M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Amnon Rapes Tamar
13 Some time passed. David’s son Absalom(A) had a beautiful sister named Tamar,(B) and David’s son Amnon(C) was infatuated with her. 2 Amnon was frustrated to the point of making himself sick over his sister Tamar because she was a virgin, but it seemed impossible to do anything to her. 3 Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah.(D) Jonadab was a very shrewd man, 4 and he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable every morning? Won’t you tell me?”
Amnon replied, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you’re sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare food in my presence so I can watch and eat from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my presence so I can eat from her hand.”
7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare a meal for him.”
8 Then Tamar went to his house while Amnon was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his presence, and baked them. 9 She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me!” And everyone left him. 10 “Bring the meal to the bedroom,” Amnon told Tamar, “so I can eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. 11 When she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said,[a] “Come sleep with me, my sister!”
12 “Don’t, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel.(E) Don’t do this horrible thing! 13 Where could I ever go with my disgrace? And you—you would be like one of the immoral men in Israel! Please, speak to the king, for he won’t keep me from you.” 14 But he refused to listen to her, and because he was stronger than she was, he raped her.
15 After this, Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that the hatred he hated her with was greater than the love he had loved her with. “Get out of here!” he said.
16 “No,” she cried,[b] “sending me away is much worse than the great wrong you’ve already done to me!” But he refused to listen to her. 17 Instead, he called to the servant who waited on him: “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her!” 18 Amnon’s servant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a long-sleeved[c] garment, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head(F) and went away crying out.
20 Her brother Absalom said to her: “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman(G) in the house of her brother Absalom.
Absalom Murders Amnon
21 When King David heard about all these things, he was furious.[d] 22 Absalom didn’t say anything to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon since he disgraced his sister Tamar.
23 Two years later, Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 Then he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired sheepshearers. Will the king and his servants please come with your servant?”
25 The king replied to Absalom, “No, my son, we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he wasn’t willing to go, though he did bless him.
26 “If not,” Absalom said, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent Amnon and all the king’s sons.[e]
28 Now Absalom commanded his young men, “Watch Amnon until he is in a good mood from the wine. When I order you to strike Amnon, then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Am I not the one who has commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”(H) 29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each fled on his mule.
30 While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom struck down all the king’s sons; not even one of them survived!” 31 In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.(I)
32 But Jonadab, son of David’s brother Shimeah,(J) spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, because only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this[f] ever since the day Amnon disgraced his sister Tamar. 33 So now, my lord the king, don’t take seriously the report that says all the king’s sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
34 Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man who was standing watch looked up, there were many people coming from the road west of him from the side of the mountain.[g] 35 Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons have come! It’s exactly like your servant said.” 36 Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons entered and wept loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept bitterly.
37 Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur.(K) And David mourned for his son[h] every day. 38 Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur where he stayed three years. 39 Then King David[i] longed to go to Absalom, for David had finished grieving over Amnon’s death.
6 Working together[a] with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 For He says:
Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.(B)
The Character of Paul’s Ministry
3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4 But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:
by great endurance, by afflictions,
by hardship, by difficulties,
5 by beatings, by imprisonments,(C)
by riots, by labors,
by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,
6 by purity,(D) by knowledge,(E)
by patience,(F) by kindness,(G)
by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,(H)
7 by the message of truth,(I)
by the power of God;(J)
through weapons of righteousness
on the right hand and the left,
8 through glory(K) and dishonor,
through slander and good report;
as deceivers yet true;
9 as unknown yet recognized;
as dying and look—we live;
as being disciplined yet not killed;
10 as grieving yet always rejoicing;(L)
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken openly[c] to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. 13 I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.
Separation to God
14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?(M) Or what fellowship does light(N) have with darkness?(O) 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial?[d] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols?(P) For we[e] are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:
I will dwell among them(Q)
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,(R)
and they will be My people.(S)[f]
17 Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.(T)[g]
18 I will be a Father(U) to you,
and you will be sons(V) and daughters to Me,
says the Lord Almighty.(W)[h]
Israel’s Rebellion
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel’s elders came to consult the Lord,(A) and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to consult Me? As I live, I will not be consulted by you.”(B) This is the declaration of the Lord God.
