February 12 (Exodus 29–30; Psalm 39; Luke 3)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry
Episode: February 12 (Exodus 29–30; Psalm 39; Luke 3)
Release Date: February 12, 2025

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Introduction

In the February 12th episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry," hosted by Crossway, listeners embark on a profound journey through selected passages from the Old Testament, Psalms, and the New Testament. This episode delves into Exodus 29–30, Psalm 39, and Luke 3, offering rich theological insights, historical context, and spiritual reflections that cater to both seasoned Bible readers and newcomers alike.

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Old Testament Reading: Exodus 29–30

Overview:
Exodus chapters 29 and 30 provide detailed instructions from Moses on the consecration of priests, the establishment of sacrificial offerings, and the sanctification of sacred objects. These passages are pivotal in understanding the religious and ceremonial practices ordained for the Israelites.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Consecration of Priests:

   • Sacrificial Offerings: The process of consecrating Aaron and his sons involves a bull and two rams without blemish, unleavened bread, and specific rituals of anointing and washing (00:01).
   • Garments and Symbolism: Detailed descriptions of the priestly garments—coat, robe of the Ephod, breastpiece, turban, and holy crown—symbolize purity and dedication to divine service.

2. Sacrificial Rituals:

   • Sin Offerings and Burnt Offerings: Instructions on the handling of the bull and rams, including the application of blood to the altar and the burning of specific parts as offerings pleasing to the Lord (00:01).
   • Wave Offerings: The procedure for waving the bread and fat portions before the Lord, signifying the offerings' acceptance and sanctity.

3. Sanctification of the Altar:

   • Construction and Anointing: Detailed specifications for building the altar of incense, its dimensions, materials, and the anointing process to make it most holy (06:06).
   • Regular Maintenance: Daily and annual rituals to maintain the altar's sanctity, emphasizing its central role in worship (00:01; 06:06).

Notable Quotes:

• Moses on Priesthood: “The priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.” (00:01)

• Sacred Anointing Oil: “It shall be a holy anointing oil, blended as by the perfumer it shall be a holy anointing oil.” (06:06)

• Prohibition on Unauthorized Incense: “You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering...” (06:07)

Insights and Reflections:

Jackie Hill Perry emphasizes the meticulous nature of these rituals, highlighting their role in establishing a direct and unblemished relationship between the priests and the divine. The detailed instructions serve not only as ceremonial guidelines but also as a metaphor for the purity and dedication required in one's spiritual journey. The anointing oil and sacred garments symbolize the transformation and preparation necessary to serve a higher purpose.

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Psalms Reading: Psalm 39

Overview:
Psalm 39 is a contemplative prayer by David, reflecting on the transient nature of human life and the vanity of earthly pursuits. This Psalm serves as a meditation on mortality, humility, and the quest for divine wisdom.

Key Themes Discussed:

1. The Brevity of Life:

   • David muses on the fleeting nature of human existence, likening life to a mere breath and a shadow (10:06).

2. Personal Struggle and Plea for Understanding:

   • Acknowledging his own limitations, David seeks clarity on life's purpose and duration, expressing deep anguish and a desire for deliverance from transgressions (10:06; 11:02).

3. Reflection on Human Endeavors:

   • Critiques the accumulation of wealth and the futility of human efforts, emphasizing the inevitability of judgment and the importance of righteous living (10:49; 11:13).

Notable Quotes:

• On Life's Transience: “Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath.” (10:06)

• Seeking Deliverance: “Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool.” (10:49)

• Humility Before God: “I am mute. I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.” (11:03)

Insights and Reflections:

Jackie Hill Perry draws parallels between David's introspection and the modern human condition, where the incessant pursuit of material wealth often overshadows spiritual well-being. The Psalm serves as a reminder of life's impermanence and the significance of seeking divine guidance and purpose. Perry encourages listeners to adopt a posture of humility and dependence on God, echoing David's plea for understanding and deliverance.

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New Testament Reading: Luke 3

Overview:
Luke 3 chronicles the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus, and presents the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This chapter sets the stage for Jesus' public ministry and underscores the fulfillment of prophetic traditions.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Ministry of John the Baptist:

   • Baptism of Repentance: John preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, calling for ethical reforms among diverse groups, including tax collectors and soldiers (12:11; 12:50).

