Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry
Episode: September 10 (Proverbs 9–10; Psalm 67; John 7)
Host: Crossway | Date: September 10, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode continues the daily readings format, bringing together passages from Proverbs, Psalms, and the Gospel of John. The focus today is on the contrast between wisdom and folly, the blessings of God upon all nations, and a pivotal moment in Jesus’s public ministry during the Feast of Booths. The episode invites reflection on the necessity of discernment, the universal call to praise, and the tension between earthly judgment and divine understanding.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Proverbs 9–10: The Way of Wisdom vs. The Way of Folly
[00:01–05:40]
- Two Invitations: Proverbs 9 presents two competing calls: Wisdom, who offers insight and life (“Walk in the way of insight” [00:01]), and Folly, who seduces with empty promises (“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” [00:03]).
- Characteristics of Wisdom:
- Wisdom builds, mentors, nourishes, and multiplies days: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” [00:02]
- Correction is valued by the wise; “Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” [00:02]
- Outcomes of Folly:
- Folly is loud, empty, and ultimately deadly: “But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” [00:03]
- Proverbs 10 Quick Strikes:
- Repeated contrasts between righteousness and wickedness: righteous living leads to life and blessing, while foolish and wicked choices bring sorrow and ruin (“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” [00:04])
- The power of words, diligence, and integrity are spotlighted with memorable lines:
- “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” [00:04]
- “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” [00:05]
2. Psalm 67: A Universal Prayer for God’s Blessing
[05:41–07:05]
- Calling on God’s Favor: The psalmist prays for God’s grace and blessing to shine upon Israel so “that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.” [05:43]
- All Nations in Praise: The song broadens from Israel to embrace the whole world: “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.” [06:00]
- Universal Justice and Guidance: God is depicted as a fair judge and guide for all people, “For you judge the peoples with equity, and guide the nations upon earth.” [06:10]
- Vision of Harvest and Reverence: The blessings of God yield earthly abundance, concluding with awe before God: “God shall bless us. Let all the ends of the earth fear him.” [07:01]
3. John 7: Jesus at the Feast of Booths—Confusion, Division, and the Promise of Living Water
[07:06–End]
- Backdrop of Danger and Unbelief:
- Jesus remains in Galilee because the Jewish leaders want to kill him, illustrating rising opposition (“He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.” [07:08]).
- Even his brothers doubt his mission: “For not even his brothers believed in him.” [07:17]
- Public and Private Appearances:
- Urged by his brothers to reveal himself, Jesus refuses initial public display (“My time has not yet come. But your time is always here.” [07:25])
- Goes to the feast in private, revealing calculated wisdom amid danger.
- Tensions and Confusion at the Feast:
- Mixed opinions about Jesus swirl—admiration, skepticism, fear (“He is a good man,” vs. “he is leading the people astray.” [07:45])
- When Jesus teaches in the temple, astonishment follows:
- “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” [07:55]
- Central Teaching:
- Jesus emphasizes his authority comes from God, not himself:
- “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” [08:05]
- “The one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” [08:09]
- Exposes hypocrisy among the leaders: “Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law.” [08:11]
- Jesus emphasizes his authority comes from God, not himself:
- Promise of Living Water:
- During the climax of the feast, Jesus offers spiritual satisfaction:
- “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” [08:49]
- John notes this promise points to the Holy Spirit, who would be given after Jesus’s glorification.
- During the climax of the feast, Jesus offers spiritual satisfaction:
- Conflict and Division:
- The crowd is sharply divided over Jesus’s identity (“This really is the prophet.” “This is the Christ.” “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?” [09:02])
- Authorities send officers to arrest Jesus. The officers, awestruck, return empty-handed, saying: “No one ever spoke like this man.” [09:27]
- Nicodemus, with cautious courage, advocates due process:
- “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” [09:41]
- He faces dismissal and derision: “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” [09:43]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Proverbs:
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” [00:02]
- “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” [00:04]
- Psalm:
- “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.” [05:42]
- “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.” [06:00]
- John:
- Jesus: “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” [08:05]
- Jesus: “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” [08:24]
- Jesus: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me... out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” [08:49]
- Temple officers: “No one ever spoke like this man.” [09:27]
- Nicodemus: “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” [09:41]
Episode Structure & Time Stamps
- Proverbs 9–10 (Wisdom & Folly, Righteousness & Wickedness): [00:01–05:40]
- Psalm 67 (Prayer for Universal Blessing): [05:41–07:05]
- John 7 (Jesus at the Feast: Controversy, Division, Living Water): [07:06–End (~09:49)]
Takeaway Themes
- The clear distinction and results of wisdom versus folly in daily life.
- God’s intention that blessing and praise extend to all nations.
- Jesus as the bringer of true spiritual life, inviting all who are spiritually thirsty to come to him.
- The controversy and confusion—both then and now—that can arise from encountering Jesus’s claims.
This well-paced episode weaves together ancient wisdom, heartfelt worship, and the challenging presence of Jesus, providing listeners with both comfort and conviction.