The "SOAP" method of bible study

The "SOAP" method often is presented as a way to engage children with bible stuff. But as emphasized by Paul (1 Corinthians 3:2, KJV),

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

For those of us struggling with deeper doctrinal "meat" and in need of spiritual reset, the simplicity of "milk" might be exactly what we need. The SOAP method offers an attractive path.

The idea is to first find a short piece of scripture or verse. Here is a good resource for that: https://dailyverses.net/

After settling upon a short piece of scripture, write down (or discuss with others) the following four concepts:

• Scripture: write down (or read aloud) the piece of scripture
• Observation: what is God trying to communicate through that piece of scripture?
• Application: how does that piece of scripture apply to my life?
• Prayer: form a short prayer based upon that piece of scripture

This method offers a great approach for solo or group bible study. It works well for children and adults. And it allows us to refocus spiritually when we feel ourselves staying from God's path.

The writing on the wall

Chapter 5 of Daniel contains the famous incident of "the writing on the wall," which is the origination of that famous phrase. In that chapter, Belshazzar, king of Babylon, throws a party during which, in an attempt to escalate the hijinks of the party, he requests drinking vessels from the Jerusalem Temple.

In response, a mysterious hand emerges to write a cryptic message on the wall. Belshazzar summons Daniel to interpret the message. Needless to say, the interpretation is not good news for Belshazzar!

I find myself especially struck by a particular part of Daniel's interpretation. Daniel is explaining to Belshazzar that his father, Nebuchadnezzar, found himself punished by God for his own disobedience and arrogance. Daniel then says (verse 22, KJV),

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.

It's easy to shake our heads at Belshazzar, but how often do we fall into that same trap. After all, we have an entire bible full of stories like Nebuchadnezzar's. We should know better, yet we still behave disobediently and arrogantly!

Peter emphasizes a similar point (2 Peter 2, KJV),

After they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Yikes! While many parts of the bible are meant to provide comfort, these are not those types of passages. Rather, these passages are designed to chastise and bring about humble repentance. Let us take that message to heart in our prayers.

Waiting on God

In Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV), God says,

The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

We all experience those times when we feel like we can't "hear" God. We all have times when our prayers feel like they're evaporating over our heads, never reaching an audience, and never receiving a response. What is taking God so long?

But, of course, we must realize that God does not operate according to our humanly concepts of space and time. As stated in Psalm 40:3 (KJV),

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

And again, in Peter 3:8 (KJV),

One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Back to Habakkuk, let us pay close attention when God says, "Wait for it; because it will surely come." Let us pray for the faith necessary to believe that statement. And let us wait on God.

But after they had rest...

The book of Nehemiah (and it's companion Ezra) focus on the Jewish people rebuilding the temple after returning from exile. Without digging into all of the historical details here, let us focus on Chapter 9, where Nehemiah is pleading to God for forgiveness for the entire nation. In verse 28 (KJV), he says,

But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies.

This is a summary of the Jewish peoples' dealings with God, but it's also a very accurate summary of our dealings with God. How many times do we plead with God for relief from some trouble? And then when he provides that relief, how many times do we once again become spiritually lax? And then the whole cycle repeats, with God again providing relief, and us again letting our guard down.

I wish it were easy to break that cycle. Even Paul, in his many letters, hints at the difficulty of breaking that cycle. I certainly don't have wise thoughts on how to break the cycle. Perhaps the main lesson is this: God is very merciful, and we need to be grateful for that mercy. Because we don't seem to deserve it.

The battle is not yours, but God's

Returning to 2 Chronicles, chapter 20 finds Judah being attacked by several of its neighbors. King Jehoshaphat assembles the people, and, rather than trying to concoct some scheme himself, he instead appeals to God's protection. In verse 9 (KJV), he prays, 

If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

God's answer (verses 15-17, KJV) reads,

Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. To morrow go ye down against them ... Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you ... for the Lord will be with you.

When we're confronted with trouble, it's so easy to rest on our own schemes, or find our own solutions. Instead, Jehoshaphat turns directly to God, not with clever words or deep philosophy, but rather with faith. (Note Jehoshaphat's confident wording: though wilt hear and help.) Let us learn from Jehoshaphat's example!

Because thou hast ... not relied on the Lord

2 Chronicles 15 mentions that the heart of Asa, king of Judah, was "perfect all his days." Yet that same chapter also hints that, under Asa's reign, some paganism remained (verse 17). So the word "perfect," in that chapter, certainly means something far short of God's perfect standard, as the subsequent chapter appears to indicate.

Turning then to chapter 16, we see that, once confronted with political and military threats, Asa shows signs of spiritual weakness. Rather than relying on God's protection, he instead turns to join forces with Syria. A prophet then comes to Asa, chastising him for not relying on God (verse 7). And the prophet reminds Asa of other times when Asa correctly put his trust in God, and God, in turn, delivered Judah from trouble (verse 8, KJV),

Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.

The prophet then warns that, because of Asa's misplaced faith, trouble will ensue (verse 9, KJV),

Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Evidently, Asa did not learn his lesson. He soon acquires a foot disease, but (verse 12, KJV),

...in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.

The overarching theme was that Asa was placing his trust in earthly sources, when his first consultation should have been with God. The whole narrative is disturbing because, circling back to chapter 15, Asa's heart is described as "perfect," but, even so, sin crept in.

So what does this mean for those of us who definitely fall far short of "perfect"? It means that, first, we must make a better effort to consult God whenever confronted with trouble. Second, it means that, when we inevitably slip, we must appeal to God's abundant mercy, and turn back to his protection.

Cause me to hear ... in the morning

In the morning, when we first awake, we can set our days upon spiritual paths by saying a quick prayer. (In fact, trouble seems to start quickly when we neglect this!)

Psalm 143:8 (KJV) contains a wonderful, easy-to-memorize prayer that is perfect for a brief morning prayer. It reads,

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

If the Shakespearean English of the KJV feels a bit stiff, here is the same verse in the NLT,

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

Try memorizing this and reciting it first thing in the morning. Try that for, say, a week, and see how it sets your path!