M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 5

Elisha Cures Naaman’s Leprosy. ¹ Naaman, the army commander of the king of Aram, was highly esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the Lord had brought victory to Aram. But valiant as he was, the man was a leper.^{[a] 2} Now the Arameans had captured from the land of Israel in a raid a little girl, who became the servant of Naaman’s wife. ³ She said to her mistress, “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

⁴ Naaman went and told his master, “This is what the girl from the land of Israel said.” ⁵ The king of Aram said, “Go. I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman set out, taking along ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments.

⁶ He brought the king of Israel the letter, which read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” ⁷ When he read the letter, the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed: “Am I a god with power over life and death, that this man should send someone for me to cure him of leprosy? Take note! You can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me!”^{(A) 8} When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments, he sent word to the king: “Why have you torn your garments? Let him come to me and find out that there is a prophet in Israel.”

⁹ Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.”^{(B) 11} But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand there to call on the name of the Lord his God, and would move his hand over the place, and thus cure the leprous spot. ¹² Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?”^[b] With this, he turned about in anger and left.

¹³ But his servants came up and reasoned with him: “My father, if the prophet told you to do something extraordinary, would you not do it? All the more since he told you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” ¹⁴ So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.^(C)

¹⁵ He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.”^{(D) 16} Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives whom I serve, I will not take it.” And despite Naaman’s urging, he still refused. ¹⁷ Naaman said: “If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth,^[c] for your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord. ¹⁸ But may the Lord forgive your servant this: when my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down there, as he leans upon my arm, I too must bow down in the temple of Rimmon. When I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord please forgive your servant this.” ¹⁹ Elisha said to him, “Go in peace.”^[d]

Naaman had gone some distance ²⁰ when Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, thought to himself: “My master was too easy on this Aramean Naaman, not accepting what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something out of him.” ²¹ So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. Seeing that someone was running after him, Naaman alighted from his chariot to wait for him. He asked, “Is everything all right?” ²² Gehazi replied, “Yes, but my master sent me to say, ‘Two young men have just come to me, guild prophets from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two festal garments.’” ²³ Naaman said, “I insist! Take two talents,” and he pressed him. He tied up two silver talents in bags and gave them, with two festal garments, to two of his servants, who carried them before Gehazi. ²⁴ When he reached the hill, Gehazi received these things, appropriated them for his house, and sent the men on their way.

²⁵ He went in and stood by Elisha his master, who asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” He answered, “Your servant has not gone anywhere.” ²⁶ But Elisha said to him: “Was I not present in spirit when someone got down from his chariot to wait for you? Is this a time to take money or to take garments, olive orchards or vineyards, sheep or cattle, male or female servants? ²⁷ The leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And Gehazi went out, a leper with skin like snow.^[e]

III. Problems of Discipline

Chapter 2

Prayer and Conduct. ^1 [a]First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,^{(A) 2} for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. ³ This is good and pleasing to God our savior,^{(B) 4} who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.^(C)

This was the testimony^[b] at the proper time.^{(E) 7} For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.^(F)

^8 [c]It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. ⁹ Similarly, [too,] women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes,^{(G) 10} but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds.^{(H) 11} A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control.^{(I) 12} I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.^[d] She must be quiet. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve.^{(J) 14} Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.^{(K) 15} But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.^(L)

Chapter 9

The Seventy Weeks of Years. ¹ It was the first year that Darius,^[a] son of Ahasuerus, of the race of the Medes, reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans; ^2 (A)in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years the Lord had decreed to the prophet Jeremiah: Jerusalem was to lie in ruins for seventy years.^[b]

³ I turned to the Lord God, to seek help, in prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. ^4 (B)I prayed to the Lord, my God, and confessed, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your covenant and show mercy toward those who love you and keep your commandments and your precepts! ⁵ We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and turned from your commandments and your laws. ⁶ We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and all the people of the land. ⁷ Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the lands to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you. ⁸ O Lord, we are ashamed, like our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, for having sinned against you. ⁹ But to the Lord, our God, belong compassion and forgiveness, though we rebelled against him ¹⁰ and did not hear the voice of the Lord, our God, by walking in his laws given through his servants the prophets. ^11 (C)The curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, were poured out over us for our sins, because all Israel transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to hear your voice. ¹² He fulfilled the words he spoke against us and against those who ruled us, by bringing upon us an evil—no evil so great has happened under heaven as happened in Jerusalem. ¹³ As it is written^[c] in the law of Moses, this evil has come upon us. We did not appease the Lord, our God, by turning back from our wickedness and acting according to your truth, ¹⁴ so the Lord kept watch over the evil and brought it upon us. The Lord, our God, is just in all that he has done: we did not listen to his voice.

¹⁵ “Now, Lord, our God, who led your people out of the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and made a name for yourself even to this day, we have sinned, we are guilty. ¹⁶ Lord, in keeping with all your just deeds, let your anger and your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. On account of our sins and the crimes of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become the reproach of all our neighbors. ¹⁷ Now, our God, hear the prayer and petition of your servant; and for your own sake, Lord, let your face shine upon your desolate sanctuary. ¹⁸ Give ear, my God, and listen; open your eyes and look upon our desolate city upon which your name is invoked. When we present our petition before you, we rely not on our just deeds, but on your great mercy. ¹⁹ Lord, hear! Lord, pardon! Lord, be attentive and act without delay, for your own sake, my God, because your name is invoked upon your city and your people!”

²⁰ I was still praying to the Lord, my God, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, presenting my petition concerning the holy mountain of my God— ²¹ I was still praying, when the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in vision before, came to me in flight at the time of the evening offering.^{[d] 22} He instructed me in these words: “Daniel, I have now come to give you understanding. ²³ When you began your petition, an answer was given which I have come to announce, because you are beloved. Therefore, mark the answer and understand the vision.

Psalm 117^[a]

The Nations Called to Praise

Psalm 118^[b]

Hymn of Thanksgiving

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII