M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Deliverance from the Philistines
7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the Lord and (A)brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord. 2 From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “(B)If you return to the Lord with all your heart, (C)remove the foreign gods and the (D)Ashtaroth from among you and (E)direct your hearts to the Lord and (F)serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the Lord alone.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to (G)Mizpah and (H)I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and (I)poured it out before the Lord, and (J)fasted on that day and said there, “(K)We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
7 Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, (L)they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “(M)Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Samuel took (N)a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel and (O)the Lord answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But (P)the Lord thundered with a great [a]thunder on that day against the Philistines and (Q)confused them, so that they were [b]routed before Israel. 11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.
12 Then Samuel (R)took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it [c]Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 13 (S)So the Philistines were subdued and (T)they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and (U)the Amorites.
Samuel’s Ministry
15 Now Samuel (V)judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He used to go annually on circuit to (W)Bethel and (X)Gilgal and (Y)Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then his return was to (Z)Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he (AA)built there an altar to the Lord.
Israel Demands a King
8 And it came about when Samuel was old that (AB)he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in (AC)Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and (AD)took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at (AE)Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (AF)appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing was [d](AG)displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And (AH)Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for (AI)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; (AJ)however, you shall solemnly [e]warn them and tell them of (AK)the [f]procedure of the king who will reign over them.”
Warning concerning a King
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to (AL)the people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, “(AM)This will be the [g]procedure of the king who will reign over you: (AN)he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and (AO)they will run before his chariots. 12 (AP)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to [h]do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 (AQ)He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and [i]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then (AR)you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (AS)the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
19 Nevertheless, the people (AT)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 (AU)that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, (AV)he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. 22 The Lord said to Samuel, “(AW)Listen to their voice and [j]appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God
6 (A)What shall we say then? Are we to (B)continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 (C)May it never be! How shall we who (D)died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been (E)baptized into (F)Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been (G)buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was (H)raised from the dead through the (I)glory of the Father, so we too might walk in (J)newness of life. 5 For (K)if we have become [a]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [b]in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our (L)old [c]self was (M)crucified with Him, in order that our (N)body of sin might be [d]done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for (O)he who has died is [e]freed from sin.
8 Now (P)if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been (Q)raised from the dead, [f]is never to die again; (R)death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be (S)dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin (T)reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on (U)presenting [g]the members of your body to sin as [h]instruments of unrighteousness; but (V)present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as [i]instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For (W)sin shall not (X)be master over you, for (Y)you are not under law but (Z)under grace.
15 What then? (AA)Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? (AB)May it never be! 16 Do you not (AC)know that when you present yourselves to someone as (AD)slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of (AE)sin [j]resulting in death, or of obedience [k]resulting in righteousness? 17 But (AF)thanks be to God that [l]though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that (AG)form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been (AH)freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 (AI)I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just (AJ)as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, [m]resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, [n]resulting in sanctification.
20 For (AK)when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what [o](AL)benefit were you then [p]deriving [q]from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is (AM)death. 22 But now having been (AN)freed from sin and (AO)enslaved to God, you [r]derive your [s](AP)benefit, [t]resulting in sanctification, and (AQ)the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of (AR)sin is death, but the free gift of God is (AS)eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conquest of Egypt Predicted
44 The word that came to Jeremiah for all the Jews living in the land of Egypt, those who were living in (A)Migdol, (B)Tahpanhes, (C)Memphis, and the land of (D)Pathros, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are in (E)ruins and no one lives in them, 3 (F)because of their wickedness which they committed so as to (G)provoke Me to anger by continuing to (H)burn [a]sacrifices and to (I)serve other gods whom they had not known, neither they, you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I (J)sent you all My servants the prophets, [b]again and again, saying, “Oh, do not do this (K)abominable thing which I hate.” 5 But (L)they did not listen or incline their ears to turn from their wickedness, so as not to burn [c]sacrifices to other gods. 6 Therefore My (M)wrath and My anger were poured out and burned in the (N)cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so they have become a ruin and a (O)desolation as it is this day. 7 Now then thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, “Why are you (P)doing great harm to yourselves, so as to (Q)cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, from among Judah, leaving yourselves without remnant, 8 (R)provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, (S)burning [d]sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you are entering to reside, so that you might be cut off and become a (T)curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the (U)wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 But they (V)have not become [e]contrite even to this day, nor have they feared nor (W)walked in My law or My statutes, which I have set before you and before your fathers.”’
