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.

Psalm

CHAPTER 83

1 A Song or Psalm of A'-saph Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

Those whom the psalmist describes as being against Israel are the Arab nations; descendents of Abraham through Ishmael, and descendents of Isaac.

Today, in 2003 (in the war on terrorism, and particularly Iraq), we are seeing how this could have been in the days of the kingdom of Israel. The Arab countries are loosely knit, but quite cooperative toward one another in warfare against Jews and Christians.

Satan and his demons also use "crafty counsel" against Christians today. His desire is to "devour" and make the church obsolete (see 1Peter 5:8).

The psalmist cries out to God, because only God can hold the forces of the world and the demons at bay in order that the church of Jesus Christ may continue.

9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

In Judges 4 & 5, Sisera was destroyed by Deborah and Barak. God gave them delivery from the opposing forces.

And in Judges 7, Gideon and his forces (chosen by the Lord) defeated the Midianites.

God can destroy their leaders like He did with Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna.
God can make the opposing forces "roll away" as a wheel (verse 13) and as "stubble before the wind."
God can cause the opposing forces of His people to have FEAR (verse 15).

15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Only God knows how to "persecute" the opposing forces of His people. Sometimes He DOES use His people in that work.

But only God can make them feel "shame" because no man can convince them of sin.

Only God knows how to bring confusion and fear to those opposing forces. And only He can destroy them.

But in doing any or all of those things, God will bring glory to HIMSELF. He will assure that His Name is honored, and that all mankind will know that He is the ONLY Living and Eternal Creator and Judge.

God has always SHOWN His people what to do about those opposing forces. Sometimes, God does indeed use us to physically fight against them because they are very destructive to humanity.

However, God has instructed Christians today in spiritual warfare. Our duty is to proclaim Christ as the Only Living Son of God Who died for the sins of man. When we exalt His Name, fear and shame come to those who oppose Him.

PSALM 84
1 To the chief Musician upon Git'-tith, A Psalm for the sons of Ko'rah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

It is a great privilege and joy to be in God's House with His people! When we are away from it, we should have a tremendous desire to return.

Today, there are thousands of churches who have a "resident" membership roll of hundreds, but have only 30% to 40% in attendance each Sunday. I have often asked myself, "If they are truly saved, how can they live with the DESIRE to be in church, and yet not be there?"

I think the answer to the above question is a lack of spiritual education. For some reason, Christians who constantly miss church attendance, interpret that unsatisfied desire in their soul as worldly rather than Godly. They don't become involved in the work of the Lord through the church because they are too involved in worldly affairs. And they are too involved in worldly affairs because they are UNeducated as to their spiritual life.

Most Christians who are constantly missing church have done very little Bible study. As a result, they have not given God the material with which to properly communicate with them. In order for God to teach and admonish us, we must place the Word of God in our hearts.

It is true that Christians in church today need to know how to witness to the lost people of the world. They need to learn how to take the Bible and show them how to be saved.

But it is equally true that Christians in church today need to learn how to witness to the "saved lost."!! They need to learn how to take the Bible and show the absentee membership what God desires from their life. Only by use of the Word of God can the Spirit of God convict and convince!

3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. 4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

When sparrows (and wasps) find a "nest" in our own houses, we are very quick to get rid of them. It is a SHAME to God's people for the church to go unkept!

Christians should be very diligent about praising God in His house at appropriate times.

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

The strength of God is in the "ways of them." "Them" refers to the people who are diligently praising God in the house of God at appropriate times. Strength to live righteous and holy lives is not found outside of God's people! Remember the banana: when it left the bunch, it got SKINNED!

But God's people who are diligently attending, praising, and learning are STRONG. They make a "well" of good water even in the valleys of "Baca" (trouble). They become stronger and stronger as they continually attend, learn, grow and praise God.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. 9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

The psalmist is crying out to God and requesting that God would make nonattenders realize that ONE day in God's house is better than a "thousand" away from God's house!

There are many positions and offices assigned to the church. Perhaps "doorkeeper" is thought of as a lowly job, but it actually is very important. Someone needs to be at the door to welcome visitors and assist them in finding a place in Sunday School, or a place to sit during worship.

The psalmist would rather have no other position in the church than a "doorkeeper" as long as it means he will not be away from God's people and living in "tents of wickedness."

OH! How we should DESIRE being in God's house at the appropriate times and giving PRAISE to Him!

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Notice those words "sun" and "shield." God is light and protection to those who are continually in His service and ministry.

Be careful to note that the "good things" of the world are not necessarily physical. The truly good things of the world are spiritual. It is better to be instrumental in someone being saved than to have many possessions. It is better to be instrumental in someone being renewed in their faith than to have the world's fame and glory. It is better to hold the hand of someone who is hurting than to have all the positions of society.

The person who has these "good things" is the person who "trusteth" in the Lord God and surrenders his life to being what God wants. He is in God's "light" and under God's "protection."

How about it? Are you planning your life around God, or planning God around your life? WHO are you praising?
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.
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