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
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.
PSALM
CHAPTER 11
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
In the LORD put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
Christians really need to read this song, especially in America today.
But what would happen to society if the "foundations" (verse 2) were destroyed? How can Christians sit in their easy chairs and allow society to go continually downhill without voicing a concern for morality?
We must not, indeed we cannot if we are truly born again, sit idly by and not speak out for that which is right.
After all, God is WATCHING!
4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
God is indeed watching and He has said that the "wicked" shall inherit the burning pit for an eternity (verse 6). He has also said that it is the duty of His people to speak to them and try and bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
But since a Christian is constantly under the watchful eye and guided by the helpful hand of God (verse 7), he will "come forth as gold" (Job 23:10).
Christians are "washed in the blood" and "sealed in the Spirit" of Almighty God. God is watching over them each day. Therefore, the truly saved, CANNOT sit by idly while morality is destroyed. They WILL BE speaking out against it.
CHAPTER 12
1 To the chief Musician upon Shem'-i-nith, A Psalm of David.
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
See the continuity of the Bible. One revelation leads to another. As Isaiah said, God instructs us "..precept upon precept;line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:10).
The true character of the truly saved is tested everyday against the background of immorality in the world. And many are those who fall by the wayside, having not the strength and character necessary to fight the battle!
It seems that more and more "wicked" are in place, and fewer and fewer genuine Christians are in place.
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Those who believe there is no God Who will ultimately judge mankind are constantly saying, "Do your OWN thing! It's ok!"
They allow no imposition of morality because they don't believe there is a "LORD over" them (verse 4).
5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
But God IS watching! He, at times, does impose His mighty power upon the earth to STOP immorality, particularly when the poor are oppressed. (verse 5)
The Bible has NEVER been proven untrue in ANY way (verse 6). God's "words" are truly righteous ALL the time!
CHAPTER 13
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
At times, the Christian feels that we are surrounded by evil TOO LONG! Sometimes it seems that God's deliverance from evil is beyond our ability to cope. Therefore, David cries out, "HOW LONG?"
But immediately, the Spirit of God inside him, answers with PRAISE!
God is watching over us. He is MERCIFUL toward us (verse 5).
With every temptation in this earth, God shows the truly saved a way around it. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
David's questions why someone would tempt him to run away and hide just because the "wicked" are attempting to destroy him. Indeed there are those who would try and destroy professors of righteousness today. When we say abortion is murder we are called LIARS. When we homosexualism is wrong we are called INTOLERANT. When we say gambling is wrong we are called IGNORANT.
"When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
(Ezekiel 33:8-9)
God also "trieth" (verse 5) the righteous. He is tempering His saved people on earth and making them strong. Believers are faced with the unrighteous whims of men each day. As the blacksmith heats the iron, then dips it in the water to make it stronger, God "trieth" His people against the fires of immorality.
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" (2Peter 2:9)
Even though there are those who promote immorality "on every side" (verse 8), the truly saved God will "preserve" (verse 7).
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Corinthains 10:13)
WHAT A GREAT GOD WE SERVE!