M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

The Floating Ax Head

6 The sons of the prophets^(A) said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision^[a] is too small for us. ² Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”

“Go,” he said.

³ Then one said, “Please come with your servants.”

“I’ll come,” he answered.

⁴ So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. ⁵ As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Oh, my master, it was borrowed!”^(B)

⁶ Then the man of God^(C) asked, “Where did it fall?”

When he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.^{(D) 7} Then he said, “Pick it up.” So he reached out and took it.

The Aramean War

⁸ When the king of Aram^(E) was waging war against Israel, he conferred with his servants, “My camp will be at such and such a place.”

⁹ But the man of God^(F) sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” ¹⁰ Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly^[b] warned the king, so the king would be on his guard.

¹¹ The king of Aram was enraged because of this matter, and he called his servants and demanded of them, “Tell me, which one of us is for the king of Israel?”

¹² One of his servants said, “No one, my lord the king. Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³ So the king said, “Go and see where he is, so I can send men to capture him.”

When he was told, “Elisha is in Dothan,”^{(G) 14} he sent horses, chariots, and a massive army there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up early and went out, he discovered an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?”

¹⁶ Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid,^(H) for those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”^(I)

¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. He looked and saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire^(J) all around Elisha.

¹⁸ When the Arameans came against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Please strike this nation with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness,^(K) according to Elisha’s word. ¹⁹ Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you’re looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.^{(L) 20} When they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “Lord, open these men’s eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes. They looked and discovered they were in Samaria.

²¹ When the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father,^(M) should I kill them? I will kill them.”

²² Elisha replied, “Don’t kill them. Do you kill those you have captured with your sword or your bow? Set food and water in front of them so they can eat and drink and go to their master.”^(N)

²³ So he prepared a great feast for them. When they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The Aramean raiders^(O) did not come into Israel’s land again.

²⁴ Some time later, King Ben-hadad^(P) of Aram brought all his military units together and marched up to besiege Samaria. ²⁵ So there was a great famine^(Q) in Samaria, and they continued the siege against it until a donkey’s head sold for 80 silver shekels,^[c] and a cup^[d] of dove’s dung^[e] sold for five silver shekels.^[f](R)

²⁶ As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “My lord the king, help!”

²⁷ He answered, “If the Lord doesn’t help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor or the winepress?”^{(S) 28} Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?”^(T)

She said, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.’ ²⁹ So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her the next day, ‘Give up your son, and we will eat him,’^(U) but she has hidden her son.”

³⁰ When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his clothes.^(V) Then, as he was passing by on the wall, the people saw that there was sackcloth^(W) under his clothes next to his skin. ³¹ He announced, “May God punish me and do so severely^(X) if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.”

³² Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders^(Y) were sitting with him. The king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger got to him, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer^(Z) has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”

³³ While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger^[g] came down to him. Then he said, “This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?”^(AA)

Qualifications of Church Leaders

3 This saying is trustworthy:^[a](A) “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,^(B) he desires a noble work.” ² An overseer,^(C) therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,^(D) respectable, hospitable,^(E) an able teacher,^{[b] 3} not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy^(F)— ⁴ one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.^{(G) 7} Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s^(H) trap.

⁸ Deacons,^(I) likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith^(J) with a clear conscience.^{(K) 10} And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. ¹¹ Wives,^(L) too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled,^(M) faithful in everything. ¹² Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. ¹³ For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴ I write these things to you, hoping to come^(N) to you soon. ¹⁵ But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household,^(O) which is the church of the living God,^(P) the pillar and foundation of the truth.^{(Q) 16} And most certainly, the mystery of godliness^(R) is great:

Vision of a Glorious One

10 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,^(A) a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar.^(B) The message was true and was about a great conflict. He understood the message and had understanding of the vision.^(C)

² In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.^{(D) 3} I didn’t eat any rich food,^(E) no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I didn’t put any oil on my body until the three weeks were over. ⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[a] as I was standing on the bank of the great river,^(F) the Tigris, ⁵ I looked up, and there was a man dressed in linen,^(G) with a belt of gold^(H) from Uphaz^[b](I) around his waist. ⁶ His body was like topaz,^[c] his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches,^(J) his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.^(K)

⁷ Only I, Daniel, saw the vision.^(L) The men who were with me did not see it,^(M) but a great terror fell on them,^(N) and they ran and hid. ⁸ I was left alone, looking at this great vision.^(O) No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale,^[d](P) and I was powerless. ⁹ I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep,^[e](Q) with my face to the ground.

Angelic Conflict

¹⁰ Suddenly, a hand touched me and raised me to my hands and knees. ¹¹ He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God.^(R) Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet,^(S) for I have now been sent to you.”^(T) After he said this to me, I stood trembling.

¹² “Don’t be afraid,^(U) Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God,^(V) your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers.^{(W) 13} But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael,^(X) one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.^{(Y) 14} Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days,^(Z) for the vision refers to those days.”^(AA)

¹⁵ While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.^{(AB) 16} Suddenly one with human likeness^(AC) touched my lips.^(AD) I opened my mouth and said to the one standing in front of me, “My lord, because of the vision, anguish overwhelms me and I am powerless.^{(AE) 17} How can someone like me,^(AF) your servant,^[f] speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me.”

¹⁸ Then the one with human likeness touched me again and strengthened me.^{(AG) 19} He said, “Don’t be afraid,^(AH) you who are^[g] treasured by God.^(AI) Peace to you; be very strong!”^(AJ)

As he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”^(AK)

²⁰ He said, “Do you know why I’ve come to you? I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I leave, the prince of Greece will come.^{(AL) 21} No one has the courage to support me against them except Michael,^(AM) your prince. However, I will tell you what is recorded in the book of truth.

Psalm 119

Delight in God’s Word

א Alef

ב Bet

ג Gimel