M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 9[a]
1 Thus all of Israel was recorded by its generations, for behold, it was inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel.
Judah was carried away into Babylon for its unfaithfulness. 2 The first inhabitants who dwelt in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, the Levites, and the temple slaves.[b]
3 Among the Judahites who dwelt in Jerusalem along with the Benjaminites, Ephraimites, and Manassehites were: 4 Uthai, the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez, the son of Judah.
5 From the Shelanites there was Asaiah, the firstborn, and his sons. 6 From the sons of Zerah there was Jeuel and their brethren, six hundred and ninety of them.
7 From the Benjaminites there were Sallu, the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah, 8 Ibneiah, the son of Jeroham, Elah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah, 9 along with their kinsmen, according to their generations. There were nine hundred fifty-six of them. All of these were leaders of their ancestral clans.
10 From the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, 11 and Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the chief custodian of the temple. 12 There were also Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai, the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer. 13 Their brethren, who were the leaders of the ancestral clans, included one thousand, seven hundred and sixty men. They were all capable men who were responsible for ministry in the temple of the Lord.
14 From the Levites there were Shemaiah, the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, who was a Merarite. 15 There were Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah, the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph. 16 There were Obadiah, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah, the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah. They lived in the village of the Netophathites.
17 The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brethren. Shallum was their leader. 18 They have been stationed at the king’s gate on the east up to the present day. They were the gatekeepers of the Levites.
19 Shallum, the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren from the ancestral clan of the Korahites were the gatekeepers at the entrance to the tabernacle just as their ancestors had been the gatekeepers to the entrance of the dwelling place of the Lord. 20 In former days, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, had been their leader, and the Lord had been with him.
21 Zechariah, the son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 22 There were two hundred and twelve of those who had been chosen to be gatekeepers. They are registered by their family history in the villages. David and Samuel the seer had assigned them to their responsibilities. 23 They and their children were responsible for guarding the gates of the temple of the Lord (the shrine of the tabernacle) by turns. 24 The gatekeepers served in the four directions of the east, the west, the north, and the south. 25 Their brethren who lived in the villages would come up to join them for a period of seven days from time to time.
26 There were four Levites who held the office of chief gatekeepers. They were responsible for the chambers and the treasuries of the temple of the Lord. 27 They would spend the night stationed around the temple of God because they were responsible for it, and then they would open it each morning.
28 Some of them were responsible for the vessels used in the liturgy, and they would count them when they were brought in and taken out. 29 Others were assigned responsibility for the furniture and all of the other things used in the sanctuary as well as the flour, wine, oil, incense, and spices. 30 Some of the priests were responsible for mixing the spices in the ointments.
31 There was a certain Levite, Mattithiah, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, who was responsible for the baking of the bread. 32 Some of the Korahites, their brethren, were in charge of preparing the shewbread every Sabbath.
33 Those who were singers, the leaders of their ancestral clans of Levites, would stay in the chambers. They were free from other responsibilities, for they were busy working day and night.
34 These were all leaders of the ancestral clans of the Levites, leaders according to their generations, and they dwelt in Jerusalem.
The History of David[c]
35 Genealogy of Saul. Jeiel, the father of Gibeon, dwelt in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah. 36 His firstborn was Abdon, then there were Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They lived near their brethren, their brethren who lived in Jerusalem.
39 Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul.
Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
40 The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.
41 The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42 Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri.
Zimri was the father of Moza.
43 Moza was the father of Binea, Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. They were the sons of Azel.
Chapter 10
Saul’s Death and Burial. 1 Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and Israel fled from the Philistines. Many fell and were killed at Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3 The fighting around Saul became fierce when the archers hit him. The archers wounded him. 4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Take out your sword and run me through lest these uncircumcised men come and mock me.” But he was terrified, so Saul took out a sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he, too, fell on his sword and died. 6 Saul and his three sons died, and his whole household died with him.
7 When all the Israelites in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.
8 The next day the Philistines came up to strip the dead, and they found Saul and his sons who had fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him, taking his head and his armor. They sent word throughout the surrounding land of the Philistines proclaiming the news among their idols and their people. 10 They placed his armor in the shrine of their gods, hanging his head in the shrine of Dagon.[d]
11 When all the people in Jabesh-gilead heard about everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all of their brave men rose up and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons. They brought them to Jabesh and buried their bones under the oak tree in Jabesh. They then fasted for seven days.
13 [e]Saul died because of the transgressions that he had committed against the Lord, against the word of the Lord which he did not observe, for he even consulted with a medium to make inquiry. 14 He did not inquire from the Lord. He slew him and turned the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.
Let Us Run with Eyes Fixed on Jesus[a]
Chapter 12
You Have Not Yet Resisted to the Point of Bloodshed. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,[b] let us throw off everything that weighs us down and the sins that so easily distract us and with perseverance run the race that lies ahead of us, 2 with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, ignoring its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Reflect on how he endured such great hostility from sinners so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
God Is Treating You as His Children.[c] 5 You have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children:
“My son, do not scorn the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when you are punished by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
and he chastises every son whom he acknowledges.”
