Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry
Episode: December 7 (Ezekiel 45–46; Psalm 127; Hebrews 1–3)
Date: December 7, 2025
Host: Crossway | Reader: Jackie Hill Perry (A)
Episode Overview
This episode continues the journey of reading through the ESV Bible in a year, featuring extended readings from Ezekiel 45–46, Psalm 127, and Hebrews 1–3. The focus is on God’s instructions about justice, worship, and the priesthood in Ezekiel, the futility of labor without God’s blessing in Psalm 127, and the supremacy of Christ over angels, Moses, and the call to perseverance in Hebrews.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Ezekiel 45–46: Justice, Worship, and Sacred Order (00:01–08:02)
- Holy District and Inheritance
- God instructs the allocation of land, emphasizing a holy district for the sanctuary, priests, Levites, and the people of Israel.
- “It shall be for the priests who minister in the sanctuary and approach the Lord to minister to him. And it shall be a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary.” (00:17)
- Justice for the People
- God calls out the leaders: “Enough, O princes of Israel. Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God.” (00:55)
- Just weights and measures are demanded: “You shall have just balances, a just ephah and a just bath.” (01:12)
- Offerings and Festivals
- Detailed statutes for offerings:
- The prince’s duty is to provide burnt, grain, and drink offerings at appointed times, including feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths.
- Sacrificial instructions for Passover, daily burnt offerings, and other festivals.
- Detailed statutes for offerings:
- Temple Worship
- The structure and sequence of entering and exiting the temple gates during worship.
- Distinct areas for sacrifice preparation and the maintenance of ritual purity (kitchens for priests, details of outer court).
- Notable Moment:
- God’s justice and provision of inheritance highlight fairness:
“The prince shall not take any of the inheritance of the people, thrusting them out of their property...none of my people shall be scattered from his property.” (05:44)
- God’s justice and provision of inheritance highlight fairness:
2. Psalm 127: Dependence on the Lord (08:02–08:42)
- The Vanity of Self-Effort
- “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (08:06)
- Rest and provision come from God:
- “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil, for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (08:12)
- Children as Blessings
- Children are declared a heritage and reward from the Lord, like “arrows in the hand of a warrior.”
- “Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.” (08:30)
- Tone: Gentle reassurance that labor and legacy apart from God are empty, but God graciously provides rest and blessing.
3. Hebrews 1–3: Christ’s Supremacy and the Call to Faithfulness (08:42–End)
a. The Supremacy of Jesus (08:46–09:55)
- Jesus as God’s Final Word
- “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. But in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son…” (08:46)
- Christ’s Divine Nature
- “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (08:55)
- Christ Above Angels
- Repeated rhetorical questions: “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my son, today I have begotten you’?” (09:10)
- Jesus is worshiped by angels and enthroned eternally.
b. The Necessity of Attentiveness and Perseverance (09:56–12:10)
- Warning Not to Drift
- “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (09:56)
- The message from God, whether through angels or Christ, demands a response.
- Salvation Through Jesus
- Jesus “tasted death for everyone” and destroyed the power of death and the devil through His own death (10:40).
- Christ’s suffering was necessary to become the perfect high priest and to help those being tempted.
c. Jesus Greater Than Moses, Encouragement to Remain Steadfast (12:11–End)
- The House of God
- “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” (12:18)
- Warning from Israel’s History
- Quoting the Holy Spirit:
- “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion...” (12:40)
- Reference to Israel’s disobedience and wandering in the wilderness as a warning not to fall into unbelief.
- “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the living God.” (13:08)
- Quoting the Holy Spirit:
- Urgent Exhortation
- “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (13:15)
- Consequences of Unbelief
- Reminds listeners that those who rebelled and disbelieved could not “enter [God’s] rest.” (13:47)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Justice:
“Enough, O princes of Israel. Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God.” (00:55) - On God's Sustaining:
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (08:06) - On Christ’s Nature:
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (08:55) - On Remaining Faithful:
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the living God.” (13:08) - On Encouragement:
“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (13:15)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:01–08:02 – Ezekiel 45–46: Instructions for Israel’s sacred order and worship
- 08:02–08:42 – Psalm 127: Dependence on the Lord’s provision
- 08:46–End – Hebrews 1–3: Jesus’ supremacy, call to faithfulness, and warning against unbelief
Conclusion
In this episode, the readings emphasize God’s order and justice, the futility of self-reliance, and the ultimate hope found in Jesus Christ. The call to trust, to justice, and to perseverance comes through, inviting listeners to consider both the ancient instructions to Israel and the present invitation to faith and rest in Christ.