M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Troubles in Mishandling the Ark(A)
6 After this, David gathered together again 30,000 men from all of the choicest men of Israel. 2 Then David and all the people with him set out from Baal-judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, who is called the Name, the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, and who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s home in Gibeah,[a] with Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio[b] driving the new cart. 4 As they left Abinadab’s house in Gibeah accompanied by the Ark of God, Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 David and the entire assembly[c] of Israel were dancing in the presence of the Lord with all of their strength, accompanied by all sorts of wood instruments,[d] harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6 When they arrived at Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark of God because the oxen had stumbled. 7 Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down right there because of his failure, and he died there beside the Ark of God.
8 David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed[e] Uzzah. That’s why that place is called Perez-uzzah[f] to this day. 9 But David feared the Lord that day, and asked, “How can the Ark of God come to me?” 10 As a result, David was unwilling to take the ark of the Lord into his care in the City of David. Instead, David left it at the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 So the ark of the Lord remained for three months in the household of Obed-edom the Gittite while the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12 Later on, David was informed, “The Lord has blessed the home of Obed-edom and everything he has since he’s in possession[g] of the Ark of God.” So David went out joyfully and brought up the Ark of God to the City of David from Obed-edom’s home. 13 After those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fattened animals, 14 dancing in front of the Lord with all of his strength and wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and the entire assembly[h] of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and trumpet blasts.
David’s Wife Michal Disrespects David’s Worship
16 As the ark of the Lord was coming into the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal was peering out a window, watching King David jumping and dancing in the Lord’s presence, and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of the Lord, set it in place inside the tent that David had erected for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings in the presence of the Lord.
18 After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies 19 and distributed to all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, including both men and women—a cake made of bread, one made of dates, and one made of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each headed for home.
20 When David returned to bless his household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him and called out, “How the king of Israel honored himself today by undressing himself right in front of his women staff members, just like any pervert[i] would dare to expose himself!”
21 But David replied to Michal, “It was in front of the Lord, who appointed me to replace your father and his entire household by selecting me as Commander-in-Chief[j] over Israel, the people of the Lord, that I danced in front of the Lord. 22 I’m going to act more shamelessly than this, even to humbling myself in my own eyes. Now as to the women staff members about whom you have spoken, they are to hold me in honor!” 23 And Saul’s daughter Michal bore no children from that day on until the day she died.
Concerning the Collection for the Saints
16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, you should follow the directions I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2 After the Sabbath ends,[a] each of you should set aside and save something from your surplus in proportion to what you have, so that no collections will have to be made when I arrive. 3 When I arrive, I will send letters along with the men you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is worthwhile for me to go, too, they can go with me.
Plans for Travel
5 I will visit you when I go through Macedonia—for I intend to go through Macedonia— 6 and will probably stay with you for a while[b] or even spend the winter with you.[c] Then you can send me on my way, wherever I decide to go. 7 I do not want to visit with you now just in passing, because I hope to spend a longer time with you if the Lord permits. 8 However, I’ll stay on in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a door has opened wide for me to do effective work, although many people are opposing me.
10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he does not have anything to be afraid of while he is with you, for he is doing the Lord’s work as I am. 11 Therefore, no one should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me, because I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other[d] brothers, but he was not inclined to do so just now. However, he will visit you[e] when the time is right.
Final Instructions
13 Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong. 14 Everything you do should be done lovingly. 15 Now I urge you, brothers—for you know that the members of the family of Stephanas were the first converts[f] in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to serving the saints— 16 to submit yourselves to people like these and to anyone else who shares their labor and hard work. 17 I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus came here, because what was lacking they have supplied through you. 18 They refreshed my spirit—and yours, too. Therefore, appreciate men like that.
Final Greetings
19 The churches in Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca[g] and the church in their house greet you warmly in union with the Lord. 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.[h] 21 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand.
A Prophecy against Idolatry
14 Later, some men from the elders of Israel came to visit me. After they had sat down in my presence, 2 this message came to me from the Lord.
3 “Son of Man, these men have taken idols into their hearts. They’ve placed the stumbling block that is their own iniquity right in front of their faces. Should I be consulted by them at all? 4 Therefore, speak up and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “Every person from Israel’s house who follows his idols and sets the stumbling block that is his own sin in front of his face, and then consults a prophet, I the Lord will answer him according to how many idols he embraces. 5 I’ll do this in order to capture the hearts of Israel’s house who have become alienated from me due to all of their idols.”’”
