M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 18
David and Jonathan. 1 When David finished speaking with Saul, David’s soul was bonded with Jonathan’s soul. Jonathan loved him more than he loved himself. 2 From that day on, Saul would not permit him to return to his father’s house.
3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him more than he loved himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing, and he gave it to David, even giving him his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5 Whatever Saul sent David to do, he did it so wisely that he placed him in charge of warriors. This pleased all of the people, and even Saul’s servants.
Saul’s Jealousy. 6 When David returned after having struck down the Philistine, the women came out from the cities of Israel to greet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, tambourines, and lutes. 7 [a]As the women danced, they sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David has killed his ten thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry at this for the saying displeased him. He said, “They give David tens of thousands, and me they only give thousands. What else is he lacking but the kingdom?” 9 From that time on, Saul kept an eye on David.
10 The next morning an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied right inside of the house. David played on the harp, as he did every day. In the meantime, Saul had a javelin in his hand.[b] 11 Saul cast the javelin, saying to himself, “I will pin David to the wall,” but David eluded him twice. 12 Saul feared David, for the Lord was with him, but he had departed from Saul.
13 Saul sent him away, giving him command over a thousand men. He would go out and come back publicly. 14 David prospered in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he was very successful, he grew to dread him. 16 But Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came back publicly.
17 David’s Marriage. Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter, Merab, I will give her to you in marriage, only be a brave warrior and fight the Lord’s battles.” Saul thought, “It will not be by my hand, but let it be by the hands of the Philistines.” 18 David said to Saul, “Who am I? What is my life or my father’s family worth in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”[c] 19 When Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given instead to Adriel, the Meholathite, as his wife.
20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When Saul was informed about this, he was pleased. 21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she might be a trap for him and so that the hands of the Philistines will be against him.” Saul said to David, “You have a second chance to be my son-in-law.” 22 Saul ordered his servants, “Speak in confidence to David saying, ‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. You should become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” 23 Saul’s servants said these things to David, and David answered, “Do you think it is a light matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I am only a poor man and not highly esteemed.”
24 Saul’s servants told him, “David was speaking about this thing.” 25 Saul said, “This is what you are to say to David, ‘The king does not want a dowry, he only wants one hundred Philistine foreskins, so he might be avenged on the king’s enemies.’ ” Saul planned to have David fall at the hands of the Philistines.[d] 26 When his servants told David these things, David was well-pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the allotted time had expired, 27 David went out with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal, his daughter, in marriage.
28 When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, his daughter, loved him, 29 Saul dreaded him all the more, and Saul was David’s enemy for the rest of his life. 30 The Philistine leaders continued to go out to battle, and whenever they went out, David would encounter them with more success than all of Saul’s other servants, so that his name became well known.
Chapter 16
Recommendation of Phoebe.[a] 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deaconess[b] of the Church at Cenchreae. 2 Welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and help her with whatever she may need from you, for she has been a benefactor of many people, including myself.
List of Greetings. 3 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me, and I as well as all the Churches of the Gentiles am grateful to them. 5 Greet also the Church that assembles in their house.
Give my greetings to my beloved friend Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked extremely hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,[c] my relatives who were in prison with me; they are eminent in the ranks of the apostles and were in Christ before I was.
8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles,[d] who has proved worthy in the service of Christ, and those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.[e]
11 Greetings to my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the household of Narcissus.[f] 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa[g] who labor diligently in the Lord’s service. Greet my dear friend Persis, who also works hard for the Lord. 13 Give my greetings to Rufus,[h] one chosen by the Lord, as well as to his mother who has also been a mother to me.
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greetings to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, as well as all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the Churches of Christ send you their greetings.
17 Beware of Dissenters. I urge you, brethren, to watch out for those who incite dissensions and obstacles in opposition to the teaching that you have learned. Take care to avoid them. 18 For such people are not servants of our Lord Jesus Christ but of their own appetites, and by smooth words and flattery they deceive the minds of the simple. 19 Your obedience has become known to all and has caused me to rejoice greatly over you. However, I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil; 20 then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21 Greetings from Paul’s Companions at Corinth. Timothy, my coworker, sends greetings to you, as do Lucius and Jason[i] and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I, Tertius, who am writing down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Greetings also from Gaius,[j] my host and the host to the whole Church, and from Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus. [ 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.][k]
Glory to God through Jesus Christ[l]
25 Now to him who has the power to strengthen you
in accordance with the gospel that I preach
and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery
that was kept secret for long ages
26 but is now revealed,
and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the nations
according to the command of the eternal God
to bring them to the obedience of faith—
27 to God who alone is wise,
through Jesus Christ
be glory forever! Amen.
Chapter 3
The Enduring Love of the Lord
1 [a]I am a man who has known affliction
under the rod of God’s wrath.
2 He has led me and forced me to walk
in darkness, not in the light.
3 Against me alone he has turned his hand
again and again, throughout the day.
4 He has caused my flesh and my skin to waste away;
he has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and enveloped me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has forced me to dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so that I cannot escape,
and he weighed me down with heavy chains.
