M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Man of God Speaks Against Bethel
13 ·The Lord commanded [L By the word of the Lord] a man of God from Judah ·to go [went up] to Bethel. When he arrived, Jeroboam was standing by the altar to ·offer a sacrifice [burn incense]. 2 ·The Lord had commanded [L By the word of the Lord] the man of God ·to speak [spoke] against the altar. The man said, “Altar, altar, the Lord says to you: ‘David’s ·family [L house] will ·have [have born] a son named Josiah. The priests ·for the places of worship [L of the high places; 3:2] now ·make their sacrifices [burn incense] on you, but Josiah will sacrifice those priests on you. Human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That same day the man of God gave ·proof [a sign] that these things would happen. “This is the Lord’s sign that this will happen,” he said. “This altar will break apart, and the ashes on it will ·fall to the ground [spill; be poured out; 2 Kin. 23:15–16].”
4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God said ·about [against] the altar in Bethel, the king raised his hand from the altar and pointed at the man. “·Take [Seize] him!” he said. But when the king said this, his ·arm [or hand] ·was paralyzed [withered; dried up], and he could not ·move it [pull it back]. 5 The altar also broke into pieces, and its ashes ·fell to the ground [spilled; poured out]. This was the sign the ·Lord had told the man of God to give [L man had given by the word of the Lord].
6 Then the king said to the man of God, “Please ·pray to [intercede with; entreat] the Lord your God for me, and ask him to ·heal my arm [or restore my hand].”
So the man of God ·prayed to [interceded with; entreated] the Lord, and the king’s ·arm was healed [or hand was restored], becoming as it was before.
7 Then the king said to the man of God, “Please come home and ·eat with me [refresh yourself], and I will give you a gift.”
8 But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you gave me half of your ·kingdom [possessions; L house], I would not go with you. I will not ·eat or drink [L eat bread or drink water] in this place. 9 The ·Lord [L word of the Lord] commanded me not to ·eat or drink [L eat bread or drink water] nor to return on the same road by which I came.” 10 So he took a different road and did not return on the same road by which he had come to Bethel.
11 Now an old prophet was living in Bethel. His sons came and told him what the man of God had done there that day. They also told their father what he had said to King Jeroboam. 12 The father asked, “Which road did he use when he left?” So his sons showed him the road the man of God from Judah had taken. 13 Then the prophet told his sons to put a saddle on his donkey. So they saddled the donkey, and he ·left [mounted it].
14 He went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree. The prophet asked, “Are you the man of God who came from Judah?”
The man answered, “Yes, I am.”
15 The prophet said, “Please come home and ·eat [L eat bread] with me.”
16 “I can’t go home with you,” the man of God answered. “I can’t ·eat or drink [L eat bread or drink water] with you in this place. 17 The Lord said to me, ‘Don’t ·eat or drink [L eat bread or drink water] there or return on the same road by which you came.’”
18 Then the old prophet said, “But I also am a prophet, like you.” Then he lied. “An angel from the Lord came to me and told me to bring you to my home. He said you should ·eat and drink [L eat bread and drink water] with me.” 19 So the man of God went to the old prophet’s house, and he ate ·and drank [L bread and drank water] with him there.
20 While they were sitting at the table, the Lord spoke his word to the ·old prophet [L prophet who had brought him back]. 21 ·The old prophet [L He] cried out to the man of God from Judah, “·The Lord said [T Thus says the Lord,] you ·did not obey him! He said you did not do what the Lord your God commanded you […have defied the Lord’s command]. 22 The Lord commanded you not to ·eat or drink [L eat bread or drink water] in this place, but you came back and ·ate and drank [L ate bread and drank water]. So your body will not ·be buried in your family grave [L come to the grave/tomb of your ancestors].”
23 After the man of God finished eating [L bread] and drinking, the prophet put a saddle on his donkey [C possibly the old prophet’s own donkey] for him, and the man left. 24 As he was traveling home, a lion ·attacked [L met] and killed him. His body lay on the road, with the donkey and the lion standing nearby. 25 Some men who were traveling by saw the body on the road and the lion standing nearby. So they went to the city [C Bethel] where the old prophet lived and told what they had seen.
26 The old prophet who had brought back the man of God heard what had happened. “It is the man of God who did not obey the Lord’s command,” he said. “So the Lord sent a lion to kill him, ·just as he said he would [L according to the word of the Lord].”
