M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan

7 ¹ So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark^(A) of the Lord. They brought it to Abinadab’s^(B) house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the Lord. ² The ark remained at Kiriath Jearim^(C) a long time—twenty years in all.

Samuel Subdues the Philistines at Mizpah

Then all the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.^{(D) 3} So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning^(E) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid^(F) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths^(G) and commit^(H) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,^(I) and he will deliver^(J) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” ⁴ So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

⁵ Then Samuel^(K) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,^(L) and I will intercede^(M) with the Lord for you.” ⁶ When they had assembled at Mizpah,^(N) they drew water and poured^(O) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader^[a](P) of Israel at Mizpah.

⁷ When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. When the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid^(Q) because of the Philistines. ⁸ They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying^(R) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁹ Then Samuel^(S) took a suckling lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on Israel’s behalf, and the Lord answered him.^(T)

¹⁰ While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered^(U) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic^(V) that they were routed before the Israelites. ¹¹ The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

¹² Then Samuel took a stone^(W) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[b](X) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

¹³ So the Philistines were subdued^(Y) and they stopped invading Israel’s territory. Throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines. ¹⁴ The towns from Ekron^(Z) to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to Israel, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.^(AA)

¹⁵ Samuel^(AB) continued as Israel’s leader^(AC) all^(AD) the days of his life. ¹⁶ From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel^(AE) to Gilgal^(AF) to Mizpah, judging^(AG) Israel in all those places. ¹⁷ But he always went back to Ramah,^(AH) where his home was, and there he also held court^(AI) for Israel. And he built an altar^(AJ) there to the Lord.

Israel Asks for a King

8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed^(AK) his sons as Israel’s leaders.^{[c] 2} The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah,^(AL) and they served at Beersheba.^{(AM) 3} But his sons^(AN) did not follow his ways. They turned aside^(AO) after dishonest gain and accepted bribes^(AP) and perverted^(AQ) justice.

⁴ So all the elders^(AR) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.^{(AS) 5} They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king^(AT) to lead^[d](AU) us, such as all the other nations^(AV) have.”

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king^(AW) to lead us,” this displeased^(AX) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen^(AY) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,^(AZ) but they have rejected me as their king.^{(BA) 8} As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking^(BB) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know^(BC) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

¹⁰ Samuel told^(BD) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take^(BE) your sons and make them serve^(BF) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.^{(BG) 12} Some he will assign to be commanders^(BH) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your^(BI) fields and vineyards^(BJ) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.^{(BK) 15} He will take a tenth^(BL) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle^[e] and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer^(BM) you in that day.^(BN)”

¹⁹ But the people refused^(BO) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want^(BP) a king^(BQ) over us. ²⁰ Then we will be like all the other nations,^(BR) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

²¹ When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated^(BS) it before the Lord. ²² The Lord answered, “Listen^(BT) to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?^(A) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^{(B) 2} By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(C) how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized^(D) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death^(E) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(F) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.^(G)

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.^{(H) 6} For we know that our old self^(I) was crucified with him^(J) so that the body ruled by sin^(K) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(L)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(M)

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.^{(N) 9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(O) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^{(P) 10} The death he died, he died to sin^(Q) once for all;^(R) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(T) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(U) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.^{(V) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(W) because you are not under the law,^(X) but under grace.^(Y)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(Z) By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey^(AA)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(AB) which leads to death,^(AC) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(AD) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(AE) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(AF) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(AG) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(AH)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(AI) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness^(AJ) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(AK) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(AL) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(AM) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(AN) and have become slaves of God,^(AO) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(AP) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(AQ) but the gift of God is eternal life^(AR) in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Disaster Because of Idolatry

44 This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt^(A)—in Migdol,^(B) Tahpanhes^(C) and Memphis^(D)—and in Upper Egypt:^{(E) 2} “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw the great disaster^(F) I brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah.^(G) Today they lie deserted and in ruins^{(H) 3} because of the evil^(I) they have done. They aroused my anger^(J) by burning incense^(K) to and worshiping other gods^(L) that neither they nor you nor your ancestors^(M) ever knew. ⁴ Again and again^(N) I sent my servants the prophets,^(O) who said, ‘Do not do this detestable^(P) thing that I hate!’ ⁵ But they did not listen or pay attention;^(Q) they did not turn from their wickedness^(R) or stop burning incense^(S) to other gods.^{(T) 6} Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out;^(U) it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins^(V) they are today.

