M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Covenant Renewal
23 So the king sent messengers,(A) and they gathered all the elders(B) of Jerusalem and Judah to him. 2 Then the king went to the Lord’s temple with all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the prophets—all the people from the youngest to the oldest. As they listened, he read all the words of the book of the covenant(C) that had been found in the Lord’s temple.(D) 3 Next, the king stood by the pillar[a](E) and made a covenant(F) in the presence of the Lord to follow the Lord and to keep His commands, His decrees, and His statutes with all his mind and with all his heart,(G) and to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book; all the people agreed to[b] the covenant.(H)
Josiah’s Reforms
4 Then the king commanded Hilkiah(I) the high priest and the priests of the second rank(J) and the doorkeepers to bring out of the Lord’s temple all the articles made for Baal, Asherah, and the whole heavenly host.(K) He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.(L) 5 Then he did away with the idolatrous priests the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense at the high places(M) in the cities of Judah and in the areas surrounding Jerusalem. They had burned incense to Baal, and to the sun, moon, constellations, and the whole heavenly host.(N) 6 He brought out the Asherah pole(O) from the Lord’s temple to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem. He burned it at the Kidron Valley,(P) beat it to dust,(Q) and threw its dust on the graves of the common people.[c](R) 7 He also tore down the houses of the male cult prostitutes(S) that were in the Lord’s temple, in which the women were weaving tapestries[d] for Asherah.(T)
8 Then Josiah brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and he defiled the high places(U) from Geba(V) to Beer-sheba,(W) where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places of the gates at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city (on the left at the city gate). 9 The priests of the high places, however, did not come up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem; instead, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests.(X)
10 He defiled Topheth,(Y) which is in the Valley of Hinnom,(Z) so that no one could make his son or daughter pass through the fire(AA) to Molech.(AB) 11 He did away with the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They had been at the entrance of the Lord’s temple in the precincts by the chamber of Nathan-melech the court official, and he burned up the chariots of the sun.(AC)
12 The king tore down the altars that were on the roof(AD)—Ahaz’s upper chamber(AE) that the kings of Judah had made—and the altars that Manasseh had made(AF) in the two courtyards of the Lord’s temple. Then he smashed them[e] there and threw their dust into the Kidron Valley. 13 The king also defiled the high places that were across from Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Destruction, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth, the detestable idol of the Sidonians; for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab; and for Milcom, the abomination of the Ammonites.(AG) 14 He broke the sacred pillars into pieces,(AH) cut down the Asherah poles,(AI) then filled their places with human bones.
15 He even tore down the altar at Bethel(AJ) and the high place(AK) that Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, had made. Then he burned the high place, crushed it to dust, and burned the Asherah.(AL) 16 As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mountain. He sent someone to take the bones out of the tombs, and he burned them on the altar.(AM) He defiled it according to the word of the Lord proclaimed by the man of God[f] who proclaimed these things.(AN) 17 Then he said, “What is this monument I see?”
The men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things that you have done to the altar at Bethel.”(AO)
18 So he said, “Let him rest. Don’t let anyone disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria.(AP)
19 Josiah also removed all the shrines of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the Lord.(AQ) Josiah did the same things to them that he had done at Bethel. 20 He slaughtered on the altars all the priests of the high places(AR) who were there, and he burned human bones on the altars.(AS) Then he returned to Jerusalem.
Passover Observed
21 The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the Lord your God as written in the book of the covenant.”(AT) 22 No such Passover had ever been kept from the time of the judges who judged Israel through the entire time of the kings of Israel and Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem.(AU)
Further Zeal for the Lord
24 In addition, Josiah removed the mediums, the spiritists,(AV) household idols,(AW) images, and all the detestable things(AX) that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. He did this in order to carry out the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the Lord’s temple.(AY) 25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength(AZ) according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.(BA)
26 In spite of all that, the Lord did not turn from the fury of His great burning anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had provoked Him with.(BB) 27 For the Lord had said, “I will also remove Judah from My sight just as I have removed Israel.(BC) I will reject this city Jerusalem, that I have chosen, and the temple about which I said, ‘My name will be there.’”(BD)
Josiah’s Death
28 The rest of the events of Josiah’s reign,(BE) along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings. 29 During his reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt(BF) marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went to confront him, and at Megiddo(BG) when Neco saw him he killed him. 30 From Megiddo his servants carried his dead body in a chariot, brought him into Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb.(BH) Then the common people[g] took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.(BI)
Judah’s King Jehoahaz
31 Jehoahaz(BJ) was(BK) 23 years old when he became king and reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal(BL) daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. 32 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestors had done.(BM) 33 Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him at Riblah(BN) in the land of Hamath(BO) to keep him from reigning in Jerusalem, and he imposed on the land a fine of 7,500 pounds[h] of silver and 75 pounds[i] of gold.
Judah’s King Jehoiakim
34 Then(BP) Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim(BQ) son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim.(BR) But Neco took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there.(BS) 35 So Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but at Pharaoh’s command he taxed the land to give the money. He exacted the silver and the gold from the common people,[j] each man according to his assessment,(BT) to give it to Pharaoh Neco.
36 Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah, from Rumah. 37 He did what was evil(BU) in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestors had done.
