M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Israel Saved from the Philistines
7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the Lord and (A)brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and they [a]consecrated his son Eleazar to watch over the ark of the Lord. 2 From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the [b]time was long, for it was twenty years; and all the house of Israel [c]mourned after the Lord.
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “(B)If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then (C)remove the foreign gods and the (D)Ashtaroth from among you, and (E)direct your hearts to the Lord and (F)serve Him alone; and He will save you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the Lord alone.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to (G)Mizpah and (H)I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and (I)poured it out before the Lord, and (J)fasted on that day and said there, “(K)We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
7 Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the governors of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard about it, (L)they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “(M)Do not stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, that He will save us from the hand of the Philistines!” 9 Samuel took (N)a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and (O)the Lord answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines advanced to battle Israel. But (P)the Lord thundered with a great [d]thunder on that day against the Philistines and (Q)confused them, so that they were struck down before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel came out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and killed them as far as below Beth-car.
12 Then Samuel (R)took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it [e]Ebenezer, saying, “[f]So far the Lord has helped us.” 13 (S)So the Philistines were subdued, and (T)they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel [g]recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and (U)the Amorites.
Samuel’s Ministry
15 Now Samuel (V)judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he used to go annually on a circuit to (W)Bethel, (X)Gilgal, and (Y)Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would make his return to (Z)Ramah, because his house was there, and there he also judged Israel; and there he (AA)built an altar to the Lord.
Israel Demands a King
8 Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that (AB)he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in (AC)Beersheba. 3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they (AD)took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at (AE)Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (AF)appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the matter was [h](AG)displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And (AH)Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because (AI)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; (AJ)however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of (AK)the [i]practice of the king who will reign over them.”
Warning concerning a King
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to (AL)the people who had asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “(AM)This will be the [j]practice of the king who will reign over you: (AN)he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and (AO)they will run before his chariots. 12 (AP)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to [k]do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 (AQ)He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and [l]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then (AR)you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (AS)the Lord will not answer you on that day.”
19 Yet the people (AT)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 (AU)so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, (AV)he [m]repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “(AW)Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”
Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God
6 (A)What shall we say then? Are we to (B)continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 [a](C)Far from it! How shall we who (D)died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been (E)baptized into (F)Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been (G)buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was (H)raised from the dead through the (I)glory of the Father, so we too may walk in (J)newness of life. 5 For (K)if we have become [b]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [c]in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our (L)old [d]self was (M)crucified with Him, in order that our (N)body of sin might be [e]done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for (O)the one who has died is [f]freed from sin.
8 Now (P)if we have died with Christ, we believe that (Q)we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been (R)raised from the dead, [g]is never to die again; (S)death no longer is master over Him. 10 For [h]the death that He died, He died to sin once for all time; but [i]the life that He lives, He lives to [j]God. 11 So you too, consider yourselves to be (T)dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore sin is not to (U)reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on (V)presenting [k]the parts of your body to sin as [l]instruments of unrighteousness; but (W)present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and [m]your body’s parts as [n]instruments of righteousness for God. 14 For (X)sin shall not (Y)be master over you, for (Z)you are not under [o]the Law but (AA)under grace.
15 What then? (AB)Are we to sin because we are not under [p]the Law but under grace? [q](AC)Far from it! 16 Do you not (AD)know that the one to whom you present yourselves as (AE)slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of (AF)sin [r]resulting in death, or of obedience [s]resulting in righteousness? 17 But (AG)thanks be to God that [t]though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that [u](AH)form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being (AI)freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. 19 (AJ)I am speaking [v]in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just (AK)as you presented [w]the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, [x]resulting in further lawlessness, so now present [y]your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, [z]resulting in sanctification.
20 For (AL)when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relation to righteousness. 21 Therefore what [aa](AM)benefit were you then [ab]deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is (AN)death. 22 But now having been (AO)freed from sin and (AP)enslaved to God, you [ac]derive your [ad](AQ)benefit, [ae]resulting in sanctification, and (AR)the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of (AS)sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is (AT)eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conquest of Egypt Predicted
44 The word that came to Jeremiah for all the Jews living in the land of Egypt, those who were living in (A)Migdol, (B)Tahpanhes, (C)Memphis, and the land of (D)Pathros, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘You yourselves have seen all the disaster that I have brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are in (E)ruins and no one lives in them, 3 (F)because of their wickedness which they committed to (G)provoke Me to anger by continuing to (H)burn [a]sacrifices and to (I)serve other gods whom they had not known, neither they, you, nor your fathers. 4 Yet I (J)sent you all My servants the prophets again and again, saying, “Oh, do not do this (K)abominable thing which I hate.” 5 But (L)they did not listen or incline their ears to turn from their wickedness, so as not to burn [b]sacrifices to other gods. 6 Therefore My (M)wrath and My anger gushed out and burned in the (N)cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so they have become ruins and a (O)desolation as it is this day. 7 Now then, this is what the Lord God of armies, the God of Israel says: “Why are you (P)doing great harm to yourselves, to (Q)eliminate from yourselves man and woman, child and infant from among Judah, leaving yourselves without a remnant, 8 (R)provoking Me to anger with the works of your hands, (S)burning [c]sacrifices to other gods in the land of Egypt where you are entering to reside, so that you may be eliminated and become a (T)curse and a disgrace among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the (U)wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah and the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness and the wickedness of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 Yet they (V)have not become [d]contrite even to this day, nor have they feared, nor (W)walked in My Law or My statutes, which I placed before you and before your fathers.”’