7 Endure the trials you receive as a form of discipline. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there who is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you have not received the discipline in which all share, then you are illegitimate and not true sons.
9 In addition, we have all received discipline from our earthly fathers, and we respected them. Should we not then be even more willing to submit to the Father of spirits and live? 10 They disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but he does so for our benefit so that we may share his holiness.
11 At the time that discipline is received, it always seems painful rather than pleasant, but afterward it yields a harvest of peace and uprightness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that your weakened limbs may not be disabled but rather may be healed.
14 Seek Peace and Sanctification.[d] Seek peace with everyone, as well as the holiness without which no one will ever see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one is deprived of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness may spring up and cause trouble, resulting in the defilement of many.
16 Do not be like Esau, an immoral and worldly-minded person who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he sought to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought it with tears, he found no possibility for repentance.
18 Listen to the One Who Is Speaking.[e] You have not come to something that can be touched: a blazing fire, or complete darkness, or gloom, or a storm, 19 or the sound of a trumpet, or a voice speaking words that made those who heard them beg that nothing more be said to them. 20 For they could not bear to hear the command that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses cried out, “I am terrified and trembling.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn[f] whose names are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more powerfully than even the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not reject the one who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they rejected the one who warned them on earth, how much more is this true of us if we turn away from the one who is from heaven? 26 At that time, his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but heaven as well.”
27 The words “once more” indicate the removal of what can be shaken—that is, all created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, offering to God a worship that is pleasing to him. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Chapter 6
Bloody Description of the Orgy of the Head of Israel
1 Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,
and for those who feel secure on the mount of Samaria,
the leaders of the most important of the nations
to whom the people of Israel have recourse.
2 Cross over to Calneh[a] and see;
travel on from there to Hamath the great,
and then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
Are you better than these kingdoms?
Is your territory greater than theirs?
3 You put aside all thoughts of the evil day
and thereby hasten the reign of violence.
4 Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory
and lounge on their couches.
They feast on lambs from the flock
and stall-fattened calves.
5 They improvise on the music of the harp,
and, like David, they invent musical instruments.
6 They drink wine by the bowlful
and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
but they feel no grief over the ruin of Joseph.
7 Therefore, they will now be the first to go into exile,
and their wanton revelry will come to an end.
There Will Be Nothing Left of Israel
8 The Lord God has sworn by himself.
Thus say I, the Lord, the God of hosts:
I abhor the pride of Jacob
and hate his palaces,
I shall deliver up the city
and all that is in it.
9 If ten men are left in a single house,
they will die.
10 Only a few will be left
to carry out the dead from the house.
If someone calls to a man inside the house,
“Are there any more there?”
and he answers, “No,”
then he will say, “Hush,”
for the name of the Lord must not be mentioned.
11 At the Lord’s command,
the great house will be shattered to bits,
and the small houses will be reduced to rubble.
12 Can horses gallop over rocks?
Can one plow the sea with oxen?
Yet you have turned justice into poison
and the fruit of justice into venom—
13 you who rejoice in Lodebar,[b]
who say, “Have we not, by our own strength,
seized Karnaim for ourselves?”
14 Beware, O house of Israel,
for I am raising up against you a nation,
says the Lord, the God of hosts,
and that nation shall oppress you
from Lebo of Hamath even to the Wadi Arabah.
39 Mary Visits Elizabeth.[a] In those days, Mary set out and journeyed in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah[b] 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb.
Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why am I so greatly favored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 For behold, the moment that the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that what the Lord has said to her will be fulfilled.”
46 The Canticle of Mary.[c] And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
48 For he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant;
henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is shown from age to age
to those who fear him.
51 He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has routed those who are arrogant in the desires of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of Israel his servant,
ever mindful of his merciful love,
55 according to the promises he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56 Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to her home.
57 The Birth of John. When the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they shared in her rejoicing.
59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60 However, his mother objected. “No,” she said. “He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one in your family who has this name.” 62 They then made signs to his father to ask what name he wanted to be given to the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and he wrote: “His name is John.” They were all filled with wonder.
64 Immediately, his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed, and he began to speak, giving praise to God. 65 All their neighbors were overcome with awe, and all these things were related throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them were deeply impressed, and they wondered, “What then is this child going to be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 The Canticle of Zechariah.[d] Then the child’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for he has visited his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
from the house of his servant David,
70 just as he proclaimed through the mouth of his holy prophets from age to age:
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all who hate us,
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remain mindful of his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
and to grant us that, 74 delivered from the power of our enemies,
without fear we might worship him 75 in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
76 “And you, my child, will be called prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God
by which the dawn from on high will break upon us
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet along the path of peace.”
80 The Son of the Wilderness. The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
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