M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Good King Jotham Prospers
27 Jotham was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 He did what was right in the eyes of Adonai, just as his father Uzziah had done. But unlike his father, he did not enter into the Temple of Adonai. The people, however, acted corruptly. 3 He rebuilt the upper gate of the House of Adonai and did extensive building on the wall of Ophel. 4 He also built towns in the Judean hills and forts and towers in the forests.
5 Jotham also fought the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. That year the Ammonites paid him 100 talents of silver, 10,000 measures of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites brought him the same amount also in the second and third years.
6 Jotham became powerful because he ordered his ways before Adonai his God. 7 Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. 8 He was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. 9 Jotham slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David. Ahaz his son became king in his place.
Ahaz’s Sin in the Valley of Ben-hinnom
28 Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. But he did not do what was right in the eyes of Adonai as his father David had done, 2 but followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and even made molten images for the Baalim. 3 Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Adonai had driven out before Bnei-Yisrael. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense in the high places, on the hills and under every leafy tree.
5 Therefore Adonai his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram who defeated him and took away from him many prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted many casualties on him. 6 In one day, Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant soldiers of Judah—because they had forsaken Adonai, the God of their fathers.
Mercy Shown to Judah’s Captives
7 Also Zichri, a warrior from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, Azrikam the official in charge of the palace and Elkanah the second to the king. 8 Men of Israel carried away captive 200,000 of their kinsmen, women, sons and daughters. They also took away a great deal of plunder from them that they brought to Samaria.
9 But a prophet of Adonai named Oded was there and he went out to meet the army on its return to Samaria. He said to them, “Behold, because Adonai, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has given them into your hand and you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. 10 So now you intend to bring into bondage the children of Judah and Jerusalem as your male and female slaves? Are you not also guilty of transgressions against Adonai your God? 11 So now, listen to me. Send back the prisoners you have captured from your kinsmen—for the fierce wrath of Adonai is upon you!”
12 Then some of the leaders of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai—confronted those coming from the campaign, 13 and said to them, “Do not bring the captives in here, for that would cause us to trespass against Adonai. Do you intend to add to our sins and our guilt? For our guilt is already great, and his fierce anger is already against Israel.”
14 So the soldiers released the captives and the plunder in the presence of the chieftains and the entire congregation. 15 Then the men designated by name stood up and took the captives, and they clothed all who were naked from the plunder. They gave them clothes and sandals, food and drink, anointed them, led all the feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them back to their kinsmen at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.
Ahaz Leads Judah Into Idolatry
16 About that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help. 17 Once again the Edomites had come and invaded Judah and taken captives, 18 while the Philistines had raided the towns in the foothills and in the South of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon and Gederot, as well as Soho, Timnah and Gimzo with their villages. 19 For Adonai humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he threw off restraint in Judah and trespassed against Adonai. 20 Tilgat-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him— 21 even though Ahaz plundered the House of Adonai, the house of the king and the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria—it did not help him.
22 In his time of distress, this same King Ahaz acted even more unfaithfully to Adonai. 23 He even sacrificed to the gods of Damascus after he had been defeated, for he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them and they will help me.” But they caused the downfall of him and all Israel.
24 Ahaz even collected the utensils of the House of God and cut the utensils of the House of God into pieces. He shut the doors of the House of Adonai and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every town of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods—provoking Adonai, the God of his fathers.
26 Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, the first and the last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 27 Then Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem, but he was not brought into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Hezekiah his son became king in his place.
A Song for the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion,[a] and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and the booming of loud thunder.[b] The voice I heard was like harpists playing on their harps. 3 And they are singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one is able to learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
4 These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.
These have been redeemed from among mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no lie—they are blameless.[c]
Three Angels with Messages
6 And then I saw another angel flying high in the sky, having a timeless message of good news to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water.”
8 Another angel, a second one, followed, saying,
“Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great[d]—
she who made all nations drink
of the wine of the fury of her immorality.”
9 And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he shall also drink the wine of God’s fury, poured full strength into the cup of His wrath.[e] And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone[f] before the holy angels and before the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever.[g] Those who worship the beast and its image and those who receive the mark of his name have no rest day or night.”
12 Here is the perseverance of the kedoshim—those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying,[h]
“Write: How fortunate are the dead—those who die in the Lord from now on!”
