M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Samuel Speaks About the King
12 Samuel said to all Israel: “I have done everything you wanted me to do. I have put a king over you. 2 Now you have a king to lead you. I am old and gray, but my sons are here with you. I have been your leader since I was young. 3 Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, you must tell these things to the Lord and his chosen king.[a] Did I steal anyone’s ox or donkey? Did I hurt or cheat anyone? Did I ever take money, or even a pair of sandals, to do something wrong? If I did any of these things, I will make it right.”
4 The Israelites answered, “No, you never did anything bad to us. You never cheated us or took things from us.”
5 Samuel said to the Israelites, “The Lord and his chosen king are witnesses today. They heard what you said—that you found nothing wrong with me.” The people answered, “Yes, the Lord is witness!”
6 Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord has seen what happened. He is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors out of Egypt. 7 Now, stand there. I will accuse you before the Lord and I will tell you about[b] the good things the Lord did for you and your ancestors.
8 “Jacob went to Egypt. Later, the Egyptians made life hard for his descendants. So they cried to the Lord for help. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they took your ancestors out of Egypt and led them to live in this place.
9 “But your ancestors forgot the Lord their God. So he let them become the slaves of Sisera, the commander of the army at Hazor. Then the Lord let them become the slaves of the Philistines and the king of Moab. They all fought against your ancestors. 10 But your ancestors cried to the Lord for help. They said, ‘We have sinned. We left the Lord, and we served the false gods Baal and Ashtoreth. But now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.’
11 “So the Lord sent Gideon,[c] Barak,[d] Jephthah, and Samuel.[e] He saved you from your enemies around you, and you lived in safety. 12 But then you saw King Nahash of the Ammonites coming to fight against you. You said, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us!’ You said that, even though the Lord your God was already your king. 13 Now, here is the king you chose. The Lord put this king over you. 14 You must fear and respect the Lord. You must serve him and obey his commands. You must not turn against him. You and the king ruling over you must follow the Lord your God. If you do, God will save you.[f] 15 But if you don’t listen to the Lord, if you refuse to do what the Lord says, he will be against you. The Lord will destroy you and your king.
16 “Now stand still and see the great thing the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Now is the time of the wheat harvest.[g] I will pray to the Lord and ask him to send thunder and rain. Then you will know you did a very bad thing against the Lord when you asked for a king.”
18 So Samuel prayed to the Lord. That same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. And the people became very afraid of the Lord and Samuel. 19 All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for us, your servants. Don’t let us die! We have sinned many times. And now we have added to these sins—we have asked for a king.”
20 Samuel answered, “Don’t be afraid. It is true that you did all these bad things, but don’t stop following the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Idols are only statues—they can’t help you. So don’t worship them. Idols can’t help you or save you. They are nothing!
22 “But the Lord won’t leave his people. No, the Lord was pleased to make you his own people. So for his own good name, he won’t leave you. 23 And as for me, I would never stop praying for you. If I stopped praying for you, I would be sinning against the Lord. I will continue to teach you the right way to live a good life. 24 But you must honor the Lord. You must serve him sincerely with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he has done for you. 25 But if you are stubborn and do evil, God will throw you and your king away, like dirt swept out with a broom.”
10 Brothers and sisters, what I want most is for all the people of Israel to be saved. That is my prayer to God. 2 I can say this about them: They really try hard to follow God, but they don’t know the right way. 3 They did not know the way that God makes people right with him. And they tried to make themselves right in their own way. So they did not accept God’s way of making people right. 4 Christ ended the law so that everyone who believes in him is made right with God.
5 Moses writes about being made right by following the law. He says, “The person who obeys these laws is the one who will have life through them.”[a] 6 But this is what the Scriptures say about being made right through faith: “Don’t say to yourself, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’” (This means “Who will go up to heaven to get Christ and bring him down to earth?”) 7 “And don’t say, ‘Who will go down into the world below?’” (This means “Who will go down to get Christ and bring him up from death?”)
8 This is what the Scripture says: “God’s teaching is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.”[b] It is the teaching of faith that we tell people. 9 If you openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 10 Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved.
11 Yes, the Scriptures say, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.”[c] 12 It says this because there is no difference between those who are Jews and those who are not. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. And he richly blesses everyone who looks to him for help. 13 Yes, “everyone who trusts in the Lord[d] will be saved.”[e]
14 But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for anyone to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them. 15 And before anyone can go and tell them, they must be sent. As the Scriptures say, “How wonderful it is to see someone coming to tell good news!”[f]
16 But not all the people accepted that good news. Isaiah said, “Lord, who believed what we told them?”[g] 17 So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.
