SOAP 03/04/2016; Jeremiah 41:17-18

Today's reading: Numbers 34, 35, 36; Mark 11*

S) "¹⁷ And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt ¹⁸ because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, since Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land."

Jeremiah 41:17-18 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Jeremiah 41

O) The previous chapter lays the groundwork for the treachery in this chapter. Gedaliah was a prince in Jerusalem, allowed to survive the exile and remain in Judah (along with a few other princes, namely Johanan and Ishmael). Gedaliah had been elected to govern the remnant left in the region. Ishmael wanted to rebel, and planned to kill Gedaliah (presumably for his submission to Nebuchadnezzar). Johanan learned of it, warned Gedaliah, and wanted to kill Ishmael for the planned assassination, but Gedaliah didn't believe the report. In this chapter, we see Johanan was right, and Ishmael killed Gedaliah, some other Jews with him, some of the Chaldean soldiers who were left there, and even some refugees from Shechem. Johanan arrived too late, but pursued Ishmael, who had "rescued" some of the other royal family left behind (that he essentially took hostage). Johanan rescued them, but Ishmael escaped. At the last, Johanan had to flee with the people he had legitimately rescued, because of the rebellion that Ishmael had started. This entire story is a tragedy, as an extension of the refusal by Zedekiah to submit to the discipline of the LORD, and simply go into exile under Nebuchadnezzar. It is no surprise, then, that one of his descendants would choose to rebel, too, even after the exile was finished. Obviously, it's sad that Gedaliah died, since he was trying to do the right thing, but in my estimation, the most tragic life of these princes, is Johanan. He was submissive to God's discipline, willing to accept his new rulers. He was willing to follow the lead of Gedaliah, and remained loyal to him, offering help when he was threatened. He was ignored. His leader was murdered in the midst of a slaughter. Then, when things went from bad to worse, he struggled to pick up the pieces and ended up as a fugitive.

A) This is a lesson in perseverance. Johanan seemed to do just about everything right, but his story ended with him on the run for his life, while being responsible for who-knows-how-many people. Sometimes, life moves very quickly. Decisions must be made, and the outcome is impossible to see in advance. This is why two disciplines must, must, be part of my daily life. I must be in prayer constantly. I also must seek godly wisdom whenever I can, wherever I can. I need to ask God for it, I need to read from godly men. I need to be awash in Scripture. When things are chaotic, moving too quickly for deliberation, I must be able to use the wisdom that God has already given me (directly, or through Scripture, or from others), and I must be trained to pray while I move. Certainly, I have an immeasurable advantage over Johanan, in that I have the Holy Spirit upon me, because of the works of Jesus Christ. Still, I should aspire to be more like him, in his decisive reactions and willing responsibility.

P) Father, thank You for the grace You have already shown me. I may never have to be a refugee, on the run for my life, with dozens of people relying on my leadership. But, some form of that, whether physical or spiritual, may still be coming. I know that I am not wise enough. Please continue to mature me, Lord. Please continue to impart wisdom that only comes from You, by the Holy Spirit. Discipline me to follow Your lead, God. Lead me also into fellowship with wise, godly men. Help me learn from them, everything I can. Help me to learn disciplines from them, to take advice from them, to follow their example of following Christ. And also open my eyes to behold wonderful things from Your law. Teach me from Scripture, and continue to give me understanding and insight. Draw me, inspire me, to prayer throughout my day. Guide me into devoted, undivided, attentive prayer. But also, continue to lead me into prayer throughout my day, while I perform other tasks. While I work, while I drive, while I do chores at home. Give me the discipline to pray constantly. Give me perseverance to never grow weary of talking with You, of seeking You. When I face challenges, and I have no time to pause for deliberation, let me react with godly discipline, so that the people I may be leading will be following You, as I follow You. In everything I do, be glorified. Let Your will be done in my life, and on earth, as it is in heaven. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/03/2016; Jeremiah 40:15-16

Today's reading: Numbers 32, 33; Mark 10*

S) "¹⁵ Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, 'Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?' ¹⁶ But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, 'Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.'"