8 Even when I cry out and plead for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stones
and obstructed my paths.
10 He has been for me a bear lying in wait
or a lion hiding in ambush.
11 He has led me away and torn me to pieces,
leaving me helpless.
12 He has bent his bow and used me
as the target for his arrows.
13 He has pierced deep within me
with the shafts from his quiver.
14 I have become a laughingstock to my people;
they taunt me in song throughout the day.
15 He has given me my fill of bitter herbs
and sated me with wormwood.
16 He has broken my teeth[b] with gravel
and trampled my face into the dust.
17 My soul is deprived of peace;
I no longer remember what happiness is.
18 Thus I cry out that my glory is gone
as well as everything that I had hoped for from the Lord.
19 The realization of my poverty and homelessness
is wormwood and gall to me.
20 My soul continually reflects on this
and is left downcast within me.
21 However, I will call this to mind
as the reason for my hope:
22 [c]The love of the Lord is never exhausted,
nor do his deeds of mercy ever come to an end.
23 They are renewed every morning;
his faithfulness never ceases.
24 The Lord is my portion, I say to myself;
therefore, I will place my hope in him.
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
26 It is good to wait in silence
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
the yoke from his youth.
28 Let that man sit alone and in silence
when the yoke is laid upon him.
29 Let him bury his head in the dust;
there may still be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to those who strike him
and endure their insults.
31 For the rejection by the Lord
will not last forever.
32 Even though he punishes, he will be compassionate
in the abundance of his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly afflict
or cause grief to the children of men.
34 When all the prisoners in a country
are trampled underfoot,
35 when human rights are perverted
in defiance of the Most High,
36 when someone is deprived of justice in the courts—
is the Lord not aware of such evils?
37 Who has only to command and it is done
if the Lord has not given his approval?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that evil and good proceed?
39 Why then should any people complain
about being punished for their sins?
40 Let us examine and test our ways
and return to the Lord.
41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven.
42 We have sinned and rebelled,
and you have not forgiven us.
43 You have veiled yourself in anger and pursued us,
slaying us without pity.
44 You have wrapped yourself in a cloud
that no prayer can pierce.
45 You have reduced us to filth
and rubbish among the nations.
46 All of our enemies have opened their mouths
in a chorus of jeers against us.
47 Terror and pitfall, devastation and ruin,
have been our lot.
48 My eyes flow with a torrent of tears
because of the destruction of my people.
49 My eyes will flow with unceasing tears,
and there will be no respite
50 until the Lord from heaven
looks down and sees.
51 My eyes are swollen with grief
at the fate of all the daughters of my city.
52 Those who were my enemies without justification
have hunted me down like a bird.
53 They thrust me alive into a pit
and hurled down stones at me.
54 The waters rose above my head,
and I said, “I am lost.”
55 I called upon your name, O Lord,
from the depths of the pit.
56 You heard me plead,
“Do not close your ear to my cry for help!”
57 You came near when I called out to you,
and you said, “Do not fear.”
58 O Lord, you have taken up my cause,
and you have redeemed my life.
59 You have seen the unjust treatment I endure;
grant me justice.
60 You have seen all their vindictiveness,
all their plots against me.
61 You have heard their insults, O Lord;
all their plots against me,
62 the whispers and murmuring of my foes
against me all day long.
63 Whether they sit or stand,
see how I am the object of their taunts.
64 Pay them back for their deeds, O Lord;
punish them as they deserve.
65 Give them hardness of heart
as your curse upon them.
66 Pursue them in anger and destroy them
from under your heavens, O Lord.
Psalm 34[a]
Presence of God, Protector of the Righteous
1 Of David. When he pretended to be mad before Abimelech, who forced him to depart.[b]
2 [c]I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will be continually on my lips.
3 My soul[d] will glory in the Lord;
let the lowly hear and be glad.
4 Magnify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he set me free from all my fears.
6 Look to him and you will be radiant;
your faces will never be covered with shame.
7 In my anguish[e] I cried out;
the Lord heard my plea,
and I was saved from all my troubles.
8 The angel of the Lord[f] encamps around those who fear God,
and he delivers them.
9 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed[g] is the man who takes refuge in him.
10 Fear the Lord,[h] you his saints;
nothing is lacking for those who fear him.
11 The powerful[i] suffer want and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord want for no good thing.
12 [j]Come, my children,[k] and listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
13 Who among you delights in life
and desires many years to enjoy prosperity?[l]
14 Then keep your tongue[m] from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
15 Shun evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
16 [n]The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
17 The face of the Lord is turned against those who do evil,
to erase all memory of them from the earth.
18 [o]The righteous call out, and the Lord hears them;
he rescues them from all their troubles.
19 The Lord remains close to the brokenhearted,
and he saves those whose spirit is crushed.
20 [p]The misfortunes of the righteous man are many,
but the Lord delivers him,[q] from all of them.
21 He watches with care over all his bones;
not a single one will be broken.
22 [r]Evil will bring death to the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
23 The Lord redeems the lives of those who serve him;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
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