M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Athaliah Usurps the Throne
11 When Athaliah,(A) Ahaziah’s mother,(B) saw that her son was dead,(C) she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. 2 Jehosheba,(D) who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s(E) sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed. 3 Joash was in hiding with Jehosheba in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.
Athaliah Overthrown
4 Then(F) in the seventh year, Jehoiada(G) sent messengers and brought in the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.(H) He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son 5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath(I) are to provide protection for the king’s palace. 6 A third are to be at the Sur gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.[a](J)
7 “Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the Lord’s temple. 8 You must completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. You must be with the king in all his daily tasks.”[b](K)
9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and went to Jehoiada the priest.(L) 10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields(M) that were in the Lord’s temple. 11 Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.
12 He brought out the king’s son, put the crown(N) on him, gave him the testimony,[c](O) and made him king. They anointed(P) him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”(Q)
13 When Athaliah(R) heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple.(S) 14 As she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar(T) according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(U) Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!”(V)
15 Then Jehoiada(W) the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds(X) in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.”(Y) 16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance(Z) to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.(AA)
Jehoiada’s Reforms
17 Then(AB) Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people(AC) and another covenant between the king and the people.[d](AD) 18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces,(AE) and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.(AF)
Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for the Lord’s temple.(AG) 19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards,(AH) and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash(AI) sat on the throne of the kings. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.
Judah’s King Joash
21 [e]Joash[f](AJ) was seven years old when he became king.(AK) 12 1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king and reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, who was from Beer-sheba.(AL) 2 Throughout the time Jehoiada(AM) the priest instructed(AN) him, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight.(AO) 3 Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.(AP)
Repairing the Temple
4 Then(AQ) Joash said to the priests, “All the dedicated money brought to the Lord’s temple,(AR) census money,(AS) money from vows,(AT) and all money voluntarily given(AU) for the Lord’s temple, 5 each priest is to take from his assessor[g] and repair whatever damage to the temple is found.”[h](AV)
6 But by the twenty-third year(AW) of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage[i] to the temple.(AX) 7 So King Joash called Jehoiada(AY) the priest and the other priests and said, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any money from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.” 8 So the priests agreed they would not take money from the people and they would not repair the temple’s damage.
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest,(AZ) bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord’s temple; in it the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the Lord’s temple.(BA) 10 Whenever they saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, the king’s secretary(BB) and the high priest would go to the Lord’s temple and count the money found there and tie it up in bags.(BC) 11 Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those doing the work—those who oversaw the Lord’s temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on the Lord’s temple—the carpenters, the builders, 12 the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord’s temple(BD) and for all spending for temple repairs.
13 However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver(BE) were made for the Lord’s temple from the money brought into the temple. 14 Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired the Lord’s temple with it. 15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.(BF) 16 The money from the restitution offering and the sin offering was not brought to the Lord’s temple since it belonged to the priests.(BG)
Aramean Invasion of Judah
17 At that time Hazael(BH) king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.(BI) 18 So King Joash of Judah took all the consecrated items that his ancestors—Judah’s kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah—had consecrated, along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and in the king’s palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram.(BJ) Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.
Joash Assassinated
19 The rest of the events of Joash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(BK) 20 Joash’s servants conspired against him and killed him(BL) at Beth-millo(BM) on the road that goes down to Silla. 21 His servants Jozabad[j] son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died.(BN) Then they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.(BO)
Be Strong in Grace
2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace(A) that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me(B) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful(C) men who will be able to teach others also.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.(D) 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.(E) 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead(F) and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. 9 I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound. 10 This is why I endure(G) all things for the elect:(H) so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(I) 11 This saying is trustworthy:(J)
For if we have died with Him,(K)
we will also live with Him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign(L) with Him;
if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful,
for He cannot deny Himself.
An Approved Worker
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God[a] not to fight about words;(M) this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.(N) 16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.(O) 17 And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus(P) and Philetus are among them. 18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,(Q) and are overturning the faith of some.(R) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:(S)
The Lord knows those who are His,(T)[b] and
Everyone who names the name(U) of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness.(V)
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls,(W) but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable[c] use, some for dishonorable.[d](X) 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,[e] he will be a special[f] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.(Y)
22 Flee(Z) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,(AA) along with those who call on the Lord(AB) from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s(AC) slave must not quarrel,(AD) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[g] and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness.(AE) Perhaps God will grant them repentance(AF) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap,(AG) having been captured by him to do his will.(AH)
Waiting for Restoration
3 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again; show love to a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress,(A) just as the Lord loves the Israelites though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”(B)
2 So I bought her for 15 shekels of silver and five bushels of barley.[a][b](C) 3 I said to her, “You must live with me many days. Don’t be promiscuous or belong to any man, and I will act the same way toward you.”
