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 32
1 A Psalm of David, Mas'-chil.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
AMEN! I'll testify that I'm blissfully happy because God has forgiven my sin! PRAISE GOD!
Instead of counting my sins against me, God has laid them upon Jesus on the cross! What a wonderful blessing that when we repentantly beg God's forgiveness he takes away our transgression and sin and covers them in the blood of Jesus Christ!
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
When we do not CONFESS our sins, God chastizes us for them. But when we CONFESS them and beg His forgiveness, He GIVES that forgiveness!
6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
It is because God has "demonstrated" His love for us that we desire to be like Him ("godly"). And when God says we are indeed sinners in need of forgiveness and salvation, we come to plead with Him in prayer for His forgiveness.
The promise of God is that the sins we confess and for which we plead forgiveness, are "put away."
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
David uses the fact of God's forgiveness to teach us that we should not be stubborn like the horse or mule. Instead we should come confessing our sins to God and begging His forgiveness. Then (verse 10) "mercy shall compass him about."
What JOY we have in knowing that God has forgiven our sins and granted us eternal bliss without sin forever!
CHAPTER 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
The WORD of God is SURE and RIGHT all the time (verse 4). If He SAYS He will forgive, then He WILL forgive!
And when God forgives, He counts us RIGHTEOUS! (verse 1)
Those who are forgiven will sing the praises of God, because it is "comely" - or correct action for them.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
The creation of the universe by the Word of God DEMONSTRATES He loves righteousness and goodness. God created all with "the breath of His mouth," and then called it "good."
The power of God in His WORD should make us all "fear," or genuinely respect Him.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
The promise of God is that the righteous shall inherit eternal glory, but the wicked shall inherit eternal agony. At judgment day, when God accomplishes this by His Word, then the advice of all those who have said there is no God will be "of none effect."
When a nation or a group of people determine in their hearts to serve God, He BLESSES them.
13 The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
Here is wise counsel for world leaders. God looks upon the nations of the earth. He sees and knows all that is happening.
And when God determines to BLESS a nation, then no other nation can destroy it!
Oh! How I pray that America will again choose to serve God!
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
Military strength does not determine the power of a nation in the world - God determines it!
We must determine to "wait upon" the Lord, for He alone is our source of strength in this world and in eternity.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Together with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:17-18), we should say, "even if God DOESN'T deliver us, we shall worship Him and Him ALONE!"
God has already granted the saved person great MERCY because He has forgiven their sins. And our HOPE of eternal life in Christ and for His sake alone is enough to make us REJOICE! Please continue in Bible Study with us.
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2:13-14)
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)
He is FAITHFUL and WILL forgive. He is JUST in granting forgiveness because He has paid the price in the blood of Jesus on the cross.
"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)
OH! God is so GOOD to us, we just oughta SING, and SING, and SING about His mercy and grace!