Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode: September 15 — Proverbs 19–20; Psalm 70; John 12
Host: Crossway | Date: September 15, 2025

Overview

This episode continues the journey through the ESV Bible in a year, featuring readings from Proverbs, Psalms, and the Gospel according to John. The central theme is integrity, wisdom, and the significance of recognizing Jesus as the promised Messiah. Listeners hear a range of spiritual insights: practical proverbs for daily living, a heartfelt Psalm of urgent petition, and the dramatic events leading up to Christ’s crucifixion in John 12.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Proverbs 19–20: Wisdom, Integrity, and God’s Sovereignty

[00:01 – 04:30]

• Integrity and Wisdom:
  Emphasis on the value of integrity above wealth:
  • “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” (00:01)
• Consequences of Foolishness and Deceit:
  • False witnesses will not escape punishment; lying leads to ruin.
• Generosity and Relationships:
  • “Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.” (00:03)
  • The importance of generosity and the Lord’s concern for the poor.
• Discipline and Advice:
  • Calls for accepting instruction and learning from wise counsel, as God’s purposes prevail over our own plans:
    • “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (00:07)
• Justice and Authority:
  • Reflection on justice, the role of kings, use of fair measures, and warnings against strife, sloth, dishonesty.
  • Strong condemnation of injustice:
    • “Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” (00:15)
• Self-control and Speech:
  • The glory of overlooking an offense, the danger of rash vows, and the value of measured words.

Psalm 70: A Short Plea for Help

[04:31 – 05:15]

• Urgent Petition:
  • David urgently calls out for deliverance:
    • “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” (04:31)
• Dependence on God:
  • Expression of both deep need (“I am poor and needy”) and trust (“You are my help and my deliverer”).
• Praise and Joy:
  • “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’” (05:10)

John 12: Anointing, Triumphal Entry, and Jesus’ Last Public Teachings

[05:16 – 15:30+]

• Mary Anoints Jesus:

  • Mary honors Jesus sacrificially, foreshadowing his burial:
    • “Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment… and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (05:20)
  • Judas objects under false pretenses, revealing his duplicity:
    • “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” —Judas (05:40)
    • “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief…” (05:45)
  • Jesus’ response:
    • “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” (06:00)

• Plot Against Lazarus:

  • The chief priests plan to kill Lazarus because his story draws people to Jesus. (06:25)

• Triumphal Entry:

  • Jesus enters Jerusalem to great acclaim:
    • “‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (06:45)
  • Jesus fulfills prophecy by riding a donkey:
    • “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” (07:00)
  • The disciples only understand these events’ meaning after Jesus’ glorification (07:10).

• Rising Opposition:

  • The Pharisees lament their inability to stop Jesus:
    • “‘Look, the world has gone after him.’” (07:20)

• Jesus Speaks About His Death:

  • Announcement of his glorification:
    • “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (07:30)
  • The parable of the grain of wheat:
    • “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (07:40)
  • Call to sacrificial living and following him:
    • “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (07:50)

• Father’s Voice From Heaven:

  • Jesus prays, then a divine voice affirms his mission:
    • “‘Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’” (08:10)
  • The crowd is confused, some think it thundered, others believe an angel spoke. (08:15)

• Jesus Explains His Mission:

  • “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” (08:30)
  • Foretells his crucifixion:
    • “When I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all people to myself.” (08:40)

• The Urgency of Belief:

  • Exhortation to believe while the Light is present:
    • “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (09:15)
  • Many still do not believe, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (09:45)
  • Some authorities believe but remain secretive because of fear of losing status:
    • “For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” (10:00)

• Final Public Appeal:

  • Jesus openly declares the Father’s authority in his mission:
    • “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.” (10:15)
    • “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (10:20)
  • His words will judge on the last day, for they are what the Father commanded him to speak (10:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” (Proverbs 19:1, 00:01)
• “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21, 00:07)
• “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!” (Psalm 70:1, 04:31)
• “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” (Jesus, John 12:7-8, 06:00)
• “‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (John 12:13, 06:45)
• “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jesus, John 12:24, 07:40)
• “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (Jesus, John 12:36, 09:15)
• “They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” (John 12:43, 10:00)
• “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (Jesus, John 12:46, 10:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 — Proverbs 19–20 reading: integrity, wisdom, justice, self-control
• 04:31 — Psalm 70 reading: urgent prayer, dependence on God
• 05:16 — John 12 reading: Mary’s anointing, plot against Lazarus, triumphal entry
• 07:30 — Jesus predicts his death, calls for sacrificial following
• 08:10 — God’s voice from heaven, Jesus’ mission
• 09:15 — Exhortation to believe in the light
• 10:15 — Jesus’ final appeal and declaration of the Father’s authority

Conclusion

This episode delivers a rich blend of biblical wisdom and gospel truth. Proverbs offers pointed, practical guidance for character and relationships. Psalm 70 models honest prayer in crisis. John 12 powerfully narrates the days leading to Easter, highlighting Jesus’ identity, his sacrificial mission, and the significance of responding to him while there is still time. The episode calls listeners to value integrity and wisdom, seek the Lord’s deliverance, and trust in Jesus as the Light of the world.