SOAP 01/21/2016; Isaiah 28:14-15

Today's reading: Exodus 1, 2; Psalm 88; Luke, 21*

S) "¹⁴ Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, O scoffers,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
¹⁵ Because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we have made a pact.
The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.'"

Isaiah 28:14-15(NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Isaiah 28

     

O) This is an ancient example of a deception that befalls people, even to this day. The leaders of Judah foolishly believed they could circumvent the sovereignty of the LORD, if they could somehow make a deal with death itself, or come to some kind of agreement with the grave. For thousands of years, now, satan has been lying to people, telling them he has some control over the after life and punishment of the wicked, as if he could spare them from the wrath of God. In reality, he cannot even save himself! Above all else, the Lord GOD must be worshiped and obeyed. In all of human history, we have been trying to find ways to work around that.

A) There is a humility that I must maintain, recognizing that I have no hope outside of God's way of doing things. Every attempt outside of God's plan is ultimately some form of idolatry. In the case of the above passage, the idol was death or the grave, directly. In the more modern world, the idol might be science or humanism. The idol could be family or a pension or a government. Really, if I am placing my hope, security, and trust in anything other than Jesus Christ, then it is idolatry. It is a smokescreen that will fail me, to think I can scheme some deal of my own, leaving God out of it. By calling myself His, I am declaring my own impotence and utter dependence on Him for everything in my life, both now and eternally.

P) Father, forgive my sinful foolish idolatry. Please discipline me, when I am trying to operate my life as if I am sovereign. Discipline me, when I am hustling to make my life work, without doing it through You. I cannot do anything behind Your back, and really, I see that I don't want to do anything without You. Still, I am prone to sinful habits. I am prone to acting without thinking it through. In everything, I want to be more aware of You. Help me to recognize when my planning has been apart from my prayers. Help me to recognize when my scheduling is actually scheming. Convict me of these idolatries that tend to sneak up on me without me realizing that I am making a deal with a devil of some kind. Help me to view my life, every part of it, as completely dependent on You, Lord. I want to see myself as Your bondslave. Open the eyes and ears of Your servant, Lord, that I may live my life in complete obedience and submission to Your plans. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/20/2016; Isaiah 27:1

Today's reading: Genesis 49, 50; Psalm 8; Luke, 20*

S) "¹ In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
With His fierce and great and mighty sword,
Even Leviathan the twisted serpent;
And He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea."

Isaiah 27:1 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Isaiah 27

O) It is a little unclear about when "that day" is, exactly. It could be a reference to the final day, when God will judge everything and satan will be permanently defeated. Certainly, the imagery of a dragon has been applied to satan in other parts of the Bible. Obviously, he had the form of a serpent in the Garden, although that was not the Leviathan, per se. On the other hand, it's possible that this Leviathan is representative of some other opponent of God and His people. In the end, the main point of this opening verse is that it actually doesn't matter. The second line makes it clear, whoever this sea monster is, he is no match for the Lord. When God wields His fierce and great and mighty sword, there is no escape.

A) This fierce, great, mighty sword is in the hand of the Lord my God. This is the same God who loves me. He made the decision to redeem me with the blood of Jesus Christ. He fiercely rescued me from my debtor. This same mighty God, He is the same gentle redeemer who lifts me when I fall. I still struggle with sin. There are days when I stumble and the devil, no doubt, is happy about it. But on those days, I need to remember that my fate is determined by the same Lord who wields that fierce and great and mighty sword. That sword is not meant for me.

P) Father, You are powerful, mighty, and sovereign. I know that one day, there will be a final reckoning. Every injustice will be corrected. Every evil will be ended. While that day is still ahead of me, there many days when I still face adversity. I confess that I still fall to sin. In those failures, I also feel a condemnation that I know doesn't actually belong to me. Help me to remember, Lord, that Your wrath is still in store for the devil, but the wrath that was meant for me has already been poured out on Jesus, when He ascended the cross. Your mighty sword will swing, but not at me. That is humbling, and I am filled with thanksgiving for Your power and mercy. Thank You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/19/2016; Isaiah 24:2

Today's reading: Genesis 47, 48; Psalm 10; Luke, 19*

S) "² And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor."

Isaiah 24:2 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Isaiah 24

     

O) Isaiah tells a little about how it will look when the LORD judges the earth. In this verse, there is a profound truth about people and human nature. We have a terrible tendency to compare ourselves to each other, which breads discontent, violence, and contempt. However, on the last day, every person will be on a level playing field, so to speak. The non-religious and ultra-religious, the powerful and the impotent, the influential and the insignificant, the rich and the poor. All together, all as one, we will realize that we are united by one simple fact: we were created, and He is our Creator. Whatever measurable difference there was between us, will immediately become insignificant in light of His awesome, overwhelming, pure glory.

A) Whether I see this verse as a promise or a warning, has everything to do with my relationship to Jesus Christ. In Him, I will stand on that day justified, with His righteousness imputed to me as my righteousness. So really, this verse is about Him. It is because of those promises, His promises, the promises built not on my own accomplishments or station in life, but built with the nails that pierced the hands and feet of the Son of God, the promises revealed sure with the revelation of the empty tomb, based on those promises, I look eagerly forward to the day that I will stand before God with no label attached to me. There are times when I struggle with pride that looks like this... I have regrets that I didn't get a college education. I sometimes feel guilty that I live paycheck-to-paycheck. I certainly am a debtor, in the most literal financial definition (although I have plans to get rid of debt this year, actually, but that's a different topic). There are times when I wonder if I should be more ambitious about my career. But, when I read this verse, I have tremendous encouragement! In the end, the size of my house won't matter when it is reduced to rubble. In the end, my job title won't matter when there is no more economy. In the end, I will be just like everyone else, with nothing to define me except my relationship with Jesus Christ. When I think of that, when I look forward to a day when everything else is stripped away, I am full of irrevocable, irresistible, and unspeakable joy.

