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 6
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isaiah records a vision. The vision is in four parts. Notice that he received the vision when king Uzziah died. This was probably a very depressing time for Isaiah. Not only did he love Uzziah for being a good king, but Uzziah was also a relative.
When we are "in the valleys," so-to-speak, God gives us special grace. This vision is a vision of realization, encouragement, commission, and includes a glimpse of the future.
Isaiah's vision was of God in lofty grandeur. He was "high and lifted up." His magnificent glory was evident!
The seraphims are angels of glorious brilliance. They were hovering above and on both sides of God's throne. Notice that they have faces, feet and hands (see also verse 6). They had three sets of wings; one pair covered their faces, one pair covered their feet, and with one pair they flew.
These seraphims continually praised God with a cry of "holy, holy, holy." God is the THRICE-HOLY God! He is perfect. Part of the chant of the seraphims reveals that God's glory is reflected in the earth (verse 3).
God's voice was so strong that the "posts of the door moved" when He spoke! The Bible tells us elsewhere that by the WORD of God He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1-3). And by the WORD of God, He shall destroy His enemies (Revelation 19:14-16).
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
At the sight of God in His majestic holiness, Isaiah realized his sinfulness. It is at the preaching of the Word of God that mankind realizes God's holiness, and our own sinfulness!
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
Notice that the coal was applied to the "lips" of Isaiah. The character of a man's heart is revealed through his conversation!
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." (Matthew 15:18-20)
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
AFTER Isaiah realized his sinfulness, and God's provision for cleansing, THEN he received a CALL from God for usefulness.
God's call to those who surrender to Him is for salvation, yes. But it is also a call to be USEFUL in service to Him among people. Unless people realize sinfulness, they have no understanding of needing cleansing. Unless they realize God's provision of cleansing they will not surrender to Him for salvation. And unless someone PREACHES, they will realize neither!
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:13-15)
11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
Telling people about God's salvation is a difficult task because of the emotional strain. The emotional strain is there because many hear, but will not surrender to Christ. I just preached a sermon last night to over 700 people. The music preceeding the sermon was beautiful and very moving. Tears filled the eyes many in the congregation. The sermon presented the fact of salvation by surrender only, and more tears filled the eyes of people. One could see the evidence of God's Holy Spirit moving for conviction. But NO ONE came forward to receive Christ!
Isaiah wanted to know "HOW LONG" he would have to do this.
The answer is: as long as we have breath in this life! God realizes the difficulty of the task and provides encouragement all through our lives. But it is the Christian's responsibility to tell the world about Jesus.
"When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 33:8-9)
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)
KEEP TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS!!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.