27 Then the prophet said to his sons, “Put a saddle on my donkey,” and they saddled it. 28 The old prophet went out and found the body lying on the road, with the donkey and the lion still standing nearby. The lion had not eaten the body or ·hurt [attacked; mauled] the donkey. 29 The prophet put the body on his donkey and carried it back to the city to ·have a time of sadness for him [mourn] and to bury him. 30 The prophet ·buried [laid] the body in his own family ·grave [tomb], and they ·were sad for [mourned over] the man of God and said, “·Oh [Alas; Woe], my brother.”
31 After the prophet buried the body, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in ·this same grave [L the grave in which the man of God is buried]. ·Put [Lay] my bones next to his. 32 Through him the Lord ·spoke [cried; proclaimed] against the altar at Bethel and against the ·places of worship [shrines/L houses of the high places; 3:2] in the towns of Samaria. What the Lord spoke through him will certainly come ·true [to pass].”
33 After this ·incident [event] King Jeroboam did not ·stop [turn from] doing evil. He continued to choose priests for the ·places of worship [L high places; 3:2] from among all the people [12:31]. Anyone who wanted to be a priest for the ·places of worship [L high places] ·was allowed [he appointed/ordained] to be one. 34 In this way the ·family [L house] of Jeroboam sinned, and this sin caused its ·ruin [downfall] and destruction from the face of the earth.
What the Christians Are to Do
4 [L Therefore; So then] My brothers and sisters, ·I love you and want to see you [L my beloved and longed-for ones]. ·You bring me joy and make me proud of you [L …my joy and crown; 1 Thess. 2:19; C a wreath bestowed for victory or honor], so stand ·strong [firm] in the Lord as I have told you, ·dear friends [beloved].
2 I ·ask [urge; encourage; exhort] Euodia and Syntyche [C two women in the Philippian congregation] to agree in the Lord. 3 And I ask you, my ·faithful [true; genuine] ·friend [companion; L yoke-partner; C possibly a proper name: Syzygos], to help these women. They ·served [struggled; labored] with me in telling the ·Good News [Gospel], together with Clement and ·others who worked with me [L the rest of my coworkers], whose names are written in the book of life [Rev. 3:5; 21:27].
4 ·Be full of joy [Rejoice] in the Lord always. I will say again, ·be full of joy [rejoice].
5 Let everyone see that you are ·gentle [kind; considerate; patient]. The Lord is ·coming soon [or close at hand; L near]. 6 Do not ·worry [be anxious] about anything, but pray and ·ask God for everything you need [or make your requests known to God], always giving thanks. 7 And God’s peace, which ·is so great we cannot understand it [transcends/surpasses all comprehension], will ·keep [guard] your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 [L Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful [lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things. 9 Do what you learned and received and heard ·from [L in] me, and what you saw ·me do [L in me]. And the God ·who gives [L of] peace will be with you.
Paul Thanks the Christians
10 I ·am very happy [L rejoiced greatly] in the Lord that you have ·shown [renewed; revived] your ·care [concern] for me again. You continued to ·care [be concerned] about me, but ·there was no way for you [you had no opportunity] to show it. 11 I am not telling you this because I need anything. [L For] I have learned to be ·satisfied [content] ·whatever the circumstances [or with whatever I have]. 12 I know how to live when I am ·poor [in humble circumstances], and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the ·secret of being happy [L secret] ·at any time in everything that happens [or in any and all circumstances], when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have ·more than I need [plenty; an abundance] and when I do not have enough. 13 I can do all things through ·Christ, because he [L the one who] gives me strength.
14 ·But [However; Nevertheless] it was good that you ·helped [shared/partnered with] me ·when I needed it [L in my trouble/trial]. 15 You Philippians remember ·when I first preached the Good News there [or when you first believed the Good News/Gospel; L in the beginning of the Good News/Gospel; Acts 16:11–40]. When I left Macedonia [C the northern part of present-day Greece; Acts 17:14–15], ·you were the only church that [L no church except you alone] ·gave me help [L shared/partnered with me in matters of giving and receiving; C business terminology; the Philippians “invested” in Paul’s ministry and received back spiritual blessings]. 16 [L For] Even when I was in Thessalonica [C shortly after leaving Philippi; Thessalonica is southwest of Philippi; Acts 17:1–9] ·several times [L both once and twice] you sent me things I needed. 17 Really, it is not that I ·want to receive gifts from you [L seek the gift], but I ·want you to have the good that comes from giving [L seek the profit/fruit that increases to your account; C more business terminology; v. 15]. 18 And now I have ·everything [or received full payment], and more. I ·have all I need [or am fully supplied/filled up], because Epaphroditus [2:25] brought your gifts to me. They are ·like a sweet-smelling offering to God [L a fragrant aroma], a sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to him. 19 [L And] My God will ·meet [supply; fulfill] all of your needs ·from [L according to] his ·wonderful riches [glorious riches; or riches in heaven/glory] in Christ Jesus. 20 Glory to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.
