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 42
1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
In the last chapter, God had said he tried every person and every religion, but found NONE able to stand righteous (see Isaiah 41:28-29).
Therefore, God has called His "Servant." His Servant is none other than God incarnate -- the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Jehovah of the Old Testament (Isaiah 43:11). He is the very IMAGE of God in a man (Hebrews 1:3). He is the "logos," or the REPRESENTATION of God in human form (John 1:1). He is PERFECTLY righteous because He is God incarnate!
The SERVANT is given the fullness of God's Holy Spirit, for God is Holy and He is Spirit. Jesus Christ is the One in whom resides "...all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). And He is given the full AUTHORITY to bring eternal judgment to all of God's creation (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus did not try to cause riots - or "lift up" His voice in the streets (verse 2).
Jesus did not break the heart of any contrite sinner (verse 3). Instead, He accepted them. Neither did He "quench" the the testimony and witness of the weakest believer. Instead, He encouraged them.
Jesus did not "fail!" He accomplished His purpose the first time He came. He paid the ransom for sinners and proved God is able to overcome sin and the consequences of sin (death). AND, Jesus accomplished "judgment in the earth." All mankind will be judged according to Him as the yardstick of measurement. And, even today, all the "isles" (peoples) in the earth have heard the story of Christ and His second coming. Some believe and some don't. But they ALL will wait until He comes.
5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. 8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Before Jesus came, the Jehovah of the Old Testament prophesied through his chosen people that He WOULD COME! God literally "called out" creation. He SPOKE and it happened. And God has also "called out" the Servant, Jesus Christ from among the billions of mankind. Jesus is the One and Only true and righteous man. And He is the ONLY man that was not born by natural means. He was literally CALLED OUT of the VIRGIN Mary's womb!
His purpose in appearing upon the earth the first time was to "open..blind eyes." Those spiritual eyes of mankind that are blinded by selfish sins were opened to the fact that there IS and Almighty Creator and Eternal Judge.
Jesus is the "covenant" of God with those who surrender to Him. His blood is the "blood covenant" of God with mankind. And Jesus is the "light" to the "Gentiles." He is the expression of hope in the darkness of sin.
Who sent this message before it happened? The LORD...Jehovah God. And He says He will NOT give His glory to ANOTHER. Therefore, the Jesus Who came into the earth MUST be Jehovah God Himself.
Isn't it amazing how Bible Scriptures never contradict, and always compliment?
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. 10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
God's "former" prophecies had always come true before Isaiah's day. And now, through Isaiah, God was giving "new" prophecies.
The prophecy of Isaiah should cause people to sing and praise God with all their might! They could sing a NEW SONG, because God Himself would come as a MAN. He would enter the world and conquer! He would conquer sin, death and the devil!
And, OH PRAISE GOD!! He's DONE IT!! HE came in the Person of Jesus Christ! And He conquered sin, death and the devil!
14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
Today, God is "longsuffering and patient" (2Peter 3:9). He has been, and still is allowing mankind to come to repentance. But one day, God will come the second time to "judge and make war" (Revelation 19:11).
First, Jesus came as a "Servant" to bring salvation to the repentant. Second, He will come as a "Servant" to bring just judgment against those who refuse Him, and deliverance for those who have trusted Him.
Christ has ALREADY given the "blind" in sin a clear path (verse 16). He has brought light into the darkness of the world's sinful condition.
But one day, Christ will bring a light that harshly turns back unbelievers (verse 17). Jesus Christ IS the only way to salvation. There is NO OTHER way!
18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? 20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. 25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Though God had also called Israel as His "servant" to carry the gospel to the world, they had failed. They too became "blind" because of wordliness.
Though God has called the church as a "servant" to proclaim the gospel today, they too have failed because of worldliness.
God did punish those who were unfaithful in the nation of Israel, and even today God is punishing the unfaithful in the church (1Peter 4:17).
"For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1Corinthians 11:30-32)
The problem we have in the church today is the same problem Israel had as a nation. We have become so worldly minded we are of no heavenly use!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.