M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab
22 There was(A) a lull of three years(B) without war between Aram and Israel. 2 However, in the third year, Jehoshaphat(C) king of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.(D) 3 The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gilead(E) is ours, but we have failed to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?” 4 So(F) he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?”(G)
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(H) 5 But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”(I)
6 So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men,(J) and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?”
They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”(K)
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore?(L) Let’s ask him.”
8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him(M) because he never prophesies good about me,(N) but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king shouldn’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
9 So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah!”
10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah,(O) clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor(P) at the entrance to Samaria’s gate, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 Then Zedekiah(Q) son of Chenaanah made iron horns(R) and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’” 12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same: “March up to Ramoth-gilead(S) and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”
Micaiah’s Message of Defeat
13 The messenger(T) who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives,(U) I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”(V)
15 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain?”
Micaiah told him, “March up and succeed. Yahweh will hand it over to the king.”
16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh?”
17 So Micaiah said:
I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.(W)
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let everyone return home in peace.”(X)
18 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”
19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne,(Y) and the whole heavenly host(Z) was standing by Him at His right hand and at His left hand. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’(AA) So one was saying this and another was saying that.
21 “Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
22 “The Lord asked him, ‘How?’
“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit(AB) in the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then He said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail.(AC) Go and do that.’
23 “You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”
24 Then Zedekiah(AD) son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Did[a] the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?”(AE)
25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.”(AF)
26 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,(AG) 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison(AH) and feed him only bread and water[b] until I come back safely.’”
28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.”(AI) Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”[c](AJ)
Ahab’s Death
29 Then(AK) the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.(AL) 30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise(AM) myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.(AN)
31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his 32 chariot commanders,(AO) “Do not fight with anyone at all except the king of Israel.”(AP)
32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
34 But a man drew his bow(AQ) without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,[d] for I am badly wounded!”(AR) 35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,(AS) and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 Then the cry rang out in the army as the sun set, declaring:
Each man to his own city,
and each man to his own land!(AT)
37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.(AU) 38 Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of the Lord that He had spoken.(AV)
39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palace(AW) he built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(AX) 40 Ahab rested with his fathers,(AY) and his son Ahaziah(AZ) became king in his place.
Judah’s King Jehoshaphat
41 Jehoshaphat(BA) son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel’s King Ahab. 42 Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king; he reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the ways of his father Asa;(BB) he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the Lord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away;[e] the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.(BC) 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.(BD)
45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(BE) 46 He removed from the land the rest of the male cult prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.(BF) 47 There was no king in Edom;(BG) a deputy served as king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish(BH) to go to Ophir(BI) for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.(BJ) 49 At that time, Ahaziah(BK) son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David.(BL) His son Jehoram(BM) became king in his place.
Israel’s King Ahaziah
51 Ahaziah(BN) son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria(BO) in the seventeenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat(BP) and reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.(BQ) He walked in the way of his father,(BR) in the way of his mother,(BS) and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.(BT) 53 He served Baal and worshiped him.(BU) He provoked the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.(BV)
The Day of the Lord
5 About the times and the seasons:(A) Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord(B) will come just like a thief(C) in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction(D) comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.(E) 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.(F) 6 So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, we must be serious(G) and put the armor(H) of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet(I) of the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord(J) Jesus Christ,(K) 10 who died for us,(L) so that whether we are awake or asleep,(M) we will live together with Him.(N) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
Exhortations and Blessings
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition(O) to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace(P) among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers:(Q) warn those who are irresponsible,[a] comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient(R) with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil(S) to anyone,(T) but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.(U)
16 Rejoice(V) always!
17 Pray constantly.
18 Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will(W) for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Don’t stifle the Spirit.
20 Don’t despise prophecies,
21 but test all things.(X)
Hold on to what is good.
22 Stay away(Y) from every kind of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace(Z) Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit,(AA) soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming(AB) of our Lord(AC) Jesus Christ.(AD) 24 He who calls(AE) you(AF) is faithful, who also will do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us also. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.(AG) 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation
4 [a]King Nebuchadnezzar,
To those of every people, nation, and language, who live in all the earth:(A)
May your prosperity increase.(B) 2 I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders(C) the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are His miracles,
and how mighty His wonders!(D)
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom,(E)
and His dominion is from generation to generation.
The Dream
4 [b]I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.(F) 5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.(G) 6 So I issued a decree(H) to bring all the wise men of Babylon to me in order that they might make the dream’s interpretation known to me.(I) 7 When the diviner-priests, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.(J)
8 Finally Daniel, named Belteshazzar(K) after the name of my god—and the spirit of the holy gods is in him(L)—came before me. I told him the dream: 9 “Belteshazzar, head of the diviners, because I know that you have a spirit of the holy gods(M) and that no mystery puzzles you,(N) explain to me the visions of my dream that I saw, and its interpretation. 10 In the visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this:
There was a tree in the middle of the earth,
and its height was great.
11 The tree grew large and strong;
its top reached to the sky,
and it was visible to the ends of the[c] earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant,
and on it was food for all.
Wild animals found shelter under it,
the birds of the air(O) lived in its branches,
and every creature was fed from it.(P)
13 “As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind an observer, a holy one,[d](Q) coming down from heaven. 14 He called out loudly:
Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the animals flee from under it,
and the birds from its branches.(R)
15 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,(S)
and with a band of iron and bronze around it,
in the tender grass of the field.
