M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

The Shunammite’s Land Given Back

8 Now Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had brought back to life. He said, “Get ready and go with those of your house. Stay in whatever country you can. For the Lord has called for a time of no food. It will come upon the land for seven years.” ² So the woman got ready as the man of God had told her. She went with those of her house and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. ³ At the end of seven years she returned from the land of the Philistines. And she went out to ask the king for her house and field. ⁴ Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” ⁵ Gehazi started telling the king how Elisha had brought the one who was dead to life again. Then the woman whose son he had brought back to life asked the king for her house and field. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha brought back to life.” ⁶ When the king asked the woman, she told him what had happened. So the king chose a certain captain to help her, saying, “Give her all that was hers. And give her all the food taken from the field from the day she left the land until now.”

The Death of Ben-hadad

⁷ Then Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick, and he was told, “The man of God has come here.” ⁸ The king said to Hazael, “Take a gift and go meet the man of God. Ask the Lord through him, saying, ‘Will I get better from this sickness?’” ⁹ So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took with him a gift of every kind of good thing of Damascus. It took forty camels to carry it all. He came and stood in front of Elisha and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I get better from this sickness?’” ¹⁰ Elisha said to him, “Go and tell him, ‘You will get better for sure.’ But the Lord has shown me that he will die for sure.” ¹¹ Then Elisha looked at Hazael until he was ashamed. And the man of God cried. ¹² Hazael said, “Why are you crying, my lord?” Then Elisha answered, “Because I know the bad things that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their strong places on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will crush their little ones against the stones. And you will cut up their women who are with child.” ¹³ Hazael said, “What is your servant, only a dog, that he should do this bad thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will be the king of Syria.” ¹⁴ Then he left Elisha and returned to his owner. Ben-hadad said to him, “What did Elisha tell you?” And Hazael answered, “He told me that you will get better for sure.” ¹⁵ But the next day Hazael took the bed covering and put it in water. Then he spread it on Ben-hadad’s face so that he died. And Hazael became king in his place.

Jehoram Rules Judah

¹⁶ In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to rule. ¹⁷ He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled eight years in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as those of Ahab’s house had done. Ahab’s daughter became his wife. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord. ¹⁹ But the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, because of His servant David. The Lord had promised to give David one to rule through his sons always.

²⁰ In his days Edom turned against the rule of Judah and chose a king of their own. ²¹ Then Joram crossed over to Zair, with all his war-wagons. He and his war-wagon captains got up during the night and fought against the Edomites who had gathered around them. But his army ran away to their tents. ²² So Edom turned against the rule of Judah to this day. Libnah turned against Judah’s rule at the same time. ²³ The rest of the acts of Joram and all he did, are they not written in the Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? ²⁴ Then Joram died and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaziah became king in his place.

Ahaziah Rules Judah

²⁵ In the twelfth year of Ahab’s son Joram the king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah began to rule. ²⁶ Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. ²⁷ He walked in the way of the family of Ahab. He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, like those of the family of Ahab had done, because he was a son-in-law of the family of Ahab. ²⁸ He went with Ahab’s son Joram to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians hurt Joram. ²⁹ So King Joram returned to Jezreel to be healed of the cuts the Syrians had given him at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Then Jehoram’s son Ahaziah king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram the son of Ahab because he was sick.

Teaching About Women Whose Husbands Have Died

5 Do not speak sharp words to an older man. Talk with him as if he were a father. Talk to younger men as brothers. ² Talk to older women as mothers. Talk to younger women as sisters, keeping yourself pure. ³ Help women whose husbands have died. ⁴ If a woman whose husband has died has children or grandchildren, they are the ones to care for her. In that way, they can pay back to their parents the kindness that has been shown to them. God is pleased when this is done. ⁵ Women whose husbands have died are alone in this world. Their trust is in the Lord. They pray day and night. ⁶ But the one who lives only for the joy she can receive from this world is the same as dead even if she is alive.

⁷ Teach these things so they will do what is right. ⁸ Anyone who does not take care of his family and those in his house has turned away from the faith. He is worse than a person who has never put his trust in Christ. ⁹ A woman over sixty years old whose husband has died may receive help from the church. To receive this help, she must have been the wife of one man. ¹⁰ She must be known for doing good things for people and for being a good mother. She must be known for taking strangers into her home and for washing the feet of Christians. She must be known for helping those who suffer and for showing kindness.

