THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

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 go to the archive below and find it.

Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik

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 77

1 To the chief Musician, to Je-du'-thun, A Psalm of A'-saph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

Remembering a difficult time, the psalmist reflects upon the fact that God always listens to His people when they pray.

Though we are "overwhelmed" and cannot be "comforted" any other way, God will hear our prayers and give us strength for each day.

4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. 10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

When the concerns of the world begin to take away our sleep (verse 1), we wonder sometimes if God is really watching. We must admit, there are times when we wonder if God's "mercy" is "clean gone for ever..." (verse 8).

But God has not forgotten us. Neither has He forsaken us. We should focus our attention on the GOOD that God has done and will do (verse 10).

11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

If we shall but "remember the works of the LORD," we will find that God's "WAY" is in the "sanctuary". His way of dealing with us is in the innermost being of our souls - our spirit. When we meditate upon how good God has been to save us from our sins, and to provide us with eternal life, we are drawn closer to God. And the closer we are to God, the stronger we become.

14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. 17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. 18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

God is known for intervention in the affairs of men. He intervened for Israel and brought them out of slavery. He showed them His power when He divided the Red Sea. He showed them His power in the stormy skies above Mt. Sinai.

God has shown you and me His power by delivering us from the slavery of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. God has shown us His power through the "giving of the WORD" of God -- The Bible.

Were it not for the blood of Christ shed at Calvary, and for the gospel told us, we could not be saved.
For "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)

This song serves as a great reminder. When we face difficulty in our lives, let us meditate upon what God has done for us and draw close to Him for strength.

CHAPTER 78

1 Mas'-chil of A'-saph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

The full meaning of "Maschil" is not known. It probably was a song used in annual festivals. This would fit right in here, because this is a teaching song. And it would be benficial to teach the principles in this song often.

The truths that God has taught to adults should be passed on to their children (verse 4). Parents, remember to teach your children the Word of God!

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Some people in Israel had learned a valuable lesson from the time of the "Judges." When they were stubborn and rebellious, God chastised them. But when they were willing and obedient, God blessed them.

Indeed this is a good lesson for any generation. When our hearts are set "stedfast" with God, they are set "aright."

9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; 11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

A nation can be mighty and strong in physical strength. But without God's intervention, they will turn away in battle!

This can be applied personally too. We might be physically sound and strong. But when we pay no mind to God's Word and teaching, then we are weak.

12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. 14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. 18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

See how fickle is the human spirit!

Even though God had done great miracles in their sight, they still paid attention more to their "lusts", than to His will for their lives (verses 18-19).

19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people? 21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; 22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. 27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: 28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. 29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. 32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

See what complainers men are!

When they complained of no water, God caused water to gush from a rock!

When they complained of no food, God sent them "manna" from heaven.

When they complained that "manna" wasn't enough, and desired meat, God sent quail.

But see how sad the commentary: "For all this they sinned still, and believed not for His wondrous works." (Verse 32)

Can we complain of thirst when God has baptized us in His Spirit and filled our souls with "living water?"
Can we complain of hunger when God has sent His Bible to feed our souls?
Can we complain of substance when God has put "strong meat" in His Word?

Let us not be complainers; but let us be willing and obedient.

33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. 34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. 35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

The result of complaining is chastisement.
The purpose of chastisement by God upon His people is to turn them from sin and to His closeness (verse 34).

When we turn aside to sin and begin to fail and become weak, God reminds us that He is our "ROCK" and our ONLY "Redeemer."

36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

What a compassionate God we have!!

Even though their repentance was superficial, God was "full of compassion", and "turned His anger away."

How often do saved sinners repent from the same sin? Over and over again, as dogs, we return to the same filth! But God remembers our weakness is in our FLESH (verse 39), and He deals with our SPIRIT!

Praise God for His compassion!

40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. 43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: 44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. 45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. 48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. 50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; 51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

See how much we NEED God because of our propensity to sin!

God caused many miracles in the salvation of Israel from Egyptian slavery. He turned rivers to BLOOD, sent flies, frogs, caterpillars, locusts, hail and ultimately took the "firstborn" of Egyptian people. But in all this, the people of Israel were NOT HARMED!

And when God brought them to the Red Sea, He caused it to open wide for them and they walked across on dry land! But then God covered their pursuers with the waters!

Could they not remember? Would they constantly forget?

And what about we Christians? When difficult times face us, do we remember the great work of salvation that God has wrought in our souls? Do we PRAISE Him in the difficulty, or do we "provoke Him to anger" by forgetting?

54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

Israel, constantly murmuring and complaining, turned away from the "promised land" when they first had opportunity to take it. God dealt compassionately with them, even in His anger for their sin. He caused them to wander in the wilderness until the adults who had made the decision to turn away were dead. Thus the lesson should have been great for the descendents - to be willing and obedient.

But even after God set up the tabernacle in Shiloh, and chased the Canaanites from the land for them, they still strayed from the truth and worshipped false gods.

59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. 62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. 63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

In the times of the judges, after Joshua, God saw the idolatry and allowed other nations to chastise Israel with conquering forces. But His mercy was great toward them, and His compassion full. God raised up "judges" to deliver them from the enemies, and He helped them.

How often do we as "saved sinners" go astray, and God has to send HELP!

How often do we become "enemies" of God (verse 66) because of our rebellious nature?

67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. 70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

But God's compassion toward Israel caused Him to send them a leader. That leader came from the shepherds, not from the mighty men! God refused the mighty men of Ephraim and Manasseh, and chose one from the tribe of Judah.

That leader was David, who led the people with "integrity."

David's leadership brought the people of Israel to preeminence in the world. The nation of Israel became the dominant nation in all the world and literally controlled all the trade routes of the world.

What a great thing God has done for you and me. From the "shepherds," He has sent the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords -- Jesus Christ!

Though He is ABOVE us, He has come AMONG us. He willingly gave His life for the "sheep" of His pasture!

And He guides us today by the "integrity" of God's own heart!

PRAISE GOD FOR OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

Let us remember to set our hearts "aright" and to be "steadfast" in our faith toward Him!

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