SOAP 05/06/2016; Ecclesiastes 11:4

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51; Matthew 23*

S) "⁴ He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap."

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Ecclesiastes 11

O) This chapter reads a lot like the book of Proverbs, with the general theme here being, do what you can, because life is fleeting and difficult to predict. In this particular verse, though, there is a caution about planning or speculating, at the expense of doing. Watching the wind, or looking at the clouds, are things a farmer might find useful. However, if that becomes a preoccupation, it will come at the expense of sowing and reaping.

A) This isn't exactly my struggle. I don't know that I could rightly be called a planner, per se, but I do sometimes suffer from being too hypothetical, or too analytical. I want information, but I don't do anything with it. Just like the warning to be doers of the word, and not hearers only (see James 1:22-25), I want to be more proactive with other areas of my life. There is, right now, a desire with my family to move to Montana. I want to be careful to follow God. I want to be confident in His timing. However, I don't want to spin my wheels speculating. I want to plant seeds, I want to reap a harvest. I want to make specific plans, that will be expressions of my faith in God about this move. I want to be sowing seeds of prayer, and preparing my kids to move, and simplifying my life here and now, so we are ready to go, whenever God clears the way.

P) Father, Your grace has been so good, that I can't rightly describe it. I know, that I don't really know, the depths of Your grace. I trust that, even if I miss Your will about this move to Montana, I know that Your grace is sufficient for me. Still, I want to be faithful in trusting You and planning things out. I want to find the balance between planting seeds and watching clouds. Help me to be more proactive, stretching my faith, while also being patient and waiting for Your timing. Let Your will be done, and be glorified with how I watch and do. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/05/2016; Ecclesiastes 10:10

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 20; Psalm 20; Matthew 22*

S) "¹⁰ If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success."

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

O) Most of this chapter reads like the Proverbs, not specifically fitting the narrative of the rest of the book, which carries a lot of existential-type questions. The verse above certainly has that contrasting, self-contained context, that makes it easy to identify and apply what it means. In this case, the analogy of a lumberjack, shows us the importance of evaluation. Methods and opinions should be evaluated to be sure they are still effective. If this is not done, the circumstances will become more and more difficult. This is why wisdom has the advantage of giving success, because it is wise to re-evaluate things.

A) The very first thing that occurred to me, because this is where I am in life, is in the area of parenting. Each of my kids have unique personalities, struggles, and abilities. Because of this, I cannot use a blanket approach to discipline. While the standards of right behaviors, and what is expected in the culture of our family, is the same for all three of them, the consequences or methods may vary from child to child. As a parent, it is vital to my success and their future, that I continue to evaluate what is working and what is not working, in terms of their discipline and what is expected of them, individually. This should all be done with wise counsel, the foremost of which should be my wife. It is important that I am having frequent dialogues with her about what we're doing with each of our kids, and what we expect of them, and what we hope to accomplish with them. There are very many ways the principles of this verse should be applied. In marriage, in my daily work, in my career goals, in ministry opportunities, in friendships, etc. All of those things can be prioritized, but the important thing is that I am adopting the practice of self-evaluation to every area of my life. In exercising self-control, what is working and what is not working? In strengthening my marriage, what is working and what isn't working? On and on, this should be my regular practice. While I think it is normal for me already, on some levels, there are always areas that still need a lot of sharpening. Discipline for my kids just happens to be it right now.

P) Father, thank You for sharpening me. I submit to You for discipline, Lord. I know it's not pleasant when it's happening, but I also know the promise I have. You are a good Father, and Your discipline is always effective. I want to be a son who honors You in every way. I love You, Father God, and I want my life to reflect that. Please give me wisdom, the insight I need to discipline my kids, lately. Remind me to have more regular discussions with Kristin about how to discipline our kids. Help us to find the right balance between addressing their hearts with grace and mercy, and addressing their behaviors with justice and consequences. Thank You for the grace You have already been working in me, that our marriage has been consistently reevaluated by us. Help me extend this practice to other areas of my life, too. Help me find success, according to Your will and Your definition. All of this to Your glory alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/04/2016; Ecclesiastes 9:16

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 8, 9; 1 Chronicles 18, 19; Matthew 21

S) "¹⁶ So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded."

