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 go to the archive below and find it.

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 66

1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

Sacrifices, offerings and dutiful labor is vile and putrified before God if the heart is not "contrite."

Ezekiel 23:39 says, "..when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sactuary to profane it..."

God was telling the people that to kill an ox for sacrifice in hypocrisy is the same as murdering a man. Also it is the same as offering an UNCLEAN animal for sacrifice.

What is God telling you and me here? Unless our heart is genuinely repentant, religiousity is VAIN!

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. 6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

God allows mankind to be dragged into delusions when they will not respond to Him in repentance and surrender.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom 1:21-25)

According to verse 5, the unbelievers mocked and scorned the truly repentant beleivers and caused them to be thought of as religious zealots because they believed God's Word. But God had an answer through Isaiah. His answer was that they would feel the PAIN of their mocking when they were carried away into Bablyonian captivity (or destroyed)!

Today, I believe that God's Word still speaks through every passage of Scripture. And I believe that God says something important for you and me for this age through this Scripture. What God is saying here is "BELIEVE! You may be mocked and scorned, but when judgment day comes, you will be SAVED, while others will be consigned to an eternal hell!"

Those who refuse to believe God (through Christ Jesus) today, become "deluded" by their own vain imaginations. They believe idols and sacriligious offerings of hypocritical service. But one day, we will all face Almighty God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, for judgment of our HEART - not our works!

THIS is the "voice from the temple" of God to people today!

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Before Jerusalem, who represented the people of God, became overrun by Titus in 70AD, a "man child" (Jesus) was delivered through the Jewish nation.

His birth caused a tremendous "stir" among the Jewish people, and many Gentiles (other nations) came to believe in Christ.

And on the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the Passover when Jesus died on the cross, a NEW NATION was formed from the old nation! It was born "at once!" Upon the preaching of the apostles at Pentecost, 3,000 people believed the gospel of Jesus Christ and were saved. They were of different languages and cultures. This was the new AGE OF GRACE in which ANY person can be "accepted in the Beloved" Jesus through repentance and surrender.
The CHURCH was born!

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

When God BEGINS something, He FINISHES it! The church would have power to bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ simply through the preaching and teaching of the gospel.

10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

And God calls for JERUSALEM to rejoice over this new birth! He says they should rejoice and become a part of this new church! The "abundance of her glory" exceeds that of the previous birth of the church in the Old Testament through Abraham.

12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

ALL people are to "rejoice" because God extends to the church "peace ...like a river." It is the peace of KNOWING that the Messiah has COME! He has accomplished forgiveness through the offering of His body. He has accomplished victory over death and hell, and offers that victory to all who will genuinely repent and surrender to him.

And when people come to Christ, God will "comfort" them just as a mother comforts her child.

OH! How we should REJOICE at the wonder of God Incarnate dying on a cross for man's sins! OH! How we should REJOICE at Christ being risen from the dead offering JUSTIFICATION to all who surrender to Him!

But one day, the Lord's vengeance will be poured out upon His enemies.

15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

Let us be very careful to understand the real meaning of this passage of Scripture.

God WILL come. He will come as the book of Revelation pronounces, "...to judge and make war." He will deliver the truly repentant and consign all unbelievers to an eternal hell.

And take particular notice of verses 17-18. HYPOCRITICAL worshippers are UNSAVED. Those who SAY they believe in God, and then live as they desire - worshipping idols of "luck," "money," "power," "prestige," etc., are not truly repentant, and will face the FIRE and the SWORD of God!

God reads "thoughts" and heart's desires! He KNOWS what lies within the person. The most upright, righteous appearing person in the church might be only acting out of social obligation!

19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

God has placed an "ensign" among the people of the true church today. Though they be many nations and peoples, they have that one "ensign." That "ensign" is true love for one another. The same love that Christ depicted through the cross of Calvary. The love that displays willingness to lay down one's life for another.

And the Gentile church shall bring many Jews to realize salvation in Jesus Christ (verse 20). And when one is brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus it is the same as when a priest brought a "clean vessel" into the sanctuary in the Old Testament.

God has made all true believers in Christ "priests and Levites (verse 21).

(((See Revelation 1:6)))

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

During the millenial kingdom, Christ will reconstitute the earth in beauty. And those who have truly been saved will "remain." All the peoples of the earth shall come to worship Christ the King!

And there will be a reminder of the cost of unbelief (verse 24).

What a beautiful book we have studied! Isaiah is perfectly pertinent to our world today.

Tomorrow we will begin studying the book of Jeremiah.

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.