M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Gibeonites Punish Saul’s Family
21 During the time David was king, there was a ·shortage of food [famine] that lasted for three years. So David ·prayed to [inquired of; consulted; L sought the face/presence of] the Lord.
The Lord answered, “Saul and his ·family of murderers [L bloody house] are the reason for this shortage, because he ·killed [murdered] the Gibeonites.” 2 (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites; they were ·a group of Amorites who were left alive [L the remnant of the Amorites]. The Israelites had ·promised [sworn; vowed; Josh. 9:14–15] not to hurt the Gibeonites, but Saul had tried to ·kill [annihilate; exterminate] them, because ·he was eager to help [of his zeal for] the people of Israel and Judah.)
King David called the Gibeonites together and spoke to them. 3 He asked, “What can I do for you? How can I make ·up [amends; expiation; atonement] for the harm done so you can bless the Lord’s ·people [L inheritance]?”
4 The Gibeonites said to David, “We cannot ·demand [settle this with] silver or gold from Saul or his ·family [L house]. And ·we don’t have the right [L it’s not for us] to kill anyone in Israel.”
Then David asked, “·What do you want me to do for you [Tell me what to do and I will do it]?”
5 The Gibeonites said, “·Saul [L The man] ·made plans against [destroyed; consumed] us and ·tried to destroy [planned to annihilate/exterminate] all our people ·who are [so we would have no place] left in the land of Israel. 6 So bring seven of his sons to us. Then we will ·kill them and hang them on stakes [impale/execute them] in the presence of the Lord at Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, the Lord’s chosen king.”
The king said, “I will give them to you.” 7 But the king ·protected [spared] Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the ·promise [oath] he had made to Jonathan in the Lord’s name [1 Sam. 20:14–17]. 8 The king did take Armoni and Mephibosheth [C not Jonathan’s son, but another person with the same name], sons of Rizpah and Saul [3:7]. (Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah.) And the king took the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab [1 Sam. 14:49; 18:17–19]. (Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite was the father of Merab’s five sons.) 9 David gave these seven sons to the Gibeonites. Then the Gibeonites ·killed them and hung them on stakes on a hill [impaled/executed them] in the presence of the Lord. All seven sons ·died [fell] together. They were put to death during the first days of the harvest season at the beginning of barley harvest.
10 Aiah’s daughter Rizpah took ·the rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth; C a sign of mourning or distress] and put it on a rock for herself. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on ·her sons’ bodies [L them from the heavens/sky]. During the day she did not let the ·birds of the sky [scavenger birds] touch her sons’ bodies, and during the night she did not let the wild animals touch them.
11 People told David what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s ·slave woman [L concubine; C a secondary wife; 3:7], was doing. 12 Then David took the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the men of Jabesh Gilead. (The Philistines had hung the bodies of Saul and Jonathan in the public square of Beth Shan after they had killed Saul at Gilboa. Later the men of Jabesh Gilead ·had secretly taken [stole] them from there [1 Sam. 31:8–13].) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from Gilead. Then the people gathered the ·bodies of Saul’s seven sons who were hanged on stakes [bones of those who had been impaled/executed]. 14 The people buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan at Zela in Benjamin in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. The people did everything the king commanded.
Then God ·answered the prayers for [took pity on] the land.
Wars with the Philistines(A)
15 Again there was war between the Philistines and Israel. David and his ·men [servants] went out to fight the Philistines, ·but [and] David ·became tired [grew weary/exhausted]. 16 Ishbi-Benob, one of the ·sons of Rapha [or descendants of the giants], had a bronze ·spearhead [spear] weighing ·about seven and one-half pounds [L three hundred shekels] and [L was armed with] a new sword. He ·planned [was about] to kill David, 17 but Abishai son of Zeruiah ·killed the Philistine and saved David’s life [L came to help him and struck down the Philistine].
Then David’s men ·made a promise [swore; vowed] to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle. ·If you were killed, Israel would lose its greatest leader [L …so that you do not extinguish the lamp/light of Israel].”
18 Later, at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, another ·one of the sons of Rapha [or descendant of the giants].
19 Later, there was another battle at Gob with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath [C see 1 Chr. 20:5 where he is called Lahmi, the brother of Goliath]. His spear was as large as a weaver’s ·rod [beam].
20 At Gath another battle took place. A huge man was there; he had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four fingers and toes in all. This man also was ·one of the sons of Rapha [or descended from the giants]. 21 When he ·challenged [defied; taunted] Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four ·sons of Rapha [or descendants of giants] from Gath were killed by David and his ·men [L servants].
1 From Paul, an ·apostle [messenger]. ·I was not chosen to be an apostle by human beings, nor was I sent from human beings [L …not from men/humans or by a man/human authority]. ·I was made an apostle [L …but] through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead. 2 This letter is also from all ·those of God’s family [L the brothers (and sisters)] who are with me.
To the churches in Galatia [C a Roman province in present-day central Turkey; Paul started churches in Galatia on his first missionary journey (Acts 13—14)]:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to ·free [rescue; deliver] us from this ·evil world we live in [present evil age], as God the Father ·planned [willed; desired]. 5 ·The glory belongs to God [L …to whom be glory] forever and ever. Amen.