Ecclesiastes 9:16 (NASB)

O) This was a conclusion after retelling a parable about a wise man who (might have) delivered a besieged city. Apparently, the translation of v.15 is ambiguous. Whether the city was overcome, which was evidence that they didn't heed his words, or the city was delivered and he was forgotten, and the forgetting of him was the evidence that they didn't heed his words, one way or the other, the writer makes a very good point. Often, the person who gives wisdom is judged before the words are ever spoken, and so the wisdom (or strength or deliverance) those words might hold, is never actually heard.

A) My first thought betrayed my own fault about this verse. Initially, I thought this could really be used to support the pursuit of formal education. However, I know that I have an insecurity sometimes, about my lack of a college education. In reality, God is not bound by my worldly credentials. At the root of my concerns, should be the glory of God. If I want to help people, if I want to counsel a husband about his marriage, and I want to do it so that God is glorified, then God can prepare that man to hear my words, and God can give me wisdom to speak. This is not to say I should neglect education, but I also can't be silent or sorry about it. More to the point, I need to see this verse as a warning. Too often, I have caught myself judging a person's point of view based on factors beyond the words they are actually saying. A divorced man can speak wisely about marriage; I have heard it. A bankrupt man can speak wisely about finances; I have heard it. Over the years, God has helped me with this prejudice, to hear people with more compassion and less bias. Sometimes there is still a human, sinful, tempting attitude to dismiss a person's opinion before they give it, but this verse reminds me not to do that. Real wisdom comes from God, and He uses the weak to confound the strong, and the simple to confound the wise.

P) Father, thank You for the continuing work of grace in me. Thank You for the process of sanctification, and how You work holiness into me, and lead me in righteousness for Your name's sake. I look back and I'm so thankful that who I was is not who I am. And I look at myself now, and see so many shortcomings, but I have hope that You are not finished with me, yet. Please continue to soften my heart, to make me more teachable and humble. I want to hear a man's opinion, fully and completely, before I attempt to weigh it or discern the merit of it. I know my own shortcomings, my own lack, but I still know that You have given me insights and wisdom about some things. I know what it means to be dismissed because of preconceived notions about qualified opinions. I don't ever want to be that kind of discourager, Lord. Not to mention, I never want to miss wisdom You may be trying to teach me, because it is coming by an unconventional or unlikely source. Teach me to listen, Father God. I want to glorify You in the way I hear people. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/03/2016; Ecclesiastes 6:12

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 2; Matthew 20*

S) "¹² For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?"

Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Ecclesiastes 6

O) This is an interesting sort of warning, because the writer isn't warning us directly, but this verse seems to highlight one of the struggles of this book, and how this book can be used as a cautionary tale. This chapter focuses a lot on the futility of life, and this last verse alludes to one of the key issues the writer was wrestling. A man might struggle, fearing what will happen to him when he dies. This is best addressed with the promise of eternal life through the gospel. But, there is a different fear about death, too. There is the fear about what happens to everyone else. There is the fear of irrelevance. There is the fear of impotence once he is gone. This is what the writer wrestles in this chapter. Eventually, the writer does get to more of the correct point (see Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), but not necessarily the deeper issues that caused these sort of existential doubts.

A) Life insurance is a big industry. The biggest selling point seems to be, that the insurance will provide for my family after I am gone and I cannot provide for them. This, like the verse above, misses a critical point that I must never forget. If I do, I will fall for insurance taglines, and I will fall prey to the thought process in the verse above. I must remember that I do not provide for my family. I do not control the destiny of my children. I do not control my professional successes. I do not establish have my own legacy. All of this revolves around the glory of God. In my life, I am blessed to be used as God provides for my family and receives the glory. I am blessed to be used to as an instrument as God instructs and loves my children and receives the glory. I am blessed to be used as God makes me successful or not, and He is glorified one way or the other. I am blessed to be used, to be named after I die, as being some part of the lives of others, as they learn about God's love for them, the power of the gospel, and learn to glorify God themselves. In that way, I am only a part of a bigger legacy that God creates through His church. I still don't always know for sure, what is going to be good in my lifetime. I make decisions based on the wisdom I have, certainly based on the Bible, with wise counsel from other Christians who also seek God's will regularly. But, as I live out my life, as long as I am seeking to glorify God, instead of seeking my own glory, then I can be assured my life will have meaning, because God will continue to be glorified even after my time under the sun. In that way, I participated in a much greater good, and that greater good, that best good, will continue under the sun, until the return of Christ.

