M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Shunammite’s Land is Restored
8 Meanwhile, Elisha urged the woman whose son he had restored to life, “You must get up and leave with your household to go live wherever you can, because the Lord has called for a famine, and it’s going to come over the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman followed the instructions given to her by the man of God, and she went to the territory of the Philistines to live for seven years with her household. 3 At the end of the seven years, the woman returned from the territory of the Philistines and went to the king in order to file an appeal regarding her house and her grain field.
4 The king was talking with Gehazi, the attendant of the man of God. He had asked Gehazi, “Please tell me about all of the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 Just as he was telling the king about Elisha’s having restored the dead to life, the woman whose son had been restored arrived and appealed to the king for her house and her land!
Gehazi told the king, “Your majesty, this is the woman! And here’s her son, whom Elisha restored to life!”
6 The king consulted with the woman, who related the story. So the king appointed a court official to represent her and ordered him: “Restore to her everything that belonged to her, including all of the produce that her fields yielded from the day she left the land until now.”
The Murder of King Ben-hadad of Aram
7 Later on, Elisha traveled to Damascus. King Ben-hadad of Aram was ill, but someone informed him, “The man of God has come here!”
8 So the king told Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go meet the man of God. Inquire of the Lord through him and ask, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”
9 So Hazael went out to meet with him and took a gift with him—40 camel loads filled with samples of everything good in Damascus. He approached the man of God[a] and said, “Your son King Ben-hadad from Aram has sent me to you to ask you, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”
10 But Elisha told him, “Go tell him, ‘You will certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die.” 11 Then Elisha[b] looked steadily at Hazael[c] until Hazael grew ashamed, and then the man of God began to cry.
12 “Why are you crying, sir?” Hazael asked.
“Because I know the evil that you’re about to bring on the Israelis,” he replied. “You’ll burn down their fortified cities, execute their young men with swords, dash to pieces their little ones, and you’ll tear open their pregnant women!”
13 But Hazael responded, “What? Who am I, your servant, that I should do such a horrible thing?”
But Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
14 So he left Elisha and returned to his master, who asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?”
He replied, “He told me that you would certainly get better.”
15 But the very next day, Hazael[d] grabbed a thick covering, soaked it in water, and spread it over the king’s[e] face, and he suffocated.[f] Then Hazael succeeded Ben-hadad[g] as king.
Jehoram Comes to the Throne of Judah
16 Sometime during the fifth year of the reign of Ahab’s son Joram, king of Israel (while Jehoshaphat was still ruling as king of Judah), Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram ascended to the throne of Judah. 17 He was 32 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years. 18 He lived his life like the kings of Israel did, following the example of Ahab’s household when he married Ahab’s daughter and practiced what was evil in the Lord’s presence.[h] 19 But the Lord remained unwilling to destroy Judah for the sake of his servant David, since he had promised to keep[i] David’s lamp burning brightly through his descendants every day.
20 During Jehoram’s lifetime, Edom rebelled from Judah’s hegemony and appointed a king to rule over themselves. 21 Then Joram crossed over to Zair, along with all of his chariots. At night he attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the commanders of his chariots, but the army[j] ran away to their tents. 22 Edom remains in rebellion against Judah to this day, and Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 The rest of the official[k] acts of Joram, along with everything else that he did, are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah,[l] are they not?
Ahaziah Succeeds Jehoram
24 After Jehoram was laid to rest with his ancestors in the City of David, his son Ahaziah replaced him as king. 25 Jehoram’s son Ahaziah began to reign as king of Judah during the twelfth year of the reign of Ahab’s son Joram, king of Israel. 26 Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for one year.
His mother was named Athaliah. She was the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel. 27 Ahaziah lived his life following the example of Ahab’s household, practicing what the Lord considered to be evil, just like the household of Ahab, because he was a son-in-law to Ahab’s household. 28 He joined Ahab’s son Joram in an attack on King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, and that’s where the Arameans wounded Joram. 29 Then King Joram retreated to Jezreel to recover from the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah during the battle against King Hazael of Aram. Jehoram’s son Ahaziah, king of Judah, went to visit Ahab’s son Joram in Jezreel because Joram was sick.[m]
Treatment of Widows
5 Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him as if he were your father. Treat[a] younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters, with absolute purity.
3 Honor widows who have no other family members to care for them.[b] 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to respect their own family by repaying their parents, for this is pleasing in God’s sight. 5 A woman who has no other family members to care for her[c] and who is left all alone has placed her hope in God and devotes herself to petitions and prayers night and day. 6 But the self-indulgent widow[d] is just as good as dead.
