The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 240: Remaining Humble
Date: August 28, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Scripture Readings:

• Jeremiah 23
• Daniel 4–5
• Proverbs 16:1–4

Episode Overview

In this milestone episode, Fr. Mike guides listeners through key biblical texts emphasizing humility before God, the dangers of false prophecy, and the importance of aligning our work and motives with the Lord. By focusing on Jeremiah’s denouncement of false prophets and the humbling of Babylonian kings in Daniel, Fr. Mike draws contemporary lessons about the enduring temptation of pride and the ongoing need to submit ourselves to God’s sovereignty. The episode closes with a reflection on letting God guide our ways, as expressed in Proverbs.

Key Insights & Discussion Points

1. Remaining Humble Before God (Jeremiah 23 & Daniel 4–5)

• Jeremiah’s Indictment of False Shepherds and Prophets (01:40–07:50):
  • God rebukes the leaders of Israel who have failed to properly guide His people:

    "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, says the Lord."

  • There’s a condemnation of prophets who prophesy from their own imaginations instead of truly speaking for God.
• The Importance of Speaking and Acting in God’s Name Appropriately:
  • Fr. Mike draws out (23:15):

    “These prophets are not prophesying what God has said. They're simply prophesying their own thing. And of course, that is not prophecy at all… that's simply them talking, not God talking.”

  • Using God’s name for personal or political ends is counted as taking the Lord’s name in vain.
• Personal Reflection:
  • Being cautious not to invoke God’s name for things He does not endorse; instead, surrender to God and let His word direct your life.

2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Humbling & Belshazzar’s Fall (Daniel 4–5)

• Narrative Summary (07:50–18:50):
  • Daniel 4:
    • Nebuchadnezzar’s pride leads to his downfall; his dream, interpreted by Daniel, foretells his coming humbling—a period when he behaves like a beast until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
    • After this period, Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity and kingship are restored when he recognizes God’s ultimate authority.

      “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right, and his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to abase.” (Daniel 4:37)

  • Daniel 5:
    • Belshazzar defiles the sacred vessels from the Temple for his feast, sees the mysterious handwriting on the wall (“Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin”), and Daniel interprets the message as God’s judgment:

      “God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end… you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

    • That very night, Belshazzar is killed and Darius the Mede takes over Babylon.
• Reflection on the Fall of Kings and Kingdoms:
  • Fr. Mike emphasizes the impermanence of worldly power:

    “Kingdoms coming and going, like nations rising and falling, kings being lifted up and kings being brought down is the way the world goes. … What we’re called to do is humble ourselves before the Lord, to serve the Lord our God, to love him with everything we are.”

  • Reminds listeners not to get swept up in news cycles or politics as the ultimate things but to keep fidelity to God’s enduring kingdom.

3. Establishing Our Plans in the Lord (Proverbs 16:1–4)

• Key Verse Personal Impact (20:05):
  • Fr. Mike shares a personal favorite and how it has shaped his life:

    “Chapter 16, verse 3 is one of those that I have had on a… bookmarker ever since I was a little kid. …‘Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.’ That has been before my eyes almost every day since I was maybe in second grade.”

  • He encourages listeners to dedicate everything to God, and not merely seek personal success.

4. Living in Community and Prayer (21:20–22:20)

• Unity in Christ:
  • Emphasizes the community aspect of the podcast journey:

    “We get to be united as a group of people, as a community of people… not only by your love for us, our love for you, your word, and also this bond of prayer that we lift each other up in prayer every single day.”

  • Reminds us of our shared identity as children of God, regardless of background.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On False Prophecy:
  • Fr. Mike (15:48):

    “Doing something in the name of God that actually is really, truly actually only done in my own name or in the name of someone else… I’ve maybe invoked God’s name upon this thing that I prefer. And that seems to be what’s happening here in chapter 23, where Jeremiah is pointing out. These prophets are not prophesying what God has said.”

• On Humility’s Purpose:
  • Fr. Mike (16:45):

    “King Nebuchadnezzar’s being humble before the Lord and then being taught by God. … He is humbled before the Lord. His power is taken away… even his reason is taken away so that he can realize that the Most High is truly God, that there’s someone even above Nebuchadnezzar.”

• On the Cycle of Human Power:
  • Fr. Mike (19:08):

    “People come and people go. Nations rise, nations fall. Kings come, kings go. And what we’re called to do is humble ourselves before the Lord…”

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 01:40 | Jeremiah 23 Reading (false shepherds, true prophets)| | 07:50 | Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and humbling | | 13:30 | Daniel 5: Belshazzar’s feast and handwriting on wall| | 18:50 | Reflection on pride, power, and history’s cycles | | 20:05 | Proverbs 16:1–4 and personal significance | | 21:20 | Community prayer and closing thoughts |

Episode Takeaways

• Humility is central to a life with God. Pride leads to downfall, whereas surrender leads to restoration and right relationship.
• Use God’s name with reverence. Do not invoke it for personal or political motives; speak truthfully as God guides.
• Entrust your plans to the Lord. Commit your works—daily, intentionally—to God, trusting that He will establish what is good.
• Stay attentive to the world, but center on God’s kingdom. Worldly powers will always rise and fall, but God’s reign endures.
• Value spiritual community and prayer. We are members of God’s family, journeying together and supporting each other.

Fr. Mike concludes:

“I am praying for you. Please pray for me. … God bless.” (22:20)