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 31
1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! 2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
There was a political faction in Judah that believed Egypt would be strong enough to help them against Assyria, and even against Babylon. God said their trust was in weapons of war, and they didn't PRAY (verse 1).
God wanted the people to know that Egypt could NOT save them from His correction (verse 2). The wisdom of God is greater than the wisdom of men. Mankind cannot circumvent the fact that God is Sovereign Creator and Eternal Judge. Some people say that it was just a big accident that the universe was made, and they believe man evolved. They also say that when a person dies, that's the END of the person. But God WILL JUDGE ALL MEN! His "words" will NOT be called back!
When man tries to circumvent what God says, he may be "helped" by his thoughts for a while. But one day, he WILL FACE the Eternal Creator and Judge (verse 3). Some people trust in:
physical and mental abilities,
idols which are imaginations of man,
and, even strength and power.
Some people even trust in trying to make God be what THEY want Him to be rather than surrendering to Him as He IS.
But God says all these things will fail when He stretches out His hand.
4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. 5 As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. 6 Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
But those who "turn to" God will find that God will FIGHT FOR them! He will NOT allow His people to be totally destroyed. He is our Great Defense!
7 For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. 8 Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. 9 And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
To NOT believe that God IS, and to try and make a god is SIN (verse 7).
The "Assyrian" (verse 8) represents the ones used of God for a chastisement of His people. But they willingly persecuted God's people. Because they were WILLING to persecute God's people, there was SIN in their lives. And that sin would bring God's punishment to THEM also.
CHAPTER 32
1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
Here is God's PROMISE of Messiah to come. He WILL come, God says, and He WILL REIGN. He will reign in RIGHTEOUSNESS. And "princes" shall rule in judgment.
Friends, the PROMISE of God is that WHEN Messiah reigns in the Millenium, WE shall reign WITH Him!
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6)
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" (2Timothy 2:11-12)
2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. 4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. 5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. 6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 7 The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. 8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
Notice all the changes that will be made in the Millenial Kingdom!
People will be SAFE (verse 2).
People will be ready to LEARN (verse 3) the truths of God.
People will be ready to RECEIVE and TEACH God's Word (verse 4).
Verses 5-8 tell us that the "vile" person is today called "liberal," but then he will NOT be called liberal. Instead, he will be called VILE!
The reputation of the "liberal" will be that he practices "hypocrisy," and makes the hungry remain empty!
Today, the world calls those who say there is no God, LIBERAL. They are "free-thinkers," and should be allowed to express their thoughts as much as anyone else. But THEN it will be DIFFERENT! Jesus will allow no such deceiptfulness!
9 Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech. 10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come. 11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins. 12 They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. 13 Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city: 14 Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
Messiah SHALL COME and reign Isaiah has said. But he also says that because these people have been "wanton," "at ease," and "careless," they will receive HARD TIMES INDEED! (verse 8)
The people are called to "Rise up,...(and) hear.." the Word of God which proclaims a great punishment for their sins.
They will have DESIRES for the "good things" which they have enjoyed, but WILL NOT have them!
The "vintage shall fail," (verse 10) and they are called to REPENTANCE (verse 11).
They shall desire the "teats" (or fine milk from the cows), and the "fruitful vine" (so they could make their WINE)!
But their fine and large houses would lie WASTED (verses 13-14), and thorns and briers would grow upon them (for they would be carried off into captivity).
People today put great value on houses, land, yards, crops, cattle, business, etc. But what we NEED is GOD!! What good is all the THINGS in the world without GOD?
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)
15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. 16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; 19 When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place. 20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
Today, we have the Spirit of God indwelling our hearts and guiding us in knowing and doing God's will. But when Messiah Jesus comes to reign on earth for 1,000 years, the power of God's Spirit will be POURED from on HIGH! And there will be a TOTAL difference in the way the world does business!
Righteousness will REMAIN, judgment (deliverance) will even be in the "wilderness," and people's work will be in "peace." The EFFECT of this will be quietness and assurance!
God's people will live in a "peaceable habitation." Their houses will be "sure" (safely kept) from crime!
And when the winds blow and storms come, the whole city will be in a "LOW" place, safe and secure!
Listen to the closing line on this chapter! What a blessing! Those who spread the good news ("sow") are BLESSED!! They are BLISSFULLY HAPPY!!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.