Jeremiah 40:15-16 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Jeremiah 40

O) In this chapter, the city of Jerusalem has already fallen, and most of the people have been taken into exile. However, Jeremiah was allowed the option to go wherever he chose, whether to Babylon, or remaining in Jerusalem, or else to go to any other city of Judah, all of which were conquered by the Chaldeans (this was allowed because Nebuzaradan apparently understood the prophecies regarding Judah, see vv.2-4). So, Jeremiah elected to go join Gedaliah in Mizpah, who had been appointed to govern the people left in Judah. Now, the leadership that was left (and there are several named in v.8) were some of the princes of Judah (i.e., leaders from the previous government, including royalty, but not necessarily). So, Gedaliah was a Jew, elected by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to govern the Jews in the name of Babylon. This is something akin to the tax collectors of Jesus' time. They also were Jews working for an oppressive government, seemingly against their own countrymen. So, when Ishmael saw that Gedaliah intended to comply with their conquerors (see vv.9-10), he decided to rebel. Johanan learned of this planned rebellion, this planned murder, and tried to warn Gedaliah, even offering a "preemptive counterstrike" of sorts, but Gedaliah was not convinced. That doubt cost him his life.

A) The most compelling thing about this story, is the motive of Gedaliah. He said, "Do not do this thing," which surely seems justified. A preemptive counterstrike, murdering someone who hasn't actually committed a crime, yet - that seems wrong indeed. However, he didn't say, "Do not do this thing, this would be murder on our part. We need a different solution." So, his actions were morally correct, but practically unwise. That is the warning I must take away from this. There are actions which are morally correct, but if they are done with the wrong motive, foolish motives, they can still cost me dearly. This is why it is imperative that I am following the lead of the Holy Spirit, that I am listening to wise counsel, and that I am asking God for all wisdom when it comes to the decisions I make in life. I am certain and thankful, that God can redeem any circumstance (promised in Romans 8:28). But, that doesn't mean I want Him to pick up the pieces of a disaster, if the disaster is indeed avoidable.

P) Father, thank You for the grace You have shown me, and continue to show me. The nature of grace is that I do not deserve it, obviously, but I am continually humbled when I think about the ways in which You reveal Your grace to me. Even now, I am facing big decisions in my life. The impact of those decisions is far-reaching. So, I continue to humble myself before You, Lord. Have Your way in my life. Let Your will be done. Please lead me, give me wisdom, open my eyes and ears. Let me follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. Open the doors that should be open, and close the doors that should be closed. I choose Your ways, Lord. I trust You, that You are able to redeem my lack of wisdom, my lack of foresight, but I'd much rather avoid foolish mistakes if it is at all possible. So, let Your will prevail in my life. Let me be obedient to Your commands, and wise with my choices. Help me discern between truth and lies. Let me find the best course of action. But, failing that, thank You for Your ever-present grace. Thank You that Your grace is bigger than any mistake I could make. Be glorified in my life, in both the providence and redemption You show Your servant. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/02/2016; Jeremiah 39:10

Today's reading: Numbers 30, 31; Mark 9*

S) "¹⁰ But some of the poorest people who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time."

Jeremiah 39:10 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Jeremiah 39

O) The very first thing that came to mind about this passage, was Proverbs 13:8. Although that can read a couple different ways, depending on the translation, what we see happened in Jeremiah's day, was that the wealth of the rich was actually forfeited completely, and most of the people died. The poorest of the people (if they had survived that long), were not even considered worth taking back to Babylon. While it's hard to know things like, what percentage of the destitute died before Jerusalem fell, we do know that the only people who were allowed to stay in Jerusalem, were the poorest of the people. What's more, is that they were actually elevated, in a sense. They went from being the poorest, to being the richest (by default, but still). They went from having nothing, to having fields and vineyards (they obviously had them as stewards to their Babylonian conquerors, but it was more than they had before). Don't get me wrong, this was devastating to the entire nation of Judah, without question. But, the case can be made that the Babylonians dealt with the poorest among the people, the least harshly. Throughout the Bible, God provides for the poor. I suppose this was just one more instance of His providential grace.

