M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Saul’s First Victory
11 Now Nahash the Ammonite marched up and encamped against Jabesh-gilead. Then all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
2 But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “Only on this condition will I make a treaty with you—by gouging out the right eye of every one of you, thus I will bring disgrace on all Israel.”
3 So the elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days’ respite, so we may send messengers throughout all the territory of Israel. If no one comes to deliver us, we will surrender to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and spoke these words in the hearing of the people, all the people lifted up their voice and wept. 5 Now behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen, so Saul asked, “Why are the people weeping?” Then they told him the words of the men of Jabesh. 6 Then the Ruach of God suddenly rushed upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger blazed. 7 So he took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, so will it be done to his oxen.” So the dread of Adonai fell on the people, and they came out as one man. 8 He numbered them in Bezek, and Bnei-Yisrael were 300,000 and the men of Judah 30,000.
9 So they said to the messengers who came, “Thus will you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will have deliverance.” The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad.
10 Then the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will surrender to you and you can do to us whatever seems good to you.” 11 So it was on the following day that Saul divided the people into three columns; they penetrated into the midst of the camp at the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of day. It came about that the survivors were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who was it who said, ‘Should Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, so we may put them to death.”[a]
13 But Saul replied, “No man will be put to death this day, for today Adonai has brought deliverance to Israel.” 14 Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal and reaffirm the kingdom there.” 15 So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before Adonai in Gilgal. There they sacrificed fellowship offerings before Adonai, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
The Role of Israel
9 I tell the truth in Messiah—I do not lie, my conscience assuring me in the Ruach ha-Kodesh— 2 that my sorrow is great and the anguish in my heart unending. 3 For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood, [a] 4 who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption[b] and the glory[c] and the covenants and the giving of the Torah[d] and the Temple service[e] and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs—and from them, according to the flesh, the Messiah, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s seed; rather, “Your seed shall be called through Isaac.” [f] 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God; rather, the children of the promise are counted as seed. 9 For the word of promise is this: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” [g] 10 And not only this, but also Rebecca having twins, from one act with our father Isaac. 11 Yet before the sons were even born and had not done anything good or bad—so that God’s purpose and choice might stand not because of works but because of Him who calls— 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” [h] 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[i]
14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For to Moses He says,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[j]
16 So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who strives, but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up—to demonstrate My power in you, so My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” [k] 18 So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But who in the world are you, O man, who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” [l] 21 Does the potter have no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for common use? 22 Now what if God, willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath designed for destruction? 23 And what if He did so to make known the riches of His glory on vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory?
24 Even us He called—not only from the Jewish people, but also from the Gentiles— 25 as He says also in Hosea,
“I will call those who were not My people,
‘My people,’
and her who was not loved,
‘Beloved.’
26 And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them,
‘You are not My people,’
there they shall be called sons of the living God.”[m]
27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,
“Though the number of B’nei-Israel be as the sand of the sea,
only the remnant shall be saved.
28 For Adonai will carry out His word upon the earth,
bringing it to an end and finishing quickly.”[n]
29 And just as Isaiah foretold,
“Unless Adonai-Tzva’ot had left us seed,
we would have become like Sodom and
resembled Gomorrah.”[o]
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—that is, a righteousness of faith. 31 But Israel, who pursued a Torah of righteousness, did not reach the Torah. 32 Why? Because they pursued it not by faith, but as if it were from works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling, 33 just as it is written,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense,
and whoever believes in Him
shall not be put to shame.”[p]
Prophecy Against Moab
48 Concerning Moab, thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel:
“Oy to Nebo! For it will be ravaged.
Kiriathaim will be disgraced and captured.
The fortress will be shamed, shattered.
2 There is no more praise for Moab.
In Heshbon they plotted evil against her:
‘Come, let’s cut her off as a nation.’
You too, Madmen, will be silenced—
the sword will chase you.
3 The sound of outcry from Horonaim,
devastation and great destruction!
4 Moab is shattered—
her little ones have raised a cry to be heard.
5 For at the ascent of Luhith
they go up with continual weeping.
For on the descent to Horonaim
they heard the foe’s shattering cry.
6 Flee! Escape with your lives!
Be like a tamarisk in the wilderness.
7 For because of your trust in your works and your treasures,
you will be captured, too.
Chemosh will go into exile,
together with his priests and princes.
8 The destroyer will come to every town.
No town will escape.
The valley will perish
and the plain will be destroyed,
as Adonai has said.
9 Give wings to Moab,
for she must fly and get away.
Her cities will become a wasteland,
with no one living in them.
10 Cursed is the one who does the work of Adonai with slackness,
and cursed is the one who withholds his sword from blood.
11 Moab has been at ease since his youth.
He has settled like wine on its dregs.
He has not been emptied from jar to jar,
nor gone into exile.
Therefore he retains his flavor,
and his aroma has not changed.
12 Therefore behold, days are coming”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“when I will send to him those who will tip him up and over,
and they will empty his vessels,
and smash his jars in pieces.
13 So Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh
just as the house of Israel was ashamed
of Bethel their confidence.
14 How can you say: ‘We are warriors
and men valiant for battle’?
