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 4

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Actually this verse belongs with chapter 3 and speaks of the scarceness of men after war and tumult. The women desire the NAME of the man so that they will be able to have children. They desire the benefit of marriage and children so much that they promise to need no SUPPORT from the man.

The rest of this chapter speaks about the restoration God will provide at the return of Messiah.

2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. 3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

This section refers to the time when the "Branch" of David (Messiah) will return to rule on the earth.

The true beauty of Israel is that they have provided Messiah for the world. And those who have "escaped" the wars and tumult of the world into the safety of Messiah's salvation shall enjoy His beauty.

Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ shall be called "holy" in the land (verse 3).

Messiah will have "washed away" (Verse 4) the sins of the people who dwell in Jerusalem in the mellinial reign.

God will shield all His people from the calamities of the world during that time (verses 5-6).

CHAPTER 5

1 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

God uses an experience Isaiah has had to relate the fact of His relationship with the Hebrew people. He writes a "song" to His "beloved." The "beloved" are the people, and they are likened to a vineyard. This is the first time in the Bible that the nation of Israel is referred to as a vineyard. However, God speaks of this same type relationship in several other places: Jeremiah 12:10, Matthew 12:33-45).

God had given this vineyard every blessing, yet it had yielded WILD grapes (verse 2).

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

God calls for a trial to be held in which the inhabitants of Israel themselves are both the accused and the jurors. God will be the ultimate Judge, but they shall hear the evidence presented against them.

Since Israel has been so determined to be rebellious and has refused to remain faithful to the Lord, the vineyard will be chopped down, and all protection removed.

Isa 5:7-23 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah. 11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. 13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: 16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. 17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat. 18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: 19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

The nation is found GUILTY on seven different charges.

First, in verses 8-10, the nation is found guilty of forceful greed. The wealthy have taken advantage of the poor and acquired the land selfishly. This sin is prevalent in many nations today. The consequence is that the land acquired will no longer provide for them.

Second, in verses 11-17, they are found guilty of drunkenness. They make feasts and celebrations in order to drink. Any excuse is a good excuse to drink.

Notice verse 14. Hell is "enlarged" because of this sin. Hell is getting bigger and bigger everyday as men refuse God and choose drunkenness.

All the proud drunkards who use celebrations as an excuse for drinking will lose their pride when they are cast in hell.

Third, they are guilty of iniquity which is planned sin. They "draw" iniquity to them and claim that Messiah doesn't exist and won't come (verse 19). Their iniquity (or planned sin) is blasphemy.

Fourth, they are guilty of calling "evil good, and good evil." The sin of perverting good judgment for gain is indeed an evil sin because it corrupts the whole of a society.

Fifth, in verse 21, God says they are guilty of conceit. Men have always desired to be intellectual as a manner to call attention to themselves. And intellectualism often leads to rationalizing God. Either man will avow there is no God, or he will try and make God to be what MAN wants Him to be. How many of us are guilty of explaining God on the basis of our experience rather than reading the Bible and seeing God according to His self-revelation?

Sixth, in verse 22, there is another charge about drunkenness. The double reference causes the sin to be more reprehensive. Many a "mighty" man has fallen because of an addiction to alcohol.

Seventh, in verse 23, they are guilty of graft and bribery. For the sake of "reward" they have justified wickedness and put away righteousness. The rulers and judges pervert justice for a price.

My friends, America is guilty on ALL SEVEN COUNTS!!

24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: 27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: 28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: 29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. 30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

The seven-count indictment produces judgment. The guilty verdict is not only because of the sins of man, but because of the REFUSAL to trust God for forgiveness and live according to His laws of truth.

Guiltiness in those who trust Christ is "washed away" (see chapter 4:4). But those who do NOT trust Him, shall find their guiltiness still with them when they face God in JUDGMENT!

God's pronouncement of guiltiness upon the nation of Israel in Isaiah's day was a pronouncement of physical justice. The purpose of it was to try and draw them back to God in repentance.

God took away their power through devastating war (verse 25). He made them a "laughing stock" (verse 26). The power of their enemies was more than they could withstand (verses 27-30).

Friends, when we rebel against surrender to Almighty God, and He withdraws His hand of protection and provision, we are left to destruction and desolation!

What an appropriate set of Scriptures for America today on this anniversary of 9-11-01!!!

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.