An Exhortation to Turn Away
6 “Therefore you are to tell Israel’s house, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “Turn away! Turn away from your idols, and abandon your detestable practices! 7 For when a native Israeli or a resident alien abandons me to set up idols in his heart behind my back, and then places the stumbling block of his iniquity right in front of his own face, then approaches a prophet to inquire of me on behalf of his own self-interest, I, the Lord will answer him myself. 8 I’m determined to oppose that person[a] and make him an example. Proverbs will be written about him[b] when I eliminate him from my people. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.”’”
On False Prophets
9 “Now as to the prophet, if through deceit he delivers a message, I the Lord have deceived that prophet! I’ll reach out in opposition to him and exterminate him from among my people Israel. 10 They’ll bear the consequences of their guilt, and the prophet will be just as guilty as the one who seeks that prophet’s guidance. 11 Then Israel’s house won’t wander away from me again, nor will they defile themselves again with all their transgressions. They’ll become my people and I’ll be their God,” declares the Lord God.
On Noah, Daniel, and Job
12 This message came to me from the Lord: 13 “Son of Man, when a nation[c] sins against me by a treacherous act,[d] I’ll reach out to oppose it, destroying its source of food,[e] by sending famine against it, and by destroying both people and beast within it. 14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel,[f] and Job lived in that land, they would only save their own lives on account of their righteousness,” declares the Lord God.
15 “If I were to make wild animals pass throughout the land, so that they kill its residents[g] and it were to become desolate because no one will travel through it due to those wild animals,[h] 16 then even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they wouldn’t be able to deliver even their sons or daughters. They would only save themselves, but the land would become desolate.
17 “Or if I were to bring war to[i] that land and say, ‘Hey, sword! Pass throughout the land so I can destroy both man and beasts in it,’ 18 though these three men lived there, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they couldn’t deliver their own sons and daughters. They would only save themselves.
19 “Or if I were to send a pestilence against that land and pour out my anger in it with bloodshed, destroying both man and beast in it, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were among them, as I live” says the Lord God, “they couldn’t save their own sons or daughters. They would only save their own souls due to their own righteousness.”
21 This is what the Lord God says, “I’m sending four of my most destructive judgments—military invasion,[j] famine, wild animals, and pestilence—into Jerusalem to destroy both human beings and livestock in it. 22 But look! There will be a remnant who escapes, a few sons and daughters to be brought out. Look! They’ll come out to you and you’ll see how they’ve lived and what they’ve done, and you’ll be comforted concerning the catastrophe that I brought on Jerusalem, including everything that I brought against her. 23 They’ll comfort you when you see how they’ve lived and what they’ve done, because you’ll know for certain that I haven’t done anything that I’ve done against them without any reason,”[k] declares the Lord God.
To the Director: With stringed instruments. A Davidic instruction.[a]
Betrayal by a Friend
55 Pay attention to my prayer, God,
and do not hide yourself from my appeal.
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.
I moan and groan in my thoughts,
3 because of the voice of the enemy,
and because of the oppression of the wicked.
They bring down evil upon me,
and in anger they hate me.
4 My heart is trembling within me,
and the terrors of death have assaulted me.
5 Fear and trembling have overwhelmed me,
and horror has covered me.
6 I said, “O, who will give me the wings of a dove,
so that I could fly away and live somewhere else?
7 Look, I want to flee far away;
I want to settle down in the wilderness.
8 I want to deliver myself quickly
from this windstorm and tempest.”
9 Confound them, Lord,
and confuse their speech,
because I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl around its walls;
evil and iniquity are within it.
11 Wickedness is at the center of it;
fraud and lies never leave its streets.
12 For it is not an enemy who insults me—
I could have handled that—
nor is it someone who hates me and who now arises against me—
I could have hidden myself from him—
13 but it is you—
a man whom I treated as my equal—
my personal confidant,
my close friend!
14 We had good fellowship together;
and we even walked together in the house of God!
15 Let death seize them!
May they be plunged alive into the afterlife,[b]
for wicked things are in their homes
and among them.
16 I call upon God,
and the Lord will deliver me.
17 Morning, noon, and night,
I mulled over these things
and cried out in my distress,
and he heard my voice.
18 He calmly ransomed my soul from the war waged against me,
for there was a vast crowd who stood against me.
19 God, who is enthroned from long ago,
will hear me and humble them.
Because they do not repent,
they do not fear God.
20 Each of my friends[c] raises his hand against his allies;
each of my friends[d] breaks his word.[e]
21 His mouth is as smooth as butter,
while war is in his heart.
His words were as smooth as olive oil,
while his sword is drawn.
22 Cast on the Lord whatever he sends your way,
and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
23 But you, God, bring them down to the Pit of corruption;[f]
bloodthirsty and deceitful people will not live out half their days.
But I put my full confidence in you.
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