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 120
1 A Song of degrees.
In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
The psalmist was in "distress" because of "lying lips," and a "deceitful tongue." We live in a world full of such. It is our desire, when saved, to be "delivered" from this world of sin. And it is our desire to be saved now from those who would harm us with lies and deceipt.
3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
The just judgment of God upon unbelievers who practice lies and deceipt is pain from "sharp arrows" of God, and burning from fire. The "juniper" bush burns quickly and produces a fire that is very hot.
5 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
The terms "Mesech" and "Kedar" represent unsaved people who are constantly warring against God's saved people. The psalmists concern in verses 1 and 2 about those who practice lies and deceipt is because he is SURROUNDED by them.
The soul of the saved longs for "peace," but those who are without God are constantly bothersome.
The saved long to live in peace for the Spirit of God calls upon us to do so. But the constant agitation of lying and deceitfulness causes the saved soul to cry out to God in prayer and beg deliverance.
God answers that prayer in two ways.
First, God gives IMMEDIATE relief by His own personal presence in the life of the believer. Jesus said, "...my peace I give unto you....Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) Thus the believer is filled with "...the peace that passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) by the presence of Christ in his life.
Second, God gives ETERNAL relief by bringing us to the "land of peace" forever.
PSALM 121
1 A Song of degrees.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Saved people are not exempt from facing trouble and difficulties in this life. When we do, we should look to GOD for help! He is the Creator of all there is. And He is the ONLY ONE Who can deliver us from the troubles of this life.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
When Elijah was on Mt. Carmel, he chided the priests of Baal saying that maybe their god was sleeping, and perhaps that's why he wasn't answering them.
But our God NEVER sleeps. He is CONSTANTLY alert and watching over His people. We can call upon Him day and night.
God will not allow His people to be overcome with evil. In fact He tells us to "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
God will one day vanquish all evil, and preserve His people forever. He will "preserve" the souls of those who trust in Him.
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Even today God is in the preservation business for His people. God helps us to endure affliction and difficulty. God PRESERVES His children THROUGH trouble today.
CHAPTER 122
1 A Song of degrees of David.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
David says he was "glad" when someone said "Let's go to church!" All believers should be GLAD to go to church!
The church is where the believer is free to praise God with others who do the same. The church is where the believer learns more about God through study of the Word with others. The church is the place where believers encourage one another. EVERY believer should WANT to go to church!
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Verse 2 represents a DECISION on the part of the believer. He "shall stand" in the place that God has appointed for believers to gather and praise Him.
Verses 3-5 teach us that many different kinds of people are gathered into this one place. They are diverse in personality traits, but they have a "common ground" upon which to meet. They meet at the foot of the cross, and in thanksgiving to God for salvation. ALL the people who believe meet there.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.
9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.
It is our duty as believers to pray for one another. And one of our prayers should be that there be PEACE in JERUSALEM.
The Jerusalem of David's day was the place where people met at the "house of God." Though they had smaller "synagogues" in their communities, it was here they were commanded to appear and give tithes and worship to God.
The Jerusalem of David's day is symbolic of the church today. It is where we meet to praise God, learn of God, and pray for one another.
One of the prayers of believers today should be for peace IN the church and for the peace OF the church. It is very difficult indeed for a church to deliver peace to the world when there is not peace within the church itself. Usually when people go to bickering and fighting among themselves in church, evangelism is forgotten.
Because it is the "house of the LORD our God" we should pray for peace upon, in and from the people of God.
Go to church. Pray for peace.
Please continue in Bible Study with us.
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
One day, God will make us "perfect" and place us in a place filled with "peace."