M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

Elisha Makes an Ax Head Float

6 One day the prophets said to Elisha, “The place where we meet with you is too small. ² Why don't we build a new meeting place near the Jordan River? Each of us could get some wood, then we could build it.”

“That's a good idea,” Elisha replied, “get started.”

³ “Aren't you going with us?” one of the prophets asked.

“Yes, I'll go,” Elisha answered, ⁴ and he left with them.

They went to the Jordan River and began chopping down trees. ⁵ While one of the prophets was working, his ax head fell off and dropped into the water. “Oh!” he shouted. “Sir, I borrowed this ax.”

⁶ “Where did it fall in?” Elisha asked. The prophet pointed to the place, and Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. The ax head floated to the top of the water.

⁷ “Now get it,” Elisha told him. And the prophet reached in and grabbed it.

Elisha Stops an Invasion of the Syrian Army

⁸ Time after time, when the king of Syria was at war against the Israelites, he met with his officers and announced, “I've decided where we will set up camp.”

⁹ Each time, Elisha^[a] would send this warning to the king of Israel: “Don't go near there. That's where the Syrian troops have set up camp.”^{[b] 10} So the king would warn the Israelite troops in that place to be on guard.

¹¹ The king of Syria was furious when he found out what was happening. He called in his officers and asked, “Which one of you has been telling the king of Israel our plans?”

¹² “None of us, Your Majesty,” one of them answered. “It's an Israelite named Elisha. He's a prophet, so he can tell his king everything—even what you say in your own room.”

¹³ “Find out where he is!” the king ordered. “I'll send soldiers to bring him here.”

They learned that Elisha was in the town of Dothan^[c] and reported it to the king. ¹⁴ He ordered his best troops to go there with horses and chariots. They marched out during the night and surrounded the town.

¹⁵ When Elisha's servant got up the next morning, he saw that Syrian troops had the town surrounded. “Sir, what are we going to do?” he asked.

¹⁶ “Don't be afraid,” Elisha answered. “There are more troops on our side than on theirs.” ¹⁷ Then he prayed, “Lord, please help him to see.” And the Lord let the servant see that the hill^[d] was covered with fiery horses and flaming chariots all around Elisha.

¹⁸ As the Syrian army came closer, Elisha prayed, “Lord, make those soldiers blind!” And the Lord blinded them with a bright light.

¹⁹ Elisha told the enemy troops, “You've taken the wrong road and are in the wrong town. Follow me. I'll lead you to the man you're looking for.” Elisha led them straight to the capital city of Samaria.

²⁰ When all the soldiers were inside the city, Elisha prayed, “Lord, now let them see again.” The Lord let them see that they were standing in the middle of Samaria.

²¹ The king of Israel saw them and asked Elisha, “Should I kill them, sir?”

²² “No!” Elisha answered. “You didn't capture these troops in battle, so you have no right to kill them. Instead, give them something to eat and drink and let them return to their leader.”

²³ The king ordered a huge meal to be prepared for Syria's army, and when they finished eating, he let them go.

For a while, the Syrian troops stopped invading Israel's territory.

King Benhadad of Syria Attacks Samaria

²⁴ Some time later, King Benhadad of Syria^[e] called his entire army together, then they marched to Samaria and attacked. ²⁵ They kept up the attack until there was nothing to eat in the city. In fact, a donkey's head cost 80 pieces of silver, and a small bowl of pigeon droppings^[f] cost 5 pieces of silver.

²⁶ One day as the king of Israel^[g] was walking along the top of the city wall, a woman shouted to him, “Please, Your Majesty, help me!”

²⁷ “Let the Lord help you!” the king said. “Do you think I have grain or wine to give you?” ²⁸ Then he asked, “What's the matter anyway?”

The woman answered, “Another woman and I were so hungry that we agreed to eat our sons. She said if we ate my son one day, we could eat hers the next day. ^29 (A) So yesterday we cooked my son and ate him. But today when I went to her house to eat her son, she had hidden him.”

³⁰ The king tore off his clothes in sorrow, and since he was on top of the city wall, the people saw that he was wearing sackcloth underneath. ³¹ He said, “I pray that God will punish me terribly, if Elisha's head is still on his shoulders by this time tomorrow.” ³² Then he sent a messenger to Elisha.

Elisha was home at the time, and the important leaders of Israel were meeting with him. Even before the king's messenger arrived, Elisha told the leaders, “That murderer^[h] is sending someone to cut off my head. When you see him coming, shut the door and don't let him in. I'm sure the king himself will be right behind him.”

³³ Before Elisha finished talking, the messenger^[i] came up and said, “The Lord has made all these terrible things happen to us. Why should I think he will help us now?”

Church Officials

3 It is true that^[a] anyone who desires to be a church official^[b] wants to be something worthwhile. ^2 (A) That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage.^[c] They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach. ³ They must not be heavy drinkers or troublemakers. Instead, they must be kind and gentle and not love money.

⁴ Church officials must be in control of their own families, and they must see that their children are obedient and always respectful. ⁵ If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?

⁶ They must not be new followers of the Lord. If they are, they might become proud and be doomed along with the devil. ⁷ Finally, they must be well-respected by people who are not followers. Then they won't be trapped and disgraced by the devil.

Church Officers

⁸ Church officers^[d] should be serious. They must not be liars, heavy drinkers, or greedy for money. ⁹ And they must have a clear conscience and hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith. ¹⁰ They must first prove themselves. Then if no one has anything against them, they can serve as officers.

¹¹ Women^[e] must also be serious. They must not gossip or be heavy drinkers, and they must be faithful in everything they do.

¹² Church officers must be faithful in marriage.^[f] They must be in full control of their children and everyone else in their home. ¹³ Those who serve well as officers will earn a good reputation and will be highly respected for their faith in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Our Religion

¹⁴ I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, ¹⁵ so if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God's family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.

¹⁶ Here is the great mystery of our religion:

Daniel's Vision beside the Tigris River

10 In the third year^[a] of Cyrus the king of Persia, a message came to Daniel^[b] from God, and it was explained in a vision. The message was about a dreadful war, and it was true. ² Daniel wrote:

For three weeks I was in sorrow. ³ I ate no fancy food or meat, I drank no wine, and I put no olive oil on my face or hair.^{[c] 4} Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month,^[d] I was standing on the banks of the great Tigris River, ^5 (A) when I looked up and saw someone dressed in linen and wearing a solid gold belt.^{[e] 6} His body was like a precious stone,^[f] his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming fires, his arms and legs like polished bronze, and his voice like the roar of a crowd. ^7 (B) Although the people who were with me did not see the vision, they became so frightened that they scattered and hid. ⁸ Only I saw this great vision. I became weak and pale, ⁹ and at the sound of his voice, I fell facedown in a deep sleep.

¹⁰ He raised me to my hands and knees ¹¹ and then said, “Daniel, your God thinks highly of you, and he has sent me. So stand up and pay close attention.” I stood trembling, while the angel said:

¹² Daniel, don't be afraid! God has listened to your prayers since the first day you humbly asked for understanding, and he has sent me here. ^13 (C) But the guardian angel^[g] of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael, who is one of the strongest guardian angels,^[h] came to rescue me from the kings of Persia.^{[i] 14} Now I have come here to give you another vision about what will happen to your people in the future.

¹⁵ While this angel was speaking to me, I stared at the ground, speechless. ¹⁶ Then he appeared in human form and touched my lips. I said, “Sir, this vision has brought me great pain and has drained my strength. ¹⁷ I am merely your servant. How can I possibly speak with someone so powerful, when I am almost too weak to get my breath?”

^18-19 The angel touched me a second time and said, “Don't be frightened! God thinks highly of you, and he intends this for your good, so be brave and strong.”

At this, I regained my strength and replied, “Please speak! You have already made me feel much better.”

²⁰ Then the angel said:

Now do you understand why I have come? Soon I must leave to fight against the guardian angel of Persia. Then after I have defeated him, the guardian angel of Greece will attack me. ²¹ I will tell you what is written in The Book of Truth. But first, you must realize that no one except Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, is on my side.

In Praise of the Law of the Lord