M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Joab Rebukes David
19 [a]Someone informed Joab, “The king is weeping bitterly, mourning for Absalom.” 2 The victory had become an occasion for the army to mourn, because on that very day the troops heard the announcement, “The king is grieving for his son!” 3 So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after they’ve run away from a battle.
4 Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!”
5 Joab went up to the palace and rebuked the king: “Today you’ve humiliated your entire army who just saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and mistresses! 6 You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! You’ve made it abundantly clear today that your officers and the men under them[b] mean nothing to you! I’ve learned today that you would rather have Absalom alive today and all the rest of us dead! 7 Now get up and restore the morale of[c] your army. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t get out there, you won’t have a single man left in your army[d] by nightfall! You’ll be in more trouble today than all the disasters you’ve been through from your boyhood until now!” 8 So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the army was informed, “The king is sitting in the gateway!” they all gathered together in his presence.
David is Reinstated as King
Meanwhile, the Israelis had run away back to their own homes. 9 Throughout the tribes of Israel, everyone was quarreling with one another:
“The king delivered us from the domination of our enemies….”
“He’s the one who rescued us from Philistine control….”
“Now he’s fleeing the country because of Absalom…!”
10 “The very same Absalom we anointed to rule just died in battle…!”
“Now then, why remain silent about bringing the king back…?”
11 So King David sent this message[e] to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, considering that what’s being reported throughout all of Israel has come to the king at his palace? 12 You’re my relatives! You’re my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last to bring back the king?’ 13 Then ask Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my own flesh and blood? So may God deal with me, no matter how severely, if from this day forward you don’t take Joab’s place as commander of my army.’
14 By doing things like this,[f] he persuaded all the men of Judah to unite in support of him.[g] They sent the king this message: “Come on back, you and all of your army!” 15 So the king returned to Israel as far as the Jordan River.[h]
Shimei is Shown Mercy
The men of Judah went out as far as Gilgal to greet the king and escort him across the Jordan River 16 while Gera’s son Shimei,[i] a descendant of Benjamin from Bahurim, accompanied them to meet King David. 17 Ziba, the steward in charge of Saul’s household, and 1,000 descendants of Benjamin accompanied him, along with Ziba’s fifteen sons and 20 servants. They rushed toward the Jordan River ahead of the king 18 and forded it to assist the king at the crossing so he could do whatever he wished.
Just as the king was about to ford the Jordan River, Gera’s son Shimei fell down in front of the king 19 and addressed him,[j] “May your majesty not hold me guilty. Don’t remember how your servant did wrong the day your majesty the king left Jerusalem. May the king not let it burden his heart, 20 because your servant knows that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first one from the entire house of Joseph to meet your majesty the king.”
21 But Zeruiah’s son Abishai asked, “Why shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this? After all, he cursed the Lord’s anointed!”
22 David replied, “What do you sons of Zeruiah have in common with me?[k] You’ve become my enemies today! Should anyone be executed in Israel today? Don’t you know that I’ve been reinstated as king over Israel today?” 23 Then the king addressed Shimei, “You won’t die!” affirming his promise with an oath.
David Meets Mephibosheth
24 Meanwhile, Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth also went out to greet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, “So why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?”
26 He replied, “Well, your majesty, since your servant is lame, I told myself, ‘I’ll have my donkey saddled and I’ll ride on it so I can leave with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me 27 by slandering your servant to your majesty.[l] But your majesty the king is like an angel from God: so do what you think is best. 28 Everyone from my grandfather’s household deserved nothing but death from your majesty the king, but you provided a place for your servant among those who have been eating from your table. So what right do I have to ask for anything more from the king?”
29 In response, the king told him, “What’s the point of us talking anymore? My decision is that you and Ziba divide the fields.”
30 But Mephibosheth told the king, “Let him take all of it, now that your majesty the king has returned safely to his palace.”
