THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
This program of daily devotions is designed to help you in daily honoring God with adoration.
Each day, Monday through Friday, a devotion is posted. You may also request these devotions directly e-mailed to you. Just send your request for "Daily Devotions" to mcge3582@bellsouth.net.
We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by date, just clik
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through Ecclesiastes are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON
(BOOK NAME) to:
P.O. Box 1627
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1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
God has a plan for the Jewish people to be used in a special way. They were first used to bring Messiah into the world. They will be used toward the "tribulation" time (last seven years before the milennial kingdom). At that time, the Bible says 144,000 will be sealed by God's Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel of Jesus all over the world (see revelation 7).
Zion was the place God chose to be the capitol of the Davidic kingdom, and has remained the central place for Judaism to this day. Zioin represents the "chosen place" and is a symbol for the heart. It is the place from which God rules men.
2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. 3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
One day God will set up a kingdom in Zion (Jerusalem) from which Jesus Himself will rule for 1,000 years. All nations of the world will fall under His leadership.
4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Zion was called "forsaken" when God let them be taken into captivity and the land was left desolate. But Zion will be called "Hephzibah," which means my delight is in her. She shall also be called "Beulah," which means married.
6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
There are faithful "watchmen" who continually yearn for and pray for God to set up that milennial kingdom. Their prayers continually keep God working toward that day when Jesus will fully reign over all the earth from Jerusalem. Are YOU a faithful watchman?
8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: 9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
Many natioins have taken advantage of Jerusalem's resources. But when King Jesus rules for 1,000 years, all nations will be subject to Him, and none will take advantage of the land.
10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. 11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Prepare the way for the Lord, King Jesus IS coming!! This was the cry of John the Baptist prior to Jesus' earthly ministry. It is the cry of all Christians TODAY!
God's promise holds true until the "end of the world." Jesus WILL COME and rule over the earth.
Those who belong to Jesus will be called "holy people" and "the redeemed of the Lord." They are redeemed, bought with His blood, and they are holy - robed with His righteousness.
God is SEEKING people today!
CHAPTER 63
1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
Isaiah poses a question about a vision he has seen. The vision obviously showed the Lord returning from a great battle. His garments were covered with blood. Yet He does not appear tired or weary. Instead, He comes in "greatness of His strength." (verse 1).
WHO is it? The Lord Himself -- "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." Revelation 19:13 says,
"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."
The purpose of the battle is explained in verse 4. The battle is for the "vengeance" of God toward those who refuse Him and are enemies of the church. The battle also the time when God brings full redemption to those who have received Him.
The work of salvation for man is accomplished by God ALONE!! (verse 5) We have nothing at all to do with accomplishing salvation! It is only received through surrender to Jesus as LORD!
The church should have nothing to do with the punishment of her enemies (verse 6). God Himself will take care of that.
Instead, we are to proclaim the "lovingkindness of the LORD." (verse 7) We are to tell others of a judgment day coming, but of salvation being offered.
7 I will mention the lovingkindnesss of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesss. 8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
Notice in verse 9, that it is the "angel of His presence" who saved Israel. When Israel first entered "The Promised Land," God appeared to Joshua as "The Captain of the host." (Joshua 5:13-15)
When God came to offer the fullness of salvation by the cross, He came in the Person of Jesus Christ. There, He fought the battle for the forgiveness of sin. There, God proved that He could offer His perfection for our imperfection, and conquer the foes of sin and death!
10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? 12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? 14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
When Israel was rebellious against God in the wilderness, He provided Moses to lead them and bring them to "The Promised Land." God led them through the Red Sea, and through the desert wilderness. He provided their food and water, and saw to it that their clothes did not get old or worn. God protected them from enemies, and taught them by His Word.
God is doing the same for the church today. Our leader is God Himself in Jesus Christ. And He still teaches us by His WORD!
15 Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? 16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. 17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. 19 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
Isaiah could see that the land of Judah was deserted, beaten down and the people captured and carried away by enemies. He offered the same questions that we Christians sometimes ask today. "Lord, where is Your ZEAL and Your STRENGTH?"
But Isaiah acknowledges that God is still LORD of all (verse 16), and that He is the ONLY "redeemer."
I'm sure there were some faithful followers of God in Judah when the nation was captured and carried away, even though the majority of the people had become idolatrous. And I'm quite sure those faithful followers, like Isaiah, questioned: "Is God's power RESTRAINED?" (verse 15)
And today, there are many faithful followers of Christ. But it seems that righteousness and morality are being swallowed up with evil. And I'm quite sure that many of those faithful Christians question along with me, "LORD! Is your power being RESTRAINED?"
But as Israel could not see God's purpose then, we can not see God's purpose today. We can only rely upon His WORD! His Word says that God is not SLACK concerning His purpose, and that He is longsuffering of mankind, desiring that men should come to be saved (2Peter 3:9).
We today, can only cry as Isaiah did in the following chapter, "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence" (Isaiah 64:1).
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW!