M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

David Moves the Ark

6 David again assembled all the fit young men in Israel:^(A) thirty thousand. ² He and all his troops set out^(B) to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.^[a] The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim.^{(C) 3} They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio,^[b] sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart^{(D) 4} and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark. ⁵ David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments,^[c] lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,^[d] and cymbals.^(E)

⁶ When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. ⁷ Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah,^(F) and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence,^(G) and he died there next to the ark of God. ⁸ David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah,^[e] as it is today. ⁹ David feared the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” ¹⁰ So he was not willing to bring the ark of the Lord to the city of David;^(H) instead, he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. ¹¹ The ark of the Lord remained in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom^(I) and his whole family.

¹² It was reported to King David, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing.^{(J) 13} When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.^{(K) 14} David was dancing^[f] with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod.^{(L) 15} He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn. ¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David,^(M) Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

¹⁷ They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had pitched for it.^(N) Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence. ¹⁸ When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Armies. ¹⁹ Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women.^(O) Then all the people went home.

²⁰ When David returned home to bless his household,^(P) Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel honored himself today!” she said. “He exposed himself today in the sight of the slave girls of his subjects like a vulgar person would expose himself.”

²¹ David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel.^(Q) I will dance before the Lord, ²² and I will dishonor myself and humble myself even more.^[g][h] However, by the slave girls you spoke about, I will be honored.” ²³ And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.

Collection for the Jerusalem Church

16 Now about the collection^(A) for the saints: Do the same as I instructed the Galatian^(B) churches. ² On the first day of the week,^(C) each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.^{(D) 3} When I arrive, I will send with letters^(E) those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.^{(F) 4} If it is suitable for me to go as well, they will travel with me.

Paul’s Travel Plans

⁵ I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia^(G)—for I will be traveling through Macedonia— ⁶ and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. ⁷ I don’t want to see you now just in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.^{(H) 8} But I will stay in Ephesus^(I) until Pentecost,^{(J) 9} because a wide door^(K) for effective ministry has opened for me^[a]—yet many oppose me. ¹⁰ If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while with you, because he is doing the Lord’s work,^(L) just as I am. ¹¹ So let no one look down^(M) on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos:^(N) I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.

Final Exhortation

¹³ Be alert, stand firm in the faith,^(O) be courageous,^[b] be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.^(P)

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits^(Q) of Achaia^(R) and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you ¹⁶ also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them. ¹⁷ I am delighted to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence. ¹⁸ For they have refreshed my spirit^(S) and yours. Therefore recognize^(T) such people.

Conclusion

¹⁹ The churches of Asia^(U) send you greetings.^(V) Aquila and Priscilla^(W) send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.^{(X) 20} All the brothers and sisters send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(Y)

²¹ This greeting is in my own hand^(Z)—Paul. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Our Lord, come!^{[c] 23} The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.^{(AA) 24} My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

Idolatrous Elders Punished

14 Some of the elders of Israel came^(A) to me and sat down in front of me.^{(B) 2} Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³ “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and have put their sinful stumbling blocks in front of themselves.^(C) Should I actually let them inquire of me?^(D)

⁴ “Therefore, speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: When anyone from the house of Israel sets up idols in his heart and puts his sinful stumbling block in front of himself, and then comes to the prophet, I, the Lord, will answer him appropriately.^[a] I will answer him according to his many idols, ⁵ so that I may take hold of the house of Israel by their hearts. They are all estranged from me because of their idols.’

⁶ “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Repent and turn away^(E) from your idols; turn your faces away from all your detestable things. ⁷ For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the aliens who reside in Israel separates himself from me, setting up idols in his heart and putting his sinful stumbling block in front of himself, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of me, I, the Lord, will answer him myself. ⁸ I will turn against that one and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among my people.^(F) Then you will know that I am the Lord.

⁹ “‘But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, the Lord, who deceived that prophet.^(G) I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.^{(H) 10} They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the one who inquires will be the same as that of the prophet— ¹¹ in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from following me and no longer defile themselves^(I) with all their transgressions. Then they will be my people and I will be their God.^(J) This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

Four Devastating Judgments

¹² The word of the Lord came to me: ¹³ “Son of man, suppose a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its supply of bread,^(K) to send famine through it, and to wipe out both people and animals from it. ¹⁴ Even if these three men^(L)—Noah,^(M) Daniel,^(N) and Job^(O)—were in it, they would rescue only themselves by their righteousness.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

¹⁵ “Suppose I allow dangerous animals^(P) to pass through the land and depopulate it so that it becomes desolate, with no one passing through it for fear of the animals. ¹⁶ Even if these three men were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“they could not rescue their sons or daughters. They alone would be rescued, but the land would be desolate.^(Q)

¹⁷ “Or suppose I bring a sword^(R) against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I wipe out both people and animals from it.^{(S) 18} Even if these three men were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“they could not rescue their sons or daughters, but they alone would be rescued.

¹⁹ “Or suppose I send a plague into that land^(T) and pour out my wrath on it with bloodshed to wipe out both people and animals from it. ²⁰ Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“they could not rescue their son or daughter. They would rescue only themselves by their righteousness.

²¹ “For this is what the Lord God says: How much worse will it be when I send my four^(U) devastating judgments against Jerusalem—sword, famine, dangerous animals, and plague—in order to wipe out both people and animals from it! ²² Even so, there will be survivors left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out. Indeed, they will come out to you, and you will observe their conduct and actions.^(V) Then you will be consoled about the devastation I have brought on Jerusalem, about all I have brought on it. ²³ They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done what I did to it.”^(W) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

Psalm 55

Betrayal by a Friend

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.