M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Temple is Dedicated(A)
8 Then Solomon gathered together the elders of Israel, including all the heads of the tribes and the leaders of the ancestral households of the Israelis, to meet with him in Jerusalem so they could bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Zion, the City of David. 2 So all the men gathered together to meet with King Solomon at the Festival of Tents[a] in the month Ethanim, the seventh month. 3 All the Elders of Israel showed up, and the priests picked up the ark 4 and brought it, the Tent of Meeting, and all the holy implements that were in the tent. The priests and descendants of Levi carried them up to Jerusalem.[b]
5 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel that had assembled to be with him stood in front of the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they were neither counted nor inventoried. 6 After this, the priests brought the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord to the place prepared for it, into the inner sanctuary of the Temple, under the wings of the cherubim in the Most Holy Place. 7 The wings of the cherubim spread over the resting place for the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering over the ark and its poles when viewed[c] from above. 8 The poles extended so far that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. They remain there to this day. 9 The ark was empty except for the two stone tablets that Moses had placed there at Horeb when the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelis after they had come out of the land of Egypt. 10 When the priests left the Holy Place after setting the ark in place,[d] the cloud filled the Lord’s Temple 11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, since the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s Temple.
Solomon’s Speech of Dedication(B)
12 Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he lives shrouded in darkness. 13 Now I have been constructing a magnificent Temple dedicated to you that will serve as a place for you to inhabit forever.”
14 Then the king turned to face the entire congregation of Israel while the congregation of Israel remained standing. 15 Then Solomon[e] prayed:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who made a commitment[f] to my father David and then personally[g] fulfilled what he had promised when he said:[h]
16 ‘From the day I brought out my people Israel from Egypt I never chose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple where my name might reside. I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’
17 “My father David wanted to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 18 The Lord told my father David:
‘Therefore, since you determined[i] to build a temple for my name, you acted well, because it was your choice[j] to do so. 19 Nevertheless, you are not to build the Temple, but your son who will be born[k] to you is to build a temple for my name.’
20 “The Lord has brought to fulfillment[l] what he promised, and now here I stand,[m] having succeeded my father David to sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised. I have built the Temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. 21 I have placed there the ark in which the covenant is stored that the Lord made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.”
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication(C)
22 Then Solomon took his place in front of the Lord’s altar in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said:
“Lord God of Israel, there is no one like you, God in heaven above or on the earth below, who watches over[n] his covenant, showing gracious love to your servants who live their lives in your presence[o] with all their hearts. 24 It is you, Lord God,[p] who have kept your promise to my father, your servant David, that you made to him. Indeed, you made a commitment[q] to my father David and then personally fulfilled[r] what you had promised today.
25 “Now therefore, Lord God of Israel, keep your promise that you made[s] to my father, your servant David, when you said, ‘You will not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel,[t] if only your descendants will watch their lives,[u] to live[v] in my presence just as you have lived[w] in my presence.’[x]
26 “Now therefore, God of Israel, may your promise that you made[y] to your servant David my father be fulfilled… 27 and yet, will God truly reside on earth? Look! Neither the sky nor the highest heaven can contain you! How much less this Temple that I have built! 28 Pay attention to the prayer of your servant and to his request, Lord my God, and listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying in your presence today. 29 Let your eyes always look toward this Temple night and day, toward the location where you have said ‘My name will reside there.’ Listen to the prayer that your servant prays in this direction.[z] 30 Listen to the requests from your servant and from your people Israel as they pray in this direction,[aa] listen from the place where you reside in heaven, then hear and forgive.
31 “If a man should sin against his neighbor and he is required to take an oath, and he then comes to take an oath in front of your altar in this Temple, 32 then listen in heaven, act, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked by bringing back to him the consequences of his choices[ab] and by justifying the righteous by recompensing him according to his righteousness.
33 “If your people Israel are defeated in a battle with[ac] their enemy because they have sinned against you, when they return to you and confess to you,[ad] pray, and in this Temple they ask you to show grace to them, 34 then hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and return them to the soil[ae] that you gave to their ancestors.
35 “When heaven remains closed, and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and they pray in the direction of this place, confessing your name and turning from their sin when you afflict them,[af] 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel. Indeed, teach them the best way to live and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as an inheritance.
