Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer

April 4: Judges 19-21; 2Corinthians 4

Scripture: Judges (KJV) 3:12 …did evil in the sight of the Lord… (same phrase also in 4:1; 6:1; 10:6 and 13:1)
Judges (KJV) 17:6 …did that which was right in their own eyes… (same phrase also in the closing verse of Judges: 21:25)

Observation: As sin increased in Israel, they went from doing evil in God’s sight to doing as they pleased. It was a progression of evil. In the beginning of the book of Judges, they were aware that God was displeased, but they went ahead in sin. At the end of the book, no thought was given to what God might think about their actions.

Application: I believe we can see the same progression in America. In so many ways we have moved away from an awareness that God was displeased with the sins we were willing to tolerate. We have progressed to where the thought that something might be sinful does not even cross our mind. The freedom for an individual to do whatever pleases them is more important than thinking that God might have something to say about our choices.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, time and time again you brought judgment for sin on Israel; it would be foolish to think that you do not care about sinning America. In judging Israel you were preserving them as the future cradle nation for the birth of Jesus. Do you have future plans for our nation? Whatever your plans for our nation, I know you have plans for your people living here. Awaken our hearts, fill us with your Holy Spirit and set us on fire with a holy love for Jesus. Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!