¹¹ Do not write the names of younger women whose husbands have died together with the names of others who need help. They will turn away from Christ because of wanting to get married again. ¹² Then they would be thought of as guilty of breaking their first promise. ¹³ They will waste their time. They will go from house to house carrying stories. They will find fault with people and say things they should not talk about. ¹⁴ I think it is best for younger women whose husbands have died to get married. They should have children and care for their own homes. Then no one can speak against them. ¹⁵ Some of these women have already turned away to follow Satan. ¹⁶ If you have any women whose husbands have died in your family, you must care for them. The church should not have to help them. The church can help women whose husbands have died who are all alone in this world and have no one else to help them.

Teaching About Leaders

¹⁷ Leaders who do their work well should be given twice as much pay, and for sure, those who work hard preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ The Holy Writings say, “When a cow is walking on the grain to break it open, do not stop it from eating some” ^(A), and “A person who works should be paid.” ^(B)

¹⁹ Do not listen to what someone says against a church leader unless two or three persons say the same thing. ²⁰ Show those who keep on sinning where they are wrong in front of the whole church. Then others will be afraid of sinning. ²¹ I tell you from my heart that you must follow these rules without deciding before the truth is known. God and Jesus Christ and the chosen angels know what I am saying. Show favors to no one. ²² Do not be in a hurry about choosing a church leader. You do not want to have any part in other men’s sins. Keep yourself pure.

²³ Do not drink water only. Use a little wine because of your stomach and because you are sick so often.

²⁴ The sins of some men can be seen. Their sins go before them and make them guilty. The sins of other men will be seen later. ²⁵ In the same way, good works are easy to see now. But some that are not easy to be seen cannot always be hid.

The Future End Time

12 “At that time the great angel Michael, who watches over your people, will rise up. And there will be a time of trouble, the worst since there was a nation. But at that time, every one whose name is written in the Book will be taken out of the trouble. ² Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake up. Some will have life that lasts forever, but others will have shame and will suffer much forever. ³ Those who are wise will shine like the bright heavens. And those who lead many to do what is right and good will shine like the stars forever and ever. ⁴ But as for you, Daniel, keep these words hidden and lock up the Book until the end of time. Many will travel here and there and knowledge will be more and more.”

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others. One was standing on this side of the river, and the other was standing on that side. ⁶ And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” ⁷ The man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven. And I heard him promise by Him Who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half a time (three and a half years). As soon as the power of the holy people is broken, all these things will be completed. ⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “My lord, how will it all end?” ⁹ And he said, “Go your way, Daniel. For these words are hidden and locked up until the end of time. ¹⁰ Many will be made pure and made white and tried, but the sinners will be very sinful. None of the sinful will understand, but those who are wise will understand. ¹¹ From the time the burnt gifts are stopped and the very sinful manmade god is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² How happy is he who waits and comes to the end of the 1,335 days! ¹³ But go your way until the end. Then you will have rest, and will rise again to take your place at the end of time.”

⁴⁹ Remember Your Word to Your servant, for You have given me hope. ⁵⁰ Your Word has given me new life. This is my comfort in my suffering. ⁵¹ The proud always laugh at me, but I do not turn away from Your Law. ⁵² I have remembered Your Law from a long time ago, O Lord, and I am comforted. ⁵³ Burning anger comes upon me because of the sinful who turn away from Your Law. ⁵⁴ Your Laws are my songs in whatever house I stay. ⁵⁵ I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and I have kept Your Law. ⁵⁶ It has become my way to obey Your Law.

⁵⁷ The Lord is my share. I have promised to obey Your Word. ⁵⁸ I begged for Your favor with all my heart. Show me Your love because of Your Word. ⁵⁹ I thought about my ways and turned my steps to Your Law. ⁶⁰ I hurried and did not wait to obey Your Law. ⁶¹ The ropes of the sinful are all around me, but I have not forgotten Your Law. ⁶² I will rise late in the night to give thanks to You because Your Law is right and good. ⁶³ I am a friend to all who fear You and of those who keep Your Law. ⁶⁴ The earth is full of Your loving-kindness, O Lord. Teach me Your Law.

⁶⁵ You have done good to Your servant, O Lord, because of Your Word. ⁶⁶ Teach me what I should know to be right and fair for I believe in Your Law. ⁶⁷ Before I suffered I went the wrong way, but now I obey Your Word. ⁶⁸ You are good and You do good. Teach me Your Law. ⁶⁹ The proud have put together a lie against me. I will keep Your Law with all my heart. ⁷⁰ Their heart is covered with fat, but I find joy in Your Law. ⁷¹ It is good for me that I was troubled, so that I might learn Your Law. ⁷² The Law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.