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.

Isaiah

CHAPTER 45

1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

God speaks of Cyrus as His "anointed." Cyrus will be used of God take control of kingdoms and have power over the nations. He will also be used of God to deliver Israel (verse 4). It will be "for Jacob My servant's sake" that God will use Cyrus.

In 2Chronicles 36:22-23, the Bible says that God Himself "stirred up" Cyrus and caused him to acknowledge that it was God alone who made him great. And he also "stirred up" Cyrus to call for the Hebrews to return to Jerusalem and build a temple for God.

When the king who has power over all the earth proclaims that God is the only Lord, the people know about God "from the rising of the sun, and from the west that there is NONE beside" Him.

7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. 9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

God has said (verses 5-6) that He is SOVEREIGN over ALL things. He is the CREATOR, and His is the authority over all created things.

God formed light, and God formed darkness - they are OPPOSITES. Continuing to draw the contrast of opposites, God says He formed PEACE and EVIL. The Hebrew word for evil is "ra," which means adversity or calamity.

Let it be known that God did not create SIN! God created man, and man has created only ONE thing in all his being -- SIN! But God is SOVEREIGN, and has created CONTROLS over sin! God never created immorality, but He HAS instituted CONTROLS over immorality.

There are so many examples that could be used to illustrate this creative action of which God speaks. For instance, darkness is defined by the absence of light. There is no such thing as absolute darkness, there is only the degree to which there is absence of light. There is no such thing as absolute cold, there is only the degree to which there is absence of heat. Gravity, created by God, is a physical law which controls the movement of people, planets and stars. And so is PEACE and EVIL. They are created by God as CONTROLS over the actions of people.

In that sense, God formed Cyrus and molded him to be the leader of the nations. Cyrus brought EVIL to some nations because he conquered them. But Cyrus brought PEACE to the Hebrews because he released them from bondage and allowed them to return to Judah and Jerusalem.

The point of all this is that God is SOVEREIGN over the affairs of this earth! NOTHING is done without His CONTROL!

Therefore, how can the created "strive" with the CREATOR? (verse 9) How can the clay argue with the Potter? Let us not strive with God, but let us surrender to Him!

11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. 14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

If one wants to know about the affairs of earth, and why one nation exhibits control over another, one should inquire of GOD! HE, and He alone, is SOVEREIGN and in control of all the affairs of man.

That is why, when the twin towers were destroyed in New York on September 11, 2001, that Christians across the world began to PRAY! What was God SAYING to the world? Why was this happening?

And I thank God, that many influential Christians had the boldness to say that this was God's hand of REPROOF upon the believers of America! This was a control action of God intended to bring Christians to their knees!

God teaches us in Hebrews 12:8 that if we are without chastisement then we are NOT sons of God. But if we ARE sons of God, then we are chastised for our sins. God chastises as a means of control and discipline in order to bring His children back into line with righteous behaviour. And friends, let's just face the truth. American Christianity has been so far removed from righteous behaviour that if God does not chasten us, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah!

God caused Cyrus to become a chastising arm of righteousness to evil behaviour in other nations such as Ethiopia and the Sabeans and Egypt (verse 14). But God also caused Cyrus to become an instrument of PEACE to Israel.

15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. 17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. 18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

There is only ONE Sovereign God (verse 18)! All idols are SEEN, but God is INVISIBLE (verse 15).

Remember that "Israel" (verse 17) represents God's chosen people. Those who come willingly to God and surrender to His Lordship are His chosen people. Those who come to God for the answers of life will never be "ashamed" or "confounded," because He IS GOD!

The word "LORD" in verse 18 is the substitute for JEHOVAH. And HE is the "Saviour" (verse 15), the "God of Israel." Let me say it again:
The God of the Old Testament is the JESUS of the New Testament;
the JEHOVAH of the Old Testament is the JESUS of the New TESTAMENT;
The Creator God of Genesis is the JESUS on the cross;
The God of the JUDGMENT of mankind is the JESUS Who rose from the grave!

19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Though God is INVISIBLE (except for his "express image" of Jesus --Hebrews 1:3), He has not spoken in "secret." He has spoken boldly through His prophets.

And God's call is to SEEK HIM (verse 19). God's call has been to mankind since Adam. He came to "seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Just as He came in the Garden of Eden to seek out Adam and Eve when they sinned and were separated from His holiness and righteousness, God has come personally into this earth to seek and to save ALL who will come to him.

He is a JUST God and a SAVIOUR (verse 21). God WILL SAVE those who repent and surrender to Him. He is JUST and the JUSTIFIER of those who believe in Jesus as the Christ (Romans 3:26).

But God WILL NOT save those who do not repent and surrender (Luke 13:3). God's message to mankind from the beginning of time has been REPENT! Repent means to turn around. Mankind is going the WRONG direction because of sin. God calls us to TURN AROUND and come toward Him (verse 22). He is the ONLY WAY of salvation!

23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

It is to GOD, the LORD, Jehovah, that "every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." Yet this same statement is made of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10)!

It is "IN the LORD" that men are justified and receive the eternal reward of "glory" (verse 25).

Seventy-seven times the New Testament uses the term "in Christ."
FAITH is found "in Christ" (Acts 24:24, 2Timothy 3:15).
REDEMPTION is found "in Christ" (Romans 3:24).
The "Spirit of life" is found "in Christ" (Romans 8:2).
The "love of God" is found "in Christ" (Romans 8:39).
God's "ways" are found "in Christ" (1Corinthians 4:17).
HOPE is found "in Christ" (1Corinthians 15:19, Colossians 1:27).

It is in the LORD, Jesus Christ that we can find "righteousness and strength" (verse 24). Without Him we find only self and selfishness.

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.