M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Israel Gets Ready for War
20 Then all the people of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out. The people gathered together as one man to the Lord at Mizpah. 2 The leaders of all the people, all the families of Israel, showed themselves in the meeting of the people of God. There were 400,000 soldiers on foot who used the sword. 3 (The people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The people of Israel said, “Tell us. How did this sinful thing happen?” 4 The Levite, the husband of the woman who was killed, answered, “I came with my woman to stay the night at Gibeah, a city of Benjamin. 5 But the men of Gibeah came against me. They gathered around the house at night because of me. They wanted to kill me. But they did sex with my woman instead, so she died. 6 I took my woman and cut her into pieces. I sent her out through all the land that was given to Israel. For they have done a sinful act of shame in Israel. 7 All you people of Israel, say what should be done.”
8 All the people stood up as one man, saying, “Not one of us will go to his tent. Not one of us will return to his house. 9 But this is what we will do to Gibeah. We will go against it by drawing names. 10 We will take ten men of every 100 among the families of Israel, and 100 of every 1,000, and 1,000 of every 10,000. They will take food for the people. So when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, they may punish them for all the acts of shame they have done in Israel.” 11 All the men of Israel were gathered against the city, together as one man.
12 The family groups of Israel sent men through the whole family group of Benjamin, saying, “What is this sin that has happened among you? 13 Now give us the sinful men of Gibeah. Then we will put them to death and take this sin away from Israel.” But the people of Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. 14 The people of Benjamin gathered from the cities to Gibeah. They came to go out to battle against the people of Israel. 15 Out of the sons of Benjamin, there were 26,000 men who used the sword who came from the cities on that day. And there were 700 chosen men who lived in Gibeah. 16 There were 700 chosen men of all these people who were left-handed. Each one could use a sling to throw a stone at a hair and not miss.
17 Apart from Benjamin, there were 400,000 men of Israel who used the sword. All of them were men of war. 18 The people of Israel went up to Bethel. There they asked God, “Who should go first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah should go first.”
19 So the people of Israel got up in the morning and went to get ready to fight against Gibeah. 20 The men of Israel went to fight against Benjamin. They dressed themselves for battle against them at Gibeah. 21 The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and killed 22,000 men of Israel on that day. 22 But the men of Israel made their hearts strong. They got ready for battle again in the same place they had fought the first day. 23 The people of Israel went up and cried before the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord, “Should we go again in battle against our brothers the people of Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go fight against them.”
24 So the sons of Israel came to fight against the sons of Benjamin the second day. 25 Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah the second day. And they killed 18,000 men of Israel who used the sword. 26 Then all the people of Israel went up to Bethel and cried. They stayed that day before the Lord and would not eat until evening. They gave burnt gifts and peace gifts to the Lord. 27 The people of Israel asked the Lord what to do. (For the special box with the Law of God was there in those days. 28 Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, served in front of it those days.) The people said, “Should we go again in battle against our brothers the people of Benjamin? Or should we stop?” The Lord said, “Go fight against them. For tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”
29 So Israel sent men to hide around Gibeah. 30 The sons of Israel went to fight against the sons of Benjamin on the third day. They dressed themselves for battle against Gibeah as they had done before. 31 The sons of Benjamin went out to fight the people and were taken away from the city. They began to fight and kill some of the people as they had done before. They killed about thirty men of Israel in the open country and on the roads. One road went up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah. 32 The sons of Benjamin said, “They are being killed in front of us as they were the first day.” But the sons of Israel said, “Let us run away so we can get them away from the city and to the roads.” 33 Then all the men of Israel left their place and went to fight at Baal-tamar. And the men of Israel who were hiding rushed out of their place in the plain of Geba. 34 When 10,000 chosen men of Israel came against Gibeah, the battle was hard. But the people of Benjamin did not know that such danger was so close to them. 35 The Lord destroyed Benjamin in front of Israel. The sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who used the sword. 36 So the people of Benjamin saw that they had lost the battle.
