Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode: December 31 (Malachi 1–4; Psalm 150; Revelation 22)
Date: December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

This final episode of the year presents a powerful conclusion to the year-long journey through scripture, featuring readings from Malachi 1–4 (the prophetic closing of the Old Testament), Psalm 150 (the final Psalm), and Revelation 22 (the last chapter of the Bible). Through these passages, the episode weaves together themes of God's enduring faithfulness, final judgment and restoration, the call for sincere worship, and the ultimate hope of Christ's return.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Malachi 1–4: God’s Accusations and Promises to Israel

(00:01–09:06)

• God’s Love and Israel’s Doubt
  • The Lord declares His love for Israel, contrasting it with His treatment of Edom.

    "I have loved you, says the Lord. But you say, how have you loved us?" (00:04)

• Corruption of the Priests
  • God rebukes the priests for dishonoring Him with polluted sacrifices, showing contempt for His altar, and failing to uphold true instruction.

    “When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil?...Present that to your governor. Will he accept you or show you favor?” (02:00)

• Warning and Call for Purity
  • Priests are warned that continued corruption will lead to curses; God recalls His covenant with Levi, stressing the importance of pure instruction and guidance.
• Faithfulness and Covenant
  • Israel is condemned for faithlessness, especially unfaithfulness in marriage ("the wife of your youth"), with a stern call to uphold covenant promises.

    “So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.” (05:40)

• Despair at Injustice
  • People complain that evil prospers and God’s justice is delayed, to which God responds with the promise of a refining judgment.
• Prophecy of the Messenger
  • Malachi foretells the coming of God’s messenger who will prepare the way and bring purification.

    “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me...But who can endure the day of his coming?” (06:05)

• Call for Repentance and Blessing
  • God accuses Israel of robbing Him through withheld tithes, urging them to “bring the full tithe into the storehouse” and test His faithfulness.

    “If I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need...” (07:45)

• Hope for the Righteous
  • A distinction is made between the righteous and wicked; a "book of remembrance" for those who fear God.
• The Day of the Lord
  • A promise of coming judgment for evildoers and vindication for those who revere God’s name.
  • A final exhortation to remember the Law and a promise to send "Elijah" to turn hearts back before the great day.

2. Psalm 150: The Final Song of Praise

(09:06–09:44)

• Call to Praise
  • The psalm is a jubilant invitation to praise God everywhere and for everything He has done.

    “Praise him with trumpet sound...with lute and harp...with tambourine and dance...with sounding cymbals...” (09:15)

• Universal Worship
  • Urges all creation—“everything that has breath”—to praise the Lord.

3. Revelation 22: New Creation and the Invitation of Christ

(09:44–End)

• Vision of the New Jerusalem
  • John sees the river of the water of life and the tree of life, a vision of complete healing and the removal of the curse.

    “The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed...” (09:53)

• Eternal Worship and Light
  • God’s people will see His face, bear His name, and enjoy unbroken fellowship—no night, for God Himself is their light.
• Jesus’ Promised Return
  • Repeated assurance from Jesus:

    “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (10:40) “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (11:24)

• The Open Invitation
  • Emphasis on the accessibility of salvation:

    “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (11:45)

• A Solemn Warning and Final Prayer
  • A strong warning against altering the words of the prophecy.
  • The book (and the Bible) ends with an invitation and a benediction:

    "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." (12:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Worship and Sacrifice:
  • “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my name will be great among the nations...And in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering.” (03:15, Malachi)
• On Faithful Remembrance:
  • “A book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ‘They shall be mine...in the day when I make up my treasured possession.’” (08:47, Malachi)
• On Final Hope:
  • “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads...The Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (09:58, Revelation)
• On the Invitation of Grace:
  • “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (11:50, Revelation)
• On Anticipation:
  • “Surely, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (12:25, Revelation)

Highlighted Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – Malachi reading begins (Love, rebuke of priests, call to repentance)
• 05:40 – Exhortation to marital faithfulness
• 06:05 – Prophecy of the coming messenger and promise of refinement
• 07:45 – Invitation to test God’s faithfulness through bringing tithes
• 09:06 – Psalm 150: Call to universal praise
• 09:44 – Revelation 22: Vision of the New Jerusalem and promise of Christ’s return
• 11:45 – The gospel invitation: “Let the one who is thirsty come…”
• 12:25 – Final blessing and prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus”

Episode Tone and Closing Reflection

The readings carry an urgent, reverent, and hopeful tone, blending solemn warnings with invitations to experience God’s faithfulness. The final passages of scripture encapsulate anticipation and longing for restoration, making the episode a fitting conclusion to a year-long biblical journey.

Summary Prepared For:
Listeners seeking a deep, structured overview of the final episode in the ESV Bible in a Year series with Jackie Hill Perry. This summary highlights pivotal moments of scripture and underscores the thematic unity between Old Testament prophecy, Old and New Testament worship, and the apocalyptic hope that closes the Christian canon.