15 Moab is ravaged, its towns entered,
its choice young men gone down to slaughter”
—It is a declaration of the King, whose Name is Adonai-Tzva’ot.
16 “Moab’s calamity will come soon,
and his downfall hastens swiftly.
17 Mourn for him,
all who are around him,
all who know his name.
Say: ‘How the mighty scepter,
the splendid rod, is broken!’
18 O daughter dwelling in Dibon
come down from your glory
and sit in thirst!
For Moab’s destroyer has come to you.
He has devastated your strongholds.
19 O inhabitant of Aroer,
stand by the road and watch—
ask him fleeing and her escaping,
‘What has happened?’
20 Moab is disgraced, indeed shattered.
Wail and shriek!
Declare by the Arnon, Moab is ruined!
21 Judgment has come on the tableland
—on Holon, Jahzah, Mephaath,
22 on Dibon, Nebo, Beth-diblathaim,
23 on Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon,
24 on Kerioth, Bozrah,
and all the towns of the land of Moab, far and near.
25 The horn of Moab is cut off
and his arm is broken!”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
26 “Make him drunk,
for he exalted himself against Adonai.
So Moab will wallow in his vomit
and also become a laughingstock.
27 After all, Israel is a laughingstock to you.
Was he ever found among thieves,
that whenever you speak of him,
you should wag the head?
28 Inhabitants of Moab, leave the towns and dwell in crags—
like a dove nesting in a cave’s mouth.
29 We have heard of the pride of Moab
—very proud he is—his haughtiness,
his arrogance, his insolence,
and his self-exalted heart.
30 I know his arrogance,” says Adonai,
“but it is dishonest—
his boasts really accomplish nothing.
31 Therefore I wail for Moab!
Yes, I cry out for all Moab,
for the men of Kir-heres I moan.
32 More than weeping of Jazer
will I weep for you, vine of Sibmah!
Your branches spread to the sea,
reached as far as the sea of Jazer.
On your summer fruits and your vintage
the destroyer has fallen.
33 So joy and gladness are taken away
from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab.
I stopped wine from the winepresses.
No one will tread with shouting—
any shouting is not a shout of joy.”
34 “From the outcry of Heshbon to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they will raise their voice—from Zoar to Horonaim and a 3-year old heifer[a]—for the Waters of Nimrim also will be waste. 35 Moreover I will make an end in Moab”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“of the one offering on the high place and the one burning incense to his gods.”
36 “That is why my heart is moaning like funeral flutes for Moab,
and my heart moans like flutes
for the people of Kir-heres.
Thus the wealth he made is lost.
37 For every head is bald,
every beard clipped,
on all the hands are gashes,
and around the waist sackcloth.
38 On all the housetops of Moab
and in its squares—
lamentation everywhere!
For I have broken Moab like a jar
In which no one delights”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
39 “‘How shattered it is!’ they wailed!
‘How Moab turned his back in shame!’
So Moab will become a laughingstock
and a horror to all around him.”
40 For thus says Adonai: “Behold,
he will swoop down like a vulture
and spread out his wings against Moab.
41 The towns are captured,
the strongholds seized.
The hearts of Moab’s warriors in that day
will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
42 Moab will be destroyed as a people,
because he boasted against Adonai.
43 Panic, pit and trap, are upon you,
inhabitant of Moab,” declares Adonai.
44 “The one who flees from panic
will fall into the pit,
and one who climbs out of the pit
will be caught in the trap.
For I will bring on Moab
the year of their visitation.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
45 “In the shadow of Heshbon
the fugitives stop, exhausted,
for fire breaks out of Heshbon
flame from within Sihon,
and it singes the foreheads
and the scalps of Moab’s noisy sons.
46 Oy to you, Moab!
The people of Chemosh have perished!
For your sons are taken away captive
and your daughters into exile.
47 Yet I will restore Moab from exile
in the end of days.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
“Until then this is the judgment of Moab.”
Teach Me Your Paths
Psalm 25
1 Of David.
To You, Adonai, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in You I trust,
so I will not be ashamed,
and my enemies will not gloat over me.
3 Surely no one who waits for You will be ashamed.
But the treacherous without cause will be ashamed.
4 Show me Your ways, Adonai.
Teach me Your paths.
5 Guide me in Your truth, and teach me,
for You are God, my salvation,
for You I wait all day.
6 Remember, Adonai,
Your compassions and Your mercies—
for they are from eternity.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellion.
According to Your mercy remember me,
for the sake of Your goodness, Adonai.
8 Good and upright is Adonai.
Therefore He directs sinners in the way.
9 He guides the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble His way.
10 All Adonai’s ways are lovingkindness
and truth
to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your Name’s sake, Adonai,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is this man who fears Adonai?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
13 His soul abides in goodness,
and his offspring will inherit the land.
14 The secret of Adonai is for those who fear Him.
He makes His covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are always looking to Adonai,
for He will pull my feet out of the net.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart increase.
Bring me out of my distress.
18 See my affliction and my suffering,
and take away all my sins.
19 See my enemies, how many they are—
they hate me with violent hatred.
20 Guard my soul and deliver me.
Let me not be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me—
for I wait for You.
22 Redeem Israel, O God,
from all their troubles.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.