37 “If a famine comes to the land, or if plant diseases, mildew, locust, or grasshoppers[ag] appear, or if their enemies attack them in their settlements of the land, no matter what the epidemic or illness is, 38 whatever prayer or request is made, no matter whether it’s made by a single man or by all of your people Israel, each praying out of his own hurting heart and anguish and stretching out his hands toward this Temple, 39 then hear from heaven, the place where you reside, and forgive, repaying each person according to all of his ways, since you know their hearts—for you alone know the hearts of all human beings— 40 so they will fear you every day and live on the surface of the land that you have given to our ancestors.
41 “Now concerning the foreigner who is not from your people Israel, when he comes from a land far away for the sake of your name 42 (for people will hear of your great name, your mighty acts,[ah] and your obvious power[ai]), when he comes and prays facing this Temple, 43 then hear in heaven where you reside, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the people of the earth may know your name, fear you as do your people Israel, and so they may know that this Temple that I have built is called by your name.
44 “When your people go out to war against their enemies, no matter what way you send them, and they pray to the Lord in the direction of the city that you have chosen and in the direction of the Temple that I have built for your name, 45 then hear their prayer and their request in heaven, and fight for their cause.
46 “When they sin against you—because there isn’t a single human being who doesn’t sin—and you become angry with them and deliver them over to their enemy, who takes them away captive to the land that belongs to their enemy, whether near or far away, 47 if they turn their hearts back to you[aj] in the land where they have been taken captive, repent, and pray to you—even if they do so in the land of their captivity—confessing, ‘We have sinned, we have committed abominations, and practiced wickedness,’ 48 if they return to you with all of their heart and with all of their soul in the land of their enemies who have taken them captive, as they pray to you in the direction of their land that you have given to their ancestors and to the city that you have chosen, and to the Temple that I have built for your name, 49 then hear their prayer and requests in heaven, where you reside, and fight for their cause, 50 forgiving your people who have sinned against you, along with their transgressions by which they have transgressed against you.
“Show your compassion in the presence of those who have taken them captive, so they may show compassion on them, 51 since they are your people and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from an iron fire furnace. 52 Do this[ak] so your eyes may remain open to the requests of your servant and to the requests of your people’s prayers, to listen to them whenever they call out to you, 53 because you have separated them to yourself as your heritage from all the people of the earth, as you spoke through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, Lord God.
Solomon’s Blessing to the Assembly(D)
54 When Solomon had completed saying this entire prayer to the Lord, he got up from kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven in the presence of the Lord’s altar, 55 stood up, and blessed all of the assembly of Israel in a loud voice. He said:
56 “Blessed is the Lord, who has given security to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one of his promises has failed to come about that he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us, just as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us, 58 so that he may turn our hearts toward him, so that we may live life[al] his way, keeping his commands, statutes, and ordinances that he gave to our ancestors. 59 And may what I’ve had to say to the Lord remain with the Lord our God both day and night, so that he may defend the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as the need of the day may require it, 60 so that, in turn,[am] all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God—there is no one else. 61 Now let your heart be completely devoted to the Lord our God, to live according to his statutes and to keep his commands, as we are doing today.”
Solomon’s Initial Offerings(E)
62 Then the king and all of Israel with him offered sacrifices to the Lord. 63 Solomon offered peace offerings to the Lord consisting of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the Israelis dedicated the Lord’s Temple. 64 That same day, the king consecrated the middle court that stood in front of the Lord’s Temple, because that was where he offered burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offerings and because the bronze altar that was in the Lord’s presence was too small to hold the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offerings. 65 So Solomon observed the Festival of Tents[an] at that time, as did all of Israel with him. A large assembly came up from as far away as Lebo-hamath and the Wadi[ao] of Egypt to appear in the presence of the Lord our God, not just for seven days, but for seven days after that, a total of fourteen days. 66 The following[ap] day, Solomon[aq] sent the people away as they blessed the king. Then they went back to their tents, rejoicing and glad for all the good things that the Lord had done for his servant David and to his people Israel.
5 So be imitators of God, as his dear children. 2 Live lovingly, just as the Messiah[a] also loved us[b] and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. 3 Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah[c] and of God.
