I forget that my life is not all about me. I even get distracted into thinking my life is all about my kids, or all about my marriage, but it's not. My life should be all about You. My life's ambition should be completely and wholly about magnifying You, God. Let this goal become more and more prevalent in my mind. Help me to think daily, about how I can magnify Your name. In easy times, let me praise You. In hard times, let me praise You. Let me seek You, and rejoice and be glad in You, not because You deliver me, but because I have found You! Never let me lose the joy of simply knowing You, Lord. Be magnified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/23/2015; Job 14:4-5

Today's reading: Job 13, 14; Acts 17, 18

S) "⁴ Who can make the clean out of the unclean?
No one!
⁵ Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass."

Job 14:4-5 (NASB)

O) In context, Job was making a point about the brevity of a man's life. In v.4, his reference about unclean to clean, in context, has to do with a man trying to extend his own life. That is, our sinful and unclean bodies cannot be made clean (by ourselves), such that we will prolong life. God has already determined the number of days a man shall live. God sets the limits for a man, and he can do nothing to extend that limit. The use of days and months, seems to give the impression of both a micro-view, and a macro-view on this topic. In the details, there is nothing that we can do, and in the grand scheme, there is nothing we can do.

A) This is quite contrary to what the modern medical and health industries would have us believe. While I do think it's important to be a good steward for my body, and that there are many unhealthy things I can do which would actually be sinful, the errors I should be concerned about are the spiritual errors. It is so much more important, even infinitely more important, that I am spiritually healthy. I can be in the best health in the world, but when God decides to take me home, my health will not stand in His way. Certainly, gluttony is sinful, but so is pride. Laziness is sinful, but working out can be idolatrous. Death awaits this flesh, it is unclean. There is nothing I can do to clean it. In the end, this body will die, and one day I will have a new, perfect, glorious body. In the meantime, I must not concern myself with the longevity of my physical life, but the quality of my spiritual life.

P) Father, Help me maintain focus, God. You are holy, and so I want to be holy. You see the inner man, and that is what concerns You. I want a circumcised heart, not circumcised flesh. It is an easy lie to believe that I can somehow control, or even affect, my own lifespan. You determine the length of my days. In that way, help me to be a good steward of my time. I don't want to waste the time You have given me. Help me be wise, and to follow my convictions, about how I use the time You have allotted me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/22/2015; Psalm 68:19

Today's reading: Job 11, 12; Acts 15, 16*

S) "¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. Selah."

Psalm 68:19 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Psalm 68

O) The concept of a burden means a lot to a people who have come out of slavery. When the Israelites were coming out of Egypt, we read that God told them He was delivering them from the burdens of the Egyptians (see Exodus 6:6-7). Only a short time later, in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, we see Moses had a difficult time being a judge, and he likened it to a burden that was too hard for him. In Job 7:20, he likens his own sins to a self-imposed burden. In a similar way, in Psalm 38:4, David also likened his iniquities to a burden too heavy for himself. But here, we see that David, who was in the middle of a much larger psalm, contextually speaking, makes the point that God, who is our salvation, bears our burden daily. When Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would break the yoke of burden from the people, we can see that it wasn't meant as a reference to slavery to other nations, because Jesus didn't establish a kingdom of flesh and blood, but a spiritual Kingdom. So, the breaking of the yoke was about spiritual burdens, and also a reference to the slavery of sin. When Jesus tells us to come, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and to take up His burden, I think it is as much about burdens of life, as it is a reference to laying down our sins, and taking up His righteousness. Jesus bore the burden of our sins, when He carried the cross to Golgotha, and allowed Himself to be hanged on it.

A) Everyday, the Lord of my Salvation bears the burden of my sins, in His eternal sacrifice on the cross. Not that Jesus must be continually crucified, He took the penalty once for all, but that my sins need His atonement every single day. Certainly, God is my Comforter. Since I laid my life down for Christ, and the Holy Spirit came upon me, I have relied on His comfort and refuge countless times. He has carried by burdens of grief, of uncertainty, and even of physical needs. However, He has also carried my burden of shame. This verse is a reminder of what David knew very well, and what I need to remember each day. The Lord saved me from myself. My God who is my salvation, bears the burdens of my weakness, my brokenness, my sins, each day. The Lord daily saves me from myself.

