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

Episode: November 2 (Jeremiah 30–31; Psalm 113; 1 Corinthians 4–5)
Host: Crossway
Date: November 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode continues the journey of reading through the ESV Bible in one year, featuring scripture readings from the Old Testament (Jeremiah 30–31), a psalm (Psalm 113), and the New Testament (1 Corinthians 4–5). The theme centers on God’s promise of restoration and compassion to Israel, a psalm of praise, and apostolic counsel on humility and holiness within the church.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Restoration and a New Covenant (Jeremiah 30–31)

• God’s Promise to Israel and Judah

  • The Lord speaks through Jeremiah, declaring a coming time when the fortunes of Israel and Judah will be restored, bringing the people back to their ancestral land. This return will be marked by peace, prosperity, and the rebuilding of cities (00:01–02:19).
  • Notable Quote:
    • 'For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah... I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.' (00:04)

• Healing after Judgment

  • The narrative accentuates both the pain caused by Israel’s sin and God’s resolve to heal:
    • 'Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous... For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.' (01:32–02:19)

• A Vision of Comfort and Joy

  • God’s faithfulness endures, transforming mourning into rejoicing:
    • 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you... I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.' (03:39–05:14)

• Promise of Return and Mercy

  • Even amidst lamentation—'Rachel is weeping for her children' (05:21)—God assures a hopeful future:
    • 'Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord. And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.' (05:31)

• Establishment of a New Covenant

  • One of the episode’s central theological moments:
    • 'Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts... For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.' (07:33–08:15)

Memorable Moments

• God’s Faithfulness Emphasized:
  • 'For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.' (04:35)
  • 'Their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.' (04:54)

2. Psalm of Praise (Psalm 113)

• Exalting the Name of the Lord
  • The psalm is a call for unending worship:
    • 'Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.' (09:16–09:33)
  • Highlight: God’s compassion is showcased in practical terms:
    • 'He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes... He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.' (09:35–09:51)

Notable Quote

• 'Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?' (09:35)

3. Apostolic Wisdom and Church Discipline (1 Corinthians 4–5)

• Faithfulness as Stewards

  • Paul defines his apostolic role as one of stewardship, emphasizing accountability to God rather than to human judgment:
    • 'This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God...' (09:58)
    • 'It is the Lord who judges me.' (10:08–10:09)

• Humility and the Contrast of Apostolic Suffering

  • Paul draws a pointed comparison between the apparent prosperity of the Corinthians and the hardships faced by the apostles, striking a note of humility:
    • 'We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.' (11:11)

• Call to Imitate Paul’s Ways

  • 'I urge you then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ...' (11:56)

• Church Discipline and Integrity

  • Paul confronts scandal within the Corinthian church, advocating for clear boundaries:
    • 'Let him who has done this be removed from among you.' (12:29)
    • 'Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven...' (13:07)
  • He clarifies Christian relationships:
    • 'I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed...' (13:37)

Memorable Quotes

• 'For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.' (11:54)
• 'For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?... Purge the evil person from among you.' (13:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-------------| | God promises restoration in Jeremiah | 00:01–02:19 | | Vision of joy and God’s faithfulness | 03:39–05:14 | | The New Covenant passage | 07:33–08:15 | | Psalm 113 – Praise and compassion | 09:16–09:51 | | Paul: Stewards of God’s mysteries | 09:58–10:09 | | Paul on apostolic suffering | 11:11 | | Church discipline in 1 Corinthians 5 | 12:29–13:41 |

Tone and Style

The episode’s tone is reverent and meditative, reflecting both the gravity of God’s promises and the encouragement to lead lives marked by humility, grace, and holiness. The scripture is read plainly, with emphasis on both warning and hope—with Paul’s words especially striking a note of loving admonition.

Conclusion

This episode weaves together profound Old Testament promises of restoration and a new, inward covenant with a poetic psalm of praise, culminating in New Testament practical instructions for Christian living and church integrity. The selected passages call listeners to trust in God’s enduring faithfulness, praise Him continually, and maintain sincerity and holiness within the community of faith.