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
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 81
1 To the chief Musician upon Git'-tith, A Psalm of A'-saph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
Singing has long been recognized as a type of personal therapy. Singing to God, especially of His gracious salvation, particularly encourages the soul.
I remember when I was singing with the MillionHeirs Quartet, we had been invited to sing at an open-air revival. The church was out in the country. They had built a small stage and surrounded it with posts which held large lights.
The first song we were to sing was "Just A Little Talk With Jesus." We sang the first first together in harmony, then I began the bass lead. "Now let us have a little talk with Jesus.." WHOOPS!! As I took a quick breath, I had swallowed a BUG!
As we continued to sing that night, we probably swallowed a BUNCH of bugs! But the joy of the Lord was in the music! It was a great night of revival!
Singing about our Lord and His wonderful salvation should be a JOYOUS thing in our lives. We were enslaved to sin (verse 5), and speaking the language of lostness that we didn't even understand. But then Jesus came to our hearts and taught us of forgiveness, mercy, grace, eternal salvation! PRAISE GOD!
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. 7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah. 8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
The greatest and most powerful testimony in the world is that of how we are saved. God "removed our shoulder from the burden!!" (verse 6) We were in "trouble" with sin and the conseqences of eternal death (verse 7). But God came in the Person of Jesus Christ and paid the price of our atonement and purchased our souls out of the marketplace of sin with His OWN BLOOD!
Surely we should listen to God as He tells us not to worship anything more than Him (verses 9-10). Just as a mother bird feeds her young, God will "fill" us with all we need. One thing we must remember, the young new-born chicks are EXPECTING food from their mother bird, and they have their mouths open "wide." If we will talk to God in prayer, listen to Him through Bible study, and sing our praises to Him daily, He will provide all our needs.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
However, we have a problem as human beings. When a person gets saved, he is joyous and exuberant. But it seems that after awhile, he begins to listen to himself and the world more than to God. Prayer becomes intermittent, and Bible study is reserved for Sunday. The communication line with God is severely hampered by neglect.
Therefore, God will leave the Christian to his/her "own hearts' lust," and they usually get in trouble. But God is constantly watching and desiring to forgive and make our fellowship with Him new again.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)
13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Living the life of the Christian in power requires us to keep our communication and fellowship with God fresh!
If we do this, look at the promises God gives:
CHAPTER 82
1 A Song or Psalm of A'-saph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
To "judge" means to determine an outcome, or to deliver from a situation.
God "judges" all judges. It is God Who sits in the eternal throne of holiness and determines the outcome of all men and/or delivers men from the circumstances of sin.
God will never "accept the persons of the wicked", but men DO!
All men should realize that the manner in which WE judge shall be judged by the Holy Omniscient God.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
We should "defend" the poor and help the "needy." This is what God has judged that we should judge.
However, (verse 5) men do not do as God has determined they should. Therefore, "all the foundations of the earth are out of course." The foundations of the earth refer to moral principles. It is because men are constantly sinful instead of righteous that our world is in the mess it's in.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
The word "gods" is translated from the Hebrew 'elohiym. This word is used to denote God Himself (see Genesis 1:1 for instance).
But the word is also used to refer to angels or men who are "children of the most High." Men have been given, by our Creator God, the knowledge of right and wrong and the free will to choose between the two. Jesus made reference to this in John 10:34.
"Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
We are all "sons of God" in a physical sense. But we are not all sons of God in a spiritual sense. And ALL sons of God in the physical sense have misused the knowledge of right and wrong and our free will to choose between the two.
And all "men" shall die because of sin (verse 7). This is God's judgment.
Though we are "sons of God" (verse 6), Jesus is "THE Son of God." He is the ONLY One Who has arisen to use the knowledge of right and wrong and free will to choose righteously.
Therefore, it is Jesus Who will "inherit all nations." It will be Jesus Christ, THE Son of God Who will "judge" all mankind! He is God incarnate (verse 8), and shall determine the outcome of all men, and deliver those genuinely repentant from the just decree of eternal death.
There is a story which illustrates this point. An alcoholic had been caught shoplifting a pint of whiskey to "feed his habit." He came before the judge, whom he did not recognize. But the judge recognized the alcoholic as a former class-mate in high school.
The judge asked why the man had stolen the pint of whiskey. He responded, "Sir, I cannot help myself. I have allowed my desires to overcome good judgment."
The judge asked, "If someone were to help you to change your desires, would you be willing to change?"
The man said, "Yes, your honor, I'd be willing; and would try with all my might to be delivered from this evil desire."
At that point, the judge pronounced the man guilty. Then, the judge stood, disrobed, and stepped down to pay the man's fine. Then, the judge took the man home with him and helped him to learn self-discipline which would overcome his desires.
This is what Christ has done for us. THE Son of God has "stepped down" from the judgment throne and paid the price of our sin for us. And if we are willing to surrender to Him, and learn His ways, then He will take us home with Him forever.
What a GREAT GOD we have!!
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