M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

8 Elisha went and warned the mother of the boy whom he had brought back to life.

² The woman did exactly as the man of God instructed her to do. She got up, gathered her family and servants together, and then settled in Philistine territory for seven years. ³ After the seven years were over, she departed from Philistia and went back to her own land. When she returned home, she went straight to the king to argue that she be given back her house and her field.

⁴ The king was speaking with Gehazi, servant of the man of God.

⁵ So Gehazi told the king everything. Just when Gehazi got to the part about Elisha bringing the dead boy back to life, the boy’s mother walked in and argued that the king should give her back her house and her field. Gehazi’s excitement was piqued by the visitor’s timing.

⁶ The king asked the woman if this was true, and she confirmed Gehazi’s story. She told the king every detail. The king was delighted by this story, and he gave an assignment to one of his officials, a eunuch, on her behalf: “Give this woman back her house and her field, as well as all the earnings of her field that were harvested from the day that she left until now.”

⁷ Now when Elisha arrived in Damascus, Aram’s king, Ben-hadad, was ill. A message arrived for the king: “The man of God has just arrived in Damascus.”

⁹ Hazael greeted Elisha with a gift and with kindness. He did as instructed and offered him many excellent items from Damascus—40 camel loads of gifts.

¹¹ Elisha held his gaze on Hazael until the prophet was ashamed, but then the man of God broke down and cried.

¹⁴ Hazael went away from Elisha and went back to his king.

¹⁵ The next day, Hazael grabbed the cover off Ben-hadad’s bed, soaked it in water, and put it over the king’s face until he died. Hazael then inherited the throne and reigned over Aram.

¹⁶ During the 5th year of the reign of Joram (Ahab’s son) of Israel, and when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram (Jehoshaphat’s son) became Judah’s king. ¹⁷ When he inherited the throne, he was 32 years old, and his time as king lasted 8 years in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ He lived his life as if he were a king in Israel, in the same wicked manner as Ahab’s family. In fact, he married Ahab’s daughter, and he committed countless deeds which the Eternal deemed wicked. ¹⁹ But the Eternal refused to bring Judah to its end, because He had made a promise to David, His loyal servant, that David’s progeny would always carry the lamp of his presence.

²⁰ During Jehoram’s reign, Edom rebelled against Judah’s rule and appointed its own king. ²¹ Joram then traveled to Zair with all of his chariots. During the night, he awoke to find that the Edomites had surrounded his camp and chariot officers, so he fought them and broke out. After the attack, Joram and his people ran quickly back to their tents. ²² Edom has been in rebellion against Judah ever since, even to this very day; at the same time, Libnah also rebelled. ²³ Is not the rest of Joram’s story—his actions and lasting legacy—documented in the book of the chronicles of Judah’s kings? ²⁴ Joram left this world to sleep with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David; Joram’s son, Ahaziah, then inherited the throne of Judah.

²⁵ During the 12th year of the reign of Joram (Ahab’s son), Ahaziah (Jehoram’s son), Judah’s king, inherited the throne. ²⁶ Ahaziah was 22 years old when he inherited the throne in Jerusalem, but his reign was short-lived: only one year. Ahaziah’s mother was Athaliah (granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel). ²⁷ He lived in the same wicked way as Ahab’s family, committing evil in the eyes of the Eternal because he was a son-in-law to Ahab’s house.

²⁸ Ahaziah joined forces with Joram (Ahab’s son and Ahaziah’s own uncle) in battle against Hazael (Aram’s king) at Ramoth-gilead. There Joram was injured by the Arameans. ²⁹ King Joram went to Jezreel to be healed of his injuries, which he had received from the Arameans. He would have plenty of scars by which to remember the battle at Ramah where he fought against Aram’s king, Hazael. Ahaziah (son of Jehoram, king of Judah) then received word that Joram (Ahab’s son) was ill, so he went to visit him in Jezreel.

5 Respect an elderly man. Don’t speak to him sharply; appeal to him as you would a father. Treat younger men as brothers, ² elderly women as mothers, and younger women as sisters in all purity.

³ Honor widows, but be discerning about which ones are truly widows. ⁴ If any widow has children or grandchildren, then go to the descendants first and teach them that it is their spiritual responsibility to care for their own family, to repay their parents and grandparents because this is what pleases God. ⁵ Here’s how you know if she is a true widow: she is all alone with her hope fixed in God, crying her pleas, prayers, and appeals to God day and night. ⁶ But the woman who is living for pleasure is dead as she stands. ⁷ You should command these things to everyone to keep them free of blame. ⁸ And listen, if someone is not providing for his own relatives and especially his own household, then he is denying the faith and is worse off than an unbeliever.

⁹ Now only these should be put on the widow registry: a woman who is at least 60 years old, was a faithful wife to one husband, ¹⁰ is well thought of for her good works, has raised children, was hospitable, has washed the feet of the saints, has tended to the sick and suffering, and has devoted herself to do good wherever possible. ¹¹ Don’t add younger women to the widow roll because when their desires for pleasure overtake them, they get careless in their devotion to the Anointed One. Their constant thoughts become, “I want to get married,” ¹² and such thoughts disqualify them because they have tossed aside their first commitment to Him. ¹³ Plus, they get into the habit of being idle. Not only are they idle, but they band together and roam from house to house, gossiping about and meddling into other people’s business; they talk about all sorts of things that should never be spoken of. ¹⁴ That’s why I think it’s best to have the younger widows remarry, have children, and take care of their households so that the enemy gains no opportunity to come with accusations. ¹⁵ (Unfortunately some have already lined up behind Satan!) ¹⁶ Tell any woman of faith: if you have a widow in your family, help her so the church is unencumbered and is free to extend aid to the widows who are truly in need of its help.

¹⁷ Elders who are leading well should be admired and valued. Double up on the honor shown them; care for them well—especially those constantly and consistently teaching the word and preaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture agrees, “Don’t muzzle the ox while it is treading out your grain,”^[a] and, “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b]

¹⁹ Listen, when or if a charge comes against an elder, don’t even acknowledge the accusation unless there are two or more witnesses. ²⁰ Bring any believers who persist in sinning before the community and publicly scold them so that all the rest will know to fear sin and its consequences. ²¹ I challenge you—in front of God, Jesus His Anointed, and His select heavenly messengers—to keep these instructions. And don’t do anything out of favoritism. ²² Don’t be too quick to lay hands upon anyone or share in the sins of others—stay clean.

²³ Concerning your health, Timothy, don’t just drink water; drink a little wine. It is good for your stomach and will help with your frequent ailments.

²⁴ Some people’s sins are clearly on display before the world. They lead the way to the final judgment. But it’s not so easy with other people because their sins trail behind and don’t catch up to them until later. ²⁵ The same is true regarding good works; some are there for all to see. Other people’s works can be inconspicuous; but at the final judgment, they cannot remain hidden.

⁵ Then I, Daniel, stood on the bank of the Tigris River and looked as two others appeared, one on my side of the river and the other on the far side. ⁶ One of them spoke to the man dressed in linen clothing, who was upstream.

⁷ I watched and listened carefully. The man dressed in linen clothing who was upstream raised both of his hands into the sky toward heaven. He swore an oath by Him who lives eternally that these disturbing events would last for a time, times, and half a time; and that when the shattering of the power of God’s holy people comes to an end, then all of this will be over. ⁸ I heard what he said but could not understand its meaning.

Zayin

Heth

Teth