The Messiah, a High Priest
5 For every high priest taken from men is appointed in service[a] to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also subject to weakness.(A) 3 Because of this, he must make a sin offering for himself as well as for the people.(B) 4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.(C) 5 In the same way, the Messiah did not exalt Himself to become a high priest, but the One who said to Him, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,(D)[b] 6 also said in another passage, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.(E)[c]
7 During His earthly life,[d] He offered prayers and appeals(F) with loud cries and tears(G) to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. 8 Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.(H) 9 After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, 10 and He was declared by God a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
The Problem of Immaturity
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.(I) 13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.(J)
2 Blow the horn in Zion;(A)
sound the alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the residents of the land tremble,
for the Day of the Lord is coming;(B)
in fact, it is near—
2 a day of darkness and gloom,(C)
a day of clouds and dense overcast,(D)
like the dawn spreading over the mountains;
a great and strong people(E) appears,
such as never existed in ages past(F)
and never will again
in all the generations to come.(G)
3 A fire destroys[a] in front of them,(H)
and behind them a flame devours.
The land in front of them
is like the Garden of Eden,(I)
but behind them,
it is like a desert wasteland;(J)
there is no escape from them.
4 Their appearance is like that of horses,(K)
and they gallop like war horses.
5 They bound on the tops of the mountains.
Their sound is like the sound of chariots,(L)
like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble,(M)
like a mighty army deployed for war.
6 Nations writhe in horror before them;(N)
all faces turn pale.
7 They attack as warriors attack;
they scale walls as men of war do.
Each goes on his own path,(O)
and they do not change their course.
8 They do not push each other;
each man proceeds on his own path.
They dodge the arrows, never stopping.
9 They storm the city;
they run on the wall;
they climb into the houses;(P)
they enter through the windows like thieves.(Q)
10 The earth quakes before them;(R)
the sky shakes.
The sun and moon grow dark,(S)
and the stars cease their shining.(T)
11 The Lord raises His voice(U)
in the presence of His army.(V)
His camp is very large;
Those who carry out His command are powerful.(W)
Indeed, the Day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful(X)—
who can endure it?(Y)
God’s Call for Repentance
12 Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to Me with all your heart,(Z)
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.(AA)
13 Tear your hearts,(AB)
not just your clothes,(AC)
and return to the Lord your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
and He relents from sending disaster.(AD)
14 Who knows? He may turn and relent(AE)
and leave a blessing behind Him,(AF)
so you can offer grain and wine
to the Lord your God.(AG)
15 Blow the horn in Zion!(AH)
Announce a sacred fast;(AI)
proclaim an assembly.
16 Gather the people;
sanctify the congregation;(AJ)
assemble the aged;[b](AK)
gather the children,
even those nursing at the breast.
Let the groom leave his bedroom,(AL)
and the bride her honeymoon chamber.
17 Let the priests,(AM) the Lord’s ministers,
weep between the portico and the altar.(AN)
Let them say:
“Have pity on Your people, Lord,(AO)
and do not make Your inheritance a disgrace,(AP)
an object of scorn among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”(AQ)
God’s Response to His People
18 Then the Lord became jealous for His land(AR) and spared His people.(AS) 19 The Lord answered His people:
Look, I am about to send you
grain, new wine, and olive oil.(AT)
You will be satiated with them,
and I will no longer make you
a disgrace among the nations.(AU)
20 I will drive the northerner far from you(AV)
and banish him to a dry and desolate land,
his front ranks into the Dead Sea,(AW)
and his rear guard into the Mediterranean Sea.(AX)
His stench will rise;
yes, his rotten smell will rise,(AY)
for he has done catastrophic things.
21 Don’t be afraid, land;(AZ)
rejoice and be glad,
for the Lord has done great things.(BA)
22 Don’t be afraid, wild animals,
for the wilderness pastures have turned green,(BB)
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and grapevine yield their riches.
23 Children of Zion,(BC) rejoice and be glad
in the Lord your God,(BD)
because He gives you the autumn rain
for your vindication.[c](BE)
He sends showers for you,
both autumn and spring rain(BF) as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,(BG)
and the vats will overflow
with new wine and olive oil.
25 I will repay you for the years
that the swarming locust ate,(BH)
the young locust, the destroying locust,
and the devouring locust—
My great army that I sent against you.
26 You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied.(BI)
You will praise the name of Yahweh your God,(BJ)
who has dealt wondrously with you.(BK)
My people will never again be put to shame.(BL)
27 You will know that I am present in Israel(BM)
and that I am Yahweh your God,
and there is no other.(BN)
My people will never again be put to shame.(BO)
God’s Promise of His Spirit
28 [d] After this(BP)
I will pour out My Spirit(BQ) on all humanity;(BR)
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will have dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 I will even pour out My Spirit
on the male and female slaves in those days.(BS)
30 I will display wonders
in the heavens and on the earth:(BT)
blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood(BU)
before the great and awe-inspiring Day of the Lord comes.(BV)
32 Then everyone who calls
on the name of Yahweh will be saved,(BW)
for there will be an escape
for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
as the Lord promised,(BX)
among the survivors the Lord calls.
Psalm 142
A Cry of Distress
A Davidic Maskil. When he was in the cave.(A) A prayer.
1 I cry aloud to the Lord;(B)
I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.(C)
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I reveal my trouble to Him.(D)
3 Although my spirit is weak within me,
You know my way.(E)
Along this path I travel
they have hidden a trap for me.(F)
4 Look to the right and see:[a]
no one stands up for me;
there is no refuge for me;
no one cares about me.(G)
5 I cry to You, Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my portion in the land of the living.”(H)
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am very weak.(I)
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.(J)
7 Free me from prison
so that I can praise Your name.
The righteous will gather around me
because You deal generously with me.(K)
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