2. Confrontation and Imprisonment:

   • Herod's Reprisal: John's bold denunciation of Herod's unlawful marriage leads to his imprisonment, highlighting the tension between prophetic truth and political power (14:03; 14:05).

3. Baptism of Jesus:

   • Divine Affirmation: The heavens open at Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and God's voice declares Jesus as His beloved Son (14:05).

4. Genealogy of Jesus:

   • Ancestral Lineage: A detailed genealogy traces Jesus' lineage back to Adam and God, emphasizing His rightful place in both Jewish heritage and divine prophecy (14:33).

Notable Quotes:

• John the Baptist on Divine Authority: “He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” (12:49)

• Jesus' Affirmation: “You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased.” (14:05)

• Call to Repentance: “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance...” (12:12)

Insights and Reflections:

Jackie Hill Perry explores the significance of John the Baptist's role as the forerunner to Christ, emphasizing the importance of repentance and moral integrity. The confrontation between John and Herod serves as a testament to the courage required to uphold divine truth against societal corruption. The baptism of Jesus marks the inauguration of His ministry, underscored by divine approval and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Perry highlights the genealogy as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, reinforcing Jesus' messianic identity and His connection to humanity.

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Conclusion

This episode of "Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry" intricately weaves together the solemn rituals of the Old Testament, the introspective depth of the Psalms, and the prophetic unfolding of the New Testament. Jackie Hill Perry adeptly connects these passages, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of biblical narratives and their timeless relevance. By exploring themes of sanctity, mortality, repentance, and divine fulfillment, the episode provides a rich tapestry of spiritual insights that encourage listeners to deepen their engagement with the Scriptures.

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Transcript References

• 00:01 – Moses reading Exodus 29–30
• 06:06 – Moses and Aaron discussing altar and offerings
• 10:06 – Aaron reading Psalm 39
• 10:48 – Moses interjecting
• 11:02 – Moses and Aaron continue Psalm 39
• 11:35 – Moses transitions to Luke 3
• 12:11 – Aaron reading Luke 3
• 12:49 – Moses interjecting
• 14:03 – Moses and Aaron on John the Baptist's imprisonment
• 14:05 – Transition to Jesus' baptism
• 14:33 – Luke's genealogy of Jesus

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Note: The timestamps in this summary correspond to the points in the provided transcript, allowing listeners to refer back to specific sections for deeper study.

Transcript

[Moses]

A reading from the book of Exodus. Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them that they may serve me as priests. Take one bull of the herd and two rams without blemish and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafer smeared with oil. You shall make them a fine wheat flour. You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket and bring the bull and the two rams. You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Then you shall take the garments and put on Aaron the coat and the robe of the Ephod, and the Ephod and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the Ephod. And you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Then you shall bring his sons and put colts on them. And you shall gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and. And bind caps on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons. Then you shall bring the bull before the tent of meeting. Aaron and his son shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. Then you shall kill the bull before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger. And the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar. And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails and and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them and burn them on the altar. But the flesh of the bull and its skin and its dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering. Then you shall take one of the rams and Aaron and his son shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. And you shall kill the ram and shall take its blood and throw it against the sides of the altar. Then you shall cut the ram into pieces and wash its entrails and its legs and put them with its pieces and its head and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his son shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. And you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar. Then you shall take part of the blood that is on the altar and of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and his sons garments with him. He and his garments shall be holy, and his son's and his sons garments with him. You shall also take the fat from the ram and the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails, and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them and and the right thigh. For it is a ram of ordination. And one loaf of bread, and one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the Lord. You shall put all these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. Then you shall take them from their hands and burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering as a pleasing aroma before the Lord. It is a food offering to the Lord. You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination and wave it for a wave offering before the Lord. And it shall be your portion. And you shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh of the priest's portion that is contributed from the ram of ordination from what was Aaron's and his sons. It shall be for Aaron and his sons as a perpetual due from the people of Israel. For it is a contribution. It shall be a contribution from the people of Israel from their peace offerings, their contribution to the Lord. The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him. They shall be anointed in them and ordained in them. The son who succeeds him as priest, who comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place, shall wear them seven days. You shall take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place. And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket in the entrance of the tent of meeting. They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration. But an outsider shall not eat of them because they are holy. And if any of the flesh for the ordination or of the bread remain until the morning. Then you shall burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten because it is holy. Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Through seven days shall you ordain them. And every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also, you shall purify the altar when you make atonement for it, and shall anoint it to consecrate it. Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. And the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall become holy. Now this is what you shall offer on the altar. Two lambs a year old, day by day, regularly. One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. And with the first lamb a a tenth measure of fine flour mingled with a fourth of a hin of beaten oil and a fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight and shall offer with a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations. At the entrance of the Tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you to speak to you there. There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also, and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord, their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord, their God. You shall make an altar on which to burn incense. You shall make it of acacia wood. A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its breadth. It shall be square, and two cubits shall be its height. Its horn shall be of one piece. With it you shall overlay it with pure gold, its top and around its sides and its horns. And you shall make a molding of gold around it. And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding, on two opposite sides.