P) Father, I long for this day, God. I long for the day when I am able to stand before You, and every earthly distraction and distinction is taken away, removed from between us. Help me to remember this, this end game, that is coming, Lord. I confess that my pride, hurt as it is, will sometimes sabotage my focus and confidence, because I am not focused on You, my only reason for confidence. Help me keep focus on the things above, and not things below. Help me stay focused on the end goal, and not temporary statuses. Let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/18/2016; Isaiah 21:8-9

Today's reading: Genesis 44, 45, 46; Luke 18*

S) "⁸ Then the lookout called,

'O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower,
And I am stationed every night at my guard post.
⁹ 'Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.'
And one said, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon;
And all the images of her gods are shattered to the ground.'"

Isaiah 21:8-9 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Isaiah 21
 

O) Isaiah received a "harsh vision" (v.2), the details of which we are not privy to know. The effects of it seem pretty difficult, though, considering how he describes his reaction in vv.3-4. After this, Isaiah seems to have appointed a lookout, to watch for particular signs (apparently indicating that the vision was coming to pass). When the lookout finally sees something, it's noteworthy how he approached Isaiah with the news. He started by giving an account of his trustworthy behavior. He made it clear that he had been vigilant, letting nothing get by his watch. What exactly prompted his statements is unclear (for example, we don't know if Isaiah gave him an incredulous look, or something of that nature). But, this lookout wanted Isaiah to know that he had done a good job, and offered evidence for why he should be believed. Then, an unnamed person gave the account of Babylon's fall.

A) Sometimes, I have a hard time identifying any applicable point in some of these short, historic, finite prophecies. There is always the important lesson of God's omniscience and sovereignty. But here, I also see a subtle reminder that being trustworthy and reliable is honorable to God. He can use me, when I am committed to keeping my word and accomplishing what I have been charged to do. This is right in line with Colossians 3:23-24. With everything I do, I have an opportunity to honor God. I can glorify Him by my every choice. Whether this is in my work ethic at my job, or how I relate to my children, His glory is at stake in every choice I make. If I want to be available, usable by God, then I am showing myself worthy of His calling when I am practicing integrity in my obedience, seeking His glory and honor above my own pleasure and ambition.

P) Father, Your grace at work in me has drastically, miraculously changed my motivations and the way I see my responsibilities. Thank You for redeeming me, changing me into something usable for Your kingdom and Your glory. I confess that I still fall to my own selfishness and pride. Too often, I seek my own will with my time or money or anything else, really. I don't want that, though. Let the Holy Spirit within me stir, every time I am tempted to selfish ambitions. Rebuke me, Lord, any time I am tempted to exalt myself above You. I want to be a worthy servant, useful for Your purposes. I want to be ready when You call, that I may serve as a watchmen, mouthpiece, recorder, shepherd, or anything else You would call me to do. Prepare me, that You would find Your servant ready, able, and trustworthy to do what You call me to do. Let Your will be done in my life, all to Your glory and honor. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 01/17/2016; Isaiah 18:7

Today's reading: Genesis 42, 43; Psalm 5; Luke 17*

S) "⁷ At that time a gift of homage will be brought to the LORD of hosts
From a people tall and smooth,
Even from a people feared far and wide,
A powerful and oppressive nation,
Whose land the rivers divide-
To the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, even Mount Zion."
   

Isaiah 18:7 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Isaiah 18
      

O) This chapter is a prophecy about Cush (or Ethiopia), but it's a little hard to say it is against them, per se. In v.2, the people are described as an oppressive nation. Then, in vv.5-6, there is prophetic language that could be about literal harvest times, but it could just as easily be seen symbolically. How exactly that should be seen is almost inconsequential, at this point, especially considering that this has almost certainly come to pass already, especially in light of the verse above, which brings us to the final point. The middle four lines of this last verse are a refrain from v.2, but it is framed by what is, perhaps, the most important two lines in the chapter. So often, throughout the Bible, we see God interact with people, and over and over we see His concern is not so much about what they have already done, but what they will do moving forward. In this case, whether the prophecy about harvest was literally about crops or symbolic, we see that this nation responded by honoring the LORD. That is perhaps even more impressive, even than the obedience of Israel (in their good times), when you consider that this was not God's people.
   
A) In light of the fact that this nation was a Gentile nation, I can immediately relate to them. My own lifestyle, before my relationship with God, was as oppressive as I could make it. If it was possible, I'd make people fear me, or else I'd try to find some other way to manipulate people or circumstances. I didn't understand it, but I was incurring the righteous wrath of God. I was inviting His perfect, but terrible judgment. So, when His punishment was revealed to be loving discipline, my reaction changed. When I understand that the difficult times in my life are the pruning of my Master, I am compelled to bring my gift to Him. That gift, the only thing I can truly offer, is my worship.
   
P) Father, You are perfectly justified in all of Your judgment. In holiness and righteousness, You sovereignly judged my life. But, instead of giving me the fruit of my sins, which would have been my death, You redeemed me. Thank You, God, for saving me from myself. Let me worship and honor You all of my days, for the goodness, patience, and lovingkindness You have shown Your servant. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.