P) Father, help me stay focused, God. You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. You are worthy of it all. Everything I have to give, I give to You, Lord. Help me to be faithful as a steward. Help me be faithful as a Christian, with the work of the Kingdom and the spread of the gospel. Help me be faithful as a husband, to love my wife as Christ loves the church, to highlight the gospel through my marriage. Help me be faithful as a dad, to show my kids the love of Christ, and the instruction of the Bible, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. I pray that when I am done under this sun, that I have glorified You with my life. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/02/2016; Ecclesiastes 3:11

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19*

S) "¹¹ He has made everything ^[b]appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, ^[c]yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Ecclesiastes 3

O) There were two footnotes in the translation of this verse that I left here, because I think they shed a lot of light on this verse. First, the word "appropriate" used there, literally means "beautiful," and I'm not really sure why they would make this change. I suppose, given the list in vv.2-8, the translators may have thought some of those things were difficult to see as beautiful. But, there are a few problems with that judgment. For one thing, we need to remember who makes the definitions about such things. If God calls something beautiful, who are we to argue? Also, this is a book of poetic wisdom, so leaving the words translated literally, doesn't mean their meanings have to be taken in the most literal sense. Saying, "everything beautiful" doesn't have to apply to the previous list of things, and could just as easily (and possibly more appropriately) be applied to the following lines, regard the work which God has done. That brings me to the second footnote.
The wording, "yet so that man," may also be translated as, "without which man," and that seems to make much more sense. While it is true that we will never know all the mysteries of God's works, we need to see the context here, and throughout the entirety of the Bible. God has indeed shown us the span of His works, in the timeframe of the beginning and end of the world. He gave us the book of Genesis, and the Revelation of John. Giving us a conceptual understanding of eternity, and then giving us the creation account, and then the vision of the final judgment day, seem like one builds into the other. It seems rather odd to say that we have eternity set in our hearts, but God doesn't want us to find out the work He has done from start to finish, but that He also gives us the account of the start and the finish. I do appreciate the footnotes, here.
Now, on the topic of eternity and our hearts, which has not footnote, this raises a very important point. God has given mankind certain kinds of innate understandings. It is supernaturally given, imbedded in us, there even from childhood, for us to realize that our lives are more than the breaths we have while on earth. This is, by my estimation, very similar to what Paul meant in Romans 1:20. It is only through learned pessimism and persuasive hedonism, that people are convinced that this world, this life in this world, is all we have.

A) Taking this whole verse in its various dimensions, it serves as instruction for me to remember these points. I need to let God, and let His word, continue to set the definitions for what is good and beautiful. There are difficult circumstances, difficult times, but if I continue to seek God's perspective about my life and the various trials I face, I will find the beauty He has told me is there. By focusing on eternity, and on the eternal things rather than the temporal things, I will remember some of the purposes God has in fact revealed, about any situation. I won't always know the deep purposes of God. Some things will remain a mystery for my entire earthly existence, but I can still find comfort and encouragement from remembering His greater purposes are still there, even if I can't see them clearly.

P) Father, thank You for the grace at work, even in Yoyr creation of humanity, and how You have set mankind with certain inherent understanding. Open my eyes and ears, that I may continue to understand Your ways. Help me be more aware, more consistently, of eternity. Help me be conscious of eternal implications, in my Bible study, worship, and prayers, and in my relationships, ministry, and hobbies. Be glorified in my life, in who You made me to be, and how I live out that plan. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 05/01/2016; 1 Chronicles 15:22

Today's reading: 1 Chronicles 14, 15; Psalm 132; Matthew 18

S) "²² Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful."

1 Chronicles 15:22 (NASB)

O) David was in the process of bringing the ark of the covenant back to Israel, and he was planning to bring it into Jerusalem. In that process, he was reestablishing the Levitical roles for service. In them, there are lists of men and their families, and their jobs according to families. In this case, we see a small but not insignificant thing. This man, Chenaniah, was a chief of his tribe. He was also a skillful singer. But, he was not the only singer. There were many. Obviously some would have had some amount of skill in it, but not all, which is why they needed teaching about the skill. This means it was a role that was given based on who they were, not what they could do.