4 For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince,(D) without sacrifice(E) or sacred pillar,(F) and without ephod(G) or household idols.(H) 5 Afterward, the people of Israel will return(I) and seek the Lord their God and David their king.(J) They will come with awe to the Lord(K) and to His goodness in the last days.
God’s Case against Israel
4 Hear the word of the Lord,(L) people of Israel,
for the Lord has a case(M)
against the inhabitants of the land:
There is no truth,(N) no faithful love,(O)
and no knowledge of God(P) in the land!
2 Cursing,(Q) lying,(R) murder,(S) stealing,(T)
and adultery(U) are rampant;
one act of bloodshed follows another.(V)
3 For this reason the land mourns,(W)
and everyone who lives in it languishes,
along with the wild animals(X) and the birds of the sky;
even the fish of the sea disappear.(Y)
4 But let no one dispute;(Z) let no one argue,
for My case is against you priests.[c][d](AA)
5 You will stumble by day;(AB)
the prophet will also stumble with you by night.
And I will destroy your mother.(AC)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.(AD)
Because you have rejected knowledge,(AE)
I will reject you(AF) from serving as My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,(AG)
I will also forget your sons.
7 The more they multiplied,(AH)
the more they sinned against Me.
I[e] will change their honor[f] into disgrace.(AI)
8 They feed on the sin[g] of My people;(AJ)
they have an appetite for their transgressions.(AK)
9 The same judgment will happen
to both people and priests.(AL)
I will punish them for their ways(AM)
and repay them for their deeds.
10 They will eat but not be satisfied;(AN)
they will be promiscuous(AO) but not multiply.
For they have abandoned their devotion to the Lord.(AP)
11 Promiscuity,(AQ) wine, and new wine
take away one’s understanding.(AR)
12 My people consult their wooden idols,(AS)
and their divining rods inform them.
For a spirit of promiscuity leads them astray;(AT)
they act promiscuously(AU)
in disobedience to[h] their God.
13 They sacrifice on the mountaintops,(AV)
and they burn offerings on the hills,(AW)
and under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,(AX)
because their shade is pleasant.
And so your daughters act promiscuously
and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters
when they act promiscuously
or your daughters-in-law
when they commit adultery,
for the men themselves go off with prostitutes(AY)
and make sacrifices with cult prostitutes.(AZ)
People without discernment are doomed.(BA)
Warnings for Israel and Judah
15 Israel, if you act promiscuously,
don’t let Judah become guilty!
Do not go to Gilgal(BB)
or make a pilgrimage to Beth-aven,[i](BC)
and do not swear an oath: As the Lord lives!(BD)
16 For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow.(BE)
Can the Lord now shepherd them
like a lamb in an open meadow?(BF)
17 Ephraim is attached to idols;(BG)
leave him alone!(BH)
18 When their drinking is over,
they turn to promiscuity.
Israel’s leaders[j] fervently love disgrace.[k]
19 A wind with its wings will carry them off,[l](BI)
and they will be ashamed of their sacrifices.
ע Ayin
121 I have done what is just and right;(A)
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Guarantee Your servant’s well-being;(B)
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes grow weary(C) looking for Your salvation
and for Your righteous promise.
124 Deal with Your servant based on Your faithful love;(D)
teach me Your statutes.
125 I am Your servant;(E) give me understanding(F)
so that I may know Your decrees.
126 It is time for the Lord to act,(G)
for they have violated Your instruction.
127 Since I love Your commands(H)
more than gold, even the purest gold,
128 I carefully follow[a] all Your precepts(I)
and hate every false way.(J)
פ Pe
129 Your decrees are wonderful;(K)
therefore I obey them.(L)
130 The revelation of Your words(M) brings light
and gives understanding to the inexperienced.(N)
131 I open my mouth and pant(O)
because I long for Your commands.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,(P)
as is Your practice toward those who love Your name.
133 Make my steps steady through Your promise;(Q)
don’t let any sin dominate me.(R)
134 Redeem me from human oppression,(S)
and I will keep Your precepts.
135 Show favor to Your servant,(T)
and teach me Your statutes.(U)
136 My eyes pour out streams of tears(V)
because people do not follow Your instruction.
צ Tsade
137 You are righteous, Lord,(W)
and Your judgments are just.
138 The decrees You issue are righteous
and altogether trustworthy.(X)
139 My anger overwhelms me
because my foes forget Your words.(Y)
140 Your word is completely pure,(Z)
and Your servant loves it.(AA)
141 I am insignificant and despised,(AB)
but I do not forget Your precepts.(AC)
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and Your instruction is true.(AD)
143 Trouble and distress have overtaken me,
but Your commands are my delight.(AE)
144 Your decrees are righteous forever.(AF)
Give me understanding, and I will live.
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