M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
King Jehoshaphat’s Religious Reforms
19 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned safely to his home in Jerusalem. 2 Jehu, son of the seer[a] Hanani, asked King Jehoshaphat, “Why do you help wicked people and love those who hate Yahweh? Yahweh’s anger is directed toward you because you have done this. 3 However, you’ve done some good things: You’ve burned the Asherah poles in this country, and you’ve wholeheartedly dedicated your life to serving Elohim.”
4 While Jehoshaphat was living in Jerusalem, he regularly went to the people between Beersheba and the mountains of Ephraim. He brought the people back to Yahweh Elohim of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah. 6 He told the judges, “Pay attention to what you’re doing. When you judge, you aren’t doing it for a human but for Yahweh. He will be with you when you hear a case. 7 May you have the fear of Yahweh in you. Be careful about what you do. Yahweh our Elohim is never unjust. He is impartial and never takes bribes.”
8 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, priests, and family heads from Israel to administer Yahweh’s laws and decide cases. They lived in Jerusalem. 9 He ordered them, “Do this wholeheartedly—with the fear of Yahweh and with faithfulness. 10 Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commands, rules, or regulations derived from Moses’ Teachings. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of Yahweh. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this, and you won’t be guilty of anything. 11 Now, the chief priest Amariah will be in charge of you in every matter involving Yahweh. Zebadiah, who is the son of Ishmael and the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be in charge of every matter involving the king. The Levites will serve as officers of the court. Be strong, and do your job. May Yahweh be with those who do right.”
King Jehoshaphat Defeats Judah’s Enemies
20 Later the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[b] came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some men reported to Jehoshaphat, “A large crowd is coming against you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from Edom.[c] The crowd is already in Hazazon Tamar” (also called En Gedi).
3 Frightened, Jehoshaphat decided to ask for Yahweh’s help. He announced a fast throughout Judah. 4 The people of Judah gathered to seek Yahweh’s help. They came from every city in Judah.
5 In the new courtyard at Yahweh’s temple, Jehoshaphat stood in front of the people. 6 He said, “Yahweh Elohim of our ancestors, aren’t you the Elohim in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess power and might, and no one can oppose you. 7 Didn’t you, our Elohim, force those who were living in this country out of Israel’s way? Didn’t you give this country to the descendants of your friend Abraham to have permanently? 8 His descendants have lived in it and built a holy temple for your name in it. They said, 9 ‘If evil comes in the form of war, flood,[d] plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple and in front of you because your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you in our troubles, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “The Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir have come here. However, you didn’t let Israel invade them when they came out of Egypt. The Israelites turned away from them and didn’t destroy them. 11 They are now paying us back by coming to force us out of your land that you gave to us. 12 You’re our Elohim. Won’t you judge them? We don’t have the strength to face this large crowd that is attacking us. We don’t know what to do, so we’re looking to you.”
13 All the people from Judah, their infants, wives, and children were standing in front of Yahweh. 14 Then the Ruach Yahweh came to Jahaziel. (He was the son of Zechariah, grandson of Benaiah, great-grandson of Jeiel, whose father was Mattaniah, a Levite descended from Asaph.) 15 Jahaziel said, “Pay attention to me, everyone from Judah, everyone living in Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahweh says to you: Don’t be frightened or terrified by this large crowd. The battle isn’t yours. It’s Elohim’s. 16 Tomorrow go into battle against them. They will be coming up the Ziz Pass. You will find them at the end of the valley in front of the Jeruel Desert. 17 You won’t fight this battle. Instead, take your position, stand still, and see the victory of Yahweh for you, Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be frightened or terrified. Tomorrow go out to face them. Yahweh is with you.”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face touching the ground. Everyone from Judah and the people who lived in Jerusalem immediately bowed down in front of Yahweh. 19 The Levites, descendants of Kohath and Korah, stood up to praise Yahweh Elohim of Israel with very loud songs.