The men of Israel ran from Benjamin because they trusted in the men who were hiding and waiting to take Gibeah. 37 The men who had been hiding were quick to rush against Gibeah. They destroyed all of the city with the sword. 38 The men of Israel had agreed that the men who had been hiding should make a big cloud of smoke rise from the city. It would be something special for them to see. 39 Then the men of Israel turned around to fight in battle. Benjamin began to fight and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, “For sure they are destroyed in front of us as in the first battle.” 40 But when the cloud of smoke started to rise from the city, the men of Benjamin looked behind them. They saw the whole city going up in smoke to heaven. 41 Then the men of Israel turned around. And the men of Benjamin were filled with fear. For they saw that they were in much danger. 42 So they turned their backs to the men of Israel and ran toward the desert. But they were caught in the battle. Those who came out of the cities destroyed them. 43 They gathered around the people of Benjamin. They ran after them without stopping to rest and came upon them at the east side of Gibeah. 44 So 18,000 men of Benjamin were killed. All of them were powerful soldiers. 45 The others turned and ran toward the desert to the rock of Rimmon. But Israel killed 5,000 of them on the roads, and 2,000 at Gidom. 46 So 25,000 men of Benjamin were killed that day. All of them were powerful soldiers who used the sword. 47 But 600 men ran toward the desert to the rock of Rimmon. They stayed there for four months. 48 Then the men of Israel returned to fight the people of Benjamin. They destroyed them, their whole city, the cattle and all they found, with the sword. And they set fire to all the cities they found.
Paul Stands in Front of Felix
24 Five days later Ananias came to the city of Caesarea. He was the head religious leader. Some other religious leaders and a man whose name was Tertullus came also. This man worked in courts and knew all about the laws. He told Felix what the Jews had against Paul. 2 They brought in Paul. Then Tertullus started to tell what the Jews had against him, saying,
“Most respected Felix, because of you, we are living in peace. Wrong-doings have been made right in this nation. 3 In every way and in every place, we thank you for all of this. 4 We do not want to keep you here too long. I ask you to listen to our few words. You are known to be kind in this way. 5 We have found this man to be a trouble-maker among all the Jews in the world. He is a leader of a religious group called the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to make the house of God unclean by taking people into it who were not Jews. But we took hold of him. (*We could have said he was guilty by our Law. 7 But Lysias, the captain, came and took him out of our hands. 8 He told those who wanted to kill him to tell you what they had against him.) When you ask him about these things, you will be able to learn everything we have against him.” 9 The Jews agreed to what he said against Paul.
Paul Speaks for Himself the First Time
10 Then Felix, the leader of the people, told Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know that you have been a leader of this nation for many years. I am happy to be able to speak for myself. 11 Not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. You can find out about this yourself. 12 I did not argue with anyone in the house of God or in the Jewish places of worship or in the city. I was not making trouble. 13 They cannot prove any of these things they say against me.
14 “I will say this, I worship the God of our fathers in the new Way. They say it is a false way. But I believe everything that has been written in the Law and by the early preachers. 15 I trust God for the same things they are looking for. I am looking for the dead to rise, both those right with God and the sinful. 16 I always try to live so my own heart tells me I am not guilty before God or man.
17 “After a few years I came to bring gifts of money to the people of my country (Jerusalem). 18 Some Jews from the countries of Asia found me in the house of God after I had gone through the worship of washing. There were no people around me and there was no noise or fighting. 19 They should be here if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men tell what wrong they found in me as I stood in front of their court, 21 unless it was the words I cried out as I stood in front of them. I said, ‘I have been brought in front of this court because of the hope of being raised from the dead.’”
Felix Waits for Lysias to Come
22 Felix knew about the Christian religion. He stopped the court, saying, “When Lysias the captain comes down, I will decide about this.” 23 He told the soldier to watch Paul, but to let him come and go as much as he wanted to. Paul’s friends were to be able to come and care for him.
Paul Speaks for Himself the Second Time
24 Some days later Felix came again. His Jewish wife Drusilla was with him. He sent for Paul and heard him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Paul spoke about being right with God. He spoke about being the boss over our own desires. He spoke about standing before One Who will tell us if we are guilty. When Felix heard this, he became afraid and said, “Go now. I will send for you when it is a better time.” 26 He was hoping that Paul would give him money so he could go free. For that reason he kept sending for Paul and talking to him.
27 After two years Porcius Festus became leader of the people instead of Felix. Felix wanted to please the Jews so he kept Paul in prison.