A) There are many ways this is gotten wrong in today's world, including in the church. I remember being a teenager, and I had a desire to sing a song in our church (like a solo). Genuinely, I wanted to sing it because I thought it had a good message that the church needed to hear. I loved that song, and the points it made. So, I had a meeting with one of the worship leaders for, what amounted to, an audition. I was told in no uncertain terms that I was not going to be able to sing that song to the church. This was disappointing to me, because I felt like the message was minimized because I lacked a skill. In the grand scheme of things, this was a small thing. But, the implications can run deep. I never want to dismiss someone based on their lack of skills. If a brother has a desire to sing because he has something to say, I need to get him in touch with someone who can help him sing. If a brother has a desire to lead a small group, I need to get him in touch with someone who can train and equip him to lead it. I want to be someone who builds up, not tears down. If I have some teachable skill, then I will also commit to teaching that skill to anyone who wants to gain it. After all, we are all the same body. What is good for one of us is good for all of us.

P) Father, in Your grace You have given different gifts to different people. All by the same Holy Spirit, I know that I have gifts that another brother may lack, and vice versa. However, I know that there are also skills that are learned. Help me to learn skills I need, to serve You how I desire to serve. Also, help me to teach however I can, if I might be able to give someone a skill they desire. Even more importantly, more broadly, help me build up my brothers who desire to serve because of who they are. Let me be an encouragement to them. Open my eyes and ears to see this need, Lord. Help me to respond according to Your will, to Your glory. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/30/2016; Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17*

S) "¹⁰ All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. ¹¹ Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Ecclesiastes 2

O) This chapter opens with musings about pleasure, laughter, and wine. Solomon concluded briefly that this may not be the answer to his woes, and he turned to works. He ran through a list of accomplishments (mostly based in wisdom and understanding), his accumulations, and his possessions. When he got to the verses above, he noted that it is all vanity and striving after the wind. He took pride in his work, and it pleased him to do it (apparently as much as wine, laughter, and pleasure), but in the end it was just as useless to him.

A) Everyone has struggles and vices. For me, work and accomplishments have never been alluring. I have never been one to particularly struggle with overworking or overachieving. Accumulating wealth has never been a motivation to me. So, when I read this chapter, and saw that Solomon had equated this kind of conquest with that of more carnal pleasures, it seemed a little out of place. However, there is one area that is just as much about accomplishment, just as much about building something, and probably even more vanity and chasing the wind. At the root of his problems, was the fact that all his pursuits were only forms of idolatry. In my life, videogames can be just as much idolatry. When we take other things and make them idols, it's often not an option to simply cut them out of our life entirely (like food, or work, or family becoming idols), so the aim can only be changing the heart. However, I have decided to stop playing videogames for a time, in an effort to regain self-control, and reset it as a hobby and dethrone it as an idol in my heart.

P) Father, I'm laying down this practice, this temptation to make my hobby an idol. I don't want to obsess about an activity. I don't want my hobby to drive my behaviors and my decisions. I don't want my hobby to dominate my thoughts and affect my moods. As I lay down playing videogames, help me to change my heart. Let this be an outer symbol of an inner heart change. Let me keep the throne of my heart sanctified, holy, and reserved only for You, Lord. Reign in me, and have let Your will be done in my life. I pray that often, and sometimes I imagine that You would commandeer my life. That's not even what I want, though, God. I don't want You to forcefully take over. If it came to that, please do it. But more to the point, I want to lay down my life to You, Lord. I want to lay down my rights. I want to lay down my desires. I only want You to rule in my heart, Lord. Be my obsession, God. Drive my behaviors and decisions. Dominate my thoughts and my moods. I lift You up, You alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/29/2016; Song of Solomon 8:3

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 4, 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16*

S) "³ Let his left hand be under my head
And his right hand embrace me."

Song of Solomon 8:3 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Song of Solomon 8

O) There are several observations to make about this short verse. First, there can be little debate about the posture of these two, because there's really only one position a person can be, where something can be under the head. These two are lying down. That again, calls to mind the intimacy of this encounter. Other details don't really matter, but lying down with someone is always more intimate. That's not always to say that it's more sexual, either. So, this verse is an expression of the bride's desire to be more intimate with her beloved. Second, there is symbolism at work with the two placements of the hands of the bridegroom. This verse is actually verbatim of Song of Solomon 2:6, and between the context of that chapter and this one, we can see some significance to these hands. In this chapter, there is a reference to her mother who instructed her, which is intellectual, which could refer then to the head. In chapter two, there is a lot of reference to being fed, which has physical implications. Between the two, we can see a desire to connect physically and mentally. We see a desire for the husband to sustain her and instruct her.

