M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Amnon Attacks Tamar and Absalom’s Wrath
13 It came to pass after this that Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister named Tamar, so Amnon, son of David, fell in love with her. 2 But Amnon was so frustrated that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible in Amnon to do anything to her. 3 However, Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, and Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 So he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, so miserable morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”
Amnon told him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”
5 So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some bread to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may see it and eat from her hand.’”
6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick, and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in front of me so I may eat from her hand.”
7 Then David sent someone to the house for Tamar saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare bread for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house while he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in front of him and baked the cakes. 9 Then she took the pan and poured them out in front of him but he refused to eat.
Then Amnon said, “Everyone, leave me!” So everyone left him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the bread into the bedroom that I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. 11 But when she brought them close to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, “Come lie with me, my sister.”
12 “No!” she said to him. “Don’t, my brother! Don’t rape me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don’t do this disgraceful deed! 13 I—where could I go with my shame? You—you will be as one of the disgraceful fools in Israel. Now, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”
14 But he was unwilling to listen to her voice, so he overpowered her, forced her and lay with her. 15 Then Amnon loathed her with very intense revulsion—indeed, the hatred that he hated her with was greater than the love in which he had loved her. So Amnon said to her, “Get up, get out!”
16 But she said to him, “No! Sending me away is even a greater evil than the one you have already done to me!” But again he would not listen to her.
17 Then he called his servant that attended him and said, “Get this woman away from me now and bolt the door after her.”
18 Now she had on her a long-sleeved garment[a] for with such robes the king’s virgin daughters used to be dressed. When his attendant took her outside and bolted the door after her, 19 Tamar put ashes on her head and rent her long-sleeved garment that was on her. She laid her hand on her head and was crying aloud as she went away.
20 Then her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? So now, my sister, keep quiet. He is your brother—don’t take this thing to heart.” But Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
21 When King David heard about all these things, he was very angry. 22 Absalom did not say a word to Amnon, either good or bad, for Absalom hated Amnon because he had raped his sister Tamar.
23 It came about, after two full years, that Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 Then Absalom came to the king and said, “See now, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants come with your servant.”
25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. Let’s not all go—we don’t want to be burdensome to you.” Though he urged him, he would not go, though he blessed him.
26 Then Absalom said, “If not, then please let my brother Amnon go with us.”
“Why should he go with you?” the king said to him. 27 But when Absalom pressed him, he let Amnon go with him, along with all the king’s sons.
28 Then Absalom commanded his young men saying, “Now watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine. When I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then put him to death! Have no fear! Isn’t it I who commanded you? Be strong! Be sons of valor!” 29 So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon as Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, each mounted his mule and fled.
30 While they were on the way, a report came to David saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons and not one of them is left!” 31 Then the king stood up, rent his clothes and lay on the ground, and all his courtiers were standing by with their clothes rent.
32 But Jonadab son of David’s brother Shimeah said in response, “My lord must not think that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons! For only Amnon has died. For from Absalom’s mouth this has been determined since the day he raped his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore, my lord the king must not take the report to his heart thinking that all the king’s sons are dead—for only Amnon is dead.”
34 Meanwhile Absalom had fled. When the young watchman lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, there were many people coming down the road behind him on the hillside. 35 Then Jonadab said to the king, “The king’s sons have just arrived! It’s just as your servant has said.” 36 As soon as he finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons arrived. They lifted up their voices and wept, and also the king and all his courtiers wept very bitterly.
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day. 38 So Absalom fled, went to Geshur and remained there three years. 39 Then King David’s soul longed to go out to Absalom; for he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
6 Since we are co-laboring, we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For He says,
“At a favorable time I listened to you,
in a day of salvation I helped you.”[a]
Behold, now is the favorable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no cause for offense in anything, so that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But as God’s servants, we are commending ourselves in every way—in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleeplessness, in hunger; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Ruach ha-Kodesh, in genuine love, 7 in truthful speech, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report. We are regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown and yet well-known; as dying, yet behold, we live; as disciplined yet not put to death; [b] 10 as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken openly to you, O Corinthians; our heart is open wide! 12 You are not restricted by us, yet you are restricted in your own feelings. 13 Now in return—I speak as to my children—open wide to us also.
Preserving Sanctity in God’s Living Temple
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.[c] For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony does Messiah have with Belial[d]? Or what part does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does God’s Temple have with idols?[e] For we are the temple of the living God—just as God said,
“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.[f]
17 Therefore, come out from among them,
and be separate, says Adonai.
Touch no unclean thing.[g]
Then I will take you in.[h]
18 I will be a father to you,
and you shall be My sons and daughters,
says Adonai-Tzva’ot.”[i]
Rebellion and Return
20 On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to seek Adonai. They sat before me. 2 The word of Adonai came to me saying: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Say to them, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live’—it is a declaration of Adonai—‘I will not be inquired of by you.’
4 “Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Make them know the detestable practices of their fathers. 5 Say to them, thus says Adonai Elohim: On the day I chose Israel, I lifted up My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I lifted up My hand to them saying, ‘I am Adonai your God.’ 6 On that day I lifted up My hand to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had sought out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the splendor of all lands. 7 I said to them, ‘Each of you must throw away every detestable thing from his eyes, and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Adonai your God.’
