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

July 16: Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 28:24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of the cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it, but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.

Observation: The judgment that was coming would be like a plow used by a farmer. The farmer did not plow for the purpose of plowing; it was a way of preparing the land for planting. God was not judging His people because He likes to judge. He does it for a purpose. And the harvested crop is not beaten because the farmer needs something to do; it is beaten to separate the grain from the chaff.

Application: The judgment coming to America is not because God likes to judge, but because He is our Heavenly Father; He is HOLY. Any parent would much rather reward their child for good behavior than punish them for bad behavior. Our Heavenly Father is no different. But our sins have become so great that He cannot ignore them forever. They will destroy us! The civil war was God’s plow. Since then God has sent many warnings i.e. Pearl Harbor, times of rioting, and the Twin Towers. But a time of threshing is upon us. God’s magnificent wisdom will be seen in His appropriate judgment.

Prayer: Lord, like the song goes, “Cleanse me from EVERY sin, and set me free!” Amen

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!