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
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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 87
1 A Psalm or Song for the sons of Ko'-rah.
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Indeed! God Himself chose the city of Zion (Jerusalem) above all the cities of the earth for His special habitation. Often the word "Zion" is used to refer to the central worship place of all Israel. Symbolically, I believe, it refers to the heart. Zion became the "heart" of Israel, and God promised His presence there. When our "heart" becomes the place where we worship God, He takes up residence there.
3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
"Glorious things are spoken" of Zion! God Himself lives there to guide His people. When the people of Israel live by their "heart" (Faith) and not by sight, God is there to give them His closeness, wisdom and guidance.
When Israel became the dominant nation, all the peoples of the world knew that the LORD GOD ruled Israel.
Being "born again" means that our hearts are given over to God, and He becomes the KING of who we are! If you are "born again" there, then you're eternity is "established" by the Lord Himself! When you are truly "born again," God writes a RECORD of your new birth! And all the people around you will KNOW that God rules in your heart!
6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
When God establishes His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years, all those who have been "born again" will have a part in that kingdom. Further, when God judges all men at the final judgment day, it will be WRITTEN DOWN that those who have been "born again" are citizens of His eternal heaven!
There will be GREAT JOY in heaven! The "singers" and the "players on instruments" will be there to praise God. What a GREAT JOY we'll have!
CHAPTER 88
1 A Song or Psalm for the sons of Ko'-rah, to the chief Musician upon Ma'-ha-lath Le-an'-noth, Mas'-chil of He'-man the Ez'-ra-hite.
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
This is called a song of lament. The writer is obviously in deep despair.
Yet the song begins with an affirmation of salvation (vs 1), and a sureness of the prayer being HEARD (vs 2).
Life does become desparaging at times. When we feel that we have reached the end of our rope, so to speak, we should tie a knot of faith, and HANG ONTO GOD!
8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
I have never reached a point in my life when it seemed that no friends were there to help. I can only PRAISE GOD for that!! But I do know some people who have experienced that total despair.
There is some great advice here in this song for anyone who comes to such a point in their lives. CALL "daily" upon God (vs 9). REACH OUT to Him. For He PROMISES:
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
When we are facing death, we are assured by the Word of God that He indeed will "show wonders to the dead." (vs 10)
13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
Verse 13 shows us where our FOCUS must be in this life. No matter how much despair we face, our FOCUS should be on the LORD, GOD!
When we feel forsaken;
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW!
"for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5b)
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3)
"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Proverbs 8:17)
"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." (Ecclesiates 12:6-7)
God will make HIS "righteousness" known "in the land of forgetfulness." When we come to the place called heaven, all memories of the sad and bad things will fade away in the glory of His majesty and beauty!
When we face death;
When we feel the wrath of God;
When friends no longer provide a crutch for our weakened physical and emotional state:
CALL UPON THE LORD!!