20 They got up early in the morning and went to the desert of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. Trust Yahweh your Elohim, and believe. Believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”
21 After he had advised the people, he appointed people to sing to Yahweh and praise him for the beauty of his holiness. As they went in front of the troops, they sang, “Thank Yahweh because his mercy endures forever!” 22 As they started to sing praises, Yahweh set ambushes against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the people of Mount Seir who had come into Judah. They were defeated. 23 Then the Ammonites and Moabites attacked the people from Mount Seir and annihilated them. After they had finished off the people of Seir, they helped destroy one another.
24 The people of Judah went to the watchtower in the desert and looked for the crowd. Corpses were lying on the ground. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his troops came to take the loot, they found among them a lot of goods, clothes,[e] and valuables. They found more than they could carry. They spent three days collecting the loot. 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the valley of Beracah. Because they thanked Yahweh there, that place is still called the valley of Beracah [Thanks] today.
27 All the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They rejoiced while Jehoshaphat led them. Yahweh gave them a reason to rejoice about what had happened to their enemies. 28 So they brought harps, lyres, and trumpets to Yahweh’s temple in Jerusalem.
29 The fear of Elohim came over the kingdoms in that area when they heard how Yahweh waged war against Israel’s enemies. 30 Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was peaceful, since his Elohim surrounded him with peace.
Summary of Jehoshaphat’s Reign(A)
31 Jehoshaphat ruled as king of Judah. He was 35 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 25 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah, daughter of Shilhi. 32 Jehoshaphat carefully followed the example his father Asa had set and did what Yahweh considered right. 33 But the illegal worship sites on the hills were not torn down. The people still didn’t have their hearts set on the Elohim of their ancestors.
34 Everything else about Jehoshaphat from first to last is written in the records of Jehu, son of Hanani, which is included in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
35 After this, King Jehoshaphat of Judah allied himself with King Ahaziah of Israel, who led him to do evil. 36 Jehoshaphat joined him in making ships to go to Tarshish. They made the ships in Ezion Geber. 37 Then Eliezer, son of Dodavahu from Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, “Yahweh will destroy your work because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah.” So the ships were wrecked and couldn’t go to Tarshish.
The Lamb Opens the Seventh Seal
8 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets
2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand in God’s presence, and they were given seven trumpets. 3 Another angel came with a gold incense burner and stood at the altar. He was given a lot of incense to offer on the gold altar in front of the throne. He offered it with the prayers of all of God’s people. 4 The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God along with the prayers of God’s people. 5 The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there was thunder, noise, lightning, and an earthquake.
6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them.
The First Four Angels Blow Their Trumpets
7 When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood, and were thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a huge mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea turned into blood, 9 one-third of the creatures that were living in the sea died, and one-third of the ships were destroyed.
10 When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star flaming like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs. 11 That star was named Wormwood. One-third of the water turned into wormwood, and many people died from this water because it had turned bitter.
12 When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were struck so that one-third of them turned dark. There was no light for one-third of the day and one-third of the night.
13 I saw an eagle flying overhead, and I heard it say in a loud voice, “Catastrophe, catastrophe, catastrophe for those living on earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts which the three angels are about to blow.”
The Lord’s House Will Be Rebuilt
4 The angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me up as one might wake up someone who is sleeping. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a solid gold lamp stand with a bowl on top and seven lamps on it. There are seven spouts for each lamp that is on top of it. 3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What do these things mean, sir?”
5 Then the angel asked me, “Don’t you know what they mean?”
“No, sir,” I answered.
6 Then he replied, “This is the word Yahweh spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t succeed by might or by power, but by my Ruach, says Yahweh Tsebaoth. 7 What a high mountain you are! In front of Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring out the topmost stone with shouts of ‘Blessings, blessings on it!’”
8 Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 9 “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that Yahweh Tsebaoth has sent me to you. 10 Who despised the day when little things began to happen? They will be delighted when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. (These seven eyes of Yahweh roam over all the earth.)”
11 I asked the angel, “What do these two olive trees at the right and the left of the lamp stand mean?” 12 Again I asked him, “What is the meaning of the two branches from the olive trees next to the two golden pipes that are pouring out gold?”