18 But I ask, “Did those people not hear the Good News?” Yes, they heard—as the Scriptures say,
“Their voices went out all around the world.
Their words went everywhere in the world.” (A)
19 Again I ask, “Did the people of Israel not understand?” Yes, they did understand. First, Moses says this for God:
“I will use those who are not really a nation to make you jealous.
I will use a nation that does not understand to make you angry.” (B)
20 Then Isaiah is bold enough to say this for God:
“The people who were not looking for me—
they are the ones who found me.
I made myself known to those who did not ask for me.” (C)
21 But about the people of Israel God says,
“All day long I stood ready to accept those people,
but they are stubborn and refuse to obey me.” (D)
A Message About Ammon
49 This message is about the Ammonites. This is what the Lord says:
“Ammonites, do you think that
the people of Israel don’t have children?
Do you think there are no children
to take the land when the parents die?
Maybe that is why Milcom took Gad’s[a] land?”
2 The Lord says, “The time will come in Rabbah of Ammon[b]
when people hear the sounds of battle.
Rabbah of Ammon will be destroyed.
It will be an empty hill covered with ruined buildings,
and the towns around it will be burned.
Those people forced the people of Israel to leave their own land.
But later, Israel will force them to leave.”
This is what the Lord said.
3 “People in Heshbon, cry because the town of Ai is destroyed!
Women in Rabbah of Ammon, cry!
Put on sackcloth and cry.
Run to the city for safety,
because the enemy will take away the god Milcom,
with his priests and officials.
4 You brag about your strength,
but you are losing your strength.
You trust in your wealth to save you.
You think no one would even think of attacking you.”
5 But this is what the Lord God All-Powerful says:
“I will bring troubles to you from every side.
You will all run away,
and no one will be able to bring you together again.”
6 “The Ammonites will be taken away as captives. But the time will come when I will bring the Ammonites back.” This message is from the Lord.
A Message About Edom
7 This message is about Edom. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says:
“Is there no more wisdom in Teman?
Are the wise men of Edom not able to give good advice?
Have they lost their wisdom?
8 You people living in Dedan, run away and hide,
because I will punish Esau for the bad things he did.
9 “Workers pick grapes from grapevines,
but they leave a few grapes on the plants.
If thieves come at night,
they don’t take everything.
10 But I will take everything from Esau.
I will find all his hiding places.
He will not be able to hide from me.
His children, relatives, and neighbors will all die.
11 No one will be left to care for his children.
His wives will have no one to depend on.”
12 This is what the Lord says: “Some people don’t deserve to be punished, but they suffer. But, Edom, you deserve to be punished, so you will really be punished. You will not escape the punishment you deserve. You will be punished.” 13 The Lord says, “By my own power, I make this promise: I promise that the city of Bozrah will be destroyed. It will become a ruined pile of rocks. People will use it as an example when they ask for bad things to happen to other cities. People will insult that city, and all the towns around Bozrah will become ruins forever.”
14 I heard a message from the Lord:
He sent this messenger to the nations.
This is the message:
“Gather your armies together!
Get ready for battle!
March against the nation of Edom!
15 Edom, I will make you become unimportant.
Everyone will hate you.
16 Edom, you made other nations afraid,
so you thought you were important.
But your pride has fooled you.
You live in caves, high on the cliff.
Your home is high in the hills.
But even if you build your home as high as an eagle’s nest,
I will bring you down from there.”
This is what the Lord said.
17 “Edom will be destroyed.
People will be shocked to see the destroyed cities.
They will whistle from amazement at the destroyed cities.
18 Edom will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them.
No one will live there.”
This is what the Lord said.
19 “Sometimes a lion will come from the thick bushes near the Jordan River. And it will go into the fields where people put their sheep and cattle. I am like that lion. I will go to Edom. And I will frighten the people and make them run away. None of their young men will stop me. No one is like me. No one will challenge me. None of their leaders will stand up against me.”
20 So listen to what the Lord has planned to do to the people of Edom.
Listen to what he has decided to do to the people in Teman.
The enemy will drag away the young kids of Edom’s flock.
Edom’s pastures will be empty because of what they did.
21 At the sound of Edom’s fall, the earth will shake.
Their cry will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.
22 Just as an eagle flies high to see the animal it will attack,
so the Lord will spread his wings over Bozrah.
And Edom’s soldiers will be filled with fear
like a woman giving birth.
A Message About Damascus
23 This message is about the city of Damascus:
“The towns of Hamath and Arpad are afraid.
They are afraid because they heard the bad news.
They are discouraged.
They are worried and afraid.
24 The city of Damascus has become weak.
The people want to run away.
They are ready to panic.