David’s Mercy for Barzillai
31 Barzillai the Gileadite also had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan River with the king and to see him on his way from there. 32 Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai[m] had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim.[n] 33 So the king invited Barzillai, “Cross the Jordan River[o] with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I’ll provide for you there.”[p]
34 “How many more years do I have to live,” Barzillai replied to the king, “that I should move to Jerusalem with the king? 35 I’m now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes[q] good or bad! I can’t tell what I eat or drink! I can’t hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king? 36 Your servant will cross the Jordan River[r] with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward? 37 Please let your servant return so I can die in my own home town near the grave of my father and mother. Meanwhile, here is your servant Chimham![s] Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you.”
38 So the king answered, “Chimham will accompany me, and I’ll do for him whatever seems best to you! I’ll do anything for you that you want!” 39 Then all the people crossed the Jordan River,[t] followed by the king. The king embraced[u] Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai[v] returned to his home.[w] 40 As the king crossed over the Jordan River[x] to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel.
Petty Quarrels Arise between Israel and Judah
41 Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him,[y] “Why did our relatives in Judah’s army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River,[z] along with David’s army?”
42 Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, “We did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off[aa] the king’s expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?”
43 But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: “We[ab] represent ten of the tribes[ac] of Israel! So we[ad] have more right to David than you[ae] do! Why haven’t you[af] taken us[ag] seriously? Weren’t we[ah] the first to talk about bringing back our[ai] king?” But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.
Paul’s Thorn
12 I must boast, although it does not do any good. Let’s talk about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man who belongs to the Messiah.[a] Fourteen years ago—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows—that man was snatched away to the third heaven. 3 I know that this man—whether in his body or outside of his body, I do not know, but God knows— 4 was snatched away to Paradise and heard things that cannot be expressed in words, things that no human being has a right even to mention.
5 I will boast about this man, but as for myself I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 However, if I did want to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I am not going to do it in order to keep anyone from thinking more of me than what he sees and hears about me.
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn[b] was given to me and placed in my body.[c] It was Satan’s messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.
8 I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, 9 but he has told me, “My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah’s[d] power may rest on me. 10 That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah’s[e] sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Concern for the Corinthians
11 I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. Really, I should have been commended by you, for I am not in any way inferior to your “super-apostles,” even if I am nothing. 12 The signs of an apostle were performed among you with utmost patience—signs, wonders, and powerful actions. 13 How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong! 14 Now I’m ready to visit you for a third time, and I will not bother you for help. I do not want your things, but rather you yourselves. Children should not have to support[f] their parents, but parents their children. 15 I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?
16 Granting that I have not been a burden to you, was I a clever schemer who trapped you by some trick? 17 I did not take advantage of you through any of the men I sent you, did I? 18 I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent along with him the brother you know so well. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? We conducted ourselves with the same spirit, didn’t we? We took the very same steps, didn’t we?
19 Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of[g] the Messiah,[h] and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up. 20 I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct. 21 I am afraid that when I come my God may again humble me before you and that I may have to grieve over many who formerly lived in sin and have not repented of their impurity, sexual immorality, and promiscuity that they once practiced.
A Message Condemning Tyre
26 During the eleventh year, on the first day of the month of our captivity[a], this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, because Tyre has been saying about Jerusalem,
‘The international gateway is broken down!
It’s wide open to me!
I will be replenished,
now that it lies in ruins!’
3 “Therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m coming to get[b] you, Tyre! I’m about to bring many nations to attack you. They’ll come in wave after wave, like the advancing tide,[c] 4 and will destroy the city walls of Tyre. After they break down her fortified towers, I’ll scrape away the city’s debris, right down to the bare bedrock, 5 and it will become a place where nets will be spread out right in the middle of the Mediterranean[d] Sea. Because I have declared this to happen,’ declares the Lord God, ‘Tyre will be treated as the spoils of war by the invading[e] nations. 6 Furthermore, her citizens[f] who live on the mainland will be executed with swords. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Invasion
7 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m about to bring from the north King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that king of kings. He’ll come with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast army. 8 He’ll execute your citizens who live on the mainland with swords. He’ll build siege engines to attack you. Then he’ll construct siege ramps against you and build huge shields to protect themselves[g] against you.
