THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

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&h) 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, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.

1SAMUEL
CHAPTER 12

1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. 5 And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

Samuel's character is placed before the people.
When they are gathered at Gilgal, Samuel reminds the people of his integrity and character with which he has led them. He has worked diligently and has taken NOTHING for pay! (verses 4-5)
Smauel has served god and Israel since his childhood (verse 2). And though his sons have proven inadequate, Samuel's integrity is without question!
How may of US can say that? WHAT A TESTIMONY!

6 And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

GOD'S character is placed before the people.
It was God Who gave Moses and Aaron as deliverers because the people "cried" to Him in prayer (verse 8). And God faithfully delivered them to the promised land, even though their forefathers sinned against Him.
When Israel as a nation sinned many times. God allowed other nations to come and make them servants (verse 9). But when they called upon the Lord, each time he sent someone to deliver them (verses 10-11).
God has ALWAYS been faithful, longsuffering and gracious to them ((and to US))!

12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

And now, they as a nation have asked for a king. And God is giving them a king - just as they asked.

14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

Continued protection and blessings from the Lord are promised to those who love Him based on their OBEDIENCE. However, a warning is issued for DISOBEDIENCE. The people AND the king are charged solemnly here to be obedient to God.
God is allowing them to have this kingship. But He would have them to know that asking for a king was a "WICKED" thing!
Ordinarily, our providential God would withhold rain during harvest time. But today, at Samuel's prayer, God will send thunder and rain on the wheat that was ready for harvest.
Does God ordain government? Yes. But just as He ordained divorce, He does so because of man's WICKEDNESS which is GREAT!
And government has the potential to become as wicked as man. Therefore, the cost of genuine freedom is "eternal vigilence."

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

The people were convinced and convicted. They were finally convinced that they had done wrong before God by asking for a king. And they were convicted of their sins before the Alomighty God.
They called out to Samuel to pray for them.
Many would ask others to pray for them, when they won't pray themselves.
Isn't it wonderful how God, through Samuel, assured them? He promises that He will never leave or forsake them if they will continue to be OBEDIENT (verse 22)!
Notice it is because of God's character that He will do this: "..for His great Name's sake..."
When God CHOOSES us and saves us, He will ALWAYS be there for us as our Providor, Protector, and Father. He will provide, protect, and discipline as we have need.

23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

Samuel says it would be SIN if he did not continue to pray for the people. It is SIN if we do not pray for each other as Christians!
Many Christians get "sideways" with other Christians and sometimes hold grudges. That is SIN. It is double sin when we refuse to pray for another Christian!
It would also be SIN if Samuel did not tell them "the good and the right way." It is SIN if we don't proclaim righteousness and truth in the world today.
Our reverence for God should cause us to remain faithful in service to Him, and should remind us of His faithfulness to us (verse 24).
God has no NEED of us! Therefore, if we follow wickedness after being saved, then He is perfectly JUST in destroying us from this earth (verse 25).
WOW!! What a THOUGHT!

Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.