4 “Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.(C) 5 Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath[a](D) to the descendants of Jacob’s house and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying: I am Yahweh your God.(E) 6 On that day I swore[b] to them that I would bring them out(F) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(G) the most beautiful of all lands.(H) 7 I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.(I) I am Yahweh your God.(J)
8 “But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them,(K) exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted because of My name,(L) so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made Myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.
10 “So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.(M) 11 Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.(N) 12 I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them,(O) so they will know that I am Yahweh who sets them apart as holy.
13 “But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness.(P) They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.(Q) They also completely profaned My Sabbaths.(R) So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.(S) 14 But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 However, I swore[c] to them(T) in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey— 16 because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.(U) 17 But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.(V)
18 “Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.(W) 19 I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.(X) 20 Keep My Sabbaths holy,(Y) and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
21 “But the children rebelled against Me.(Z) They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld My hand and acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. 23 However, I swore[d] to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(AA) 24 For they did not practice My ordinances but rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed(AB) on their fathers’ idols. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances(AC) they could not live by. 26 When they made every firstborn pass through the fire,(AD) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh.(AE)
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by(AF) committing treachery against Me: 28 When I brought them into the land that I swore[e] to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,(AG) they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. 29 So I asked them: What is this high place you are going to? And it is called High Place to this day.
30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did,(AH) and prostituting yourselves with their detestable things? 31 When you offer your gifts, making your children pass through the fire,(AI) you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“I will not be consulted by you!
Israel’s Restoration
32 “When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, worshiping wood and stone,’(AJ) what you have in mind will never happen.(AK) 33 As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(AL) and outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered,(AM) with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(AN) and outpoured wrath. 35 I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples(AO) and enter into judgment with you there face to face. 36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,(AP) so I will enter into judgment with you.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. 37 “I will make you pass under the rod(AQ) and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me.(AR) I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
39 “As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.(AS) 40 For on My holy mountain, Israel’s high mountain”—the declaration of the Lord God—“there the entire house of Israel, all of them,(AT) will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts,(AU) all your holy offerings. 41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.(AV) 42 When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore[f] to give your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.(AW) 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with,(AX) and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.(AY) 44 You will know that I am Yahweh,(AZ) house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name(BA) rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
Fire in the South
45 [g]The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,(BB) 47 and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. 48 Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it.(BC) It will not be extinguished.”
49 Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just posing riddles?’”(BD)
Psalm 66
Praise for God’s Mighty Acts
For the choir director. A song. A psalm.
1 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!(A)
2 Sing about the glory of His name;
make His praise glorious.(B)
3 Say to God, “How awe-inspiring are Your works!
Your enemies will cringe before You
because of Your great strength.(C)
4 All the earth will worship You
and sing praise to You.
They will sing praise to Your name.”(D)
5 Come and see the wonders of God;(E)
His acts for humanity are awe-inspiring.
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
and they crossed the river on foot.(F)
There we rejoiced in Him.(G)
7 He rules forever by His might;
He keeps His eye on the nations.(H)
The rebellious should not exalt themselves.(I)
8 Praise our God, you peoples;
let the sound of His praise be heard.(J)
9 He keeps us alive[a]
and does not allow our feet to slip.(K)
10 For You, God, tested us;
You refined us as silver is refined.(L)
11 You lured us into a trap;
You placed burdens on our backs.(M)
12 You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but You brought us out to abundance.[b](N)
13 I will enter Your house with burnt offerings;
I will pay You my vows(O)
14 that my lips promised
and my mouth spoke during my distress.(P)
15 I will offer You fattened sheep as burnt offerings,
with the fragrant smoke of rams;
I will sacrifice oxen with goats.(Q)
16 Come and listen, all who fear God,
and I will tell what He has done for me.(R)
17 I cried out to Him with my mouth,
and praise was on my tongue.(S)
18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.(T)
19 However, God has listened;
He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer.(U)
20 May God be praised!
He has not turned away my prayer
or turned His faithful love from me.(V)
Psalm 67
All Will Praise God
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us;
look on us with favor(W)
2 so that Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.(X)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.