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 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

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.

PROVERBS

CHAPTER 21

1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

God knows the heart of ALL men. And He does with them as He sees fit.

Though a king is a mighty ruler, God can can move upon his heart as the river moves upon the earth. He can change the "course" of the king's heart, just as a river might change its course.

God is sovereign in ALL the earth. Behind the scenes, without changing the nature of man, God can control history and the affairs of it.

Verse 2 - see Proverbs 16:2.

3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

The greatest offering we can make to God is to LIVE RIGHT - for His glory. No amount of offerings or sacrifices can take the place of living a life of sinfulness. See Micah 6:6-8.

God equates pride with the "plowing of the wicked." The man who prepares the land for farming without acknowledging God is living only for his own desires. So is the man who lives in pride.

If a man is diligent about his business, he will provide well for his family. But he who makes "hasty" decisions in his business will fail. And let us not forget that the greatest business of man is to glorify God. The man who is diligent in THAT business will certainly provide the education of the gospel of Jesus Christ to his family.

6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

Recently we have seen how company executives in the USA have operated with deceipt in order to get gain. They were caught in the sinful practices, and are being punished. Using deceiptful practices to steal from a company is akin to "robbery" (below).

The robber does not act with rational reasoning. Robbery can incur the wrath of the one being robbed. The robber takes the chance that his victim may shoot him.

Every man is a sinner, and has sinful ways. But the "pure," those who seek to please God, are accepted of Him. Job was a self-admitted sinner, but God looked upon him as "perfect" because his desire was to please God.

9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Life has its comforts and it has UNcomfortable times too. Most of the time, our UNcomfortable times are of our own making because we have made bad choices.

A "good wife" is from God, and a man should pray to receive such (see Proverbs 18:22). But the "contentious wife" is a constant aggravation (see Proverbs 19:13).

One might also apply this to men!

One's spouse should be chosen according to godly directives. To choose a spouse out of our own reasoning and/or lusts, is wrong.

It would be better to live uncomfortably in a small corner exposed to the elements of nature than to live in a "wide house" with a contentious spouse.

See also verse 19.

10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

The "wicked" has no thoughts of kindness toward his neighbor except that he might GAIN something. His benevolence is only "for sale" or as a means of bartering. The "wicked" has no true concern for anyone other than himself.

11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

There are those who "scorn" and "mock" at law and authority. When they are punished, even the most "simple" will refrain from such practices. Punitive measures for law-breakers serves as a deterrent to crime.

God's Word tells us that there is a final judgment day for the "wicked." Even the most "simple" of men can see that in the Bible. And when even a simple man receives the news of the gospel, he receives knowledge of salvation.

Those who are "righteous" (having desire toward God), will SEE then end of the "wicked" and wisely turn away from a life of NOT acknowledging God.

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

The "poor" has need of deliverance. His "cry" should be heard and help should be given.

All men have need of deliverance at the final judgment day. Those who have lived without helping the poor, have lived sinfully against God's command. Their cry for deliverance in that day will NOT be heard!

14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

Now giving a gift for bribery is an evil act. It is not to be equated with this statement.

Here, the gift is given to pacify anger because of an offense. If we have offended someone, giving a gift to them privately will help to appease their anger.

15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

The joy of living for Christ is to know the END is eternal life with Him in glory. The end of living a life without God is "destruction."

16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

What a sermon against "backsliding!!"

To know Christ is to know the "way of understanding." It is to know the joy of His company and favor daily. To live in the "way of understanding" is to have REAL LIFE!

If a man comes to the "way of understanding," and then wanders away from it, he can only go to "the congregation of the dead!" The only way of REAL LIFE is to be "in Christ," and living to please Him.

When a person comes to know Christ and is "adopted" into the family of God, he becomes a "child of God." There are five basic things that a "child of God" is expected to be doing:
1) WORSHIPPING GOD,
2) Studying of God through the Bible,
3) Praying to God continually,
4) Being useful in church,
5) Sharing the gospel with others.

If a child of God wanders out of the path God has directed him to be traveling, our loving Father will CORRECT him. If the child be not corrected, then God will extract him from the earth. God doesn't mess around with a bunch of bad witnesses! See Hebrews 10:24-27.

17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Two things will cause poorness: living for pleasure only, and living for wine only. Living for self-pleasure is akin to alcoholism. It destroys the ability to think correctly.

See also verse 20.

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

This is a verse I have grappled with many times. In Isaiah 43:3-4, God says He gave Egypt as a ransom for Israel. In order to deliver Israel as a nation, God sent plagues upon Egypt.

I believe this should be applied to nations. When God is ready to give particular understanding or deliverance to His people, He begins by utilizing punitive methods upon those who are determined to do evil and will not surrender to Him.

We must realize that God is omniscient AND omnipotent. He KNOWS the hearts of men, and KNOWS if they will ever repent and turn to Him. And God has the privilege of altering history in order to benefit those who choose to serve Him (see verse 1).

As in the case of Egypt, under divine judgment, some Egyptians were SAVED because of the punitive measures God used upon the nation as a whole.

The ways of God in the course of history are indeed mysterious. But we can trust the fact that God ALWAYS has His people in mind and will do what is BEST for them!

21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

God's GRACE is abundantly given to those who are living FOR Him. He is ABLE to do, and WILL do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think," when we trust Him (Ephesians 3:20).

Prov 21:22-24 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

All three of these verses seem to apply to the use of the TONGUE.

He is a "wise" warrior who scales the wall of a city and secretly finds the place of power and destroys it first. A man is "wise" when he uses his tongue discretely, and in kindness draws attention to his foe's error. This "disarms" the foe, and leaves room for him to become a friend.

The man who holds a "tight reign" on his tongue will keep himself from many "troubles."

The man who speaks in anger and pride, will find "proud wrath" returned. Sharp words shows a man to be UNfriendly, and he will usually be treated in an unfriendly manner.

25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

The "desire of the slothful" is to be LAZY! That desire will cause his demise. He may have WANT, but will not GIVE of his life to God.

On the other hand, the "righteous" will give his life to God, and will not be slack in his duty to God.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

To not trust in God and then to offer a sacrifice to God is an "ABOMINATION." It is something that is abhorred by the Lord. This is the way of the HYPOCRITE!

28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

Perhaps another way to read this verse is: "The false witness fails, but the one who listens to God is constant." Truth never fails, it continues.

29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

The wicked man will defy law and the Word of God. He will "sear" his conscience and refuse to do that which is right.

On the other hand, the man who loves God will consider carefully his choices. He will make decisions based on what is right, and how God directs him.

30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

My friends, there is NO wisdom in being AGAINST God! When we KNOW to do right, and CHOOSE to do wrong, it is SIN! Rationalizing sin to please self is "counsel" against God.

31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Just as a nation should be prepared for war by having an armed defense, a man should be prepared for war against evil by having God in his heart.

It would be foolish for a nation to think its perimeter safe from foes without an armed defense. It is also foolish to think our lives are safe without God.

Though a man or a nation prepare for war, the ultimate protection or defeat is "of the LORD."

Therefore, let us trust God FIRST; and also prepare ourselves.

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.