Living in the Light
6 Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey.[d] 7 So do not be partners with them. 8 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9 for the fruit that the light[e] produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Determine what pleases the Lord, 11 and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people[f] in secret. 13 But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible, 14 for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says,
Wise Behavior
15 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, 16 making the best use of your time[i] because the times are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Stop getting[j] drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. 19 Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; 20 you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah;[k] 21 and you will submit to one another out of reverence for[l] the Messiah.[m]
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit yourselves[n] to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of his wife as the Messiah[o] is the head of the church. It is he who is the Savior of the body. 24 Indeed, just as the church is submissive to the Messiah,[p] so wives must be submissive[q] to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives as the Messiah[r] loved the church and gave himself for it, 26 so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, 27 and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love[s] their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah[t] does[u] the church.
30 For we are parts of his body—of his flesh and of his bones.[v] 31 “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[w] 32 This is a great secret, but I am talking about the Messiah[x] and the church. 33 But each individual man among you must love his wife as he loves[y] himself; and may the wife fear her husband.
The Prophecy against Gog
38 This message from the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of Man, turn your attention toward Gog,[a] from the land of Magog,[b] leader of the head[c] of Meshech,[d] and of Tubal.[e] Prophesy this against him: 3 ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Watch out! I’m coming after you, Gog, leader of the head[f] of Meshech,[g] and of Tubal.[h] 4 I’m going to turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out—you and your whole army—along with your horses and cavalry riders, all of them richly attired, a magnificent company replete with buckler and shield, and all of them wielding battle swords. 5 Persia,[i] Cush,[j] and Libya[k] will be accompanying them, all of them equipped with shields and helmets. 6 Gomer[l] with all its troops, and the household of Togarmah[m] from the remotest parts of the north with all its troops—many people will accompany you. 7 Be prepared. Yes, prepare yourself—you and all of your many battalions that have gathered together around you to protect you.
8 “‘“Many days from now—in the latter years—you will be summoned to a land that has been restored from violence.[n] You will be gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which formerly had been a continuous waste, but which will be populated with people who have been brought back from the nations. All of them will be living there securely. 9 You’ll arise suddenly, like a tornado, coming like a windstorm[o] to cover the land, you and all your soldiers with you, along with many nations.”’”
The Invasion Strategy
10 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘This is what’s going to happen on the very day that you begin your invasion: You’ll be thinking,[p] making evil plans, 11 and boasting, “I’m going to invade a land comprised of open country[q] that is at rest, its people[r] living confidently, all of whose inhabitants will be living securely, with neither fortification nor bars on their doors. 12 I’m going to confiscate anything I can put my hands on. I’ll attack the restored ruins and the people who have been gathered together from the nations, who are acquiring livestock and other goods, and who live at the center of the world’s attention.”[s] 13 ‘Businessmen based in Sheba,[t] Dedan,[u] Tarshish,[v] and all of its growling lions will ask you, “Are you coming for war spoils? Have you assembled your armies to carry off silver and gold, and to gather lots of war booty?”’”
God’s Rebuke to Gog
14 “Therefore, Son of Man, prophesy to Gog and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “When the day comes when my people are living securely, won’t you be aware of it? 15 You’ll come in from your home[w] in the remotest parts of the north. You’ll come with many nations, all of them riding along on horses. You’ll be a huge, combined army. 16 You’ll come up to invade my people Israel like a storm cloud to cover the land. In the last days, Gog, I’ll bring you up to invade my land so that the world will learn to know me when I show them how holy I am before their very eyes.”’”
A Prediction for the Distant Future
17 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Surely you’re the one about whom I spoke years ago in the writings[x] of my servants, Israel’s prophets, aren’t you? They predicted back then that I would bring you up after many years, didn’t they? 18 So it will be that on that day, when Gog[y] invades the land of Israel,’ declares the Lord God, ‘my zeal will ignite my anger. 19 Because of my zeal and burning anger, at that time[z] there will be a massive earthquake throughout the land of Israel. 20 I’m going to shake the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the wild beasts, all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and every single human being who lives on the surface of the earth. Mountains will collapse, as will their mountain passages, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 Then I’ll call for war against Gog[aa] on top of every mountain,’ declares the Lord God, ‘and every weapon of war will be turned against their fellow soldier. 22 I’ll judge them with disease and bloodshed. I’ll shower him, his soldiers, and the vast army that accompanies him with a torrential flood, hailstones, fire, and sulfur. 23 I will exalt myself and demonstrate my holiness, making myself known to many people, who will learn that I am the Lord.’”