They are overcome with fear and pain,
like a woman giving birth.
25 “Damascus is a happy city.
The people have not left that ‘fun city’ yet.
26 So the young men will die in the public squares of that city.
All her soldiers will be killed at that time.”
This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
27 “I will set the walls of Damascus on fire.
The fire will completely burn up the strong forts of Ben-Hadad.[c]”
A Message About Kedar and Hazor
28 This message is about the tribe of Kedar and the rulers of Hazor. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated them. This is what the Lord says:
“Go and attack the tribe of Kedar.
Destroy the people of the East.
29 Their tents and flocks will be taken away.
Their tents and all their riches will be carried off.
Their enemy will take away the camels.
Men will shout this to them:
‘Terrible things are happening all around us.’
30 Run away quickly!
People in Hazor, find a good place to hide.”
This message is from the Lord.
“Nebuchadnezzar has made plans against you.
He thought of a smart plan to defeat you.
31 “There is a nation that feels so safe and secure
that it does not have gates or fences to protect it.
And no one lives near enough to help them.
So attack that nation!” says the Lord.
32 “Their camels are there to be taken in battle.
Their large herds of cattle will be yours.
I will scatter them throughout the earth—those people who cut their hair short.[d]
I will bring disaster on them from every direction.”
This message is from the Lord.
33 “Hazor will become a home for wild dogs, an empty desert forever.
No one will live there.
No one will stay in that place.”
A Message About Elam
34 Early in the time when Zedekiah was king of Judah, Jeremiah the prophet received a message from the Lord about the nation of Elam.[e]
35 The Lord All-Powerful says,
“I will break Elam’s bow very soon.
It is Elam’s strongest weapon.
36 I will bring the four winds against Elam.
I will bring them from the four corners of the skies.
I will send the people of Elam to every place on the earth where the four winds blow.
Elam’s captives will be carried away to every nation.
37 I will break Elam to pieces while their enemies are watching.
I will break Elam in front of the people who want to kill them.
I will bring terrible troubles to them.
I will show them how angry I am.”
This message is from the Lord.
“I will send a sword to chase Elam.
The sword will chase them until I have killed them all.
38 I will show Elam that I am in control,
and I will destroy its king and his officials.”
This message is from the Lord.
39 “But in the future I will make good things happen to Elam.”
This message is from the Lord.
A song of David.
26 Lord, you be the judge and prove that I have lived a pure life.
I have depended on you, Lord, to keep me from falling.
2 Look closely at me, Lord, and test me.
Judge my deepest thoughts and emotions.
3 I always remember your faithful love.
I depend on your faithfulness.
4 I don’t run around with troublemakers.
I have nothing to do with hypocrites.
5 I hate being around evil people.
I refuse to join those gangs of crooks.
6 Lord, I wash my hands to make myself pure,
so that I can come to your altar.
7 I sing a song to give you thanks,
and I tell about all the wonderful things you have done.
8 Lord, I love the house[a] where you live,
the place where your glory is.
9 Lord, don’t treat me like one of those sinners.
Don’t kill me with those murderers.
10 They are guilty of cheating people.
They take bribes to do wrong.
11 But I am innocent,
so be kind to me and save me.
12 I am safe from all danger
as I stand here praising you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
A song of David.
27 Lord, you are my Light and my Savior,
so why should I be afraid of anyone?
The Lord is where my life is safe,
so I will be afraid of no one!
2 Evil people might attack me.
They might try to destroy my body.
Yes, my enemies might attack me and try to destroy me,
but they will stumble and fall.
3 Even if an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid.
Even if people attack me in war, I will trust in the Lord.
4 I ask only one thing from the Lord.
This is what I want most:
Let me live in the Lord’s house all my life,
enjoying the Lord’s beauty
and spending time in his palace.[b]
5 He will protect me when I am in danger.
He will hide me in his tent.[c]
He will take me up to his place of safety.
6 If he will help me defeat the enemies around me,
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and play songs to honor the Lord.
7 Lord, hear my voice.
Be kind and answer me.
8 My heart told me to come to you, Lord,
so I am coming to ask for your help.
9 Don’t turn away from me.
Don’t be angry with your servant.
You are the only one who can help me.
My God, don’t leave me all alone.
You are my Savior.
10 Even if my mother and father leave me,
the Lord will take me in.
11 I have enemies, Lord, so teach me your ways.
Show me the right way to live.
12 My enemies have attacked me.
They have told lies about me and have tried to hurt me.
13 But I really believe
that I will see the Lord’s goodness before I die.[d]
14 Wait for the Lord’s help.
Be strong and brave,
and wait for the Lord’s help.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International