logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
6m 39s

December 26: Psalm 28; Psalm 30; Psalm 1...

CROSSWAY
About this episode

Christmas

First Psalm: Psalm 28; Psalm 30

Psalm 28 (Listen)

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

28   To you, O LORD, I call;
    my rock, be not deaf to me,
  lest, if you be silent to me,
    I become like those who go down to the pit.
  Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
  when I lift up my hands
    toward your most holy sanctuary.1
  Do not drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
  who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
  Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
  give to them according to the work of their hands;
    render them their due reward.
  Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
    or the work of his hands,
  he will tear them down and build them up no more.
  Blessed be the LORD!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
  The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
  my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.
  The LORD is the strength of his people;2
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
  Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Footnotes

[1] 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
[2] 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

(ESV)

Psalm 30 (Listen)

Joy Comes with the Morning

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

30   I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
  O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
  O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.1
  Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.2
  For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.3
  Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.
  As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
  By your favor, O LORD,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
  you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.
  To you, O LORD, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
  “What profit is there in my death,4
    if I go down to the pit?5
  Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10   Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
    O LORD, be my helper!”
11   You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12   that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Footnotes

[1] 30:3 Or to life, that I should not go down to the pit
[2] 30:4 Hebrew to the memorial of his holiness (see Exodus 3:15)
[3] 30:5 Or and in his favor is life
[4] 30:9 Hebrew in my blood
[5] 30:9 Or to corruption

(ESV)

Second Psalm: Psalm 118

Psalm 118 (Listen)

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!
  Let Israel say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
  Let the house of Aaron say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
  Let those who fear the LORD say,
    “His steadfast love endures forever.”
  Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
    the LORD answered me and set me free.
  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
    What can man do to me?
  The LORD is on my side as my helper;
    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
  It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in man.
  It is better to take refuge in the LORD
    than to trust in princes.
10   All nations surrounded me;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11   They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12   They surrounded me like bees;
    they went out like a fire among thorns;
    in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13   I was pushed hard,1 so that I was falling,
    but the LORD helped me.
14   The LORD is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
15   Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
  “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16     the right hand of the LORD exalts,
    the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”
17   I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18   The LORD has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
19   Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD.
20   This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
21   I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22   The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.2
23   This is the LORD’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24   This is the day that the LORD has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25   Save us, we pray, O LORD!
    O LORD, we pray, give us success!
26   Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27   The LORD is God,
    and he has made his light to shine upon us.
  Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to the horns of the altar!
28   You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
29   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!

Footnotes

[1] 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
[2] 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner

(ESV)

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 24:17–22

2 Chronicles 24:17–22 (Listen)

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.

Joash’s Treachery

20 Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the LORD see and avenge!”1

Footnotes

[1] 24:22 Or and require it

(ESV)

Old Testament: Wisdom 4:7-15

New Testament: Acts 6:1–7

Acts 6:1–7 (Listen)

Seven Chosen to Serve

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists1 arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers,2 pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Footnotes

[1] 6:1 That is, Greek-speaking Jews
[2] 6:3 Or brothers and sisters

(ESV)

New Testament: Acts 7:59–8:8

Acts 7:59–8:8 (Listen)

59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Saul Ravages the Church

And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city1 of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

Footnotes

[1] 8:5 Some manuscripts a city

(ESV)

Up next
Jan 2024
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks for listening to this ESV podcast from Crossway. As of today, we have discontinued this show, but are excited to announce the launch of a number of new Bible podcasts that are now available. To learn more, visit crossway.org/ESVpodcasts. 
19s
Dec 2023
December 31: Psalm 93; Psalm 96; Psalm 34; 1 Samuel 1:1–2; 1 Samuel 1:7–28; Colossians 1:9–20; Luke 2:22–40
Christmas (First Sunday after Christmas) First Psalm: Psalm 93; Psalm 96 Psalm 93 (Listen) The Lord Reigns 93   The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;     the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.   Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2   Your t ... Show More
11m 43s
Dec 2023
December 30: Psalms 20–21; Psalm 23; Psalm 27; 1 Kings 17:17–24; 3 John; John 4:46–54
Christmas First Psalm: Psalms 20–21 Psalms 20–21 (Listen) Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 20   May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!     May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! 2   May he send you help from the sanctuary ... Show More
9m 20s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
June 29 - God’s Unbreakable Promises
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Jeremiah 33:14–26. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Paul R. House. Fo ... Show More
6m 24s
Apr 2024
April 27 - No Fear
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Psalm 46. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Douglas Sean O’Donnell. Fo ... Show More
5m 7s
Jun 2024
June 4 - The Death of Death
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Isaiah 25:6–12. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Dane C. Ortlund. Fol ... Show More
5m 18s
Jun 2024
June 13 - The Scandal of Substitution
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Isaiah 53. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Dane C. Ortlund. Follow u ... Show More
6m 36s
May 2024
May 2 - When God Seems Far Away
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Psalm 88. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Mike Bullmore. Follow us o ... Show More
6m 16s
Jun 2024
June 3 - Mercy to Every Corner of the World
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Isaiah 19:16–25. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Dane C. Ortlund. Fo ... Show More
5m 34s
Dec 2024
December 6 - A Promise You Can Count On
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is Hebrews 6:13–20. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. Browse other resources from Tom Nelson. Follow ... Show More
5m 9s
Mar 2025
March 28 - Perfect Forgiveness
We hope you enjoy today’s Scripture reading and devotional aimed at equipping you for moral and spiritual transformation. Today’s Bible reading is 2 Chronicles 6:1–7:3. To read along with the podcast, grab a print copy of the devotional. ESV Bible narration read by Graeme Goldswo ... Show More
13m 33s