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 116
1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Did you notice WHY the psalmist said he loved the Lord? BECAUSE - God heard the cry of sorrow. The cry of sorrow that came because of DEATH. The surety of death, and the realization of eternal hell caused the psalmist to call upon God for salvation.
1John 1:19 says, "We love HIM, because He first loved us."
God loved us enough to make us AWARE of the fact of death. God loved us enough to make us aware also that our sins demand the judgment of eternal death in a place called hell.
THEN, God loved us enough to show us salvation through confession of sin and surrender to Jesus Christ our Lord.
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
God is GRACIOUS. The BIble tells us that God is "longsuffering and patient toward us" (2Peter 3:9). God does NOT want us to die and face hell! He DESIRES that we be saved! God is also MERCIFUL. And His grace and mercy is such that He notifies us of our problem and tells us of His plan to save us.
The "rest" (verse 7) that sinners might have is the realization that God has forgiven our sins and will bring us through death to His eternal glory (verse 8). That's why Jesus said,
All we need do is repent from sin and determine to "walk before the LORD" in this life (verse 9). Then He will GUARANTEE us eternal glory with Him!
10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
The psalmist reminds us that believing what God says about all men being sinners causes great affliction in our souls. That's because when we realize that we truly have sinned against God, then it brings pain to our hearts.
Everyone of us human beings are "liars" (verrse 11), and NONE of us have anything that is sufficient to PAY God for our salvation.
Therefore, the only choice we have is to SURRENDER (verse 13), and beg God's forgiveness.
Then we are to "pay" our vows (verse 14) to God. That is to CONFESS our sins and SURRENDER to Him publicly (verse 14).
And God is FAITHFUL. Those who have followed His simple plan of salvation are PRECIOUS (verse 15) in His sight. And upon the moment of death they are brought to be with Him!
16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
19 In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
God has "loosed" us from the slavery of sin (verse 16). Therefore we become servants to Him forever.
And our service is such that we give God "thanksgiving" continually and publicly.
It is our confession of God's goodness to us in salvation that becomes a testimony to others. When stated in the "congregation" (church), that testimony is encouragement to others.
CHAPTER 117
1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
This call for PRAISE to the LORD is for ALL NATIONS! Therefore, this song was sung in acknowledgement that God's salvation was not only for the Jew, but for ALL people!
God's mercy has been great toward the Jewish people. He promised Abraham his seed would ENDURE throughout all generations of the earth. Even though many were unbelievers and worshipped idols instead, God has been FAITHFUL to His promise and has preserved that nation to this day!
God is FAITHFUL!
The call for salvation through Jesus Christ, is to ALL nations! And God will preserve those who come to Him for ETERNITY!
INDEED!! Let us PRAISE HIM!!
CHAPTER 118
1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
Thank God! His mercy "endureth for ever!"
And all the saved should repeat often, "His mercy endureth for ever!"
The "distress" of our souls (verse 5) is that we are sinners and condemned. But when we call upon the Lord for forgiveness, He is faithful to not only forgive us but give us ETERNAL GLORY! He certainly has given us a LARGE PLACE (verse 5).
When we become saved, we are STILL sinners. But we have an "Advocate" with God through Jesus Christ (1John 2:1). He died to pay for ALL sins! PRAISE GOD! His mercy endureth for ever!!
And NOTHING can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
This verse marks the very MIDDLE of the Bible. This verse is very significant in what it says to our souls.
It is significant to know that no matter what mankind may say about death and eternity, it is "better to trust in the LORD!"
No matter how many religions there are, and no matter how many educated people may propose other means of salvation, there is only ONE WAY to be saved eternally. And THAT is to TRUST IN THE LORD!
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
The nations of earth still SURROUND saved people today. They sting like bees with ridicule for the simplicity of salvation. They sting daily with persecution for faith in Jesus Christ.
But those who refuse to believe in Jesus and trust Him as Lord and Savior shall be "quenched in the fire of thorns."
14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
No matter how many people may say otherwise, the saved trust in the Lord for salvation. He is their "strength and song" (verse 14).
In the church of Jesus Christ the singing and rejoicing of God's salvation is found daily (verse 15). God's POWER is known to the saved.
His POWER is to give ETERNAL salvation to those who surrender to Him (verse 17). Even if death shall come to His saints, He will call, and their dead bodies shall be raised and changed! They shall be brought together at the last day to be ETERNAL with God in glory!
18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
My Lord may "chasten" me, but it is because He loves me. As a Loving Father, He corrects my wrong behavior and guides me in the "paths of righteousness for His Name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).
The saved must determine to come to God through the ONLY gate of righteousness -- that is JESUS CHRIST!
The saved must determine to PRAISE Him, and He will become their "salvation" (verse 21).
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Jesus quoted this passage of Scripture to the chief priests and elders of the Jewish religion when He was teaching in the temple and they reproached Him (Matthew 21:42).
The cornerstone of a building is very important. The cornerstone of the building of eternal salvation is of utmost importance. JESUS CHRIST is that cornerstone!
The educated doctorates of Jesus's day believed that the Messiah would come down from heaven and with mighty power establish a kingdom on earth. They didn't realize that Messiah would FIRST come to pay for sin; the sinless dying for the sinful, the holy dying for the unholy.
THAT is the "LORD's doing;" and it is a "marvelous" work in the eyes of mankind!
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Today is a SPECIAL day. God has given me this day. I am not promised any OTHER day!
Therefore, while I have THIS day, I will PRAISE THE LORD!
The LORD is He Who came in the NAME of the LORD and established the payment for my sins (verse 26). He came in righteousness, lived in righteousness, and died because of righteousness (see Philippians 2:5-11). He is the LORD OF SALVATION!
He has shown the LIGHT of salvation to all men (verse 27) through Jesus Christ!
Let us praise and thank God for His mercy which "endureth for ever!" Please continue in Bible Study with us.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
This is a simple plan for simple people! (verse 6)
"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7)
Ain't God GOOD?