Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 19, 2024: SOAP #5342 2Kings 17; 2Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

OBSERVATION:  What a thought.  KJV puts it “very present.”  A dictionary tells me it is from two Hebrew words.  The first meaning “exceeding,” “exceeding much,” “abundance,” “a great degree.” The second word has the aspect of “to be discovered,” “to be found out,” “to be detected,” “to cause to discover,” “to be present.” When these two words are used together, to me it speaks of God emphasizing His desire to be recognized.  He wants us to know He is present. 

We are to discover, or find Him, but He is not hiding!  He wants to be found!  To miss Him is to ignore the obvious! 

APPLICATION:  I remember helping “hide” Easter eggs for little children to find.  We did not “hide” them at all.  We placed them in plain sight.  They could not help but find them.  We wanted them to find the eggs.  We had pleasure watching the children! 

And so, in times of trouble, God is to us.  He wants to be found!  He has pleasure watching us depend on Him! 

PRAYER: Lord, there has never been any part of any day that you have not been with me.  Even when I did not see you, or feel you, or hear you, or understand what was happening—You were there.  You were “ever-present” in the hard times and in the good times.  In looking back, I can see you were many times doing more in the hard times than in the good times.  In looking forward, I know that you will continue to be my “ever-present help.”  Your faithfulness to me is amazing.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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