21 Greet each ·of God’s people [T saint] in Christ Jesus. ·Those [L The brothers (and sisters)] who are with me send greetings to you. 22 All of ·God’s people [T the saints] greet you, particularly those from ·the palace of Caesar [L Caesar’s household; C the soldiers, slaves, and freedmen engaged in imperial service].
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with ·you all [your spirit].
The Lord Among His People
43 Then the man led me to the outer east gateway, 2 and [L look; T behold] I saw the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] coming from the east. It sounded like the roar of rushing water, and ·its brightness made the earth shine [the earth radiated/shone with his glory]. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when the Lord came to destroy the city [ch. 9] and also like the vision I had seen by the Kebar ·River [Canal; 1:1]. I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground. 4 The glory of the Lord came into the ·Temple area [L house] through the east gateway.
5 Then ·the Spirit [or the spirit; or a wind; 2:2; 3:12] picked me up and brought me into the inner courtyard. ·There I saw [L And look/T behold] the Lord’s glory filling the ·Temple [L house]. 6 As the man stood at my side, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the ·Temple [L house]. 7 The voice said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is my throne and the place ·where my feet rest [L for the soles of my feet]. I will live here among the ·Israelites [L sons/T children or Israel] forever. The ·people [L house] of Israel will not make my holy name ·unclean [defiled; C ritually] again. Neither the people nor their kings will ·make it unclean [defile my holy name; C ritually] with their ·sexual sins [prostitution] or with the ·dead bodies [L corpses in their death; or funeral monuments/pillars] of their kings. 8 The kings ·made my name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually] by putting their ·doorway [threshold] next to my ·doorway [threshold], and their doorpost next to my doorpost so only a wall separated me from them [C kings erected monuments to themselves around the temple]. When they did their ·acts that I hate [detestable/abominable acts], they ·made my holy name unclean [defiled my holy name; C ritually], and so I ·destroyed [consumed] them in my anger. 9 Now let them stop their ·sexual sins [prostitution] and take the ·dead bodies [or funeral pillars; v. 7] of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them forever.
10 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], tell the ·people [L house] of Israel about the ·Temple [L house] so they will be ashamed of their ·sins [iniquities]. Let them ·think about the plan of the Temple [study its plan; or consider its perfection]. 11 If they are ashamed of all they have done, let them know the design of the ·Temple [L house] and how it is built. Show them its exits and entrances, all its designs, and also all its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·teachings [laws; instructions]. Write it down ·as they watch [in their sight] so they will obey all its ·teachings [laws; instructions] and its ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. 12 This is the ·teaching about [law of] the ·Temple [L house]: All the area around the top of the mountain is most holy. This is the ·teaching about [law/instruction of] the ·Temple [L house].
The Altar
13 “These are the measurements of the altar, ·using the measuring stick [L in long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth; 40:5]. The altar’s ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] high and ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide, and its rim is ·about nine inches [L one span] around its edge. And the altar is this tall: 14 From the base on the ground up to the lower ledge, it measures ·three and one-half feet [L two cubits]. It is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. It measures ·seven feet [L four cubits] from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge and is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide. 15 The ·place where the sacrifice is burned on the altar [altar hearth] is ·seven feet [L four cubits] high, with its four ·corners shaped like horns and reaching up above it [horns projecting upward; Ex. 27:2]. 16 It is square, ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] long and ·twenty-one feet [L twelve cubits] wide. 17 The upper ledge is also square, ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] long and ·twenty-four and one-half feet [L fourteen cubits] wide. The rim around the altar is ·ten and one-half inches [L one-half cubit] wide, and its ·gutter [base] is ·twenty-one inches [L one cubit] wide all around. Its steps ·are on the east side [L face east].”
18 Then the man said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], this is what the Lord God says: These are the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] for the altar. ·When [L On the day] it is built, use these rules to offer burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and to sprinkle blood on it [Lev. 1:5]. 19 You must give a young bull as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] to the priests, the Levites who are from the ·family [seed; offspring] of Zadok and who come near me to ·serve [minister to] me, says the Lord God. 20 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the four ·corners [L horns; Ex. 27:2] of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. This is how you will ·make the altar pure [cleanse/purify the altar] and ·ready for God’s service [L make atonement for it]. 21 Then take the bull for the ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] and burn it in the ·proper [appointed; designated] place ·in the Temple area [L of the house], outside the ·Temple building [sanctuary].
