M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jehu Is Chosen King
9 Elisha called a man from the group of the prophets. Elisha said, “Tighten your clothes around you. And take this small bottle of olive oil in your hand. Go to Ramoth in Gilead. 2 When you arrive, find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat is the son of Nimshi. Go in and make Jehu get up from among his brothers. Take him to an inner room. 3 Take the bottle and pour the oil on Jehu’s head. Say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have appointed you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run away. Don’t wait!”
4 So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth in Gilead. 5 When he arrived, he saw the officers of the army sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.”
Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”
The young man said, “For you, commander.”
6 Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu’s head. He said to Jehu, “This is what the Lord of Israel says: ‘I have appointed you king over the Lord’s people, Israel. 7 You must destroy the family of Ahab your master. I will punish Jezebel for the deaths of my servants the prophets. And I will punish her for all the Lord’s servants who were murdered. 8 So all Ahab’s family will die. I will not let any male child in Ahab’s family live in Israel. It does not matter if he is a slave or a free person. 9 I will make Ahab’s family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. They will be like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 The dogs will eat Jezebel in the portion of land at Jezreel. And no one will bury her.’”
Then the young prophet opened the door and ran away.
11 Jehu went back to his master’s officers. One of them said to Jehu, “Is everything all right? Why did this crazy man come to you?”
Jehu answered, “You know the man and how he talks.”
12 They answered, “That’s not true! Tell us.”
Jehu said, “He said, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have appointed you to be king over Israel.’”
13 Then the officers hurried. Each man took off his own coat. They put them on the stairs for Jehu. Then they blew the trumpet. They said, “Jehu is king!”
Joram and Ahaziah Are Killed
14 So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat made plans against Joram. (Jehoshaphat was the son of Nimshi.) Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth in Gilead from Hazael king of Aram. 15 But King Joram had to return to Israel to heal from the injuries the Arameans had given him. He received these injuries when he fought against Hazael king of Aram.
Jehu said, “If you agree with this, don’t let anyone leave the city. They might tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then he got into his chariot and set out for Jezreel. Joram was resting there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
17 The lookout was standing on the watchtower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s troops coming. He said, “I see some soldiers!”
Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them. Tell him to ask, ‘Do you bring good news?’”
18 So the horseman rode out to meet Jehu. The horseman said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you bring good news?’”
Jehu said, “That’s none of your business! Come along behind me.”
The lookout reported, “The messenger reached them. But he is not coming back.”
19 So Joram sent out a second horseman. This rider came to Jehu’s group and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you bring good news?’”
Jehu answered, “That’s none of your business! Come along behind me.”
20 The lookout reported, “The second man reached them. But he is not coming back. The man in the chariot is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi. He drives as if he were crazy!”
21 Joram said, “Get my chariot ready.” Then the servant got Joram’s chariot ready. Joram and Ahaziah king of Judah went out. Each king went in his own chariot to meet Jehu. And they met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.
22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Do you bring good news, Jehu?”
Jehu answered, “There will never be any good news as long as your mother Jezebel worships idols and uses witchcraft.”
23 Joram turned the horses to run away. He yelled to Ahaziah, “It’s a trick, Ahaziah!”
24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between his shoulders. The arrow went through Joram’s heart. And he fell down in his chariot.
25 Jehu ordered Bidkar, his chariot officer, “Pick up Joram’s body. Throw it into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember when you and I rode together with Joram’s father Ahab. The Lord made this prophecy against him: 26 ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons, says the Lord. So I will punish Ahab in his field, says the Lord.’ So take Joram’s body and throw it into the field, as the Lord has said.”
27 When Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he ran away toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, saying, “Shoot Ahaziah, too!” Ahaziah was wounded in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam. Ahaziah got as far as Megiddo but died there. 28 His servants carried his body in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in Jerusalem. 29 (Ahaziah had become king over Judah in Joram’s eleventh year as king. Joram was the son of Ahab.)
Death of Jezebel
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. She put paint on her eyes and fixed her hair. Then she looked out the window. 31 Jehu entered the city gate. And Jezebel said, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri,[a] you who killed your master?”
32 Jehu looked up at the window. He said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out from the window at Jehu. 33 Jehu said to them, “Throw her down!” So they threw Jezebel down. And the horses ran over her body. Some of her blood splashed on the wall and on the horses.
34 Jehu went into the house and ate and drank. Then he said, “Now see about this cursed woman. Bury her, because she is a king’s daughter.”
35 The men went to bury Jezebel. But they could not find her body. They could only find the skull, feet and palms of her hands. 36 So they came back and told Jehu. Then Jehu said, “The Lord said this through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘The dogs will eat the body of Jezebel in the portion of land at Jezreel. 37 Her body will be like manure on the field in the land at Jezreel. Then people cannot say that the body is Jezebel.’”
6 All who are slaves should show full respect to their masters. Then no one will speak against God’s name and our teaching. 2 Some slaves have masters who are believers. This means they are all brothers. But the slaves should not show their masters any less respect. They should serve their masters even better, because they are helping believers they love.
