September 4 (Job 39–40; Psalm 61; John 1)

Summary

Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry

Episode: September 4 (Job 39–40; Psalm 61; John 1)
Release Date: September 4, 2025

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Overview: Main Theme and Purpose

This episode features scriptural readings from Job 39–40, Psalm 61, and John 1, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the majesty and mystery of God’s creation, the humility of humanity before God, prayers for refuge, and the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Word made flesh. The episode continues the podcast’s core purpose: daily listening through the ESV Bible to foster spiritual growth and scriptural literacy.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Job 39–40 – The Wisdom, Power, and Sovereignty of God

[00:00–04:27]

• God’s Questions to Job:
  The reading opens with God questioning Job, emphasizing the Creator’s authority over all aspects of creation:

  • Birth and life cycle of animals: mountain goats, wild donkeys, oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks, and eagles.
  • Demonstrates the limitations of human knowledge vs. the vastness of God’s understanding.

• Humbling Response of Job:
  Job realizes his smallness before God’s greatness.

  • Job’s confession:

    “Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Narrator, [02:27])

• God’s Challenge Continues:
  The Lord questions Job again, underscoring that only God can judge and control all things:

  • Adorning oneself with majesty, bringing down the proud, saving oneself—impossible tasks for any human being.
  • The “Behemoth” is depicted as the foremost of God’s creations, beyond human mastery.

• Notable Quote:

  “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me, that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God? And can you thunder with a voice like his?” (Narrator, [02:44])

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2. Psalm 61 – A Prayer for Refuge and Endurance

[04:27–05:11]

• David’s Cry for Help:

  • The psalmist pleads for God’s attention and refuge:

    “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalmist, [04:27–04:33])

  • Emphasizes God's role as a shelter, strong tower, and eternal home.

• A King’s Endurance and Praise:

  • Prayers for the king’s enduring reign and God's steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him.
  • Commitment to ongoing praise:

    “So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day.” (Psalmist, [05:05–05:07])

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3. John 1 – The Word Became Flesh

[05:11–End]

• Cosmic Prologue:

  • The reading proclaims Jesus as the eternal Word, coexistent with God, and Creator of all things:

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made through him… In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John the Evangelist, [05:14–05:20])

  • The Word becomes flesh—Jesus “dwelt among us… full of grace and truth.”

• John the Baptist’s Testimony:

  • John explicitly denies being the Christ, Elijah, or a prophet, but claims the role:

    “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’” (John the Evangelist, [06:16])

  • He points to Jesus as:

    “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John the Evangelist, [07:48])

• Jesus Gathers First Disciples:

  • John’s disciples follow Jesus, and he responds:

    “What are you seeking?” … “Come and you will see.” (Jesus, [08:35])

  • Simon renamed “Cephas” (Peter), calling of Philip and Nathanael.
  • Nathanael’s encounter:

    “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.” (Nathanael, [09:55])

  • Jesus promises greater revelation:

    “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (Jesus, [10:20])

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• God’s Majesty Embodied:

  “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?” (Narrator/Reader, [01:45])

• Profound Humility:

  “I lay my hand on my mouth… I will proceed no further.” (Job, [02:27])

• Christ’s Identity Proclaimed:

  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory…” (Narrator/John the Evangelist, [06:00])

• John the Baptist’s Witness:

  “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit… this is the Son of God.” (John the Evangelist, [08:28])

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Job: God’s Questions and Job’s Humility
  [00:00–04:27]

• Psalm: Prayer and Refuge
  [04:27–05:11]

• John 1: The Word and Testimonies
  [05:11–End]

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Tone and Language

The tone of the episode is reverent, direct, and meditative, aligning with the scriptural recitation style. The cadence is slow and contemplative, allowing listeners to absorb the profound theological truths and the awe-inspiring nature of God’s character.

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Summary

This episode draws together themes of divine sovereignty and creative power (Job), human dependence and praise (Psalm), and the arrival of God’s Word in human form (John). The readings compel listeners to humility before God’s grandeur, gratitude for his sheltering love, and worship of Jesus as the incarnate Son who reveals God in flesh.

