M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Saul’s Misguided Sacrifice
13 Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 42 years over Israel. 2 Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmas and in the hill country of Beth-el, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the troops he sent away, each one to his tent.
3 Now Jonathan struck down the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. So Saul blew the shofar throughout the country, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” 4 All Israel heard the news, “Saul had struck down the garrison of the Philistines, so Israel has become a stench to the Philistines.” Then the people were summoned to Saul at Gilgal. 5 Meanwhile the Philistines assembled themselves to fight with Israel: 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They marched up and camped in Michmas, east of Beth-aven.
6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble, because the people were hard-pressed, they hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, crevices and pits. 7 Some of the Hebrews even crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But as for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, but all the people following him were trembling.
8 So he waited seven days—the time set by Samuel—but Samuel had not come to Gilgal so the people began to scatter from him. 9 Then Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings,” so he offered the burnt offering. 10 But as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and greet him. 11 But Samuel asked, “What have you done?”
Saul replied, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you had not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmas, 12 I thought: ‘Now the Philistines are about to advance against me at Gilgal, but I have not yet entreated Adonai.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly by not keeping the commandment of Adonai your God which He commanded you. For now, Adonai would have established your kingship over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingship will not last. Adonai has sought for Himself a man after His own heart. So Adonai will appoint him as ruler over His people—because you have not guarded what Adonai commanded you.” 15 Samuel then departed and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.
Then Saul numbered the troops that were with him, about 600 men. 16 Now Saul and his son Jonathan and the people that were present with them were staying in Gibeah of Benjamin, while the Philistines encamped in Michmas. 17 Raiders started to come out from the camp of the Philistines in three detachments: one detachment turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual, 18 another detachment turned toward Beth-horon, and the third detachment turned toward the border road overlooking the Zeboim Wadi toward the wilderness.
19 Now no blacksmith could be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20 So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his sickle, his axe or his hoe. 21 The price of sharpening was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares, the sickles, the three-pronged forks or the axes, or to set the oxgoads. 22 So it came about on the day of battle, there was no sword or spear to be found in the hand of any of the troops that were with Saul and Jonathan—only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. 23 Then the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmas.
Israel Not Rejected
11 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He?[a] May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He knew beforehand.[b] Or do you not know what the Scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Adonai, they have killed your prophets, they have destroyed your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” [c] 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” [d] 5 So in the same way also at this present time there has come to be a remnant[e] according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer by works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained; but the elect obtained it, and the rest were hardened— 8 just as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes not to see and ears not to hear,
until this very day.”[f]
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 Let their eyes be darkened so they do not see,
and bend their back continually.”[g]
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?[h] May it never be! But by their false step salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy. [i] 12 Now if their transgression leads to riches for the world, and their loss riches for the Gentiles, then how much more their fullness! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Insofar as I am an emissary to the Gentiles, I spotlight my ministry 14 if somehow I might provoke to jealousy my own flesh and blood[j] and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the firstfruit is holy, so is the whole batch of dough;[k] and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off and you—being a wild olive—were grafted in among them and became a partaker of the root of the olive tree with its richness, [l] 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, it is not you who support the root but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 True enough. They were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear— 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. 22 Notice then the kindness and severity of God:
severity toward those who fell;
but God’s kindness toward you,
if you continue in His kindness;
otherwise you too will be cut off!
23 And they also,
if they do not continue in their unbelief,
will be grafted in;
for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of that which by nature is a wild olive tree, and grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
The Mystery Revealed!
25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes[m]—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; [n] 26 and in this way[o] all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer shall come out of Zion.
He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27 And this is My covenant with them,[p]
when I take away their sins.”[q]
28 Concerning the Good News, they are hostile for your sake; but concerning chosenness, they are loved on account of the fathers[r]— 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. [s] 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 in like manner these also have now been disobedient with the result that, because of the mercy shown to you, they also may receive mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He might show mercy to all.
33 O the depth of the riches,
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
and how incomprehensible His ways!