8 “But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them cast away the detestable things that were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My fury upon them, to expend My anger upon them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted, for the sake of My Name, to keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations, where they were, in whose sight I made Myself known to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt. 10 So I led them out from the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 I gave them My laws and taught them My judgments, which if a man does, he will live by them. 12 I also gave them My Shabbatot, as a sign between Me and them, so that they would know that I am Adonai who made them holy.
13 “But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes. They rejected My judgments, which if a man does, he will live by them. They greatly profaned My Shabbatot. Then I resolved to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness to consume them. 14 But for the sake of My Name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Yet I also lifted My hand to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the splendor of all lands. 16 For they rejected My laws, did not walk in My rulings and profaned My Shabbatot—for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless, My eye spared them from destruction, so I did not make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18 “I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, do not keep their ordinances, do not defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am Adonai your God. Walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances and do them. 20 Keep My Shabbatot holy, so they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am Adonai your God.’
21 “But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes. They did not keep My ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he will live by them; they profaned My Shabbatot. Then I resolved to pour out My fury on them, to expend My anger on them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless, I withheld My hand. For the sake of My Name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 I also lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, to scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries. 24 For they had not obeyed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and profaned My Shabbatot. Their eyes went after their fathers’ idols. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good, ordinances by which they could not live. 26 I let them become polluted in their own gifts, when they offered up all that opened the womb to pass through the fire, so that I might make them desolate, so that they would know that I am Adonai.
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Again your fathers have blasphemed Me, in that they dealt faithlessly with Me. 28 When I brought them into the land, which I lifted up My hand to give to them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they slaughtered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offering. There they made their soothing aroma and poured out their drink offerings. 29 So I asked them, ‘What is the high place where you are going?’ So the name of it is called Bamah[a] to this day. 30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says Adonai Elohim: Will you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go after their abominations? 31 When offering your gifts, making your sons pass through the fire, you keep polluting yourselves with all your idols, up to this day. So should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“I will not be inquired of by you. 32 What comes up in your mind will not happen at all, when you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the families of the countries, worshiping wood and stone.’ 33 As I live,”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with fury poured out, I will be king over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with fury poured out. 35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples. I will judge you there face to face. 36 Just as I judged your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
37 “I will make you pass under the rod and bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I will purge out the rebels from among you and those who transgress against Me. I will bring them out from the land where they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. So you will know that I am Adonai.
39 “As for you, house of Israel,” thus says Adonai Elohim: “Go on serving your idols, all of you! Yet afterward, you will surely listen to Me. My holy Name you will no longer profane with your gifts and your idols. 40 For in My holy mountain, Israel’s high mountain”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will take pleasure in them. There I will receive your offerings, the first of your gifts, with all your holy things. 41 With your sweet aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. 42 You will know that I am Adonai, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country where I lifted up My hand to give it to your fathers. 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds, by which you defiled yourselves. You will loathe yourselves for all your evil that you have done. 44 Then you will know that I am Adonai, when I deal with you for My Name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt deeds, house of Israel.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
How Awesome Your Deeds
Psalm 66
1 For the music director, a song, a psalm.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of His Name—
make His praise glorious.
3 Say to God:
“How awesome are Your deeds!
Because of Your great power,
Your enemies cringe before You.
4 All the earth bows down to You,
and sings praises to You.
All sing praises to Your Name.” Selah
5 Come and see the works of God.
How awesome His deeds for the children of Adam!
6 He turned the sea into dry land.
They crossed the river on foot.
There let us rejoice in Him!
7 He rules by His might forever.
His eyes keep watch on the nations.
Let no rebels exalt themselves. Selah
8 Bless our God, O peoples!
Let the sound of His praise be heard.
9 Keeping our soul in life,
He has not let our foot slip.
10 For You have tested us, O God—
You have purified us, as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into a net.
You laid a burden on our backs.
12 You caused men to ride over our heads.
We went through fire and water.
Yet You brought us out to superabundance.
13 With burnt offerings I will come to Your House,
fulfilling my vows to You
14 that my lips uttered and mouth spoke,
when I was in trouble.
15 To You I will present burnt offerings of fat animals,
with the sweet smoke of rams.
I will offer bulls with goats. Selah
16 Come and listen, all you who fear God.
I will tell what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried out to Him with my mouth,
and exaltation was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19 But surely God has heard.
He has listened to my voice in prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer,
nor His lovingkindness from me.
Let All Peoples Praise You
Psalm 67
1 For the music director, with stringed instruments, a psalm, a song.
2 May God be gracious to us and bless us.
May He cause His face to shine upon us—Selah
3 so that Your way may be known on earth,
and Your salvation among all nations.
4 Let the peoples praise You, O God.
Let all the peoples praise You.
5 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for You will judge the peoples fairly,
and guide the nations on the earth. Selah
6 Let the peoples praise You, O God.
Let all the peoples praise You.
7 The earth has yielded its harvest—
God, our God will bless us.
8 God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.