M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Peril in Moving the Ark
6 (A)Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to [a](B)Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the (C)Name, the very name of the Lord of hosts who (D)is [b]enthroned above the cherubim. 3 They [c]placed the ark of God on (E)a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4 So (F)they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel (G)were celebrating before the Lord (H)with all kinds of instruments made of [d]fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.
6 But when they came to the (I)threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah (J)reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. 7 And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and (K)God struck him down there for [e]his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 David became angry because [f]of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called [g]Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 So (L)David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10 And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of (M)Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 Thus the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord (N)blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem
12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” (O)David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into (P)the city of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, that when the (Q)bearers of the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an (R)ox and a fatling. 14 And (S)David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and David was [h](T)wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.
16 Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that (U)Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
17 So they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it (V)in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and (W)David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, (X)he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house.
20 But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! (Y)He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids as one of the (Z)foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 So David said to Michal, “(AA)It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes, but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.” 23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Instructions and Greetings
16 Now concerning (A)the collection for (B)the saints, as (C)I directed the churches of (D)Galatia, so do you also. 2 On (E)the first day of every week each one of you is to [a]put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that (F)no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, (G)whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I (H)will come to you after I go through (I)Macedonia, for I (J)am going through Macedonia; 6 and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may (K)send me on my way wherever I may go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now (L)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, (M)if the Lord permits. 8 But I will remain in (N)Ephesus until (O)Pentecost; 9 for a (P)wide door [b]for effective service has opened to me, and (Q)there are many adversaries.
10 Now if (R)Timothy comes, see that he is with you without [c]cause to be afraid, for he is doing (S)the Lord’s work, as I also am. 11 (T)So let no one despise him. But (U)send him on his way (V)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brethren.
12 But concerning (W)Apollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brethren; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.
13 (X)Be on the alert, (Y)stand firm in the faith, (Z)act like men, (AA)be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done (AB)in love.
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the (AC)household of Stephanas, that [d]they were the (AD)first fruits of (AE)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for (AF)ministry to (AG)the saints), 16 that (AH)you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17 I rejoice over the [e](AI)coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have [f]supplied (AJ)what was lacking on your part. 18 For they (AK)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore (AL)acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of (AM)Asia greet you. (AN)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with (AO)the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. (AP)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in (AQ)my own hand—[g]Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be [h](AR)accursed. [i](AS)Maranatha. 23 (AT)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Idolatrous Elders Condemned
14 Then some (A)elders of Israel came to me and (B)sat down before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have (C)set up their idols in their hearts and have (D)put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be (E)consulted by them at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord [a]God, “Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will be brought to give him an answer in [b]the matter in view of the (F)multitude of his idols, 5 in order to lay hold of [c](G)the hearts of the house of Israel who are [d](H)estranged from Me through all their idols.”’
6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “(I)Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your (J)abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel or of the (K)immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, (L)I the Lord will be brought to answer him in My own person. 8 I will (M)set My face against that man and make him a (N)sign and [e]a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord.
9 “But if the prophet is [f]prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the Lord, who have [g]prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and (O)destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear the punishment of their iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer is, so the iniquity of the prophet will be, 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer (P)stray from Me and no longer (Q)defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be (R)My people, and I shall be their God,”’ declares the Lord God.”
The City Will Not Be Spared
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 13 “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by (S)committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, [h]destroy its (T)supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, 14 even (U)though these three men, (V)Noah, (W)Daniel and (X)Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver (Y)themselves,” declares the Lord God. 15 “If I were to cause (Z)wild beasts to pass through the land and they [i]depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts, 16 though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters. (AA)They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate. 17 Or if I should (AB)bring a sword on that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass through the country and (AC)cut off man and beast from it,’ 18 even though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be delivered. 19 Or if I should send a (AD)plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and beast from it, 20 even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”
21 For thus says the Lord God, “How much more when (AE)I send My four [j]severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it! 22 Yet, behold, [k]survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come forth to you and you will (AF)see their conduct and actions; then you will be (AG)comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. 23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done (AH)in vain whatever I did [l]to it,” declares the Lord God.
Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A [a]Maskil of David.
55 (A)Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And (B)do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Give (C)heed to me and answer me;
I am restless in my (D)complaint and [b](E)am surely distracted,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the (F)pressure of the wicked;
For they (G)bring down [c]trouble upon me
And in anger they (H)bear a grudge against me.
4 My (I)heart is in anguish within me,
And the terrors of (J)death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and (K)trembling come upon me,
And [d](L)horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and [e](M)be at rest.
7 “Behold, I would wander far away,
I would (N)lodge in the wilderness. [f]Selah.
8 “I would hasten to my place of refuge
From the (O)stormy wind and tempest.”
9 [g]Confuse, O Lord, (P)divide their tongues,
For I have seen (Q)violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls,
And iniquity and mischief are in her midst.
11 (R)Destruction is in her midst;
(S)Oppression and deceit do not depart from her [h]streets.
12 For it is (T)not an enemy who reproaches me,
Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who (U)has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man [i]my equal,
My (V)companion and my [j](W)familiar friend;
14 We who had sweet [k]fellowship together
(X)Walked in the house of God in the throng.
15 Let [l]death come (Y)deceitfully upon them;
Let them (Z)go down alive to [m]Sheol,
For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
16 As for me, I shall (AA)call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.
17 (AB)Evening and (AC)morning and at (AD)noon, I will complain and murmur,
And He will hear my voice.
18 He will (AE)redeem my soul in peace [n]from the battle which is against me,
For they are (AF)many who strive with me.
19 God will (AG)hear and [o]answer them—
Even the one (AH)who [p]sits enthroned from of old— Selah.
With whom there [q]is no change,
And who (AI)do not fear God.
20 He has put forth his hands against (AJ)those who were at peace with him;
He has [r](AK)violated his covenant.
21 His [s]speech was (AL)smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were (AM)softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn (AN)swords.
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