SOAP 12/10/2016; Jeremiah 36:23-24

Today's reading: 2 Timothy 1, 2, 3, 4*
S) "²³ When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. ²⁴ Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did the rend their garments."

Jeremiah 36:23-24 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) God had directed Jeremiah to write down everything He had told the prophet, from the time of King Josiah until this time (the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah). When the scribe wrote it all down, because Jeremiah was still under a sort of political house arrest, he told the scribe to take the scroll and read it in the temple of the LORD. Then, in v.9, we see the narrative skip forward as much as a year, but we don't know if Baruch the scribe had been reading the scroll repeatedly that whole span. However, at this later time some officials heard the words, and they were appropriately alarmed, and carried word to the king. Despite trying to hide the actual scroll, the king fetched it (although Baruch and Jeremiah were hidden). When the king heard the words of the scroll, not only was he unafraid, but he didn't even seem exactly angry. His action to destroy the scroll (and trying to seize the scribe and prophet) almost seems like an afterthought. What this really came down to, was that this king wanted to continue in his own sovereignty. Rather than rending his clothes in repentance, he chose to rend the scroll which condemned him. Obviously, though, this was not like the edict of an earthly king. Destroying the physical message wouldn't eliminate the danger, any more than killing the messenger would.

A) This is a strong reminder for me. When confronted with the truth and sovereignty of God, my choice is to submit or rebel. There is no middle ground, there. God requires obedience and submission to His lordship. The instinct, though, is to just tear up the message and try to ignore the things God says when they don't align with my own will. Like a little kid with a note from the teacher, I want to destroy the evidence of my guilt, rather than confess it and submit to the authorities over me. But, this is the beauty of the gospel. I don't have to be afraid of the punishment, if I am truly repentant when I confess my sins. God has already promised to justify me in the blood of Christ, when I repent and submit myself under His sovereign authority again. So, when I read the Bible, and there are Scriptures which convict me of a sinful behavior or attitude, my reaction must be to accept the truth and authority of my King, as well as His mercy and grace. Something's gotta give, and I will either rend my heart in repentance, or rend His words in denial.

P) Father God, the grace You have shown Your servant is overwhelming. Indeed, You had overwhelmed me with Your mercy and grace, Your lovingkindness in pursuit of my heart, even when I was in denial of Your words. I am so thankful, Lord, that You never give up on me. Even when I choose to rend Your words, rather than rend my heart, You are always willing to receive me again. Let me walk in an attitude of willing and quick repentance. I invite the convictions of the Holy Spirit in my life. Open my eyes and ears, to recognize the sinful areas of my heart that need to be submitted to Your authority, God. May I choose to rend my heart, and never Your words, because I am so aware of Your grace and mercy, Your lovingkindness and compassion, which saved me from my self-inflicted ruin. Let Your praise be ever on my lips, and be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 12/07/2016; Jeremiah 8:10b-11

Today's reading: Colossians 1, 2, 3, 4*

S) "¹⁰ '... From the prophet even to the priest
Everyone practices deceit.
¹¹ 'They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially,
Saying, "Peace, peace,"
But there is no peace.'"

Jeremiah 8:10b-11 (NASB)
*This verse was highlighted before I kept these entries online, so I wrote a new entry

O) This chapter is part of a long discourse, where the LORD is exposing just how far His people have gone away from His ways. In a sense, these two verses really summarize the depth of their fall. Of all of God's people, the prophets and priests had always remained the most faithful. From the very beginning, Moses (himself a prophet) and Aaron (the first of the Levitical priests) were clearly the most faithful of that generation (although they themselves were disqualified from entering the promised land). Then into the judges, we see the prophetess Deborah rebuking the judge Barak (Judges 4). Even with the very first king of Israel, Samuel had to rebuke Saul. Nathan had to rebuke King David. Even after the split of the kingdom, when Jeroboam erected golden calves in Israel, all the Levites left their lands behind, to go to Judah so they could remain faithful to the LORD (2 Chronicles 11:14-16). So, we see example after example, throughout the checkered history of Israel, and even Judah, that the priests and prophets had, for the most part, remained faithful to God even if the kings and people had become unfaithful. However, here in the final days of Judah, after the kingdom of Israel had already been taken into exile for their unfaithfulness, even the priests and prophets (Jeremiah excluded, I think) had become deceitful. They were charged with ministering to the people, with speaking the truth of God to them, and bringing reconciliation between God and His people, but they weren't doing it. They were saying there is peace, but there was no peace. They were saying that the people were healed (spiritually, that is), but they were not.

A) There is a sense in which all believers are called into the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2), because we are ministering to the world, trying to share the gospel and facilitate that reconciliation between God and His creation. And, in a smaller scale, there is a sense in which I operate as a priest over my family, in that I am leading them to serve God, to worship Him. In that role, I have a responsibility to lead them in truth. I cannot call something acceptable that is not acceptable to God. I cannot mislead them into a false sense of security. I must hold firmly to the truth of God's standard for righteousness, carefully observing His holiness, and openly leading by example in confession and repentance. I have a duty to lovingly care for my family when I see there is sin or brokenness. It is not up to me to heal them, though. That is the role of God alone. But, I should be leading them back to the presence of Jesus, that He may do what He does as our merciful and faithful high priest.

P) Father God, thank You for the mercy and healing that You are so quick to give. Thank You for the promise to sanctify me in Christ Jesus. Thank You for leading me, to conform to the truth as You have declared it, and for opening my eyes and ears to know Your standard of righteousness. I know that the culture of this world would rather redefine what is good, than to submit to the only One who is good, but that is not what I want. I don't want the false promises of the world, I want peace with You. Help me to lead my family in truth. Help me to be bold, in confessing the truth according to Scripture. Let me be unwavering in my commitment to this. I know that this must be done in love, or else it will become a fruitless endeavor, so please keep my heart soft. Let me always seek the good of my wife and children, according to what You define as good. I know that You can, and will, heal every spiritual hurt that we have. Every wound we endure can be healed when we are reconciled in peace with You. Even our physical hurts are only temporary, until we are raised in glory with Jesus. So, let me lead my family in love, so they may be healed in truth, and have peace with You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.