Podcast Summary

Podcast: Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry
Host: Crossway
Episode: October 9 (Isaiah 34–36; Psalm 92; Acts 16)
Date: October 9, 2025

Overview

In this episode, listeners journey through passages from Isaiah (chapters 34–36), Psalm 92, and Acts 16 as part of a daily Bible reading plan. The readings move from the severe judgment and coming restoration described in Isaiah, through the worship and encouragement of Psalm 92, to the dynamic missionary activity and dramatic events of Acts 16. Together, the selections blend themes of God’s justice, comfort, power, and salvation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Old Testament: Isaiah 34–36

• Judgment Against Nations (Isaiah 34):

  • God’s wrath and judgment are pronounced on all the nations, especially Edom. The language is vivid and apocalyptic, describing total devastation.
  • Notable imagery includes blood-soaked mountains, the sky rolling up "like a scroll," and desolation inhabited by wild creatures.
    • “For the Lord is enraged against all the nations and furious against all their host. … Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise.” (00:01)
    • “All the hosts of heaven shall rot away. And the skies roll up like a scroll...” (00:27)

• Promise of Restoration (Isaiah 35):

  • The tone shifts dramatically to one of hope and redemption.
  • The wilderness will become glad; healing and joy will come to God’s people. There’s a vision of a “highway… called the Way of Holiness” on which only the redeemed will walk.
    • “Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, be strong; fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance… he will come and save you.” (02:46)

• Assyrian Threat to Jerusalem (Isaiah 36):

  • The historical account of Assyria threatening Jerusalem under King Hezekiah.
  • The Assyrian envoy, Rabshakeh, taunts Jerusalem's leaders and rebukes their trust in God or Egypt for deliverance.
    • “On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust…?” (04:23)
    • Rabshakeh delivers threats publicly to demoralize both leaders and people (05:14), trying to sway their loyalty.

Psalm 92

• A Psalm of Thanksgiving and Praise:
  • The psalm expresses joy at God’s faithfulness and the flourishing of the righteous.
    • “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High, to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.” (07:21)
  • A contrast is drawn between the fleeting success of the wicked and the enduring, fruitful lives of the righteous, who “still bear fruit in old age.”

New Testament: Acts 16

• Paul and Timothy's Missionary Work:

  • Timothy joins Paul’s missionary team after being circumcised to avoid conflict with Jewish believers (08:35).
  • The team is “forbidden by the Holy Spirit” to preach in Asia, indicating God’s direct leading (08:55).

• The Macedonian Call:

  • Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian man asking for help (09:20), leading to the gospel’s spread into Europe.
    • “A man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’” (09:28)

• Lydia’s Conversion:

  • In Philippi, Lydia, a businesswoman and God-fearer, listens to Paul, and the “Lord opened her heart” to believe and be baptized—showcasing divine initiative in salvation (09:52).

• Deliverance and Persecution:

  • Paul casts out a spirit from a slave girl, leading to conflict with her owners and subsequent imprisonment of Paul and Silas (10:44).
    • “Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.” (10:44)

• Praise in Prison and the Jailer’s Salvation:

  • While imprisoned, Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns; an earthquake opens the prison doors (11:24).
  • The jailer, desperate and on the verge of suicide, is saved when Paul reassures him. He asks, “What must I do to be saved?” and receives the gospel.
    • “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (12:11)
  • The jailer and his household believe and are baptized, and the episode ends with their rejoicing.

• Civil Justice for Paul and Silas:

  • After their release, Paul insists that the magistrates publicly acknowledge their wrongdoing (as Paul and Silas are Roman citizens) (12:50).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Judgment Imagery in Isaiah:
  “All the hosts of heaven shall rot away. And the skies roll up like a scroll.” (00:27), emphasizing the cosmic scope of judgment.

• Encouragement for the Anxious:
  “Say to those who have an anxious heart, be strong; fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance…he will come and save you.” (02:46)
  A word of hope after severe pronouncements of judgment.

• Divine Initiative in Salvation:
  “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” (09:52) – Lydia’s conversion is directly attributed to God’s action.

• Simple Gospel Invitation:
  “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? … ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” (12:08–12:11)
  A succinct, classic affirmation of faith.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Isaiah’s Judgment and Restoration (Isaiah 34–35): 00:01–03:18
• Assyrian Threats and Hezekiah’s Response (Isaiah 36): 03:19–07:21
• Thanksgiving and Righteousness in Psalm 92: 07:21–08:32
• Paul’s Macedonian Call and Lydia’s Conversion (Acts 16): 08:35–10:44
• Deliverance, Imprisonment, and the Jailer’s Conversion (Acts 16): 10:44–12:33

Conclusion

This episode takes listeners from the sternest warnings of judgment to bright visions of God’s redemptive promises and the spread of early Christianity. The readings are punctuated by powerful proclamations (“Be strong; fear not.”), heroic acts of faith (Paul and Silas in prison), and God’s surprising interventions (Lydia’s conversion, the jailer’s rescue). The tone moves from solemn to triumphant, echoing the movement of the biblical narrative itself.