The Only Good News
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly ·turning away from [deserting; forsaking] ·God [L the one] who called you by ·his grace given through Christ [L the grace of Christ], and are believing ·something different than the Good News [L a different Gospel]. 7 ·Really, there is no other Good News [L …which is not another]. But some people are ·confusing [troubling; disturbing] you; they want to ·change [distort] the ·Good News [Gospel] of Christ. 8 But even if we ourselves or an angel from heaven were to preach to you a different message than the Good News we preached, ·we should be [L let him be] ·judged guilty [condemned; accursed; L anathema]! 9 I said this before, and now I say it again: If anyone is preaching a different message than the one you received, ·that person should be [L let him be] ·judged guilty [condemned; accursed; L anathema]!
10 Do you think I am now trying to ·make people accept me [seek human favor/acceptance]? ·No, God is the One I am trying to please [L …or (the favor of) God?]. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Christ.
Paul’s Authority Is from God
11 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the ·Good News [Gospel] I preached to you was not ·made up by human beings [devised by man; of human origin]. 12 I did not get it from ·humans [a human source; man], nor did anyone teach it to me, but ·Jesus Christ showed it to me [L by a revelation of/from/about Jesus Christ; Acts 9].
13 [L For] You have heard about my past life in the Jewish religion. I ·attacked [intensely/severely persecuted] the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was ·becoming a leader in the Jewish religion [L advancing/progressing in Judaism], doing better than most other Jews of my age. I ·tried harder than anyone else [was exceedingly zealous] to follow the ·teachings handed down by our [traditions of my] ·ancestors [forefathers].
15 But God ·set me apart [or chose/appointed me] for his work ·even before I was born [L from my mother’s womb]. He called me through his grace 16 and ·showed [revealed] his son to me so that I might ·tell the Good News [preach the Gospel] about him to the Gentiles [Acts 9:15; 22:21]. When God called me, I did not ·get advice or help from [confer/consult with] ·any person [L flesh and blood]. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was. ·But [Instead; Rather] I went away to Arabia [C probably the Nabatean kingdom south of Damascus] and later went back to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to ·meet [get to know; or confer with; gain information from] ·Peter [L Cephas, Peter’s name in Aramaic; John 1:42] and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 I ·met [or saw] no other apostles, except James [Acts 12:17; 15:13–21; 21:18; James 1:1], the brother of the Lord. 20 ·God knows that [or I swear before God that; L Before God,] these things I write are not lies. 21 Later, I went to the areas of Syria [C a Roman province north of Israel] and Cilicia [C a Roman province in present-day southeastern Turkey; Paul’s hometown Tarsus was in Cilicia].
22 In Judea the churches in Christ had never met me. 23 They had only heard it said, “This man who was ·attacking [persecuting] us is now preaching the same faith that he once tried to destroy.” 24 And these believers ·praised [glorified] God because of me.
Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
28 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], say to the ruler of Tyre: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
Because ·you are [L your heart is] proud,
you say, “I am a god.
I sit on the ·throne [seat] of a god
in the ·middle [L heart] of the seas.”
You think you are as wise as a god,
but you are a ·human [mortal; man], not a god.
3 [L Look; T Behold] You ·think you are [L are] wiser than Daniel [14:14].
·You think you can find out all secrets [L No secret is hidden from you].
4 Through your wisdom and understanding
you have made yourself rich.
You have ·gained [gathered] gold and silver
·and have saved it in [L in] your ·storerooms [treasuries].
5 Through your great skill in trading,
you have made your riches grow.
·You are too [L Your heart is] proud
because of your riches.
6 “‘So this is what the Lord God says:
[L Because] You think you are wise
like a god,
7 ·but [L therefore, look/behold] I will bring foreign people against you,
the ·cruelest [most ruthless] nations.
They will draw their swords
·and destroy all that your wisdom has built [L against your beauty and wisdom],
and they will ·dishonor [defile] your ·greatness [splendor].
8 They will ·kill you [L bring you down to the pit];
you will die a ·terrible [violent] death
·like those who are killed at sea [or in the heart of the sea].
9 ·While they are killing you [L In the presence of those killing you],
·you will not [L will you…?] be able to say anymore, “I am a god.”
You will be only a human, not a god,
·when your murderers kill you [L in the hands of those who kill you].
10 You will die ·like an unclean person [L the death of the uncircumcised];
·foreigners will kill you [L …in the hands of strangers/foreigners].
I have spoken, says the Lord God.’”
11 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 12 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for the king of Tyre. Say to him: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
You were ·an example [the seal/signet] of what was perfect,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You ·had a wonderful life,
as if you were in Eden [L were in Eden], the garden of God [C like Adam; Gen. 1—2].
Every valuable gem ·was on [covered] you:
·ruby [or carnelian], ·topaz [or chysolite], and ·emerald [or diamond],
·yellow quartz [or chrysolite], onyx, and jasper,
·sapphire [or lapis lazuli], turquoise, and ·chrysolite [or beryl; or emerald].