“Yes,” says the Ruach, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”
Time to Harvest the Earth
14 Then I looked, and behold, there was a white cloud—and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man.[i] He had a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the Temple, crying out with a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud,
“Put in your sickle and reap,
for the hour to reap has come,
because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”
16 So the One seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.[j]
17 Then another angel came out of the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel—the one who has authority over fire—came out from the altar; and he called out with a loud voice to the one holding the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sickle and gather the grape clusters from the vineyard of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the clusters from the vineyard of the earth and threw them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was stomped on outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 1,600 stadia.[k]
Good Shepherd Cares for Judah
10 Ask Adonai for rain in spring!
Adonai makes the storm clouds
and will give rain showers
and plants of the field to everyone.
2 The idols utter deceit
and diviners see lies.
They relate false dreams
and comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep,
afflicted because there is no shepherd.[a]
3 My anger burns against the shepherds
and I will punish the leaders.[b]
Adonai-Tzva’ot cares for His flock,
the house of Judah.
He will make them His valiant steed in battle.
4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,[c]
from him the tent peg,
from him the battle bow
and from him every leader together.
5 They will be like mighty men
treading down muddy streets in war.
They will fight, because Adonai is with them
and will put horsemen to shame.
6 I will strengthen the house of Judah
and save the house of Joseph.
I will bring them back,
for I have compassion on them.
They will be as though
I had never spurned them,
for I am Adonai their God
and I will answer them!
7 The Ephraimites will be like a warrior.
Their hearts will be glad as with wine.
Their children will see and be glad.
Their hearts will rejoice in Adonai.
8 I will signal for them and gather them.
Surely I will redeem them
and they will be as numerous as before.
9 Though I scatter them among the peoples,
they will remember Me in distant places.
They and their children will survive and return.
10 I will restore from the land of Egypt
and gather them from Assyria.
I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon
till there is no room for them.
11 He will cross the turbulent sea
and calm its raging waves.
All the depths of the Nile will dry up,
the pride of Assyria brought down,
the scepter of Egypt removed.
12 So I will strengthen them in Adonai
and they will walk in His Name.
It is a declaration of Adonai.
Modeling Servanthood
13 Now it was just before the feast of Passover. Yeshua knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them until the end.[a]
2 While the seder meal was happening, the devil had already put in the heart of Judah from Kriot that he should hand over Yeshua. 3 Yeshua knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So He gets up from the meal and lays aside His outer garment; and taking a towel, He wrapped it around His waist. 5 Then He pours water into a basin. He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around Him.
6 Then He comes to Simon Peter, who says to Him, “Master, are You going to wash my feet?”
7 Yeshua responded, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Master, then not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Yeshua said to him, “He who has bathed has no need to wash, except the feet; he is completely clean. And you all are clean, though not every one.” 11 He knew who was betraying Him; for this reason, He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 So after He had washed their feet and put His robe back on and reclined again, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13 You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master’—and rightly you say, for I am. 14 So if I, your Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example—you should do for each other what I have done for you.
16 “Amen, amen I tell you, a servant isn’t greater than his master, and the one who is sent isn’t greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them!”
Yeshua Reveals His Betrayer
18 “I am not speaking to all of you—I know whom I have chosen. But so the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ [b] 19 From now on I am telling you, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am. 20 Amen, amen I tell you, he who receives the one I send, receives Me; and he who receives Me, receives the One who sent Me.”
21 After He said these things, Yeshua was agitated in spirit and testified, “Amen, amen I tell you, one of you will betray Me!”
22 The disciples began looking at each other, perplexed—who was He talking about? 23 One of His disciples, whom Yeshua loved, was reclining at His side. 24 Simon Peter nods to him and says, “Ask Him—who is He talking about?”
25 Then he who leaned on Yeshua’s chest says to Him, “Master, who is it?”
26 Yeshua answers, “It’s the one I will give this bit of matzah to, after I dip it.” After dipping the matzah,[c] He takes it and gives it to Judah from Kriot, the son of Simon. 27 And with that bit, satan entered into him. Then Yeshua tells him, “What you’re about to do, do quickly!”
28 But no one reclining at the table knew why Yeshua said this to him. 29 Since Judah had the moneybox, some thought Yeshua was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So after Judah received the bit of matzah, he left immediately. Now it was night.
Leaving a Legacy of Love
31 Then when Judah had gone out, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him! 32 If God is glorified in Him,[d] God will glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will search for Me; and just as I told the Judean leaders, so I say to you now, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 “Master, where are You going?” Simon Peter said to Him.
Yeshua answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow Me later.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Master, why can’t I follow You now? I’ll lay down my life for You!”
38 Yeshua answers, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Amen, amen I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.