M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David and Bathsheba
11 The spring of the year was the time when kings went out to battle. At that time David sent Joab and his servants and all Israel. They destroyed the sons of Ammon and gathered the army around Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
2 When evening came David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof he saw a woman washing herself. The woman was very beautiful. 3 So David sent someone to ask about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Eliam’s daughter Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 David sent men and took her. When she came to him, he lay with her. After she had made herself clean again, she returned to her house. 5 She was going to have a baby, so she sent someone to tell David, “I am going to have a baby.”
6 Then David sent men to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people were doing, and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet.” And Uriah left the king’s house, and a gift from the king was sent to him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord. He did not go down to his house. 10 When they told David that Uriah did not go down to his house, David said to Uriah, “Have you not returned from traveling a long way? Why did you not go down to your house?” 11 Uriah said to David, “The special box of the Lord, and Israel and Judah, are staying in tents. My lord Joab and the servants of my lord are staying in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? By your life and the life of your soul, I will not do this thing.” 12 Then David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also. Tomorrow I will let you go.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 David called him, and he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed with his lord’s servants. He did not go down to his house.
14 In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by Uriah. 15 He had written in the letter, “Put Uriah in the front of the hardest battle and come away from him, so that he may be killed.” 16 So while Joab was watching the city, he sent Uriah to the place where he knew there were soldiers with strength of heart. 17 The men of the city went out and fought against Joab. Some of David’s servants were killed. And Uriah the Hittite died also. 18 Then Joab sent a man with news to David to tell him all about the war. 19 Joab told the man, “When you have finished telling the king all about the war, 20 the king might become angry. He might say to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? 21 Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman throw a grinding stone on him from the wall so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ Then you should say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’”
22 So the man left and came to David. He told him all that Joab had sent him to tell. 23 The man said to David, “The men were winning the fight against us. They came out against us in the field. But we drove them back as far as the city gate. 24 Then they shot arrows at your servants from the wall. So some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” 25 Then David said to the man, “Tell Joab, ‘Do not let this thing trouble you. For the sword kills one as well as another. Make your battle against the city stronger and destroy it.’ Comfort him with these words.”
26 When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she was filled with sorrow for him. 27 When the time of sorrow was finished, David sent men and brought her to his house. She became his wife, and gave birth to his son. But what David had done was sinful in the eyes of the Lord.
Paul Is Faithful in Preaching the Good News
4 Through God’s loving-kindness, He has given us this job to do. So we do not give up. 2 We have put away all things that are done in secret and in shame. We do not play with the Word of God or use it in a false way. Because we are telling the truth, we want men’s hearts to listen to us. God knows our desires. 3 If the Good News we preach is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost in sin. 4 The eyes of those who do not believe are made blind by Satan who is the god of this world. He does not want the light of the Good News to shine in their hearts. This Good News shines as the shining-greatness of Christ. Christ is as God is. 5 We do not preach about ourselves. We preach Christ Jesus the Lord. We are your servants because of Jesus. 6 It was God Who said, “The light will shine in darkness.” (A) He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts. This brings us the light of knowing God’s shining-greatness which is seen in Christ’s face.
7 We have this light from God in our human bodies. This shows that the power is from God. It is not from ourselves. 8 We are pressed on every side, but we still have room to move. We are often in much trouble, but we never give up. 9 People make it hard for us, but we are not left alone. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 We carry marks on our bodies that show the death of Jesus. This is how Jesus makes His life seen in our bodies. 11 Every day of our life we face death because of Jesus. In this way, His life is seen in our bodies. 12 Death is working in us because we work for the Lord, but His life is working in you.
13 The Holy Writings say, “I believed, so I spoke.” (B) We have the same kind of faith as David had. We also believe, so we speak. 14 We know that God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. He will raise us up also. God will take us to Himself and He will take you. 15 These things happened for your good. As more people receive God’s favor, they will give thanks for the shining-greatness of God.
Life Now—Life in Heaven
16 This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day. 17 The little troubles we suffer now for a short time are making us ready for the great things God is going to give us forever. 18 We do not look at the things that can be seen. We look at the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen will come to an end. But the things that cannot be seen will last forever.
18 The Word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “What do you mean by using this saying about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers eat the sour grapes, but the children get the sour taste’? 3 As I live,” says the Lord God, “you will never use this saying in Israel again. 4 For all souls belong to Me. Both the soul of the father and the soul of the son are Mine. The soul who sins will die. 5 But if a man is right and good and does what is right and good, 6 he does not eat at the altars on the mountains or look up to the false gods of Israel. He does not sin with his neighbor’s wife or go near a woman during the time she is unclean. 7 He does not make it hard for anyone. He keeps his promise to pay back what he owes. He does not steal, but gives his bread to the hungry, and gives clothing to those who have none. 8 He does not make others pay back more than they owe him. He keeps away from sin, and is an honest judge when men argue. 9 He walks in My Laws and is careful to obey them. This man is right and good, and will live for sure,” says the Lord God.