A) When I was a kid, one of my brothers would talk non-stop about wanting to become rich when he grew up. Even as a child, I remember that seeming strange. I never wanted that. But, the more I read my Bible, I want it even less. The proverb I mentioned above, I remember coming across that as a teenager, and finding great comfort in it. It bore out when I left my car unlocked, and the next morning it was clear that someone had gotten into my car - and left everything there! Even the small change in the ash tray wasn't worth stealing! Of course, Jesus warned that it is difficult for the rich to enter His kingdom. And, there are also examples like the exile above. I hope I never need a war to remind me that being (relatively) poor can be quite the better option.

P) Father, thank You for keeping greed from my heart. I confess that there have been times when greed has gripped my heart, but for the most part, Your grace has kept me clear of that trap. I know there are plenty of other ways I sin, but I take comfort and find peace, knowing that my financial worth has nothing to do with my worth in You. My security is eternally paid by nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ. In You, I am as rich as I could ever be. Let me forever heed the warnings about being, or getting, rich. Let me honor and glorify You with how I manage the small resources I do have. Where my treasure is, there my heart is, too. I pray that my treasure and my heart are found in You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 03/01/2016; Jeremiah 20:9

Today's reading: Numbers 28, 29; Mark 8*

S) "⁹ But if I say, 'I will not remember Him
Or speak anymore in His name,'
Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it."

Jeremiah 20:9  (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Jeremiah 20

O) Jeremiah was really struggling at this point, even going so far as to say he felt like God had tricked him (v.7). In reality, God actually told him that his calling would be difficult, and seemingly unfruitful (see Jeremiah ). Still, he was faithful in speaking the words that the LORD was giving him, and Jeremiah felt the reproach of those around him, and it was a hard burden to bear. It would seem that at some point, he even tried to stop prophesying, but it was eating him up inside. In this sense, Jeremiah actually resembles Jonah, in that he was torn between speaking the prophecy, and just wanting to be done with it all.

A) I cannot ever allow myself to think God has tricked me. He is patient, great in lovingkindness, full of compassion, and altogether good. Beyond that, there is a burden I feel, a real need to speak up against misconceptions, misrepresentations, and outright lies. This is especially true regarding the authority of Scripture, the power of the gospel, and the goodness of God's character. There are plenty of times when, regrettably, I have held myself back because of fear. Fear of reproach, ridicule, or rejection. I don't want to be odious to my unbelieving family. I don't want to be obnoxious to my unbelieving coworkers. But, more than any of that, I don't want to be obstinate to my God. I love the truth, and I love Him who is Truth, I want to represent Him well, and I want others to know Him, to know Truth, as I do. I don't want to convince them, that's where my fears can become rooted. Convincing them is not my role. I do need, however, to be willing to speak the truth. The key then, is like Paul said, to speak it in love. My goal should not be to win arguments, but to love. Part of love, is to be truthful, but love should always be the goal. When love is my goal, that is when the truth within me, really does become incontainable. That's the fire I want burning within me, the fire of truth borne from love.

P) Father, You are a consuming fire. I want You to burn away all my fears of men, so that I fear You alone. Burn away my distractions, burn away my fears, burn away my bitterness or jealousy or pride. I want Your love to be my motivation, whenever the truth must be told. Give me wisdom, patience, courage, and peace, when You are leading me to speak up. I want to boldly proclaim Truth and love into every situation. Help me to counterpoint the lies the enemy tries to spread. Give me opportunity to share the gospel. Help me be opportunistic in sharing the gospel. Open my eyes and ears, so that I better understand Your words. I want to honor You with the truth I speak, God. I don't want to be counter-cultural, just for the sake of be contrary. I want to be contrary, wherever the truth is under attack. Help me to be faithful in this area, Lord. Burn within me, so that I cannot resist Your urging, God. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/29/2016; Jeremiah 16:16

Today's reading: Jeremiah 16*

S) "¹⁶ 'Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen,' declares the Lord, 'and they will fish for them; and afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill and from the clefts of the rocks.'"

