M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Philistines Mistrust David
29 Now (A)the Philistines gathered together all their armies to (B)Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in (C)Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and (D)David and his men were proceeding on in the rear with Achish. 3 Then the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, (E)who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and (F)I have found no fault in him from the day he [a]deserted to me to this day?” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Make the man go back, that he may return (G)to his place where you have assigned him, and do not let him go down to battle with us, (H)or in the battle he may become an adversary to us. For with what could this man make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of [b]these men? 5 Is this not David, (I)of whom they sing in the dances, saying,
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been upright, and (J)your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; (K)for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords. 7 Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 David said to Achish, “(L)But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 But Achish replied to David, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, (M)like an angel of God; nevertheless (N)the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then arise early in the morning (O)with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, depart.” 11 So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
David’s Victory over the Amalekites
30 Then it happened when David and his men came to (P)Ziklag on the third day, that (Q)the Amalekites had made a raid on the [c]Negev and on (R)Ziklag, and had [d]overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; 2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, [e](S)without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way. 3 When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him (T)lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep. 5 Now (U)David’s two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the [f]widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 Moreover David was greatly distressed because (V)the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were [g]embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But (W)David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
7 Then (X)David said to (Y)Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 (Z)David inquired of the Lord, saying, “(AA)Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, (AB)and you will surely rescue all.” 9 So David went, (AC)he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those left behind remained. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men, for (AD)two hundred who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor remained behind.
11 Now they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David, and gave him bread and he ate, and they provided him water to drink. 12 They gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins, and he ate; (AE)then his spirit [h]revived. For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13 David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man of Egypt, a servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind when I fell sick three days ago. 14 We made a raid on (AF)the [i]Negev of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on (AG)the [j]Negev of Caleb, and (AH)we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 Then David said to him, “Will you bring me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this band.”
16 When he had brought him down, behold, they were [k]spread over all the land, (AI)eating and drinking and [l]dancing because of (AJ)all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 David [m]slaughtered them (AK)from the twilight [n]until the evening of [o]the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on (AL)camels and fled. 18 So David (AM)recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and [p]rescued his two wives. 19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; (AN)David brought it all back. 20 So David had [q]captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of [r]the other livestock, and they said, “(AO)This is David’s spoil.”
The Spoils Are Divided
21 When (AP)David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, “Because they did not go with [s]us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 23 Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24 And who will listen to you in this matter? For (AQ)as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” 25 So it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
26 Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Behold, (AR)a [t]gift for you from the spoil of (AS)the enemies of the Lord: 27 to those who were in (AT)Bethel, and to those who were in (AU)Ramoth of the [u]Negev, and to those who were in (AV)Jattir, 28 and to those who were in (AW)Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in (AX)Eshtemoa, 29 and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of (AY)the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of (AZ)the Kenites, 30 and to those who were in (BA)Hormah, and to those who were in (BB)Bor-ashan, and to those who were in Athach, 31 and to those who were in (BC)Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to (BD)go.”
Avoid Israel’s Mistakes
10 For (A)I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all (B)under the cloud and all (C)passed through the sea; 2 and all were (D)baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all (E)ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all (F)drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was [a]Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for (G)they were laid low in the wilderness.
6 Now these things happened as (H)examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as (I)they also craved. 7 Do not be (J)idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “(K)The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to (L)play.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as (M)some of them [b]did, and (N)twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as (O)some of them [c]did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor (P)grumble, as some of them [d]did, and (Q)were destroyed by the (R)destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an (S)example, and (T)they were written for our instruction, upon whom (U)the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who (V)thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and (W)God is faithful, who will not allow you to be (X)tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my (Y)beloved, flee from (Z)idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. 16 Is not the (AA)cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the [e](AB)bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one [f]bread, we (AC)who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one [g]bread. 18 Look at [h]the nation (AD)Israel; are not those who (AE)eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or (AF)that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they (AG)sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 (AH)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (AI)the table of demons. 22 Or do we (AJ)provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not (AK)stronger than He, are we?
23 (AL)All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things (AM)edify. 24 Let no one (AN)seek his own good, but that of his [i]neighbor. 25 (AO)Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; 26 (AP)for the earth is the Lord’s, and [j]all it contains. 27 If (AQ)one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, (AR)eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. 28 But (AS)if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for (AT)why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, (AU)why am I slandered concerning that for which I (AV)give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or (AW)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (AX)Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to (AY)the church of God; 33 just as I also (AZ)please all men in all things, (BA)not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, (BB)so that they may be saved.
Vision of Abominations in Jerusalem
8 It came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord [a]God fell on me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of [b]a man; from His loins and downward there was the (A)appearance of fire, and from His loins and upward the appearance of brightness, like the appearance (B)of [c]glowing metal. 3 He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the (C)Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the [d]north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which (D)provokes to jealousy, was located. 4 And behold, the (E)glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain.
5 Then He said to me, “Son of man, (F)raise your eyes now toward the north.” So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this (G)idol of jealousy at the entrance. 6 And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great (H)abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations.”
7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, now (I)dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. 9 And He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 11 Standing in front of them were (J)seventy (K)elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his (L)censer in his hand and the fragrance of the cloud of incense rising. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘(M)The Lord does not see us; the Lord has (N)forsaken the land.’” 13 And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing.”
14 Then He brought me to the entrance of the (O)gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 15 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these.”
16 Then He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their (P)backs to the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east; and (Q)they were [e]prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. 17 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have (R)filled the land with violence and (S)provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. 18 Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and (T)though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.”
God the Refuge of His People.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, [a]set to Alamoth. A Song.
46 God is our (A)refuge and strength,
[b]A very (B)present help (C)in [c]trouble.
2 Therefore we will (D)not fear, though (E)the earth should change
And though (F)the mountains slip into the heart of the [d]sea;
3 Though its (G)waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. [e]Selah.
4 There is a (H)river whose streams make glad the (I)city of God,
The holy (J)dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is (K)in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will (L)help her [f]when morning dawns.
6 The [g]nations (M)made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He [h](N)raised His voice, the earth (O)melted.
7 The Lord of hosts (P)is with us;
The God of Jacob is (Q)our stronghold. Selah.
8 Come, (R)behold the works of the Lord,
[i]Who has wrought (S)desolations in the earth.
9 He (T)makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He (U)breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He (V)burns the chariots with fire.
10 “[j]Cease striving and (W)know that I am God;
I will be (X)exalted among the [k]nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
God the King of the Earth.
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
47 O (Y)clap your hands, all peoples;
(Z)Shout to God with the voice of [l]joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be (AA)feared,
A (AB)great King over all the earth.
3 He (AC)subdues peoples under us
And nations under our feet.
4 He chooses our (AD)inheritance for us,
The (AE)glory of Jacob whom He loves. [m]Selah.
5 God has (AF)ascended [n]with a shout,
The Lord, [o]with the (AG)sound of a trumpet.
6 (AH)Sing praises to God, sing praises;
Sing praises to (AI)our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the (AJ)King of all the earth;
Sing praises (AK)with a [p]skillful psalm.
8 God (AL)reigns over the nations,
God [q]sits on (AM)His holy throne.
9 The [r](AN)princes of the people have assembled themselves as the (AO)people of the God of Abraham,
For the (AP)shields of the earth belong to God;
He [s]is (AQ)highly exalted.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.