7 Continue to give these instructions, so that they may be blameless. 8 If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 A widow may be put on the widows’[e] list if she is at least sixty years old and has been the wife of one husband.[f] 10 She must be well known for her good actions as a woman who has raised children, welcomed strangers, washed the saints’ feet, helped the suffering, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.
11 But do not include younger widows on your list.[g] For whenever their natural desires cause them to lose their devotion to the Messiah,[h] they want to remarry. 12 They receive condemnation because they have set aside their prior commitment to the Messiah.[i] 13 At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other people’s lives, saying things they should not say.
14 Therefore, I want younger widows to remarry, have children, manage their homes, and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them. 15 For some widows[j] have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any woman[k] is a believer and has relatives who are widows, she should help them. The church should not be burdened, so it can help those widows who have no other family members to care for them.[l]
Elders and Their Duties
17 Elders who handle their duties[m] well should be considered worthy of double compensation,[n] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out grain,”[o] and, “A worker deserves his pay.”[p] 19 Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported “by two or three witnesses.”[q] 20 As for those who keep on sinning, rebuke them in front of everyone so that the rest will also be afraid. 21 With God as my witness, as well as the Messiah[r] Jesus and the chosen angels, I solemnly call on you to carry out these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. 22 Do not ordain[s] anyone hastily. Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses.
24 The sins of some people are obvious, leading them to judgment. The sins[t] of others follow them there. 25 In the same way, good actions are obvious, and those that are not cannot remain hidden.
The End Times
12 “‘At that time, Michael[a] will arise, the great prince who will stand up on behalf of your people, and a time of trouble will come like there has never been since nations began until that time. Also at that time, your people will be delivered—everyone who will have been written in the book. 2 Many of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken—some to life everlasting, and some to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine[b] like the stars for ever and ever. 4 Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around, while knowledge increases.’”
The Vision of the Two Speakers
5 “Then while I, Daniel, continued watching, suddenly two others stood there, one on this side of the river bank and one on the other side. 6 One asked the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing[c] above the waters of the river, ‘How long until the fulfillment of the wonders?’
7 “I heard the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing[d] above the waters of the river as he lifted his right and left hands to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half. When the shattering of the power of the holy people has occurred, all these things will conclude.”
Daniel’s Unanswered Question
8 “I heard, but I didn’t understand. So I asked, ‘Sir,[e] what happens next?’
9 “He answered, ‘Go on your way, Daniel, because these matters[f] are wrapped up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, though the wicked will continue to act wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand. Nevertheless, the insightful[g] will understand. 11 There will be[h] 1,290 days from the time the regular burnt offering[i] is rescinded and the destructive desolation established. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres and attains to the 1,335 days. 13 Now as for you, keep on going until the end—you’ll rest and then rise to receive your reward at the end of the age.’”[j]
Zayin
Remembering What God Has Said
49 Remember what you said[a] to your servant,
by which you caused me to hope.
50 This is what comforts me in my troubles:
that what you say revives me.
51 Even though the arrogant utterly deride me,
I do not turn away from your instruction.[b]
52 I have remembered your ancient ordinances, Lord,
and I take comfort in them.
53 I burn with indignation because of the wicked
who forsake your instruction.[c]
54 Your statutes are my songs,
no matter where I make my home.[d]
55 In the night I remember your name, Lord,
and keep your instruction.[e]
56 I have made it my personal responsibility
to keep your precepts.
Cheth
Keeping God’s Word
57 The Lord is my inheritance;
I have given my promise to keep your word.
58 I have sought your favor with all of my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 I examined my lifestyle
and set my feet in the direction of your decrees.
60 I hurried and did not procrastinate
to keep your commands.
61 Though the ropes of the wicked have ensnared me,
I have not forgotten your instruction.[f]
62 At midnight I will get up to thank you
for your righteous ordinances.
63 I am united with all who fear you,
and with everyone who keeps your precepts.
64 Lord, the earth overflows with your gracious love!
Teach me your statutes.
Teth
Praise for God’s Word
65 Lord, you have dealt well with your servant,
according to your word.
66 Teach me both knowledge and appropriate discretion,
because I believe in your commands.
67 Before I was humbled, I wandered away,
but now I observe your words.
68 Lord,[g] you are good[h], and do what is good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The arrogant have accused me falsely;
but I will observe your precepts wholeheartedly.
70 Their minds are clogged as with greasy fat,
but I find joy in your instruction.[i]
71 It was for my good that I was humbled;[j]
so that I would learn your statutes.
72 Instruction[k] that comes from you[l] is better for me
than thousands of gold and silver coins.[m]
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