Robert Murray M’Cheyne, a Scottish minister in 1800s, organized what is today considered a classic plan to read through the Bible. He introduced his plan to his congregation over 180 years ago on December 30, 1842:1
“MY DEAR FLOCK,—The approach of another year stirs up with me new desires for your salvation, and for the growth of you who are saved…What the coming year is to bring forth, who can tell? There is plainly a weight lying on the spirits of all good men, and a looking for some strange work of judgment coming upon this land. There is need now to ask that solemn question: “If in the land of peace, where thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”
This is the verse from Jeremiah that M’Cheyne quoted:
The jungle of Jordan was a dangerous place. Whatever other animals may have lived there, we know there were lions in the jungle of Jordan. Twice, in Jeremiah 49:19 and in 50:44, the Lord compares His judgment, against Edom and against Babylon, to a lion “coming up from the jungle of Jordan.”
As Christians we live our own jungle of Jordan, this present evil age, (Galatians 1:4). God has set us free from the law of sin and of death, yet we still live in a world where we live struggle with our own sin, and we live under the weight of injustice and wrong imposed by the wicked. It’s also a world in which creation is in slavery to the corruption of sin, and as such we may also face disease or disaster.
I’m reminded that Peter compared our adversary, the devil, to a prowling, roaring lion.
When Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the spiritual battle of Christians, he included God’s Word in our spiritual armor.
M’Cheyne understood this:
“Those believers will stand firmest who have no dependence on self or upon creatures, but upon Jehovah our Righteousness. We must be driven more to our Bibles, and to the mercy-seat, if we are to stand in the evil day. Then we shall be able to say, like David, “The proud have had me greatly in derision, yet have I not declined from Thy law.” “Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart standeth in awe of Thy word.””2
M’Cheyne had a real desire to encourage and help Christians with reading the Bible so they would be able to stand firm. He also understood the pitfalls and things that would be discouraging about following a Bible reading plan.
“(1.) Formality. – We are such weak creatures that any regularly returning duty is apt to degenerate into a lifeless form. The tendency of reading the Word by a fixed rule may, in some minds, be to create this skeleton religion. This is to be the peculiar sin of the last days – “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Guard against this. Let the calendar perish rather than this rust eat up your souls.
“(2.) Self-righteousness. — Some, when they have devoted their set time to reading of the Word, and accomplished their prescribed portion, may be tempted to look at themselves with self-complacency. Many, I am persuaded, are living without any Divine work on their soul – unpardoned and unsanctified, and ready to perish – who spend their appointed times in secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in their right hand.
“(3.) Careless reading. — Few tremble at the Word of God. Few, in reading it, hear the voice of Jehovah, which is full of majesty. Some, by having so large a portion, may be tempted to weary of it, as Israel did of the daily manna, saying – “Our soul loatheth this light bread;” and to read it in a slight and careless manner. This would be fearfully provoking to God. Take heed lest that word be true of you – “Ye said, also, Behold what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts.”
“(4.) A yoke to heavy to bear. — Some may engage in reading with alacrity for a time, and afterwards feel it a burden, grievous to be borne. They may find conscience dragging them through the appointed task without any relish of the heavenly food. If this be the case with any, throw aside the fetter, and feed at liberty in the sweet garden of God. My desire is not to cast a snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy.”2
He also included five advantages of a Bible reading plan. Here are the first two. The last three are advantages of having an entire church use the same reading plan.
“(1.) The whole Bible will be read through in an orderly manner in the course of a year. — The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice. I fear many of you never read the whole Bible; and yet it is all equally Divine, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” If we pass over some parts of Scripture, we shall be incomplete Christians.
“(2.) Time will not be wasted in choosing what portions to read. — Often believers are at a loss to determine towards which part of the mountains of spices they should bend their steps. Here the question will be solved at once in a very simple manner.
These are the passages from Psalm 119 containing the two verses mentioned by M’Cheyne above. They are two of many passages that tell us how the Bible enables us to withstand storms. As you read, notice in the midst of the psalmist’s troubles, the words: hope, comfort, revive, songs, rejoice, peace. Look at the work God does through His Word in the psalmist’s life.
In which You have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.
The arrogant utterly deride me,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O Lord,
And comfort myself.
Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who forsake Your law.
Your statutes are my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.
O Lord, I remember Your name in the night,
And keep Your law.
This has become mine,
That I observe Your precepts.
But my heart stands in awe of Your words.
I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.
I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Your law.
Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.
Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
I hope for Your salvation, O Lord,
And do Your commandments.
My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.
Through His Word, God gave the psalmist hope, comfort, revived him, and the psalmist could say, I do not turn aside from Your law.
Not only does God’s Word restore him, but God’s Word gives him a song, joy, and peace. In contrast with the rebellion of the wicked he declares, Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. In the next passage in the midst of persecution, we see his heart for God’s Word. He declares I rejoice at Your word. He is in awe of God’s Word, he keeps God’s testimonies, and three times he declares his love for God’s law, and says Those who love Your law have great peace.
Through His Word, in the jungle we live in, God gives us hope, comfort, revival, songs, joy, and peace. Love His Word and keep it. Build your house on the Rock of His Word to withstand the storms of life.
May His statutes be our songs in the house of our pilgrimage.
That’s why it’s important to read His Word.
Indian lion male (Panthera leo persica) at Gir National Park: Shanthanu Bhardwaj. (CC BY-SA 2.0). This is an Asiatic lion.
1Andrew Bonar, Memoir and Remains of the Rev. Robert Murray M’Cheyne (Edinburgh/London : Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier, 1892) available on Archive.org. See p. 622 for the date of his writing. Reference found via About page at the Reading with M’Cheyne blog. M’Cheyne was only 29 years old at the time; he died a few months later on March 25, 1843. (See Robert Murray M’Cheyne at Wikipedia). His Bible reading plan was his legacy to his fellow Christians.
2From Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar at Robert Murray M’Cheyne.
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