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
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.
Isaiah
CHAPTER 30
1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! 3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. 4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. 5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
Isaiah is prophesying against a political faction of Judah
(& Jerusalem) that believe they can make a treaty with Egypt
and escape the Assyrian and Babylonian invasion.
They are those who travel back and forth to the towns of Zoan
and Hanes in Egypt. They conducted business in the capacity of an
ambassador of the king. Rabsheka, leader of the Assyrian army
spoke of this alliance in 2Kings 18:19-21.
Instead of being repentant and asking God to forgive and save
them, they were trying to circumvent God and get help from the
Egyptians. They were indeed a "rebellious children",
who did not seek God. Instead they sought advice among
themselves, and thus "covered" themselves with
self-righteousness and not repentance.
Many people hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth that
the only salvation from sin comes by surrender to Him. But, in
rebellious attitude, they try to "cover" themselves
with works of self-righteousness rather than repent and submit to
God.
God says the people of Egypt will be "ashamed"
that they made a commitment to Judah (verse 5).
6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. 7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. 8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: 9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
The political faction was trying to muzzle the truth of
God (verses 10-11). They were saying that the TRUTH put FEAR into
the people and that it was better to be politically correct.
Ever heard that anywhere before?
The alliance with Egypt may have given some little strength to
Judah during the invasion of the Assyrians. But God sent the
Babylonians right behind them to finish the job of judgment for
their sins.
God's TRUTH marches on! Judgment for sin WILL come! One can do
all kinds of good things, and be totally politically
correct, but it will not substitute for the forgiveness of God
that is found ONLY in surrender to Jesus as Lord.
Isaiah was told to write this truth down in a book (verse 8)
and then write it upon a "table" (rock) which he was to
present to them.
God has written the truth of salvation by grace through faith
only in the Bible. And He has SHOWN us that truth through Jesus
Christ.
12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. 18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
When people refuse God, death comes SUDDENLY (verses 12-13),
and they are UNPREPARED. They are unprepared because they have
not REPENTED (verse 18).
It is only in repentance that one can find real "rest"
in his heart (verse 15). Except people surrender to Christ, they
spend their lives spiritually running away from things.
But those who "wait" for God (serve Him),
find REST -- PEACE!
" 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)
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
Furthermore, for those who trust God, surrender to Him, and
live for Him, there is protection, provision and guidance.
The people who "dwell in Zion" (Verse 19) today are
those who trust in Christ and study the Word. The Bible refers to
Zion as "the heavenly city" (Hebrews 12:22-24,
Revelation 21:2). The ONLY people who will live there are those
who have surrendered to Christ (Revelation 21:27).
Those who have a citizenship in "the heavenly
city" may today suffer persecution from the world, and even
discipline from God because they are His children. (see verse 20)
But they "hear a word behind thee, saying, 'This is the
way, walk ye it it'.." because they are studying their
Bibles and hearing God speak to them. Studying and learning the
Bible teaches the saved person the moral truths by which God
would have him live. And when he studies and learns them, God's
Holy Spirit RECALLS them to his mind during each day's decisions.
That's why David said, "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11).
That's also what Jesus meant when He said, "But the
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John
14:26)
These people were depending upon political correctness and not
upon God's Word. But those who DID depend upon God's Word would
find peace in their hearts, guidance for decision making, and
ultimately eternal peace with God.
It is important to LISTEN to God by reading and
studying His WORD!
22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. 23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. 24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. 25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
God promises blessings upon those who will repent and
turn to Him. Notice that all these blessings are meeting
NEEDS, not supplying RICHES!
God will "bind up the breach of His people," and
heal the wound of sin (verse 26).
27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning
with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are
full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
28 And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the
midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity:
and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing
them to err.
At the same time God is healing His people, He is shown
JUDGING the nations of those who refused Him.
29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy
solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with
a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One
of Israel.
30 And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and
shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of
his anger, and with the flame of devouring fire, with scattering
and tempest, and hailstones.
While the saved are singing a special song of praise to God,
He will be showing His "indignation" upon those who
never surrendered to Him.
It is through "the voice of the LORD" (verse 31)
that defeat shall come to all idolatry. Here, God speaks of
"Tophet," which is the Valley of Hinnom. It was in the
Valley of Hinnom ("Tophet") that the idol
"Molech" was worshipped. And the worship, by the way,
included child sacrifice. Manasseh, king of Judah, is said
to have offered his son to this idol (2Kings 21:6).
"Tophet" also spiritually represents the burning pit
which burns forever and ever. That pit was originally formed to
hold the devil and his rebellious angels. But it will also be
used for all mankind who refuse God. (See Rev. 21:10-15)
Notice that this place of eternal unrest and torment is
kindled by "the breath of the LORD." (verse 33) That
means it IS eternal in length and in punishment.
God has a plan to save those who will listen to Him and follow
His Christ. But God also has a plan for those who refuse Jesus.
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.