M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat
19 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 (A)Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “(B)Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and [a](C)so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? 3 But [b](D)there is some good in you, for (E)you have removed the [c]Asheroth from the land and you (F)have set your heart to seek God.”
4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and (G)brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.
Reforms Instituted
5 He appointed (H)judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6 He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for (I)you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you [d]when you render judgment. 7 Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; [e]be very careful what you do, for [f]the Lord our God will (J)have no part in unrighteousness (K)or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
8 In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some (L)of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge [g]disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 9 Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10 (M)Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord, and (N)wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. 11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in [h](O)all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in [i]all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. [j](P)Act resolutely, and the Lord be with the upright.”
Judah Invaded
20 Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the [k](Q)Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of [l]Aram and behold, they are in (R)Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).” 3 Jehoshaphat was afraid and [m](S)turned his attention to seek the Lord, and (T)proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to (U)seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.
Jehoshaphat’s Prayer
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, 6 and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, (V)are You not God in the heavens? And (W)are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. 7 Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and (X)give it to the descendants of (Y)Abraham Your friend forever? 8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, 9 ‘(Z)Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for (AA)Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’ 10 Now behold, (AB)the sons of Ammon and Moab and [n]Mount Seir, (AC)whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), 11 see how they are rewarding us by (AD)coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, (AE)will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but (AF)our eyes are on You.”
13 All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.
Jahaziel Answers the Prayer
14 Then in the midst of the assembly (AG)the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; 15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘(AH)Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for (AI)the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, (AJ)stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, (AK)for the Lord is with you.”
18 Jehoshaphat (AL)bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
Enemies Destroy Themselves
20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (AM)put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” 21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who (AN)praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “(AO)Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 22 When they began singing and praising, the Lord (AP)set ambushes against the sons of (AQ)Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were [o]routed. 23 For the sons of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir destroying them completely; and when they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, (AR)they helped to destroy one another.
24 When Judah came to the lookout of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude, and behold, they were corpses lying on the ground, and no one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, [p]garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.
Triumphant Return to Jerusalem
26 Then on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore they have named that place “The Valley of [q]Beracah” until today. 27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, (AS)for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps, lyres and trumpets to the house of the Lord. 29 And (AT)the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, (AU)for his God gave him rest on all sides.
31 (AV)Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. 33 (AW)The high places, however, were not removed; (AX)the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first [r]to last, behold, they are written in the annals of (AY)Jehu the son of Hanani, which is [s]recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
Alliance Displeases God
35 (AZ)After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly [t]in so doing. 36 So he allied himself with him to make ships to go (BA)to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.
The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets
8 When the Lamb broke the (A)seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw (B)the seven angels who stand before God, and seven (C)trumpets were given to them.
3 (D)Another angel came and stood at the (E)altar, holding a (F)golden censer; and much (G)incense was given to him, so that he might [a]add it to the (H)prayers of all the [b]saints on the (I)golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And (J)the smoke of the incense, [c]with the prayers of the [d]saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel [e]took the censer and (K)filled it with the fire of the altar, and (L)threw it to the earth; and there followed (M)peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an (N)earthquake.
6 (O)And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
7 The first sounded, and there came (P)hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and (Q)a third of the earth was burned up, and (R)a third of the (S)trees were burned up, and all the green (T)grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great (U)mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and (V)a third of the (W)sea became blood, 9 and (X)a third of the creatures which were in the sea [f]and had life, died; and a third of the (Y)ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded, and a great star (Z)fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a (AA)third of the rivers and on the (AB)springs of waters. 11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a (AC)third of the waters became (AD)wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded, and a (AE)third of the (AF)sun and a third of the (AG)moon and a (AH)third of the (AI)stars were struck, so that a (AJ)third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a (AK)third of it, and the night in the same way.
13 Then I looked, and I heard [g]an eagle flying in (AL)midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “(AM)Woe, woe, woe to (AN)those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the (AO)three angels who are about to sound!”
The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees
4 Then (A)the angel who was speaking with me returned and (B)roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. 2 He said to me, “(C)What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a (D)lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its (E)seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3 also (F)two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.” 4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, (G)my lord?” 5 So (H)the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “(I)Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he [a]said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to (J)Zerubbabel saying, ‘(K)Not by might nor by power, but by My (L)Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. 7 ‘What are you, O great (M)mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with (N)shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
8 Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have (O)laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will (P)finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to [b]you. 10 For who has despised the day of (Q)small things? [c]But these (R)seven will be glad when they see the [d](S)plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—these are the (T)eyes of the Lord which (U)range to and fro throughout the earth.”
11 Then I said to him, “What are these (V)two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?” 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, “What are the two olive [e]branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?” 13 So he answered me, saying, “(W)Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, (X)my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two [f](Y)anointed ones who are (Z)standing by the (AA)Lord of the whole earth.”
Jesus Teaches at the Feast
7 After these things Jesus (A)was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because (B)the Jews (C)were seeking to kill Him. 2 Now the feast of the Jews, (D)the Feast of Booths, was near. 3 Therefore His (E)brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your (F)disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret [a]when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His (G)brothers were believing in Him. 6 So Jesus *said to them, “(H)My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7 (I)The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that (J)its deeds are evil. 8 Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because (K)My time has not yet fully come.” 9 Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee.
10 But when His (L)brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. 11 (M)So the Jews (N)were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?” 12 There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; (O)some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.” 13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for (P)fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to (Q)teach. 15 (R)The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man (S)become learned, having never been educated?” 16 So Jesus answered them and said, “(T)My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 (U)If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 He who speaks from himself (V)seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
19 “(W)Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you (X)seek to kill Me?” 20 The crowd answered, “(Y)You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did (Z)one [b]deed, and you all marvel. 22 For this reason (AA)Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from (AB)the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 23 (AC)If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not (AD)judge according to appearance, but [c]judge with righteous judgment.”
25 So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 26 Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. (AE)The rulers do not really know that this is [d]the Christ, do they? 27 However, (AF)we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out in the temple, (AG)teaching and saying, “(AH)You both know Me and know where I am from; and (AI)I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 29 (AJ)I know Him, because (AK)I am from Him, and (AL)He sent Me.” 30 So they (AM)were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His (AN)hour had not yet come. 31 But (AO)many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, “(AP)When [e]the Christ comes, He will not perform more [f](AQ)signs than those which this man has, will He?”
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent (AR)officers to (AS)seize Him. 33 Therefore Jesus said, “(AT)For a little while longer I am with you, then (AU)I go to Him who sent Me. 34 (AV)You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 (AW)The Jews then said to one another, “(AX)Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to (AY)the Dispersion among (AZ)the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? 36 What is this statement that He said, ‘(BA)You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”
37 Now on (BB)the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “[g](BC)If anyone is thirsty, [h]let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, (BD)as the Scripture said, ‘From [i]his innermost being will flow rivers of (BE)living water.’” 39 But this He spoke (BF)of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for (BG)the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet (BH)glorified.
Division of People over Jesus
40 Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is (BI)the Prophet.” 41 Others were saying, “This is [j]the Christ.” Still others were saying, “(BJ)Surely [k]the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from (BK)the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So (BL)a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. 44 (BM)Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
45 The (BN)officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” 46 The (BO)officers answered, “(BP)Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” 47 The Pharisees then answered them, “(BQ)You have not also been led astray, have you? 48 (BR)No one of (BS)the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 49 But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” 50 (BT)Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) *said to them, 51 “(BU)Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” 52 They answered him, “(BV)You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” 53 [[l]Everyone went to his home.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.