P) Father, blessed be Your name. You bear my burdens daily, my God who is my salvation. I am humbled by this grace. Be glorified in my weakness, and my need for my Savior. Let me be unashamed that I need the gospel every day, to change me from who I was, to the man You are calling me to be. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 10/21/2015; Job 9:27-28

Today's reading: Job 9, 10; Acts 13, 14

S) "²⁷ Though I say, 'I will forget my complaint,
I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,'
²⁸ I am afraid of all my pains,
I know that You will not acquit me."

Job 9:27-28 (NASB)

O) Job was obviously dealing with physical struggles, but he was also dealing with tremendous emotional pain. It cannot be overlooked, that he had lost everything he could possibly value. He lost his offspring. It would seem his wife also left him, although she didn't die. He lost all of his possessions. Through this, he couldn't see any specific thing he had done wrong, but he understood that if God saw him as guilty, he stood no chance for appeal. In this brief passage (vv.25-35), he started to express the futility of his life, realizing he had no hope of pleading with God. In the verses above, he specifically notes that even optimism is pointless, because it doesn't actually change his situation. He knows that putting on a happy face doesn't actually change the pain that is coming against him, because it doesn't change how God sees him. He understood that if God was indeed against him, there was nothing he could do for himself about that (see v.32-35).

A) Optimism does not work. In a general way, I suppose my outlook on life would be described as optimistic. However, I cringe a little every time I hear myself described that way. Even though I could never correctly be described as a pessimist, so often I think optimism is seen as hollow. Indeed, when optimism is baseless, it actually is hollow! That's the root of what Job was saying in the passage above. In my own life, it may seem that I am usually positive, but it is only because of what Christ has done, and what He is doing currently, in my life. I don't mean what He is doing for me, but what He is doing to me, as He is continuing to change me, shaping me into a better disciple and a better son of God. Too often, I think Christians are seen as "fake" because we feel a pressure to always be happy. We hear sermons, or read books, or even see Scripture that talks about being joyful, and there tends to be this pressure to put on a happy smile all of the time. However, the world will see right through that façade. It is perfectly okay to acknowledge pain. Because, as Job was saying, we are not able to pretend, like we are not facing various struggles and trials. We are not like that in ourselves. However, if  I in Christ, if I am surrendering my suffering to Him, then I can consider it all joy. If my suffering is driving me to my knees, not in submission to the trial, but in submission to Christ, then it is all for joy, even if the tears are bitter.

P) Father, You are good. In the most simple, yet most profound way, Your goodness and grace are the source of my joy. I know that plain optimism is pointless. If there is no basis for hope, no basis for joy, then just putting on a happy face will be futile. That kind of forced happiness cannot be sustained. That is just the sort of faking that casts suspicion on Christianity. I never want to misrepresent Your goodness with a fake optimism. On the other hand, I recognize that You have blessed me with a tremendous joy, and peace that has carried me through many trials, sufferings, and outright chaos. You have sustained me, not some kind of positive mindset. Help me to properly represent Your character to others. Let me be bold and honest about the source of my happiness. I am joyful because You have acquitted me! You acquitted me through the redemptive work of Your Son, Jesus Christ! Because of the redemption that has been given to me in grace, I no longer fear the punishment and pain that were due to me, because of my sins. In Your perfect love and grace, You count me as righteous when I place my faith in You. That is the source of my joy. That truth, the truth of the gospel, is why I do not despair. The power of the gospel is why I can leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful. When sorrow comes upon me, when I face grief or hardship, let me again focus on the beauty of the gospel. Open my eyes and ears, to behold all of Your goodness, and be glad. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.