22 “On the second day offer a male goat ·that has nothing wrong with it [without blemish/defect] for a sin offering. The priests will ·make the altar pure and ready for God’s service [cleanse/purify the altar] as they did with the young bull. 23 When you finish ·making the altar pure and ready [purifying it], offer a young bull and a male sheep from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 24 You must offer them ·in the presence of [before] the Lord, and the priests are to throw salt on them and offer them as a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord.
25 “You must prepare a goat every day for seven days as a sin offering. Also, the priests must prepare a young bull and ·male sheep [ram] from the flock, ·which have nothing wrong with them [without blemish/defect]. 26 For seven days the priests are to make ·the altar pure and ready for God’s service [L atonement for the altar and cleanse it]. Then they will ·give the altar to God [consecrate/dedicate it; L fill its hands]. 27 ·After these seven days [L When these days are completed], on the eighth day, the priests must offer your burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] and your ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1] on the altar. Then I will accept you, says the Lord God.”
A Call to Praise and Obedience
95 Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord.
Let’s shout praises to the Rock [28:1; 42:9; 62:2; Deut. 32:4] who ·saves us [gives us victory].
2 Let’s ·come [present ourselves] to him with ·thanksgiving [praise].
Let’s ·sing songs [shout psalms] to him,
3 because the Lord is the great God,
the great King over all gods [Ex. 15:11].
4 The deepest places on earth are ·his [L in his hand],
and the ·highest [peaks of the] mountains belong to him.
5 The sea is his because he made it,
and he created the ·land [dry ground] with his own hands.
6 Come, let’s ·worship him [bow down] and ·bow down [bend the knee].
Let’s kneel before the Lord who made us,
7 because he is our God
and we are the people ·he takes care of [L of his pasture],
the sheep ·that he tends [L of his hand; 74:1; 79:13; 100:3; John 10:11–14].
Today listen to ·what he says [L his voice]:
8 “Do not ·be stubborn [L harden your heart], as at Meribah [C “contending”; 81:7; 106:32; Ex. 17:1–17; Num. 20:1–13],
as that day at Massah [C “testing”] in the ·desert [wilderness; Heb. 4:7].
9 There your ·ancestors [fathers] tested me
and tried me even though they saw what I did.
10 I ·was angry with [felt disgust for] ·those people [L that generation] for forty years.
I said, ‘They are ·not loyal to me [L a people whose hearts wander/go astray]
and have not understood my ways.’
11 I was angry and made a promise,
‘They will never enter my rest.’”
Praise for the Lord’s Glory
96 Sing to the Lord a new song [C celebrating victory; 33:3; 40:3; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Is. 42:10; Rev. 5:9; 14:3];
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord and ·praise [bless] his name;
every day ·tell [announce the good news] ·how he saves us [L of his salvation/victory].
3 Tell the nations of his glory [C his manifest presence];
tell all peoples the ·miracles [wonderful acts] he does,
4 because the Lord is great; he should be praised ·at all times [or with vigor].
He ·should be honored [is awesome; should be feared] more than all the gods,
5 because all the gods of the nations are ·only idols [or worthless],
but the Lord made the heavens [Gen. 1].
6 The Lord has ·glory [splendor] and majesty;
he has power and beauty in his ·Temple [sanctuary; L Holy Place].
7 ·Praise [L Ascribe to] the Lord, all ·nations on earth [L families of peoples];
·praise the Lord’s [L ascribe to the Lord] glory and power.
8 ·Praise the glory of the Lord’s [L Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his] name.
Bring an ·offering [grain/gift/tribute sacrifice; Lev. 2:1] and come into his Temple courtyards.
9 ·Worship [Bow down to] the Lord ·because he is holy [L in the splendor of his holiness].
Tremble before him, everyone on earth.
10 Tell the nations, “The Lord ·is king [reigns; 47:2; 93:1; 97:1; 98:6; 99:1; Rev. 19:6].”
The earth is ·set [established], and it cannot be moved.
He will judge the people fairly.
11 Let the ·skies [heavens] rejoice and the earth be glad;
let the sea and everything in it ·shout [thunder; roar].
12 Let the fields and everything in them rejoice.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13 before the Lord, because he is coming.
He is coming to judge the world;
he will judge the world with ·fairness [righteousness]
and the peoples with ·truth [faithfulness; 98:9].
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