34 For “who has known the mind of Adonai,
or who has been His counselor?”[t]
35 Or “who has first given to Him,
that it shall be repaid to him?”[u]
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Against Babylon
50 The word that Adonai spoke about Babylon, about the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet:
2 “Declare it among the nations and proclaim!
Raise a banner, announce, hide nothing!
Say: ‘Babylon will be captured,
Bel put to shame,
Merodach dismayed,
her images disgraced,
her idols shattered!’
3 For a nation comes up against her
out of the land of the north
—it will desolate her land.
No one will dwell there—
they have fled, gone, both man and beast.”
Declaration of Restoration
4 “In those days and at that time”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“the children of Israel will come,
together with the children of Judah,
weeping as they come,
and will seek Adonai their God.
5 They will ask about Zion, the way—
here are their faces! Come!
They will join themselves to Adonai
in an everlasting covenant
that will never be forgotten.[a]
6 My people have been lost sheep.[b]
Their shepherds led them astray.
Turning around in the mountains,
they went from mountain to hill,
and forgot their resting place.
7 Everyone finding them devoured them.
Their foes said: ‘We’re not guilty!’
Instead, they sinned against Adonai,
the habitation of justice—
Adonai, the hope of their fathers.”
Doom of Babylon
8 “Flee from within Babylon,[c]
get out of the land of the Chaldeans,
and be like he-goats before the flock.
9 For I will soon stir up and bring against Babylon
an alliance of great nations from the north.
They will form battle lines against her,
from there she will be captured.
Their arrows will be like a warrior who bereaves,
not returning empty.
10 Chaldea will be a spoil—
all who plunder her will be satisfied.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
11 “Because you rejoice, because you exult—
you who plunder My inheritance—
because you frolic like a trampling heifer
and neigh like stallions,
12 your mother will be utterly ashamed,
she who bore you will be humiliated.
Behold, the least of the nations will be a wilderness,
a dry land, a desert.”
13 Because of Adonai’s wrath,
it will be uninhabited, all waste.
Everyone who passes by Babylon will be appalled,
hissing at all her wounds.
14 Array against Babylon all around,
all you who bend the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows—
for she has sinned against Adonai.
15 Raise a war cry against her all around!
She has thrown up her hands,
her bulwarks are fallen,
her walls thrown down.
For it is Adonai’s vengeance:
take vengeance on her,
as she has done, do to her![d]
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon
and the one who wields a sickle in the time of harvest.
Before the sword of the oppressor
they will each turn to his people,
each will flee to his own land.
17 Israel is a scattered flock—
lions have driven them away.
First, Assyria’s king devoured him.
This last one who broke his bones
was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
18 Therefore thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot,
the God of Israel:
“Indeed, I will punish Babylon’s king and his land,
just as I punished Assyria’s king.
19 I will bring Israel back to his pasture.
He will feed on Carmel and Bashan,
and his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
20 In those days and in that time”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“Israel’s guilt will be sought,
but there will be none,
also for the sins of Judah,
but they will not be found.
For I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.
21 Go up against the land of Merathaim,
against the inhabitants of Pekod.
Put them to the sword
and utterly destroy them”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“and do all that I commanded you.”
22 The noise of battle is in the land
and great crashing.
23 How the hammer of the whole earth
has been cut down and smashed!
How Babylon has become a horror
among the nations!
24 I set a snare for you, so you were caught,
O Babylon, when you were unaware.
You were found and also caught,
because you challenged Adonai.
25 Adonai has opened His armory
and brought out the weapons of His indignation.
For it is a work that my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot has to do
in the land of Chaldea.
26 Come against her from afar,
open her granaries,
pile her up like heaps
and utterly destroy her!
Let nothing be left to her.
27 To the sword with all her bulls,
going down to the slaughter!
Oy to them! Their day has come—
the time of their visitation.
28 The sound of fugitives, escaping out of the land of Babylon—
declaring in Zion the vengeance of Adonai our God,
vengeance for His Temple.
29 Summon archers to Babylon,
all who bend the bow.
Encamp against her all around,
let no one there escape.