9 “‘He’ll direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and will breach your fortified towers with axes.[h] 10 There will be so many horses that the dust raised by them will cover you completely. The walls of your city will tremble from the noise of Nebuchadnezzar’s[i] cavalry, wagons, and chariots when they enter through the gates of your city, as men enter a city that has been breached.
11 “‘Their horses will trample all the public places as he executes your inhabitants with swords. The most fortified of your pillars will be torn to the ground. 12 They will plunder your riches and loot your businesses. They’ll tear down your walls and demolish your luxurious homes. They’ll grab the stones, wood, and rubble from the destruction and dump it all into the Mediterranean[j] Sea.
13 “‘I’ll silence the noise of your songs and the music of your harps won’t be heard anymore. 14 I’ll turn you into bare rock, and your city will become a place to spread nets. You will never be built again, because I the Lord have decreed this,’ declares the Lord God.”
Terror at Tyre’s Destruction
15 “This is what the Lord God says to Tyre: ‘When your wounded citizens groan while the slaughter takes place among you, the people who live in the coastlands will tremble in terror as they hear about your fall, will they not? 16 That’s when all the kings of the seafaring nations will abandon their thrones, strip off their fancy clothes, and collapse trembling on the ground. They’ll be so frightened as they observe what has happened to you that they’ll be unable to stop trembling. They will be utterly appalled at you! 17 They’ll sing this mourning song for you:
“How lost you are,
you inhabited city,
that was built in the middle of the sea!
How famous you were!
How strong on the sea!
She and her inhabitants
inflicted[k] terror to everyone
who lived within her.”
18 ‘Now the coastland inhabitants
will tremble on the day that you fall.
The coastland inhabitants,
who make their living from[l] the sea,
will be terrified when you pass away!’
19 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘When I turn your city into a ghost town, when I flood you with deep water that covers you completely, 20 I’ll make sure that you go straight to the Pit,[m] into the lowest part of the earth, where you’ll be with people who lived in ancient times. You’ll keep company there with the dead, who have gone into the Pit.[n] As a result, your city[o] won’t be inhabited. Meanwhile, I will display my glory in the land of the living. 21 I’m going to send terrifying calamity in your direction, and you won’t exist any longer. You might be sought after, but you’ll never be found again,’ declares the Lord God.”
An instruction[a] of Asaph
A Plea for Deliverance
74 Why, God? Have you rejected us forever?
Your anger is burning against the sheep of your pasture.
2 Remember your community,
whom you purchased long ago,
the tribe whom you redeemed
for your possession.
Remember[b] Mount Zion,
where you live.
3 Hurry! Look at the permanent ruins—
every calamity the enemy brought upon the Holy Place.
4 Those who are opposing you roar
where we were meeting with you;
they unfurl their war banners as signs.
5 As one blazes a trail
through a forest with an ax,
6 now they’re tearing down all its carved work
with hatchets and hammers.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground,
desecrating your dwelling place.
8 They say to themselves,
“We’ll crush them completely;”
They burned down all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We see no signs for us;
there is no longer a prophet,
and no one among us knows the future.[c]
10 God, how long will the adversary scorn
while the enemy despises your name endlessly?
11 Why do you not withdraw your hand—
your right hand—from your bosom
and destroy them?[d]
12 But God is my king from ancient times,
who brings acts of deliverance throughout the earth.
13 You split the sea by your own power.
You shattered the heads of sea monsters in the water.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan.
You set it as food for desert creatures.[e]
15 You opened both the spring and the river;
you dried up flowing rivers.
16 Yours is the day, and yours is the night;
you established the moon and the sun.
17 You set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made summer and winter.
18 Remember this: The enemy scorns the Lord
and a foolish people despises your name.
19 Don’t hand over the life of your dove to beasts;
do not continuously forget your afflicted ones.
20 Pay attention to your covenant,
for the dark regions of the earth are full of violence.
21 Don’t let the oppressed return in humiliation.
The poor and needy will praise your name.
22 Get up, God, and prosecute your case—
remember that you’re being scorned
by fools all day long.
23 Don’t ignore the shout of those opposing you,
The uproar of those who rebel against you continuously.
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