10 “But he may have a son who acts in anger and kills another man, or does any of these other things 11 that the father never did. He eats at the altars on the mountains, and sins with his neighbor’s wife. 12 He makes it hard for the poor and those in need, and he steals. He does not keep his promise to pay back what he owes. He looks up to false gods, and does sinful acts. 13 And he makes people pay back more than they owe him. Will this man live? He will not live! He has done all these sinful acts, and for sure he will die. He will be guilty for his own death.
14 “Now this man may have a son who has seen all the sins his father has done, but does not do the same. 15 He does not eat at the altars on the mountains or look to the false gods of Israel. He does not sin with his neighbor’s wife, 16 or make it hard for anyone. He does not keep what another man has given him in trust for a promise. He does not steal, but he gives his bread to the hungry and clothing to those who have none. 17 He keeps away from sin. He does not make a person pay back more than he owes him. But he walks in My Laws and obeys them. This man will not die for his father’s sin. He will live for sure. 18 As for his father, because he used his power to rob his brother, and did what was wrong among his people, he will die for his sin.
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not suffer for the father’s sin?’ Since the son has done what is right and good, and has kept and obeyed all My Laws, he will live for sure. 20 The person who sins will die. The son will not be punished for the father’s sin. And the father will not be punished for the son’s sin. The right and good man will receive good, and the sinful man will suffer for his sin.
21 “But if the sinful man turns from all the sins he has done and obeys all My Laws and does what is right and good, he will live for sure. He will not die. 22 None of the sins he has done will be remembered against him. Because of the right and good things he has done, he will live. 23 Am I pleased with the death of a sinful man?” says the Lord God. “No, instead I would like him to turn from his sinful ways and live.
24 “But when a right and good man turns away from doing what is right and good, and sins, doing all the bad things that a sinful man does, will he live? None of the right and good things he has done will be remembered. Because he has not been faithful and has sinned, he will die. 25 Yet you say, ‘The Lord is not doing what is right.’ Listen, O people of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 When a right and good man turns away from doing what is right and good, and sins, and dies because of it, he dies because of the sin he has done. 27 But when a sinful man turns away from his sin and does what is right and good, he will save his life. 28 Because he thought about it and turned away from all the sins he had done, he will live for sure. He will not die. 29 But the people of Israel say, ‘The Lord is not doing what is right.’ Are My ways not right, O people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?
30 “So I will judge you, O people of Israel, each of you by what he has done,” says the Lord God. “Be sorry for all your sins and turn away from them, so sin will not destroy you. 31 Turn away from all the sins you have done, and get a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O people of Israel? 32 For I am not pleased with the death of anyone who dies,” says the Lord God. “So be sorry for your sins and turn away from them, and live.”
Thankful for God’s Care
62 My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. He is the One Who saves me. 2 He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken.
3 How long will all of you go against a man to break him down, that you may kill him, like a wall that no longer stands straight, like a fence ready to fall? 4 They have talked only about throwing him down from his high place. They find joy in lies. They pray with their mouth that good will come. But inside they hope that bad will come instead.
5 My soul is quiet and waits for God alone. My hope comes from Him. 6 He alone is my rock and the One Who saves me. He is my strong place. I will not be shaken. 7 My being safe and my honor rest with God. My safe place is in God, the rock of my strength. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a safe place for us.
9 Men who are not important come to nothing. Men who are important are a lie. When weighed they go up. Together they weigh less than a breath. 10 Do not get money in a wrong way or be proud in stolen things. If you get more riches, do not set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once. I have heard this twice: Power belongs to God. 12 And loving-kindness belongs to You, O Lord. For You pay every man by the work he has done.
Giving Thanks to God
63 O God, You are my God. I will look for You with all my heart and strength. My soul is thirsty for You. My flesh is weak wanting You in a dry and tired land where there is no water. 2 So I have seen You in the holy place. And I have seen Your power and Your shining-greatness. 3 My lips will praise You because Your loving-kindness is better than life. 4 So I will give honor to You as long as I live. I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul will be filled as with rich foods. And my mouth praises You with lips of joy.
6 On my bed I remember You. I think of You through the hours of the night. 7 For You have been my help. And I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. 8 My soul holds on to You. Your right hand holds me up.
9 But those who want to take my life and destroy it will go deep into the earth. 10 They will be given over to the power of the sword. They will become food for foxes. 11 But the king will be full of joy in God. All who are faithful to God will be full of joy. For the mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.