Your ·jewelry [settings and mounts] was made of gold.
It was prepared on the day you were created.
14 I appointed a ·living creature [L cherub] to guard you.
I put you on the holy mountain of God.
You walked among the ·gems that shined like fire [fiery stones].
15 ·Your life was right and good [L You were blameless in your ways]
from the day you were created,
until ·evil [wickedness; unrighteousness] was found in you.
16 Because you traded with countries ·far away [or in abundance],
you ·learned to be cruel [L were filled with violence], and you sinned.
So I ·threw you down [banished you] in ·disgrace [or defilement] from the mountain of God.
And the ·living creature [L cherub] who guarded you
·forced you out [expelled you] from among the ·gems that shined like fire [fiery stones].
17 ·You became too [L Your heart was] proud
because of your beauty.
You ·ruined [corrupted] your wisdom
because of your ·greatness [splendor].
I threw you down to the ground.
·Your example taught a lesson to [or I made a spectacle of you before] other kings.
18 You ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] your ·places of worship [sanctuaries]
through your many sins and dishonest trade.
So I ·set on fire the place where you lived [L sent fire out from your midst],
and the fire ·burned you up [consumed you].
I turned you into ashes on the ground
·for all those watching to see [L before the eyes of all who saw you].
19 All the nations who knew you
are ·shocked [appalled; aghast] about you.
Your punishment was so terrible,
and you are gone forever.’”
Prophecy Against Sidon
20 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 21 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·look [L set your face] toward the city of Sidon and prophesy against her. 22 Say: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
I am against you, Sidon,
and I will show my glory ·among [or within] you [C his manifest presence].
People will know that I am the Lord
when I ·have punished Sidon [L execute judgments against her];
I will show my holiness ·by defeating [L in] her.
23 I will send ·diseases [a plague/pestilence] to Sidon,
and blood will flow in her streets.
·Those who are wounded [or The slain] ·in Sidon will fall dead [L will fall in her midst],
·attacked from [L by the sword against it on] all sides.
Then they will know that I am the Lord.
God Will Help Israel
24 “‘No more will neighboring nations be like ·thorny branches [prickling briars] or sharp ·stickers [thorns] to ·hurt [L treat with contempt/scorn the house of] Israel. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.
25 “‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather the ·people [L house] of Israel from the nations where they are scattered. I will show my holiness ·when the nations see what I do for my people [L in them in the sight of the nations]. Then they will live in their own land—the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live safely in the land and will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live in safety after I have ·punished [executed judgments against] all the nations around who ·hate them [treat them with contempt; scorn them]. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’”
Remembering God’s Help
For the director of music. For Jeduthun [C a Levitical musician; 1 Chr. 16:41–42; 25:1, 6; 2 Chr. 5:12]. A psalm of Asaph [C a Levitical musician, a descendant of Gershon, at the time of David; 1 Chr. 6:39; 15:17; 2 Chr. 5:12].
77 I cry out to God;
I call to God, and he ·will hear [or heard] me.
2 I ·look [sought] for the Lord on the day of ·trouble [L my distress].
All night long I ·reach out my untiring hands [L flow forth my hand and it does not grow weak],
but I ·cannot [refuse to] be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I ·become upset [moan];
when I ·think [reflect; meditate], ·I become afraid [my soul faints]. ·
4 You ·keep my eyes from closing [L grab the eyelids of my eyes].
I am too ·upset [disturbed] to say anything.
5 I keep thinking about the old days,
the years of long ago [C when things were going well].
6 At night I remember my songs.
I ·think [meditate] and ·I ask myself [L my spirit inquires]:
7 “Will the Lord reject us forever?
Will he never be ·kind [favorable] to us again?
8 Is his ·love [loyalty] gone forever?
Has he stopped speaking for all time [C he questions God’s commitment to the covenant]?
9 Has God forgotten ·mercy [compassion]?
Is he too angry to ·pity [have mercy on] us?” ·
10 Then I say, “This is what makes me sad:
·For years the power of God Most High was with us [L The right hand of the God Most High has changed].”
11 I remember what the Lord did;
I remember the ·miracles [wonderful acts] you did long ago.
12 I ·think [mused] about all the things you did
and ·consider [meditated on] your deeds.
13 God, your ways are holy.
·No god [L What god…?] is as great as our God.
14 You are the God who does ·miracles [wonders];
you have ·shown [made known to] people your power.
15 By your ·power [L arm] you have ·saved [redeemed] your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. ·
16 God, the waters saw you;
they saw you and ·became afraid [L writhed];
the deep waters shook with fear.
17 The clouds poured down their rain.
The ·sky [clouds] ·thundered [L gave forth a sound].
Your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.
18 Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind.
Lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and ·shook [quaked].
19 You made a way through the sea
and paths through the ·deep [L many] waters,
but your footprints were not ·seen [revealed].
20 You led your people like a flock
by ·using [L the hand of] Moses and Aaron [Ex. 14–15].
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