False Teaching and True Riches
You must teach and preach these things. 3 If anyone has a different teaching, he does not accept the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. And that teaching shows him the true way to serve God. 4 The person who teaches falsely is full of pride and understands nothing. He is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. And that brings jealousy, making trouble, insults, and evil mistrust. 5 And that also brings arguments from men who have evil minds. They have lost the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich.
6 It is true that serving God makes a person very rich, if he is satisfied with what he has. 7 When we came into the world, we brought nothing. And when we die, we can take nothing out. 8 So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. 9 Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves. They are caught in a trap. They begin to want many foolish things that will hurt them, things that ruin and destroy people. 10 The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the true faith because they want to get more and more money. But they have caused themselves much sorrow.
Some Things to Remember
11 But you are a man of God. So you should stay away from all those things. Try to live in the right way, serve God, have faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Keeping your faith is like running a race. Try as hard as you can to win. Be sure you receive the life that continues forever. You were called to have that life. And you confessed the great truth about Christ in a way that many people heard. 13 Before God and Christ Jesus I give you a command. Christ Jesus confessed that same great truth when he stood before Pontius Pilate. And God gives life to everything. Now I tell you: 14 Do the things you were commanded to do. Do them without wrong or blame until the time when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 15 God will make that happen at the right time. He is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. 16 God is the only One who never dies. He lives in light so bright that men cannot go near it. No one has ever seen God, or can see him. May honor and power belong to God forever. Amen.
17 Give this command to those who are rich with things of this world. Tell them not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not their money. Money cannot be trusted, but God takes care of us richly. He gives us everything to enjoy. 18 Tell the rich people to do good and to be rich in doing good deeds. Tell them to be happy to give and ready to share. 19 By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves in heaven. That treasure will be a strong foundation. Their future life can be built on that treasure. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life.
20 Timothy, God has trusted you with many things. Keep those things safe. Stay away from people who say foolish things that are not from God. Stay away from those who argue against the truth. They use something they call “knowledge,” but it is really not knowledge. 21 They say that they have that “knowledge,” but they have left the true faith.
God’s grace be with you.
Hosea’s Wife and Children
1 The Lord spoke his word to Hosea son of Beeri. This was during the time that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. During part of this time Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
2 The Lord said to him, “Go, and marry a woman who will be unfaithful to you. She will give you children whose fathers are other men. Do this because people in this country have acted like an unfaithful wife toward the Lord.” 3 So Hosea married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. Gomer became pregnant and gave birth to Hosea’s son.
4 The Lord said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel. This is because soon I will punish the family of Jehu for the people they killed at Jezreel. Then I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 And I will also break the power of Israel’s army in the Valley of Jezreel.”
6 Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. The Lord said to Hosea, “Name her Lo-Ruhamah.[a] This is because I will not pity Israel anymore. I will no longer forgive them. 7 But I will show pity to the people of Judah. I will save them. I will not use bows or swords, horses or horsemen, or weapons of war to save them. I, the Lord their God, will save them.”
8 After Gomer had finished nursing Lo-Ruhamah, she became pregnant again. And she gave birth to another son. 9 The Lord said, “Name him Lo-Ammi[b] because you are not my people. And I am not your God.
God’s Promise to Israel
10 “But the people of Israel will become like the grains of sand of the sea. You cannot measure or count them. Now it is said to Israel, ‘You are not my people.’ But later they will be called ‘children of the living God.’ 11 Then the people of Judah and Israel will be joined together again. They will choose one leader for themselves. And again they will grow in their land. The day of Jezreel, when God plants, will be truly great.
73 You made me and formed me with your hands.
Give me understanding so I can learn your commands.
74 Let those who fear you rejoice when they see me
because I put my hope in your word.
75 Lord, I know that your laws are right.
And it was right for you to punish me.
76 Comfort me with your love,
as you promised me, your servant.
77 Have mercy on me so that I may live.
I love your teachings.
78 Make the proud people ashamed because they lied about me.
But I will think about your orders.
79 Let those who fear you come to me.
They know your rules.
80 Let me obey your demands perfectly.
Then I will not be ashamed.
81 I am weak from waiting for you to save me.
But I trust your word.
82 My eyes are tired from looking for your promise.
When will you comfort me?
83 Even though I am like a leather wine bag going up in smoke,
I do not forget your demands.
84 How long will I live?
When will you judge those who are hurting me?
85 Proud people have dug pits to trap me.
They have nothing to do with your teachings.
86 All of your commands can be trusted.
Liars are hurting me. Help me!
87 They have almost put me in the grave.
But I have not rejected your orders.
88 Give me life by your love
so I can obey your rules.
89 Lord, your word is everlasting.
It continues forever in heaven.
90 Your loyalty will continue from now on.
You made the earth, and it still stands.
91 All things continue to this day because of your laws.
All things serve you.
92 If I had not loved your teachings,
I would have died from my sufferings.
93 I will never forget your orders
because you have given me life by them.
94 I am yours. Save me.
I have wanted to know your orders.
95 Wicked people are waiting to destroy me.
But I will think about your rules.
96 Everything I see has its limits.
But your commands have none.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.