Jeremiah 16:16 (NASB)
*because the reading plan is not designed for Leap Day, today I read Jeremiah 16

O) This is clearly a prophecy with two layers. On the one hand, God was talking about bringing the exiles back to their land. On the other hand, we know that the disciples were later to be called by Jesus as fishers of men (see Mark 1:17). As obvious as that connection is, strangely the only footnotes about this have to do with the people being exiled out of their place, referring to the "leading by fish hooks" that are mentioned in Amos 4:2 and Habakkuk 1:14-15. While the very next two verses (vv.17-18) do mention the righteous judgment of God, v.18 starts with the words, "I will first," So, we have to ask, first before what? The answer, is that it is first before they are brought back by the fishermen and hunters that will bring them (see vv.14-15).

A) This verse is an important reminder to me of a couple things. For one, commentators are people, just like me. They are not infallible, but they can miss things just like I can. I must take what they say as opinion, not necessarily as fact. Not everything in my study Bible is Scripture. Second, this is a reminder to go beyond the surface level of Scripture, especially when reading the Old Testament, to see how it correlates to the New Testament, Jesus Christ, and then even more forward and into my own life. Third, and to that last point, this verse reminds me of the epic story that is God's reconciling the world to Himself. It has been in operation, even since the beginning of time, becoming more and more clear, leading up to the Gospel. As it is now, there are countless peoples who have not been brought into God's kingdom, still. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. I'd say that the seas are also full, while the fishermen are few. I need to cast a line.

P) Father, I was caught by Your love. I was netted, brought into relationship with You. Then I foolishly jumped ship. That was, without a doubt, the biggest mistake of my life. I have no idea how my life would be better if I had stayed with You seamlessly. Still, You have redeemed my lost years with amazing grace. I know the power of the gospel, because I have lived it. I know how beautiful it is, residing in Your Kingdom. Still, I have fears that become excuses, for me to be passive and lazy, when it comes to spreading the gospel. That is to my shame, and I am sorry, Lord. Please forgive me. Please discipline me, to become more responsible with this truth I know. I want to cast a line, I want to spread a net. I want to be a fisher of men. I know it starts with my own family, but it doesn't end there. There is no greater life, than to be caught by the grace of my merciful, compassionate, loving God. Help me to catch them with You, for You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/28/2016; Jeremiah 12:10

Today's reading: Numbers 24, 25, 26, 27; 1 Corinthians 13*

S) "¹⁰ Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard,
They have trampled down My field;
They have made My pleasant field
A desolate wilderness."

Jeremiah 12:10 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Jeremiah 12

O) This is part of the answer Jeremiah received, when he prayed about the injustices in his homeland. The whole answer is fairly symbolic, and this verse caught my eye. What are shepherds doing in a vineyard? He didn't say that vinedressers had ruined His vineyard, or that shepherds had ruined His pastures. He didn't even say the sheep had ruined His vineyard. Shepherds are leaders. These leaders had forgotten their place. They had wandered into areas that were never meant for them, and people followed them.

A) There are a few things to remember with this short excerpt. First and foremost, my shepherd is Jesus. While there are other leaders who are worth following, that is only true to the degree that they are following Jesus. If I am ultimately following Jesus, then I will never be led astray into areas I was never meant to go. Also, I need to be on guard against false teachings, false shepherds, who will try to lead my flock astray. I need to be vigilant in guarding my family from false teachers and teachings. Just like I must ensure that I am following Jesus so that anyone else ahead of me cannot lead me astray, I must ensure that I am following Jesus so that anyone else behind me will follow Him, too. Lastly, I need to be obedient, both as a sheep and as a shepherd. Sheep are not meant to eat grapes, or else they will quickly devastate a vineyard. I must have a humble, obedient heart, when it comes to things meant for me and things not meant for me. God has set a boundary and I must remain in it, or it will cost, myself and others. Jesus is a good and trustworthy shepherd. So, what He determines is good for me, is truly good. What He determines is bad for me, is truly bad.

P) Father, thank You for the grace You have shown me. Thank You for opening my ears to hear and know the voice of my Shepherd. Discipline me, to follow only His voice. Keep me penned in the area meant for me. When I am led out, let it be only by the voice of Jesus, and don't let me be deceived. Give me the courage to speak out against false teaching, both for my own sake and for the sake of those who follow me. Let me, and my wife, and my children, be under Your loving care, Lord. Let Your will be done in our lives. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.