M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
David is Anointed King(A)
11 Later on, all of Israel gathered together at Hebron in order to tell David, “Look, we’re your own flesh and blood![a] 2 Even back when Saul was ruling as king, you kept on leading the army of Israel out to battle[b] and bringing them in again.[c] The Lord your God told you, ‘You yourself will shepherd my people Israel and will be Commander-in-Chief[d] over my people Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel approached the king at Hebron, where David entered into a covenant in[e] the presence of the Lord. Then they anointed David to be king over Israel, just as the Lord had sent word through[f] Samuel.
David Captures Jerusalem
4 Later, David and all of Israel marched to Jerusalem (then known as Jebus, where the Jebusites lived when they inhabited the land). 5 The inhabitants of Jebus told David, “You’re not coming in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.
6 David had announced, “Whoever first attacks the Jebusites will be appointed chief and commander.” When Zeruiah’s son Joab went up first, he became chief. 7 David occupied[g] the fortress, so it was named the City of David after him. 8 He built up the walls surrounding the city in a complete circle from the terrace ramparts,[h] and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 David became more and more prestigious because the Lord of the Heavenly Armies was with him.
David’s Elite Soldiers(B)
10 These are the leaders of the elite warriors who were strong supporters of David in his kingdom, along with all of Israel, in keeping with the message from the Lord concerning Israel. 11 This record of the warriors who were for David included[i] Hachmoni’s son Jashobeam,[j] leader of the platoons,[k] who killed 300 with his spear in a single encounter.
12 Next to him among the Three Warriors[l] was Dodo[m] the Ahohite’s son Eleazar. 13 He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were there to engage them in battle. There was a field planted with barley, and the army had run away from the Philistines, 14 but they took a defensive stand in the middle of the field and killed the Philistines while the Lord saved them by means of a great victory.[n]
15 Later, the Three Warriors went down to David’s hideout[o] at the cave of Adullam when the Philistine army was camping in the valley of giants.[p] 16 David was living in that stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was then at Bethlehem. 17 David expressed a longing, “Oh, how I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the Bethlehem well that’s by the city gate!” 18 So the Three Warriors broke through the Philistine ranks, drew some water from the Bethlehem well that was next to the city gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, poured it out in the Lord’s presence, and 19 said in response, “May God forbid me to do this! I won’t drink the blood of these men, will I? After all, they risked their lives to bring it to me.”[q] That’s why he wouldn’t drink it. The Three Warriors did these things.
David’s Other Valiant Soldiers(C)
20 Joab’s brother Abishai was the lieutenant[r] in charge of the platoons. He used his spear to fight and kill 300 men, gaining a reputation distinct from the Three. 21 He was more well-known than the Three,[s] but he never attained the stature of the Three.
22 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, who was a valiant man, accomplished great things. He was from Kabzeel. He killed two men named[t] Ariel from Moab[u] and then he also went down into a pit and struck down a lion during a snow storm one day. 23 He also killed a soldier[v] from Egypt of enormous height—five cubits[w] tall. The Egyptian carried a spear comparable in size to a weaver’s beam, but Benaiah attacked him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 Benaiah did things like this and gained a reputation comparable to the Three Warriors. 25 He was well known among the platoons, but he didn’t measure up to[x] the Three Warriors. David placed him in charge of his security detail.
26 The elite forces included Asahel (Joab’s brother), Dodo’s son Elhanan from Bethlehem, 27 Shammoth from Haror,[y] Helez the Pelonite,[z] 28 Ikkesh’s son Ira from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, 29 Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30 Maharai from Netophah, Baanah’s son Heled from Netophah, 31 Ribai’s son Ithai from Gibeah, controlled by[aa] the descendants of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32 Hurai from the wadis[ab] of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33 Azmaveth from Baharum, Eliahba from Shaalbon, 34 Hashem the Gizonite, Shagee the Hararite’s son Jonathan, 35 Sachar the Hararite’s son Ahiam, Ur’s son Eliphal, 36 Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37 Hezro from Carmel, Ezbai’s son Naarai, 38 Joel (Nathan’s brother), Hagri’s son Mibhar, 39 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai from Beeroth, who was the armor-bearer for Zeruiah’s son Joab, 40 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41 Uriah the Hittite, Ahlai’s son Zabad, 42 Shiza the Reubenite’s son Adina, a leader of the descendants of Reuben, along with thirty others with him, 43 Maacah’s son Hanan, Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44 Uzzia the Ashterathite, Hotham the Aroerite’s sons Shama and Jeiel, 45 Shimri’s son Jediael and his brother Joha the Tizite, 46 Eliel the Mahavite, Elnaam’s sons Jeribai and Joshaviah, Ithmah the Moabite, 47 Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
David’s Time in the Wilderness(D)
12 Here’s a list of those who came to David at Ziklag when he was unable to travel freely due to Saul son of Kish. They were among the elite soldiers who assisted him in battle. 2 Equipped as archers, they could use both their right and left hands to shoot arrows and hurl stones. As descendants of Benjamin, they were Saul’s relatives. 3 Their leaders were Shemaah’s sons Ahiezer and Joash from Gibeah, Azmaveth’s sons Jeziel and Pelet, Beracah, Jehu from Anathoth, 4 Ishmaiah from Gibeon (who was one of the elite among the Thirty and in charge over them),[ac] Jeremiah,[ad] Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad from Gederah, 5 [ae]Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, 6 Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, the descendants of Korah, 7 and Jeroham’s sons Joelah and Zebadiah from Gedor.