Let him be drenched with dew from the sky
and share the plants of the earth(T)
with the animals.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man,
and let him be given the mind of an animal
for seven periods of time.[e][f](U)
17 This word is by decree of the observers;
the matter is a command from the holy ones.
This is so the living will know
that the Most High is ruler
over the kingdom of men.
He gives it to anyone He wants
and sets the lowliest of men over it.(V)
18 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can make the interpretation known to me.(W) But you can, because you have the spirit of the holy gods.”
The Dream Interpreted
19 Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was stunned for a moment, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!(X) 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant—and on it was food for all, under it the wild animals lived, and in its branches the birds of the air lived— 22 that tree is you, the king. For you have become great and strong: your greatness has grown and even reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.(Y)
23 “The king saw an observer, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground and with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with dew from the sky, and share food with the wild animals for seven periods of time.’ 24 This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the sentence of the Most High that has been passed against my lord the king:(Z) 25 You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle(AA) and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wants.(AB) 26 As for the command to leave the tree’s stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored[g] to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven[h] rules.(AC) 27 Therefore, may my advice seem good to you my king. Separate yourself from your sins by doing what is right,(AD) and from your injustices by showing mercy to the needy.(AE) Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”(AF)
The Sentence Executed
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.(AG) 29 At the end of 12 months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built by my vast power to be a royal residence and to display my majestic glory?”(AH)
31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared that the kingdom has departed from you.(AI) 32 You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals, and you will feed on grass like cattle for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and He gives it to anyone He wants.”
33 At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was executed. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.(AJ)
Nebuchadnezzar’s Praise
34 But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified Him who lives forever:(AK)
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom is from generation to generation.(AL)
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing,
and He does what He wants(AM) with the army of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth.
There is no one who can hold back His hand
or say to Him, “What have You done?”(AN)
36 At that time my sanity returned to me, and my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and my nobles sought me out, I was reestablished over my kingdom, and even more greatness came to me.(AO) 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just.(AP) He is able to humble(AQ) those who walk in pride.(AR)
Psalm 108
A Plea for Victory
A song. A Davidic psalm.
1 My heart is confident, God;[a]
I will sing; I will sing praises
with the whole of my being.[b](A)
2 Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.(B)
3 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.(C)
4 For Your faithful love is higher than the heavens,
and Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.(D)
5 God, be exalted above the heavens,(E)
and let Your glory be over the whole earth.(F)
6 Save with Your right hand and answer me
so that those You love may be rescued.(G)
7 God has spoken in His sanctuary:[c]
“I will triumph!
I will divide up Shechem.(H)
I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.(I)
8 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine,
and Ephraim is My helmet;(J)
Judah is My scepter.(K)
9 Moab is My washbasin;(L)
I throw My sandal on Edom.(M)
I shout in triumph over Philistia.”(N)
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?(O)
11 God, haven’t You rejected us?
God, You do not march out with our armies.(P)
12 Give us aid against the foe,
for human help is worthless.(Q)
13 With God we will perform valiantly;(R)
He will trample our foes.(S)
Psalm 109
Prayer against an Enemy
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
1 God of my praise, do not be silent.(T)
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me;
they speak against me with lying tongues.(U)
3 They surround me with hateful words
and attack me without cause.(V)
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
but I continue to pray.[d](W)
5 They repay me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.(X)
6 Set a wicked person over him;
let an accuser[e] stand at his right hand.(Y)
7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
and let his prayer be counted as sin.(Z)
8 Let his days be few;
let another take over his position.(AA)
9 Let his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.(AB)
10 Let his children wander as beggars,
searching for food far[f] from their demolished homes.(AC)
11 Let a creditor seize all he has;
let strangers plunder what he has worked for.(AD)
12 Let no one show him kindness,
and let no one be gracious to his fatherless children.(AE)
13 Let the line of his descendants be cut off;
let their name be blotted out in the next generation.(AF)
14 Let his ancestors’ guilt
be remembered before the Lord,(AG)
and do not let his mother’s sin be blotted out.(AH)
15 Let their sins[g] always remain before the Lord,
and let Him erase[h] all memory of them from the earth.(AI)
16 For he did not think to show kindness,
but pursued the afflicted, poor, and brokenhearted
in order to put them to death.(AJ)
17 He loved cursing—let it fall on him;
he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.(AK)
18 He wore cursing like his coat—
let it enter his body like water
and go into his bones like oil.(AL)
19 Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself,
like a belt he always wears.(AM)
20 Let this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil against me.(AN)
21 But You, Yahweh my Lord,
deal kindly with me because of Your name;(AO)
deliver me because of the goodness of Your faithful love.(AP)
22 For I am afflicted and needy;(AQ)
my heart is wounded within me.(AR)
23 I fade away like a lengthening shadow;(AS)
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting,
and my body is emaciated.[i](AT)
25 I have become an object of ridicule to my accusers;[j]
when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.(AU)
26 Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to Your faithful love(AV)
27 so they may know that this is Your hand
and that You, Lord, have done it.(AW)
28 Though they curse, You will bless.
When they rise up, they will be put to shame,
but Your servant will rejoice.(AX)
29 My accusers will be clothed with disgrace;
they will wear their shame like a cloak.(AY)
30 I will fervently thank the Lord with my mouth;
I will praise Him in the presence of many.(AZ)
31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy
to save him from those who would condemn him.(BA)
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