An instruction[a]. By Ethan, the Ezrahite
God’s Covenant with David
89 I will sing forever about the gracious love of the Lord;
from generation to generation
I will declare your faithfulness with my mouth.
2 I will declare that your gracious love was established forever;
in the heavens itself, you have established your faithfulness.
3 I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have made a promise to David, my servant.
4 “I will establish your dynasty forever,
and I will lift up one who will build[b] your throne
from generation to generation.”
5 Even the heavens praise your awesome deeds, Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies compares to the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the divine beings?
7 God is feared in the council of the holy ones,
revered by all those around him.
8 Lord God of the Heavenly Armies,
who is as mighty as you, Lord?
Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the majestic[c] sea;
when its waves surge,
you calm them.
10 You crushed the proud one[d] to death;
with your powerful arm
you scattered your enemies.
11 Heaven and the earth belong to you,
the world and everything it contains—
you established them.
12 The north and south—you created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13 Your arm is strong;
your hand is mighty;
indeed, your right hand is victorious.[e]
14 Righteousness and justice make up
the foundation of your throne;
gracious love and truth meet before you.
15 How happy are the people who can worship joyfully![f]
Lord, they walk in the light of your presence.
16 In your name they rejoice all day long;
they exult in your justice.[g]
17 For you are their strength’s grandeur;
by your favor you exalted our power.[h]
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
and our king to the Holy One of Israel.
God’s Describes His Anointed
19 You spoke to your faithful[i] ones through a vision:[j]
“I will set a helper over[k] a warrior.
I will raise up a chosen one from the people.
20 I have found my servant David;
I have anointed him with my sacred oil,
21 with whom my power[l] will be firmly established;
for my arm will strengthen him.
22 No enemy will deceive him;
no wicked person[m] will afflict him.
23 I will crush his enemies before him
and strike those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and gracious love will be with him,
and in my name his power[n] will be exalted.
25 I will place his hand[o] over the sea,
and his right hand[p] over the rivers.
26 He will announce to me
‘You are my father,
my God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 “Indeed, I myself made him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 I will show[q] my gracious love toward him forever,
since my covenant is securely established with him.
29 I will establish his dynasty[r] forever,
and his throne as long as heaven endures.[s]
30 “But if his sons abandon my laws and
do not follow my ordinances,
31 if they profane my statutes;
and do not keep my commands,
32 then I will punish their disobedience with a rod
and their iniquity with lashes.
33 But I will not cut off[t] my gracious love from him,
and I will not stop being faithful.
34 I will not dishonor my covenant,
because I will not change what I have spoken.[u]
35 I have sworn by my holiness once for all:
I will not lie to David.
36 His dynasty[v] will last forever
and his throne will be like the sun before me.
37 It will be established forever like the moon,
a faithful witness in the sky.”
A Commitment to Persevere
38 But you have spurned, rejected,
and became angry with your anointed one.
39 You have dishonored the covenant with your servant;
you have defiled his crown on the ground.
40 You have broken through all his[w] walls;
you have laid his fortresses in ruin.
41 All who pass by on their way plunder him;
he has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries;
you have caused all of his enemies to rejoice.
43 Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and did not support him in battle.
44 You have caused his splendor[x] to cease
and cast down his throne to the ground.
45 You have caused the days of his youth to be cut short;
you have covered him with shame.
46 How long, Lord, will you hide yourself? Forever?
Will your anger continuously burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my lifetime is!
How powerless have you created all human beings![y]
48 What valiant man can live and not see death?
Who can deliver himself[z] from the power[aa] of Sheol.[ab]
49 Where is your gracious love of old, Lord,
that in your faithfulness you promised to David?
50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servant!
I carry inside me all the insults of many people,
51 when your enemies reproached you, Lord,
when they reproached the footsteps[ac] of your anointed.
52 Blessed is the Lord forever!
Amen and amen!
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