8 Mighty and experienced warriors from the descendants of Gad joined David at his wilderness stronghold. They were expert handlers of both shield and spear, with hardened looks[af] and as agile[ag] as a gazelle on a mountain slope. 9 Their leader was Ezer, Obadiah was second, Eliab third, 10 Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11 Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12 Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13 Jeremiah tenth, and Machbannai eleventh. 14 These descendants of Gad were army leaders. The least of them[ah] was equal to a hundred other soldiers[ai] and the greatest to a thousand. 15 These men[aj] crossed the Jordan in the first month of the year[ak] during flood season and chased out everyone in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
16 Later, some descendants of Benjamin and Judah approached David at his stronghold, 17 and David went out to meet them. He told them, “If you’ve come in peace to be of help to me, then you’ll have my commitment.[al] But if you’ve come to betray me to my enemies, even though I’m innocent of wrongdoing, then may the God of our ancestors watch and judge.”
18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, leader of the Thirty, and he said,
“David, we belong to you;
we’re with you, son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to the one who helps you!
For your deliverer is your God.”
So David received them and assigned them to be officers over troops. 19 Some of the descendants of Manasseh joined[am] David when he was going to fight against Saul, accompanied by the Philistines. Even so, David was of no help to them, because the Philistine rulers were counseled to send him away. They told themselves, “He’s going to go over to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.”
20 As he traveled toward Ziklag, these descendants of Manasseh joined[an] him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders in charge thousands in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiders, since they were all warriors and commanders in the army. 22 Indeed people kept coming to David every day to help him, until his army became a great, vast army.[ao]
David’s Army at Hebron
23 What follows is a listing of the divisions of battle-ready troops who joined David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, in accordance with what the Lord had spoken. 24 The army of Judah, equipped with both shields and spears, numbered 6,800 warriors, 25 the elite warriors of Simeon numbered 7,100, 26 and the descendants of Levi numbered 4,600.
27 Jehoiada, a senior officer[ap] in the house of Aaron, brought[aq] with him 3,700. 28 Zadok, a young and valiant soldier, brought 22 commanders from his own ancestral house.
29 The tribe of[ar] Benjamin, relatives of Saul numbered 3,000, of whom most had remained allied to what remained of[as] Saul’s dynasty.
30 The tribe of Ephraim supplied[at] 20,800 valiant soldiers who were well known in their ancestral households.
31 The half-tribe of Manasseh supplied 18,000, who had been appointed specifically to come and establish David as king.
32 The tribe of Issachar supplied 200 leaders, along with all of their relatives under their command. They kept up-to-date in their understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do.
33 The tribe of Zebulun supplied 50,000 experienced troops, trained in the use of every kind of war weapon, in order to help David[au] with undivided loyalty.
34 The tribe of Naphtali supplied 1,000 commanders, accompanied by 37,000 troops armed with shields and spears.
35 The tribe of Dan supplied 28,600 battle-ready troops.
36 The tribe of Asher supplied 40,000 experienced, battle-ready troops.
37 The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh east of[av] the Jordan supplied 120,000 men armed with every kind of war weapon.
38 All these warriors arrived in battle order at Hebron, fully intending to establish David as king over all Israel. Furthermore, all of the rest of Israel were united in their intent to make David king. 39 They spent three days eating and drinking with David, since their relatives had supplied provisions for them.
40 Their neighbors came from as far away as the territories of Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, bringing provisions loaded on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought[aw] abundant provisions of meal, fig bars, raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, because there was joy in Israel.
Concluding Words
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Stop neglecting to show hospitality to strangers, for by showing hospitality[a] some have had angels as their guests without being aware of it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them, as well as those who are mistreated, since they also are only mortal.[b]
4 Let marriage be kept honorable in every way, and the marriage bed undefiled. For God will judge those who commit sexual sins, especially those who commit adultery.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God[c] has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.”[d] 6 Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord[e] is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”[f]
7 Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus, the Messiah,[g] is the same yesterday and today—and forever!
