Shabbat 8 June 2024

SOAP

Scriptures

2 Chronicles 32

English Standard Version

Hezekiah's Pride and Achievements

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

Proverbs 3

English Standard Version

21 My son, do not lose sight of these—    keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 and they will be life for your soul    and adornment for your neck.

23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.

24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the Lord will be your confidence    and will keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,[b]    when it is in your power to do it.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.

30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a man of violence    and do not choose any of his ways,

32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

33 The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get[d] disgrace.

Titus 1

15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

ObservationFrom Hezekiah's story I have learned that GOD detests the proud and would even allow certain things to happen to them to reveal to them what is really in their hearts - pride. Written in the book of Isaiah 32:25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. We have to make return whatever benefit we received from the LORD or from man, or else destruction will come upon us because of the pride in our hearts. 

We do many things out of the motives in our hearts, Hezekiah was proud so he showed the Babylonians all that he had, but we can also sin against GOD when we do things out of fear and not out of trust or faith, because GOD warns in Proverbs 3:25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin[a] of the wicked, when it comes,

26 for the Lord will be your confidence    and will keep your foot from being caught.

Application

My challenge in the walk of faith is in trusting GOD's Sovereign Will when I do not like what is happening and especially when it hurts me.... I have to keep trusting HIM, I have to stay in the path that HE has called me to take. I have to keep trusting GOD or else if I would act out of fear, and lost faith in GOD I would most certainly go to the wrong path. The path I am in now is the most difficult for me because I have always dreamt of being independent from my own family, I do not want to be working with them, I wanted to live abroad because I have seen my own family's weaknesses and I was not willing to deal with it so I left but GOD brought me back home because HE wanted me to trust HIM to do great things where I was most afraid of. That is why being in the comforts of my family is not my security, GOD alone is the One who keeps me secure in the family that makes me feel insecure and unworthy, because it's like you have to earn this family's respect and love by your proving yourself with the capacity to make money and this is why I wanted to leave this family in the first place because I do not feel LOVE but GOD has greatly used me in the family where GOD planted me where I am mostly needed now. So I have to keep trusting in the GOD who also loves my family.
There are 3 things GOD is teaching me through this devotional:

• Eliminate Pride - Do not be proud, this is not difficult for me. GOD making me give up my dreams of being on my own keeps me very humble because I have a lot of pain where I am now. Pain keeps me humble, if I was abroad, I would be proud.
• Have faith in GOD - Do not be afraid - Trust GOD.
• Be Pure - do not be scornful, doubtful and all that is negative, have faith in GOD.

PrayersDear AVI,HOLY is YOUR Name O GOD Almighty, Awesome are YOU in all YOUR Ways! O GOD, forgive me when my knees are shaking and I think about anything that could just go wrong. When I am afraid of sudden terror or bad things happening, forgive me when I lose my trust in YOU. I pray that YOU will not allow pride to rise in my heart leading YOU to test me because nobody will ever prove themselves good enough to YOU O GOD, everyone has strayed, nobody will ever be good enough for YOU GOD, only faith in YOUR SON JESUS and trusting in HIM will give me the YOUR Approval! This is the best news I could ever have and hold in my heart and mind! That I do not have to perform, I do not have to earn YOUR respect or love because YOU love me just as I am and I am very thankful for this LOVE O GOD. Now I pray continually that YOU will call Stephen to love you and save him, please speak to him and bless him. I saw him yesterday I didn't want to see him anymore because I don't want to stir up any more emotions from my heart, giving me hope. I do not want to hope in circumstances leading to YOUR Promises because I have been traumatized of the dismay and heartbreak that it causes me when YOUR Promise doesn't happen. Forgive me that I am not trusting YOU with my heart today... Forgive me but please understand GOD, the pain I am feeling. Please do not give me false hopes anymore. No more, no more... But I understand that pain, it is humbling me, keeping me grounded, my heart is circumcised because of this pain... narrow truly is the road and difficult is the path of righteousness so please do not let me stray from YOU O GOD. Let me stay forever with YOU for YOU deserve all my worship and praise! 
In the Name of JESUS, AMen!