13 He asked me, “Don’t you know what these things mean?”
“No, sir,” I answered.
14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Adonay of the whole earth.”
Jesus Goes to the Festival of Booths
7 Yeshua later traveled throughout Galilee. He didn’t want to travel in Judea because Jews there wanted to kill him.
2 The time for the Jewish Festival of Booths was near. 3 So Yeshua’s brothers told him, “Leave this place, and go to Judea so that your disciples can see the things that you’re doing. 4 No one does things secretly when he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, you should let the world see you.” 5 Even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
6 Yeshua told them, “Now is not the right time for me to go. Any time is right for you. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I say that what everyone does is evil. 8 Go to the festival. I’m not going to this festival right now. Now is not the right time for me to go.”
9 After saying this, Yeshua stayed in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, Yeshua went. He didn’t go publicly but secretly.
11 The Jews were looking for Yeshua in the crowd at the festival. They kept asking, “Where is that man?” 12 The crowds argued about Yeshua. Some people said, “He’s a good man,” while others said, “No he isn’t. He deceives the people.” 13 Yet, no one would talk openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews.
14 When the festival was half over, Yeshua went to the temple courtyard and began to teach. 15 The Jews were surprised and asked, “How can this man be so educated when he hasn’t gone to school?”
16 Yeshua responded to them, “What I teach doesn’t come from me but from the one who sent me. 17 Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts. 18 Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn’t have dishonest motives. 19 Didn’t Moses give you his teachings? Yet, none of you does what Moses taught you. So why do you want to kill me?”
20 The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who wants to kill you?”
21 Yeshua answered them, “I performed one miracle, and all of you are surprised by it. 22 Moses gave you the teaching about circumcision (although it didn’t come from Moses but from our ancestors). So you circumcise a male on a day of worship. 23 If you circumcise a male on the day of worship to follow Moses’ Teachings, why are you angry with me because I made a man entirely well on the day of worship? 24 Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly.”
25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem said, “Isn’t this the man they want to kill? 26 But look at this! He’s speaking in public, and no one is saying anything to him! Can it be that the rulers really know that this man is the Messiah? 27 However, we know where this man comes from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”
28 Then, while Yeshua was teaching in the temple courtyard, he said loudly, “You know me, and you know where I come from. I didn’t decide to come on my own. The one who sent me is true. He’s the one you don’t know. 29 I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”
30 The Jews tried to arrest him but couldn’t because his time had not yet come.
31 However, many people in the crowd believed in him. They asked, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more miracles than this man has?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd saying things like this about him. So the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest Yeshua.
33 Yeshua said, “I will still be with you for a little while. Then I’ll go to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you won’t find me. You can’t go where I’m going.”
35 The Jews said among themselves, “Where does this man intend to go so that we won’t find him? Does he mean that he’ll live with the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks and that he’ll teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will look for me, but you won’t find me,’ and ‘You can’t go where I’m going’?”
37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Yeshua was standing in the temple courtyard. He said loudly, “Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. 38 As Scripture says, ‘Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.’” 39 Yeshua said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Yeshua had been glorified.
40 After some of the crowd heard Yeshua say these words, they said, “This man is certainly the prophet.” 41 Other people said, “This man is the Messiah.” Still other people asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Doesn’t Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?” 43 So the people were divided because of Yeshua. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but they couldn’t.
45 When the temple guards returned, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Yeshua?”
46 The temple guards answered, “No human has ever spoken like this man.”
47 The Pharisees asked the temple guards, “Have you been deceived too? 48 Has any ruler or any Pharisee believed in him? 49 This crowd is cursed because it doesn’t know Moses’ Teachings.”
50 One of those Pharisees was Nicodemus, who had previously visited Yeshua. Nicodemus asked them, 51 “Do Moses’ Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person’s side of the story? We can’t judge a person without finding out what that person has done.”
52 They asked Nicodemus, “Are you saying this because you’re from Galilee? Study the Scriptures, and you’ll see that no prophet comes from Galilee.”[a]
53 Then each of them went home.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.