⁷ “Now this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Why bring such great disaster^(W) on yourselves by cutting off from Judah the men and women,^(X) the children and infants, and so leave yourselves without a remnant?^{(Y) 8} Why arouse my anger with what your hands have made,^(Z) burning incense^(AA) to other gods in Egypt,^(AB) where you have come to live?^(AC) You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves a curse^[a] and an object of reproach^(AD) among all the nations on earth. ⁹ Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors^(AE) and by the kings^(AF) and queens^(AG) of Judah and the wickedness committed by you and your wives^(AH) in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?^{(AI) 10} To this day they have not humbled^(AJ) themselves or shown reverence,^(AK) nor have they followed my law^(AL) and the decrees^(AM) I set before you and your ancestors.^(AN)

¹¹ “Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty,^(AO) the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster^(AP) on you and to destroy all Judah. ¹² I will take away the remnant^(AQ) of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest,^(AR) they will die by sword or famine.^(AS) They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach.^{(AT) 13} I will punish^(AU) those who live in Egypt with the sword,^(AV) famine and plague,^(AW) as I punished Jerusalem. ¹⁴ None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”^(AX)

¹⁵ Then all the men who knew that their wives^(AY) were burning incense^(AZ) to other gods, along with all the women^(BA) who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt,^(BB) said to Jeremiah, ¹⁶ “We will not listen^(BC) to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!^{(BD) 17} We will certainly do everything we said we would:^(BE) We will burn incense^(BF) to the Queen of Heaven^(BG) and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials^(BH) did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.^(BI) At that time we had plenty of food^(BJ) and were well off and suffered no harm.^{(BK) 18} But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings^(BL) to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.^(BM)”

¹⁹ The women added, “When we burned incense^(BN) to the Queen of Heaven^(BO) and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands^(BP) know that we were making cakes^(BQ) impressed with her image^(BR) and pouring out drink offerings to her?”

²⁰ Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, ²¹ “Did not the Lord remember^(BS) and call to mind the incense^(BT) burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem^(BU) by you and your ancestors,^(BV) your kings and your officials and the people of the land?^{(BW) 22} When the Lord could no longer endure^(BX) your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse^(BY) and a desolate waste^(BZ) without inhabitants, as it is today.^{(CA) 23} Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed^(CB) his law or his decrees^(CC) or his stipulations, this disaster^(CD) has come upon you, as you now see.”^(CE)

²⁴ Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women,^(CF) “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah in Egypt.^{(CG) 25} This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives^(CH) have done what you said you would do when you promised, ‘We will certainly carry out the vows we made to burn incense and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.’^(CI)

“Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows!^{(CJ) 26} But hear the word of the Lord, all you Jews living in Egypt:^(CK) ‘I swear^(CL) by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, “As surely as the Sovereign^(CM) Lord lives.”^{(CN) 27} For I am watching^(CO) over them for harm,^(CP) not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish^(CQ) by sword and famine^(CR) until they are all destroyed.^{(CS) 28} Those who escape the sword^(CT) and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few.^(CU) Then the whole remnant^(CV) of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand^(CW)—mine or theirs.^(CX)

²⁹ “‘This will be the sign^(CY) to you that I will punish^(CZ) you in this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that you will know that my threats of harm against you will surely stand.’^{(DA) 30} This is what the Lord says: ‘I am going to deliver Pharaoh^(DB) Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him, just as I gave Zedekiah^(DC) king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.’”^(DD)

Psalm 20^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Psalm 21^[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.