Transcript

[Narrator/Reader]

A reading from the Book of Job. Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill? And do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open. They go out and do not return to them. Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey to whom I have given the arid plain for his home and the salt land for his dwelling place? He scorns the tumult of the city. He hears not the shouts of the driver. He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing. Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger? Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, or will he harrow the valleys after you? Will you depend on him because his strength is great?

[Interjector/Assistant]

And.

[Narrator/Reader]

And will you leave to him your labor? Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor? The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. She deals cruelly with her young as if they were not hers. Though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider. Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exalts in his strength. He goes out to meet the weapons.

[John the Evangelist]

He laughs at fear and is not dismayed.

[Interjector/Assistant]

He.

[Narrator/Reader]

He does not turn back from the sword upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear and the javelin. With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground. He cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says, aha. He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains and the shouting. Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and. And makes his nest on high on the rock? He dwells and makes his home on the rocky crag and stronghold. From there he spies out the prey. His eyes behold it from far away. His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he. And the Lord said to Job, shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord and said, behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once and I will not answer twice. But I will proceed no further. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, dress for action like a man. I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me, that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God? And can you thunder with a voice like his? Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity. Clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low. And tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together. Bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. Behold, behemoth, which I made as I made you. He eats grass like an ox. Behold his strength in his loins and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together, his bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. He is the first of the works of God. Let him who made him bring near his sword for the mountains yield food for him. Where all the wild beasts play under the lotus plants he lies in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh for his shade. The lotus trees cover him, the willows of the brooks surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent, he is not frightened, he is confident. Though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes or pierce his nose with a snare? A reading from the Book of Psalms to the choirmaster with stringed instruments of David.

[Psalmist/Prayer Leader]

Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my prayer.

[Narrator/Reader]

From the end of the earth I.

[Psalmist/Prayer Leader]

Call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever. Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah, for you, O God, have heard my vows.

[John the Evangelist]

You have given me the heritage of.

[Psalmist/Prayer Leader]

Those who fear your name. Prolong the life of the king. May his years endure to all generations. May he be enthroned forever before God. Appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him.

[John the Evangelist]

So will I ever sing praises to.

[Psalmist/Prayer Leader]

Your name as I perform my vows day after day.

[Narrator/Reader]

A reading from the Gospel According to John.

[John the Evangelist]

In the beginning was the Word, and.

[Narrator/Reader]

The Word was with God.

[John the Evangelist]

And the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. And without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but but came to bear witness about the light, the true light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen his glory. Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness about him and cried out. This was he of whom I said, he who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me. For from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

[Narrator/Reader]

For the law was given through Moses.

[John the Evangelist]

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. God, the only Son who is at the Father's side. He has made him known. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who are you? He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, what then are you, Elijah? He said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And he answered, no. So they said to him, who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord. As the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, then why are you baptizing? If you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet John answered them, I baptize with water. But among you stands one you do not know even he who comes after me. The strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. These things took place in Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day, he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, behold the Lamb.

[Narrator/Reader]

Of God who takes away the sin of the world.

[John the Evangelist]

This is he of whom I said, after me comes a man who ranks before me. Because he was before me. I myself did not know him. But for this purpose I came baptizing with water that he might be revealed to Israel. And John bore witness. I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, he on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. The next day, again, John was standing with two of his disciples. And he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, behold the Lamb of God. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, what are you seeking? And they said to him, rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? He said to them, come and you will see. So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. For it was about the 10th hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon, Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, we have found the Messiah, which means Christ. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, you are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter. The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, follow me. Now, Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, we have found him of whom Moses and the law and also the prophets wrote. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, behold, an Israelite indeed in whom there is no deceit. Nathanael said to him, how do you know me? Jesus answered him, before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered him, rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the king of Israel. Jesus answered him, because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree. Do you believe you will see greater things than these? And he said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you. You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.