God Speaks to Zedekiah
34 This is the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the nations of the earth that were under his rule, and all the people, were fighting against Jerusalem and all its cities: 2 “The Lord God of Israel says, ‘Go and say to Zedekiah king of Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘See, I am giving this city to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire. 3 And you will not get away from him. You will be taken and given into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.’”’ 4 Yet hear the Word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah! The Lord says this about you: ‘You will not die by the sword. 5 You will die in peace. And as spices were burned for your fathers, the kings who were before you, so they will burn spices for you and cry in sorrow for you, “It is bad, lord!”’ I Myself have said this,” says the Lord.
6 Then Jeremiah the man of God told all this to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem, 7 when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the cities that were left of Judah. These cities were Lachish and Azekah. They were the only strong cities left in Judah that were ready for war.
Servants Were to Be Free
8 This is the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made an agreement to set free 9 their Hebrew male and female servants so that no one would have a Hebrew servant work for him. 10 And all the leaders and all the people obeyed, who had joined in the agreement that every man should set his male and female servants free. No one was to keep them working any longer for him. So they obeyed and set them free. 11 But after this they turned around and took back the male and female servants whom they had set free. They brought them back and made them work for them again as male and female servants.
12 Then the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 13 “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I made an agreement with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the house where they were made to work. I said to them, 14 “At the end of seven years each of you must set free his Hebrew brother, who has been sold to you and has served you for six years. You must send him away from you as a free man.” But your fathers did not obey Me, or listen to Me. 15 Not long ago you had turned and done what is right in My eyes. Each man told his neighbor that he was free. And you had made an agreement before Me in the house which is called by My name. 16 Yet you turned and sinned against My name. Each man took back his male and female servant whom you had set free to go where they wished. And you brought them under your power again to be your male and female servants.’
17 “So the Lord says, ‘You have not obeyed Me. Each man has not set his brother or his neighbor free. So I am letting you free,’ says the Lord, ‘free to fall by the sword, by disease, and by hunger. I will cause you to be hated and feared by all the nations of the earth. 18 I will take the men who have sinned against My agreement, who have not kept the words of the agreement they made before Me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts. 19 I will take these leaders of Judah, and leaders of Jerusalem, the king’s servants, the religious leaders, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf. 20 And I will give them over to those who hate them and to those who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth. 21 I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his captains over to those who hate them and to those who want to kill them. I will give them to the army of the king of Babylon which has left from you. 22 See,’ says the Lord, ‘I will tell them to come back to this city. And they will fight against it and take it and burn it with fire. I will make the cities of Judah a waste place where no people live.’”
Prayer for Help
5 Hear my words, O Lord. Think about my crying. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God. For I pray to you. 3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my prayers before You and will look up.
4 You are not a God Who is pleased with what is bad. The sinful cannot be with You. 5 The proud cannot stand before You. You hate all who do wrong. 6 You destroy those who tell lies. The Lord hates liars and men who kill other people.
7 But as for me, by Your great loving-kindness, I will come into Your house. At Your holy house I will put my face to the ground before You in love and fear. 8 O Lord, lead me in what is right and good, because of the ones who hate me. Make Your way straight in front of me.
9 For in their talk there is no truth. Their hearts destroy. Their mouths are like an open grave. With their tongues, they say sweet-sounding words that are not true. 10 Hold them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own plans. Throw them out because of their many sins. For they have fought against You. 11 But let all who put their trust in You be glad. Let them sing with joy forever. You make a covering for them, that all who love Your name may be glad in You. 12 For You will make those happy who do what is right, O Lord. You will cover them all around with Your favor.
Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble
6 O Lord, do not speak sharp words to me in Your anger, or punish me when You are angry. 2 Be kind to me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me for my bones are shaken. 3 My soul is in great suffering. But You, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord. Set my soul free. Save me because of Your loving-kindness. 5 No one remembers You when he is dead. Who gives You praise from the grave? 6 I am tired of crying inside myself. All night long my pillow is wet with tears. I flood my bed with them. 7 My eye has grown weak with sorrow. It has grown old because of all who hate me. 8 Go away from me, all you who sin. For the Lord has heard the sound of my crying. 9 The Lord has heard my cry for help. The Lord receives my prayer. 10 All those who hate me will be ashamed and worried. They will turn away. They will be put to shame right away.
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