11 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am going to (X)set My face against you for [f]woe, even to cut off all Judah. 12 And I will (Y)take away the remnant of Judah who have set their [g]mind on entering the land of Egypt to reside there, and they will all [h](Z)meet their end in the land of Egypt; they will fall by the sword and meet their end by famine. Both small and great will die by the sword and famine; and they will become a (AA)curse, an object of horror, an imprecation and a reproach. 13 And I will (AB)punish those who live in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine and with pestilence. 14 So there will be (AC)no refugees or survivors for the remnant of Judah who have entered the land of Egypt to reside there and then to return to the land of Judah, to which they are [i](AD)longing to return and live; for none will (AE)return except a few refugees.’”
15 Then (AF)all the men who were aware that their wives were burning [j]sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, [k]including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16 “As for the [l](AG)message that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, (AH)we are not going to listen to you! 17 But rather we will certainly (AI)carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, [m]by burning [n]sacrifices to the (AJ)queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as (AK)we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had (AL)plenty of [o]food and were well off and saw no [p]misfortune. 18 But since we stopped burning [q]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have (AM)lacked everything and have [r]met our end by the sword and by famine.” 19 “And,” said the women, “when we were (AN)burning [s]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and [t]were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it (AO)without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes [u]in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”
Calamity for the Jews
20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women—even to all the people who were giving him such an answer—saying, 21 “As for the [v](AP)smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the (AQ)streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord (AR)remember them and did not all this come into His [w]mind? 22 So the Lord was (AS)no longer able to endure it, (AT)because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a (AU)ruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Because you have burned [x]sacrifices and have sinned against the Lord and (AV)not obeyed the voice of the Lord or (AW)walked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this (AX)calamity has befallen you, as it has this day.”
24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “(AY)Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are (AZ)in the land of Egypt, 25 thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: ‘As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, “We will (BA)certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn [y]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” [z](BB)Go ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!’ 26 [aa]Nevertheless hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are living in the land of Egypt, ‘Behold, I have (BC)sworn by My great name,’ says the Lord, ‘(BD)never shall My name be invoked again by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “(BE)As the Lord [ab]God lives.” 27 Behold, I am watching over them (BF)for harm and not for good, and (BG)all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will [ac]meet their end by the sword and by famine until they [ad]are completely gone. 28 (BH)Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt to the land of Judah [ae](BI)few in number. Then all the remnant of Judah who have gone to the land of Egypt to reside there will know (BJ)whose word will stand, Mine or theirs. 29 This will be the (BK)sign to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that (BL)My words will surely stand against you for harm.’ 30 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I am going to give over (BM)Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt to the hand of his enemies, to the hand of those who seek his life, just as I gave over (BN)Zedekiah king of Judah to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and was seeking his life.’”
Prayer for Victory over Enemies.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
20 May the Lord answer you (A)in the day of trouble!
May the (B)name of the (C)God of Jacob set you securely on high!
2 May He send you help (D)from the sanctuary
And (E)support you from Zion!
3 May He (F)remember all your meal offerings
And (G)find your burnt offering [a]acceptable! [b]Selah.
4 May He grant you your (H)heart’s desire
And (I)fulfill all your [c]counsel!
5 [d]We will (J)sing for joy over your [e]victory,
And in the name of our God we will (K)set up our banners.
May the Lord (L)fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now (M)I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will (N)answer him from His holy heaven
With the [f](O)saving strength of His right hand.
7 Some [g]boast in chariots and some in (P)horses,
But (Q)we [h]will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.
8 They have (R)bowed down and fallen,
But we have (S)risen and stood upright.
9 [i](T)Save, O Lord;
May the (U)King answer us in the day we call.
Praise for Deliverance.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
21 O Lord, in Your strength the king will (V)be glad,
And in Your [j]salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
2 You have (W)given him his heart’s desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips. [k]Selah.
3 For You (X)meet him with the blessings of good things;
You set a (Y)crown of fine gold on his head.
4 He asked life of You,
You (Z)gave it to him,
(AA)Length of days forever and ever.
5 His (AB)glory is great through Your [l]salvation,
(AC)Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
6 For You make him [m]most (AD)blessed forever;
You make him joyful (AE)with gladness in Your presence.
7 For the king (AF)trusts in the Lord,
And through the lovingkindness of the Most High (AG)he will not be shaken.
8 Your hand will (AH)find out all your enemies;
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them (AI)as a fiery oven in the time [n]of your anger;
The Lord will (AJ)swallow them up in His wrath,
And (AK)fire will devour them.
10 Their [o]offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their [p](AL)descendants from among the sons of men.
11 Though they [q](AM)intended evil against You
And (AN)devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12 For You will (AO)make them turn their back;
You will [r]aim (AP)with Your bowstrings at their faces.
13 Be exalted, O Lord, in Your strength;
We will (AQ)sing and praise Your power.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.