Chances are, you use soap every day … at least, we hope you do 😉 The letters SOAP are also a great way to interact with the Bible! Here’s what we mean …
S - Scripture. Start your time today by reading the verses below. You may need to read them slowly or even more than once to fully pay attention to it.
O - Observation. Take a little time and notice any words, phrases, or ideas that pop out to you. Ask yourself, “What is the big idea here?”
A - Application. Ask yourself, “What will I do in response to what I’ve read and observed? How will this truth impact my day?”
P - Prayer. End your time in prayer. Ask God to help you carry the new truth with you.
Ready to give it a try? Here we go!
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1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
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Here are a few thoughts to consider …
Psalm 1 deals with how we can be blessed, and how we can be in a happy and right relationship with God (Psalm 1:1a). This is a big deal.
Psalm 1 separates the world into two categories: the righteous and the wicked (Psalm 1:6). The righteous are those who are right with God, while the wicked are not.
What’s the difference? Where they are planted.
The wicked are described as living and working in evil. They walk in guilt, take their stand on wrongdoing, and finally plant themselves in pride (Psalm 1:1b). They believe this way of life will make them thrive, but it actually only leads them to wither and die.
That is why the wicked are described as chaff. Chaff is the worthless and dead part of a stalk of grain that is easily blown away by the wind (Psalm 1:4). They are like dandelion fuzz destroyed with a single breath.
But the righteous are pictured as a healthy, fruit-bearing tree because they are planted by a stream of water (Psalm 1:3a). They are not chasing what they think will make their lives thrive. Instead, they are resting in what God says will make them thrive: God’s law (Psalm 1:2). The "law" refers to the first five books of the Bible. This psalm tells us that meditating on God's Word brings life and thriving.
Being blessed (or prospering, as this psalm calls it) is to be by the stream. This tree always has healthy leaves and puts out its fruit in season because it constantly draws nourishment from the stream. He or she prospers because they're living a life informed by God's Word.
The wicked wither because they aren't connected to the source of life (Psalm 1:5). The righteous flourish because they are deeply rooted.
Ultimately, Jesus is the stream of life from Psalm 1 (John 7:37). Blessing comes to those who plant themselves next to him. This isn't done through striving, like the wicked who walk, stand, and sit. We plant ourselves in Jesus by resting, trusting, and believing in who Jesus is (John 7:38).
Don't walk in your own strength. You will wither. Trust in Jesus and you will thrive. Don’t stand on what you can do. You will dry up. Plant yourself in what Jesus has done for you, and you will flourish. Don't sit stubbornly in your own pride. You will die. Rest humbly in Jesus and you will live.
What do you think you need to do in response to this scripture? Does anything need to change?
Take a few minutes and pray. Here is a sample prayer you that you can make your own:
“Dear God, thank you for your truth today. Please open my eyes to see your for the blessing that you are. Help me to see Jesus as the stream by which I can be planted and grow today. Help me to grow in you. In Jesus name, Amen.”