9 Stop being[h] carried away by all kinds of unusual teachings, for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by food laws[i] that have never helped those who follow them.
10 We have an altar, and those who serve in the tent have no right to eat at it. 11 For the bodies of animals, whose blood is taken into the sanctuary by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 That is why Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, also suffered outside the city gate. 13 Therefore go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured. 14 For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming. 15 Therefore, through him let us always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to be generous, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17 Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.
18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I especially ask you to do this so that I may be brought back to you sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good[j] to do his will, accomplishing in us[k] what pleases him through Jesus, the Messiah.[l] To him be glory forever and ever![m] Amen.
Final Greeting
22 I urge you, brothers, to listen patiently to my encouraging message,[n] for I have written you a short letter.[o] 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy greet you.
25 May grace be with all of you![p]
The Vision of Locusts
7 This is what the Lord God showed me: Look! He was forming locust swarms as the latter plantings were just beginning to sprout. Indeed, the king had just taken his first fruit tax.[a] 2 And so it came about that when the swarm[b] had finished eating the grass of the land, I was saying,
“Lord God, forgive—please!
How will Jacob stand, since he is small?”
3 So the Lord relented from this. “This will not happen,” said the Lord.
The Vision of Fire
4 This is what the Lord God showed me: Look! The Lord God was calling for judgment by fire, and it was drying up the great depths of the ocean[c] and consuming the land. 5 So I kept on saying,
“Lord God, forgive—please!
How will Jacob stand, since he is so small?”
6 So the Lord relented from this. “This will not happen, either,” said the Lord God.
The Vision of the Plumb Line
7 This is what he showed me: Look! The Lord was standing upon a wall that stood straight and true, with a plumb line in his hand.[d] 8 And the Lord was asking me, “What do you see, Amos?”
I replied, “A plumb line.”
So the Lord said,
“Look, I have set a plumb line
in the midst of my people Israel.
I will no longer spare them.
9 Isaac’s high places will be destroyed,
and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined.
I will rise in opposition to the house of Jeroboam with my[e] sword.”
A Rebuke for Amaziah
10 So Amaziah priest of Bethel sent a message[f] to Jeroboam king of Israel. It said, “Amos has been conspiring against you in the very heart of the house of Israel! The land cannot bear everything he has to say, 11 because Amos is saying this:
‘By the sword will Jeroboam die,
and Israel will surely go into exile
far from her homeland.’”
12 So Amaziah kept saying to Amos, “Get out of here, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Live[g] there and prophesy there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because it’s the king’s sanctuary and a temple of the kingdom.”
14 Amos replied in answer to Amaziah,
“I am no prophet,
nor am I a prophet’s son,
for I have been shepherding
and picking the fruit of[h] sycamore[i] trees.
15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock and the Lord kept saying to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
16 “Very well then, hear this message from the Lord:
‘You are saying,
“Don’t prophesy against Israel,
and don’t preach against the house of Isaac.”
17 ‘Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“Your wife will become a whore in the city,
and your sons and daughters will die by the sword.
Your land will be divided and apportioned,
and you will die in a foreign[j] land.
Israel will surely go into exile,
far from its homeland.”’”
The Birth of Jesus(A)
2 Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered.
4 Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the City of David (called Bethlehem), because he was a descendant[a] of the household and family of David. 5 He went there[b] to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby, 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters.
The Shepherds Visit Jesus
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 Then the angel told them, “Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. 11 Today your Savior, the Lord Messiah,[c] was born in the City of David. 12 And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
13 Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!”[d]
15 When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them. 20 Then the shepherds returned to their flock,[e] glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
Jesus is Circumcised
21 After eight days had passed, the infant[f] was circumcised and named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus is Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary[g] took Jesus[h] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord.”[i] 24 They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”[j]
25 Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel,[k] and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die[l] until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.[m]
27 Led[n] by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law, 28 Simeon[o] took the infant[p] in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace
according to your promise,
30 because my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you prepared for all people to see—
32 a light that will reveal salvation[q] to unbelievers[r]
and bring glory to your people Israel.”
33 Jesus’[s] father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. 34 Then Simeon[t] blessed them and told Mary, his mother, “This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed. 35 Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed.”
36 Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer. 38 Just then she came forward and began to thank God and to speak about Jesus[u] to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 After doing everything required by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary[v] returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40 Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor rested upon him.
Jesus Visits the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’[w] parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When Jesus[x] was twelve years old, they went up to the festival as usual. 43 When the days of the festival[y] were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him. 46 Three days later, they found him in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers. 48 When Jesus’ parents[z] saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!”
49 He asked them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?”[aa] 50 But they did not understand what he told them. 51 Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart. 52 Meanwhile, Jesus kept on growing wiser and more mature, and in favor with God and his fellow man.
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