A) When I visualized this intimacy, in my own context, I was pleased to realize that laying next to my wife, if I was to hug her, my left arm would be under her head and my right arm would embrace her. As I continued to put myself into the context of this verse, I realized how many times I have heard my wife actually express her desire for me to pick up these roles. We both know that there is a higher level, where God instructs her, and God sustains her. Still, she desires my leadership and protection. She desires to engage me intellectually as well as physically. I cannot neglect her desires in this way. These are intimate desires, even fully clothed.

P) Father, help me to be the husband I want to be. Help me to be the husband my wife wants me to be. I am thankful for the work You have done in me. Still, I recognize a long way to go. Help me to be disciplined. Help me to view things spiritually, as well as physically, especially about my marriage. Open my eyes to see and ears to hear, to know how to better love and serve my wife. Let me seek to embrace her, and our marriage, how she desires me, how she desires us. Let Your will be done in my life and in my marriage. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 04/28/2016; Song of Solomon 7:12-13

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15*

S) "¹² Let us rise early and go to the vineyards;
Let us see whether the vine has budded
And its blossoms have opened,
And whether the pomegranates have bloomed.
There I will give you my love.
¹³ The mandrakes have given forth fragrance;
And over our doors are all choice fruits,
Both new and old,
Which I have saved up for you, my beloved."

Song of Solomon 7:12-13 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read Song of Solomon 7

 

O) This is the kind of poetic language that makes me blush. These are the words of the bride, to her beloved, after a lengthy cluster of compliments to her in the beginning of the chapter. She responded directly in the second part of v.9, which is important to show. The adoration from her bridegroom were well-received, as they were speaking the same language (figuratively and literally). As we get to these verses, there is an intimate allusion here, that unashamedly depicts physical responses to deep passions. Words can play a vital role in intimacy. There is a foreplay at work, there. It can't be hollow, though. The bride was responsive to the compliments, because she was part of it, she was in on it, so to speak. While the words of his adoration spoke primarily to her physical beauty, there was still a spiritual, emotional connection being made (which is really clear by her response in v.9, I think). What really stood out to me about these last two verses, though, was really that last line. She had saved up for her beloved. Obviously, the concept of a woman saving herself for marriage is not news. However, in the whole chapter, nothing is specific to these two being unmarried. That is to say, nothing about saving herself for her husband was specifically pre-marriage, and could certainly be done even after they were married.

A) The concept of saving myself for marriage has deep implications. Obviously, I'm already married, so the traditional idea of that phrase doesn't exactly apply. However, there are a lot of ways that saving myself for my marriage, specifically saving myself for my wife, has a lot of practical applications. There are non-sexual ways this applies. I can save myself for her financially, by not spending my "extra" money on myself, and instead save it for us, or for her, and spend money on our relationship, so to speak. I can save myself for her physically, by not exhausting myself on other hobbies or tasks. I don't want to be too tired to do honey-do tasks, because I was, I don't know, out doing something physically draining that only I care about (look, I don't have a lot of physical hobbies at the moment, okay?!). I can save myself for her mentally and emotionally. When I have concerns or stresses in my life, she wants to hear them. She should be the primary person to hear me out about those, and I shouldn't ever express myself that way to another person at the expense of talking to her. That is to say, if talking something out is emotionally or mentally taxing, and I feel that I could only go through it once, because drudging it up twice would be too hard, then she is the only person I should go to. When I have ideas, trivial, political, hypothetical, I should be glad to save those for her. My wife delights in discussion, and especially with me. Certainly, there is still a physical intimacy that still applies to saving myself for my wife. I won't go into detail about that here, but suffice it to say that my sexuality is not my own. My body belongs to my wife (see 1 Corinthians 7:4). I should be glad to remember that when I save myself for her (in every way), and when I connect to her (with adoring words, that she engages), then she will respond, emotionally and physically. This isn't a means to an end, but an encouragement about the gracious ways God blesses my marriage, when I invest myself in her, in us.

P) Father, the grace at work in my marriage is humbling. If I wasn't living it, it would be hard to believe, sometimes. As good as it is, I know that it could actually be even better. As intimate as I am with Kristin, emotionally and physically, I want that connection to continue growing deeper and stronger. help me to be genuine with my adoration. Let my words never become empty flattery. Help me to connect with her, to engage with her in the ways I flirt or compliment. Help me to save myself for her in every sense, that I would be there for her however she needs, and however she wants. Thank You for giving me a blessed reward. Your ways, especially about how marriage should be, bring a clear blessing. It is my joy to love my wife, and I never want to miss that it is a blessed gift to be her husband. Thank You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.