11 “Therefore this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, I am going to (X)set My face against you for a disaster, even to eliminate all Judah. 12 And I will (Y)take away the remnant of Judah who have set their [e]minds on entering the land of Egypt to reside there, and they will all [f](Z)meet their end in the land of Egypt; they will fall by the sword or meet their end by famine. From the small to the great, they will die by the sword and famine; and they will become a (AA)curse, an object of horror, [g]an imprecation, and a disgrace. 13 And I will (AB)punish those who live in the land of Egypt, just as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with plague. 14 So there will be (AC)no survivor or refugee for the remnant of Judah who have entered the land of Egypt to reside there and then to return to the land of Judah, to which they are [h](AD)longing to return to live; for none will (AE)return except a few refugees.’”
15 Then (AF)all the men who were aware that their wives were burning [i]sacrifices to other gods, along with all the women who were standing by, as a large assembly, [j]including all the people who were living in Pathros in the land of Egypt, responded to Jeremiah, saying, 16 “As for the [k](AG)message that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, (AH)we are not going to listen to you! 17 But we will certainly (AI)carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, [l]by burning [m]sacrifices to the (AJ)queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as (AK)we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had (AL)plenty of [n]food and were well off and saw no [o]misfortune. 18 But since we stopped burning [p]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have (AM)lacked everything, and have met our end by the sword and by famine.” 19 “And,” said the women, “when we were (AN)burning [q]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and [r]pouring out drink offerings to her, was it (AO)without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes [s]in her image, and poured out drink offerings to her?”
Disaster for the Jews
20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women—even to all the people who were giving him such an answer—saying, 21 “As for the [t](AP)smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the (AQ)streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your leaders, and the people of the land, did the Lord not (AR)remember them, and did all of this not come into His [u]mind? 22 So the Lord was (AS)no longer able to endure it, (AT)because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; so your land has become a (AU)place of ruins, an object of horror, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Since you have burned [v]sacrifices and have sinned against the Lord and (AV)not obeyed the voice of the Lord nor (AW)walked in His Law, His statutes, or His testimonies, therefore this (AX)disaster has happened to you, as it has this day.”
24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “(AY)Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are (AZ)in the land of Egypt! 25 This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel [w]says: ‘As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, “We will (BA)certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn [x]sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” (BB)By all means fulfill your vows, and be sure to perform your vows!’ 26 [y]In return, hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are living in the land of Egypt: ‘Behold, I have (BC)sworn by My great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that My name shall (BD)never be invoked again by the mouth of anyone of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “(BE)As the Lord [z]God lives.” 27 Behold, I am watching over them (BF)for harm and not for good, and (BG)all the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will [aa]meet their end by the sword or by famine until they [ab]are completely gone. 28 (BH)Those who escape the sword will return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah [ac](BI)few in number. Then all the remnant of Judah who have gone to the land of Egypt to reside there will know (BJ)whose word will stand, Mine or theirs. 29 And this will be the (BK)sign to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that (BL)My words will assuredly stand against you for harm.’ 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to hand (BM)Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies, to those who seek his life, just as I handed (BN)Zedekiah king of Judah over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy and was seeking his life.’”
Prayer for Victory over Enemies.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
20 May the Lord answer you (A)on a day of trouble!
May the (B)name of the (C)God of Jacob [a]protect you!
2 May He send you help (D)from the sanctuary,
And (E)support you from Zion!
3 May He (F)remember all your meal offerings
And [b](G)accept your burnt offering! Selah
4 May He grant you your (H)heart’s desire
And (I)fulfill your whole plan!
5 [c]We will (J)sing for joy over your [d]victory,
And in the name of our God we will (K)set up our banners.
May the Lord (L)fulfill all your desires.
6 Now (M)I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will (N)answer him from His holy heaven
With the [e](O)saving strength of His right hand.
7 Some praise their chariots and some their (P)horses,
But (Q)we will praise the name of the Lord, our God.
8 They have (R)bowed down and fallen,
But we have (S)risen and stood upright.
9 [f](T)Save, Lord;
May the (U)King answer us on the day we call.
Praise for Salvation.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
21 Lord, in Your strength the king will (V)be glad,
And in Your [g]salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
2 You have (W)given him his heart’s desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For You (X)meet him with the blessings of good things;
You set a (Y)crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked for life from You,
You (Z)gave it to him,
(AA)Length of days forever and ever.
5 His (AB)glory is great through Your [h]salvation,
(AC)Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
6 For You make him [i]most (AD)blessed forever;
You make him joyful (AE)with the joy of Your presence.
7 For the king (AF)trusts in the Lord,
And through the faithfulness of the Most High (AG)he will not be shaken.
8 Your hand will (AH)find all your enemies;
Your right hand will find those who hate you.
9 You will make them (AI)as a fiery oven in the time [j]of your anger;
The Lord will (AJ)swallow them up in His wrath,
And (AK)fire will devour them.
10 You will eliminate their [k]descendants from the earth,
And their [l](AL)children from among the sons of mankind.
11 Though they [m](AM)intended evil against You
And (AN)devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12 For You will (AO)make them turn their back;
You will take aim at their faces (AP)with Your bowstrings.
13 Be exalted, Lord, in Your strength;
We will (AQ)sing and praise Your power.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.