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 64

1 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, 2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! 3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. 4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. 6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

This is a prayer for God to come mightily to earth and perform His promise to set up the millenial kingdom.

When He comes the mountains will melt away, and there will be no hiding place for His enemies.

God has greater things in store for His people than they can imagine (verse 4). ((See also 1Corinthians 2:9)) He will "meet" with those who love Him, and will place full righteousness in them (verse 5).

But today, God is still "wroth" with sin, and ALL mankind is as a "unclean thing." Even though we are saved, we are still sinners (Romans 3:23). And today God is working to bring sinners to repentance.

There is "none" that genuinely seeks after God in true holiness (verse 7), because we are still selfish and full of "iniquities."

The prayer reveals the truth that God has wonderful things in store for those who surrender to Him. It also reveals the truth that even saved people are sinners and cannot know today the fullness of God's righteousness.

8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. 10 Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. 12 Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

God is the "Father" of all created beings. But God is especially a loving Father to those who have surrendered to Him. They become like "clay" in the hands of the potter, and allow God to mold them according to His divine will.

The earth today is full of the waste of mankind. Greed and selfishness are deterrents to productiveness.

But GOd is "longsuffering" and desiring that men will come to repentance (verse 12). How long will God wait? Surely He will come SOON!

CHAPTER 65

1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. 6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, 7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Today, the Gentiles seek for God through Christ, and God is even causing the Gospel of Jesus to be preached to those who have not "sought" Him (verse 1).

But, today, Israel, God's chosen people are rebellious toward Him. They are continually seeking after the god of their own imagination instead of receiving Christ Whoh as come. (verses 2-3)

They are practicing a religion of PRIDE and believing they are "holier" than anyone else (verse 5). But God will cause a "payday someday" (verses 6-7).

8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

Let it be known, that today many Jewish people have turned to Christ and are actively preaching Him as Messiah. Still, the majority refuse to believe and practice a vain religion.

10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. 11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

One day, God will surely come in Christ for the second time. And He will set up a great kingdom which will restore waste places and make them beautiful.

But today, the majority of God's chosen people - the Hebrews - still "prepare a table for that troop." That means they are still worshipping a god of luck and a god of destiny (verse 11).

When Christ does come the second time, He will bring shame to those who have not willingly surrendered to Him because of His cross and resurrection (verse 12).

13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: 16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

It is the "servants" of God who will be blessed. Those who have surrendered to Christ are called "servants" of THE SERVANT!

Those who choose to serve Christ shall have "joy of heart," but those who refuse to surrender to Him shall have "vexation of spirit" (verse 14).

If a person would truly bless himself in the earth today, he must surrender to the "God of truth." And Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life...." ((John 14:6)).

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

I believe these verses are prophetic of the millenial kingdom which Christ will rule on this earth. The earth shall certainly be made "new" in that it will be under a rule of perfect righteousness!

There will be great JOY in the earth in the millenium (verse 18) because there will be no more "weeping" (verse 19).

There'll be no more war, and places built will not be TAKEN by someone else (verses 21-22).

All work will be sweet and productive (verse 23).

God's PRESENCE will be known as never before, prayers will be answered IMMEDIATELY (verse 24).

And there will be PEACE such as the world has never known and it will even affect the animal kingdom (verse 25).

WHAT A GREAT DAY THAT WILL BE!!

PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.