This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PSALM
CHAPTER 95
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
Christians should PRAISE the Lord. He is the makerr of all things - even us.
God is WORTHY of our praise and thanksgiving.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Christians should WORSHIP the Lord. We should approach God with humility because He is Almighty God and Holy. We are sinners and unworthy of His presence.
God is the Shepherd - we are the sheep. He KEEPS us and PROTECTS us; He is our PROVIDOR.
The last line in verse 7 goes with the remainder of the song.
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Today if you WILL you can HEAR God calling to sinners.
When we hear Him, He is saying for us to not be like those people in the past. They were recipients of His love and grace but refused to listen to him.
The example is of Israel in the wilderness after they were saved from the bondage of Egypt. God led them to the edge of the promised land, but they were too afraid to enter. They would not listen to Him when He said they COULD conquer the land with His help. Therefore, that generation (age group of adults) never received God's REST.
The REST God would have given them was that rest of KNOWING they could conquer life and live peacefully with God - even when circumstances might be hard.
Many Christians never learn this lesson and live lives of defeat.
Now the song takes on a definite meaning. The last line informs us that if we don't praise God, and worship God, and get into the "harness" of pulling FOR God, we never find REST in our lives!
That's what Jesus meant when He said,
A heart that is hardened toward LABOR for God will not recieve the FRUIT of "rest."
CHAPTER 96
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
This song is similar to the last. There is first a call to PRAISE God with singing...and to TELL other people about His great salvation (verse 2).
All facsimiles of God are just works of the imagination of man (verse 5). There is only ONE GOD!
He is Holy and Just, and Power and Control are in Him. The beauty in the church is the PRESENCE of the Lord (verse 6).
7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
This is a call to WORSHIP God (verse 9). We should GIVE unto God His place; it is the place of honor and glory and majesty. We should humble ourselves before God and acknowledge His majesty.
And we should tell the "heathen" (all unbelievers) that He is God alone, and that one day He is coming to JUDGE all people.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
All NATURE rejoices in the Lord. The stars in the heaven shine according to His command. The sea roars according to His command. The field portrays the beauty of the earth according to the command of God. The trees show the glory of God according to His command.
So should WE rejoice and praise the Lord. That is why we are created. Our purpose is to praise Jesus.
And God is one day going to judge all nations "according to this truth." That truth is that we were created for His pleasure.
When God comes to judge the earth and all men, He will judge according to this truth.
Is your life REFLECTING the glory, praise, and worship of God?
Please continue in Bible Study with us.
Had He not created us, we would not exist.
" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11)