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 43
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Those who can be called "Jacob," the "redeemed," and "Israel" need not fear the world's difficulties because they have God as their refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).
God knows each one of His children by "name." They belong to Him and will be preserved through all trouble by His grace which is sufficient for all our needs. (See 2Corinthians 12:9)
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; 7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Again God (Jehovah), the "covenant" God of Israel, equates Himself with "Saviour" (Messiah). He has already redeemed those who surrender to Him! When God says redemption is complete, it is complete. Even though Christ had not yet physically come into the world, He WOULD! And He WOULD endure the cross, despising the shame, accomplishing salvation for all who believe!
God had already shown His love for the Israelites, even knowing that they would sin greatly through idolatry and generation after generation would forsake Him. He had brought them out of Egypt by the "ransom" of His intervening grace.
And they were "precious in His sight" because He had chosen them to preserve the gospel of the coming Messiah. They were "honorable" even though they were sinners because God imputed righteousness to them by His grace and mercy.
This is the way of lost sinners today. When we come to Christ, we are accounted righteous by the imputation of grace and mercy. We are called "honorable" and "precious" in God's sight.
And when Christ comes again, He will CALL. And all who have the joy of His salvation will COME to Him! The North, East, South and West will produce them. They will come from all ends of the earth because He will call them "by name." They were created for HIS GLORY and will bring glory to His name forever.
8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Who can claim the distinction of being "precious" in God's sight, and "redeemed?" Those who have believed and committed to GOD, the "LORD." Because He IS the SAVIOUR (verse 11).
Those who lay claim to being God's redeemed will give "witness" to that fact in their daily lives. The outspoken witness of commitment to God is the demonstration of salvation already happened in the soul (Matthew 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10).
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? 14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. 15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
There is only ONE GOD! Before creation He was the Creator. And before we are delivered from this sinful world, He IS our SAVIOUR!
When God SAYS it is done, then it IS done (verse 13). When He determines that something will happen, it WILL!
God had already placed in motion the Persians who would bring the collapse of the Babylonian kingdom and make "a way of escape" for Israel.
God is the Creator. He is the KING of all creation. And He is the ONLY Saviour!
16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; 17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
It was God Who opened the Red Sea and provided Israel a way of escape from Egypt. It was God who took away the power of the horses and chariots of the nations for Israel, and made them conquerors in the world.
But now God says He will do a "NEW" thing! He will make a way for their return from Babylon. When they come, the land will be wasted from years of lying unused. But God will cause the land to be productive again.
Friends, when God redeems a soul, He makes a "NEW" thing! He makes that soul productive to Him!
21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. 22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. 23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. 24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. 25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Here, God sets before us the plan of salvation in the Old Testament.
Those who "shew forth" the praise of God are those whom He has "called," and "redeemed." But those who offer not the "fruit of our lips" (Hebrews 13:15) shall not have their sins "blotted out."
God chooses all those who will come to Him willingly and give Him praise. God does NOT choose those who refuse to come to Him and give Him praise. This is the manner of divine election.
26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. 27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me. 28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Therefore, God says, "...let us PLEAD together." The Hebrew word for plead is "shafat," meaning to reason and/or conclude.
It is a PERSONAL decision on the part of God to "justify" all who "declare" Him! It must be a personal decision on the part of every believer to "declare" Him as Saviour and thus be "justified" through Christ.
A person cannot ride into heaven on the coattails of Mom and Dad. A person cannot receive salvation because he's been dunked in some baptistry and has his name on a church roll. A person cannot be declared "justified" just because he comes from a nation which has been favored by God.
Israel was greatly favored by God. But those who refused Him were "profaned" and given over to the "curses" of others. The nation suffered "reproaches" because of their idolatry.
America has been greatly favored by God. But God has also sent "reproaches" upon America because the majority of her people have refused Him.
It remains then that salvation is a PERSONAL DECISION! One MUST "declare" God as Saviour personally in order to receive His divine election and subsequent salvation.
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12)
Have YOU declared Him?
CHAPTER 44
1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: 2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5 One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
It is the Creator God Who is the Saviour of those who surrender to Him. And He will preserve them until the day of final judgment (Philippians 1:6, 2Timothy 2:19, 2Peter 2:9).
Upon those who have given themselves to God, He will "pour" His Holy Spirit to quench their thirst for His presence>
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26)
It was this way in the Old Testament. Those who proclaimed God as Saviour called themselves by the name "Jacob," or "Israel," or "God's people." It was this way in the New Testament. Those who believed Jesus was the God of the Old Testament and had come as Saviour declared themselves to be "disciples of Christ."
That is because He IS the "first, and ... last, and beside.." Him there is NO GOD!
7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
There is only ONE GOD Who has proclaimed and proven Himself throughout the history of the world. Every generation has given witness to Him. He has, through His people, given prophecy of things to come.
When a person surrenders to God, he need not "fear" death, because the ETERNAL GOD has declared that person to be "justified" in His sight forever!
9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. 12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. 18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
How can a person carve an idol out of wood and then call it god? How can the created form the CREATOR?
That is self-deceit (see verse 20). Anything formed of man cannot be God! God reveals Himself in the Bible. The true and only God declares Himself by working through history and proclaiming His own revelation.
Even today, men make their own idols. Many people sitting in churches are forming idols of their imagination today, because they try to "make God in their own image," or according to their own reasoning. All we need to know about God is revealed in the Bible. And the Bible is sufficient to proclaim God as He IS!
Some people define God as the Lord of Salvation but will refuse to claim Him as the God of PROCLAMATION! When God saves people He MAKES them to be WITNESSES! Friend, if you are trusting in a God Who will forgive your sin and give you eternal life without sharing His WITNESS, then you are trusting an IDOL! Friend, if you are trusting in a God who died at Calvary for you to hold a grudge against your neighbor, you are trusting in an IDOL!
Jesus said that we are to go and make DISCIPLES. This is our MISSION when we are born again.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20)
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2Corinthians 5:20-21)
A person cannot rightfully say that he is called to be saved without being called to be a witness! To do so is to "make God in our own image!"
21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. 22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
God tells those who are His chosen, His redeemed to REMEMBER this lesson about idols! He has been merciful and gracious enough to forgive all our sins. Should we try to LIMIT God by defining Him in our own terms? NO! We should study our Bible and find out what God reveals about Himself and our relationship with Him.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. 24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: 27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: 28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
And when we study the Bible and find out what God wants us to know in TRUTH about Him, then we should PRAISE Him!
The angels in glory sing praises to our God. The heavens give praise to His name constantly. How much MORE should the REDEEMED give praise and glory and honor to our Creator and Saviour!
God knew us before we were born (verse 24). He has and is working all things "..together for good to them that love God, to them who are the CALLED according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) History is being ordered to preserve God's people and their witness of Him!
Notice that God calls "Cyrus" his "shepherd" for Israel. Now Cyrus was the king of Persia who conqured the Babylonians. It was Cyrus who gave the decree for the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild!
If God can take a heathen king and use him to "shepherd" His people, God can frustrate the idolaltry of liars, and God can make "diviners" go crazy! God can make the educated fools.
But God can also PRESERVE His own!
PRAISE GOD!!
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.