[Aaron]

Of it, you shall make them.

[Moses]

And they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it. You shall make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put it in front of the veil that is above the Ark of the Testimony, in front of the mercy seat that is above the testimony where I will meet with you. And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn it. And when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it a regular incense offering before the Lord throughout your generations. You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it. Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. He shall make atonement for it once in the year throughout your generations. It is most holy to the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, when you take the censes of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord. When you number them, that there be no plague among them. When you number them, each one who is numbered in the census shall give half a shekel. According to the shekel of the sanctuary. The shekel is 20 gerahs, half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. Everyone who is numbered in the census from 20 years old and upward shall give the Lord's offering. The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than the half shekel. When you give the Lord's offering to make atonement for your lives, you shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the Tent of Meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives. The Lord said to Moses, you shall also make a basin of bronze with its stand of bronze for washing. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it with which Aaron and his son shall wash their hands and their feet when they go into the Tent of Meeting. According. And when they come near the altar to minister to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water so that they may not die. They shall wash their hands and their feet so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations. The Lord said to Moses, take the finest spices of liquid myrrh, 500 shekels, and of sweet smelling cinnamon half as much, that is 250 and 250 of aromatic cane, and 500 of cassia according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil, and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil, blended as by the perfumer it shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tin of Meeting and the ark of the Testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. You shall consecrate them that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them that they may serve me as priests. And you shall say to the people of Israel, this shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like it in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people. The Lord said to Moses, take sweet spices, Stacte and Anachah and galbanum, sweet spices, with pure frankincense. Of each shall there be an equal part, and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting, which where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people. A reading from the Book of Psalms to the choirmaster. To Jeduthen, a Psalm of David.

[Aaron]

I said, I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue. I will guard my mouth with a muzzle so long as the wicked are in my presence. I was mute and silent. I held my peace to no avail. And my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue. O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the measure of my days? Let me know how fleeting I am. Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath. Selah. Surely a man goes about as a shadow.

[Moses]

Surely for nothing.

[Aaron]

They are in turmoil. Man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather. And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool.

[Moses]

I am mute.

[Aaron]

I Do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.

[Moses]

Remove your stroke from me.

[Aaron]

I am spent by the hostility of your hand.

[Moses]

When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth.

[Aaron]

What is dear to him. Surely all mankind is a mere breath. Selah Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry. Hold not your peace at my tears, for I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again before I depart and end no more.

[Moses]

A Reading of the Gospel According to Luke in the 15th year of the.

[Aaron]

Reign of Tiberius Caesar Pontius Pilate, being governor of Judea and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip, tetrarch of the region of Ituria and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene. During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness, and he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah, the Prophet.

[Moses]

The voice of one crying in the.

[Aaron]

Wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, you brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our Father. For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to.

[Moses]

The root of the trees.

[Aaron]

Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. And the crowds asked him, what then shall we do? And he answered them, whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, teacher, what shall we do? And he said to them, collect no more than you are authorized to do. Soldiers also asked him, and we what shall we do? And he said to them, do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages. As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ. John answered them all saying, I baptize you with water. But he who is mightier than I is coming the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's.

[Moses]

Wife, and for all the evil things.

[Aaron]

That Herod had done, added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven. You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased. Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about 30 years of age. Being the son, as was supposed, of.

[Luke]

Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Mathet, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jani, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Nagai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Simeon, the son of Josek, the son of Jodah, the son of Johanan, the son of Resa, the son the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Adai, the son of Co, the son of Elmatum, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Mathet, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melia, the son of Minna, the son of Matatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salah, the son of Nation, the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arnai, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, the son of Canaan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Canaan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.