Repay her for her deed.
As all she has done, do to her.[e]
For she was arrogant against Adonai,
against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Therefore her young men will fall in her squares,
all her warriors silenced in that day.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
31 “Look, I am against you, arrogant one”
—declares my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot—
“for your day has come,
the time when I will punish you.
32 The arrogant will stumble and fall,
and no one will lift him up.
I will kindle fire in his cities,
and it will devour all who are round about him.”
33 Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:
“The children of Israel and the children of Judah
are oppressed together.
All their captors hold them fast.
They refused to let them go.
34 Their Redeemer is strong
—Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name—
He will vigorously plead their case,
so He may give rest to the earth,
but trembling to the Babylonians.
35 “A sword is on the Chaldeans”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“and on Babylon’s inhabitants,
and her officials and wise men.
36 A sword on the diviners—fools!
A sword on her warriors—shattered!
37 A sword on their horses, their chariots,
on all the mixed people within her,
so they will become like women!
A sword on her treasures—
so they may be plundered.
38 A drought is on her waters,
so they will be dried up.
For it is a land of idols—
they are mad about horrible things.
39 So wildcats and hyenas will live there
and ostriches settle there.
It will never again be inhabited
or dwelt in from generation to generation.[f]
40 As when Elohim overthrew Sodom, Gomorrah
and their neighbor towns”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
so no man will live there,
nor any son of man dwell in it.[g]
41 Look! A people coming from the north,
a great nation and many kings
will rise up from the ends of the earth.
42 They grasp bow and javelin.
They are cruel, with no compassion.
Their voice roars like the sea,
as they ride on horses,
arranged as warriors for battle,
against you, daughter of Babylon.
43 Babylon’s king heard news of them.
His hands droop;
anguish grabs him,
agony like a woman in labor.
44 Look, it is like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan
to a secure pasture—
for abruptly I will make him run away from it.
I appoint over it whomever I choose.
For who is like Me?
Who will summon Me to court?
What shepherd stands up to Me?”
45 Therefore hear the plan that Adonai has drawn up against Babylon,
and His strategies that He designed against the land of the Chaldeans.
Surely the least of the flock will be dragged away,
Surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them.
46 The earth will tremble at the noise of Babylon’s capture.
The sound of their outcry will be heard among the nations.
Hoshia-na!
Psalm 28
1 Of David.
To You, Adonai, I call—
my Rock, do not be deaf to me.
If You were silent to me,
I would become like those going down to the Pit.
2 Hear the sound of my pleas,
when I cry to You for help,
when I lift up my hands toward Your holy Sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked and with doers of iniquity,
who speak peace with their neighbors,
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Repay them for their deeds, their evil acts.
Repay them for the deeds of their hands.
Bring back on them what they deserve.
5 Since they show no regard for the deeds of Adonai
nor the work of His hands,
He will tear them down
and never build them up.
6 Blessed be Adonai, because He has heard
the sound of my supplications.
7 Adonai is my strength and my shield.[a]
My heart trusts in Him, and I was helped.
Therefore my heart leaps for joy,
and I will praise Him with my song.
8 Adonai is their strength—
a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.
9 Save Your people, bless Your inheritance,
shepherd them and carry them forever.
God Thunders Throughout Creation
Psalm 29
1 A psalm of David.
Ascribe to Adonai, O sons of God,
ascribe to Adonai glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to Adonai the glory of His Name.
Bow down to Adonai in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters.
The God of glory thunders—
Adonai is over mighty waters.
4 The voice of Adonai is powerful.
The voice of Adonai is full of majesty.
5 The voice of Adonai breaks the cedars.
Yes, Adonai shatters cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai hews out flames of fire.
8 The voice of Adonai shakes the desert.
Adonai shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of Adonai makes the deer writhe in birth
and strips forests bare,
and in His Temple all are saying, “Glory!”
10 Adonai sits enthroned over the flood.
Yes, Adonai sits as King forever.
11 Adonai gives strength to His people.
Adonai blesses His people with shalom.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.