I’ve been working through a Scripture journaling schedule for March, from Heidi St. John. It’s titled “Legacy: A Life Well Lived.” A good goal for any of us, but the older I grow the more conscious I become of the importance of leaving a spiritual legacy.
Today’s passage of Scripture was Proverbs 3:1-8. As I wrote it out and then journaled through it using the SOAP method of Bible study, I knew that God wanted me to share this with you, my blog readers. So here goes:
S= "My son, forget not my law, but let thine heart keep my commandments.
"For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.
"So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.
"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
"Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
"It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."
O= I noticed in my Scofield study Bible that Scofield had titled chapter 3 “The rewards of wisdom”. So as I read verses 1-8, I mentally broke down the verses into two categories: wise actions and their rewards.
Verse 1: Wise actions: Don’t forget God’s law; keep His commandments from the heart.
Verse 2: Their rewards: Length of days; long life; peace.
Verse 3: Wise actions: Don’t forsake mercy and truth; bind them to you; write them upon your heart.
Verse 4: Their rewards: You will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Verse 5-6a: Wise actions: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t lean to your own understanding; Acknowledge God in all your ways.
Verse 6: Their rewards: God will direct your paths.
Verse 7: Wise actions: Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord; depart from evil.
Verse 8: Their rewards: Good spiritual health; excellent spiritual nourishment.
A= The application is pretty obvious. Pay attention to God’s Word. Take it into your heart and make it a part of your life. Don’t be wise in your own eyes or try to lean to your own understanding. Instead, fear the Lord, trust in Him, and depart from evil.
As we do these things, we will find favor with God, experience His leading and guidance, and see Him bless us with vibrant spiritual health. Who wouldn’t want that?
P= "Lord, I thank and praise You for giving me these verses this morning. They are a blessing and an encouragement to me, and exactly what I need to counsel someone else today. I thank You in Jesus' name, Amen."
Does this seem too basic? I think I would go beyond basic and say that it's absolutely vital. A person could chew on all of this for a lifetime, it seems to me. I hope that these simple thoughts have been a blessing to someone else today!
I had to look up the “SOAP method of Bible Study” because I could only figure out two. I imagine that this method is basic, yet it has escaped me. I usually get out my Strong’s and do an exegesis on a word in question, but I can see that the method you use is not only basic, but comprehensive. I think the addition of Praise makes it so. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteIt IS a pretty basic method with a few variations, and I have heard other acronyms applied to it, but it's the SOAP method to me. It really works well for me and I hope that others will give it a try. It's been a real blessing in my life.
DeleteBlessings to you as well. I've been a bit quiet here the past few days because a dear friend went to be with The Lord on Friday and we have been trying to help and encourage his widow.
Thank you. I am also working with the soap methode. Thank you so much for sharing your study
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Aritha. I really like this method of Bible study and I'm sure you are enjoying it also.
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