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

Episode: Day 242 – The Role of King Nebuchadnezzar
Date: August 30, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the mysterious and critical role of King Nebuchadnezzar in salvation history, as well as the prophetic periods surrounding Judah’s downfall and exile. Through readings from Jeremiah (chapters 26-27), Daniel (chapters 8-9), and Proverbs (16:9-12), Fr. Mike unpacks God’s sovereignty in history, the painful but purposeful use of foreign powers, the hope embedded in Daniel’s prophecies, and the importance of humility and trust in God’s leading.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jeremiah: Prophetic Unpopularity and Suffering

• Jeremiah Threatened with Death

  • Jeremiah delivers God’s message to a resistant Judah—warning them of destruction unless they repent (Jeremiah 26). The people, priests, and prophets want him dead; he’s only spared through the intervention of the princes and elders, who cite prophetic precedent (Micah before Hezekiah).
    • Quote: “It’s remarkable…what a gift that we have, this account of people defending Jeremiah. This might be one of the only times when you have someone defending the prophet Jeremiah…” (Fr. Mike, 13:14)

• Historical Whiplash

  • Fr. Mike explains the timeline jumps between different kings (from Jehoiakim to Zedekiah), highlighting the fluidity and cyclical nature of Judah’s leadership and crises.

• The Least Popular Prophecy: Surrender

  • Jeremiah, now in Zedekiah’s era (Jeremiah 27), delivers a deeply unpopular prophecy: that Judah should surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, because God himself is using Babylon as an instrument of purification.
    • Quote: “He’s calling the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar… The best thing you can do is to surrender to them. That would not be an incredibly popular thing. And yet that’s what Jeremiah says.” (Fr. Mike, 16:22)

2. God’s Use of Pagan Kings: Nebuchadnezzar as “My Servant”

• Recognition of God’s Sovereignty

  • Despite Nebuchadnezzar’s notorious cruelty and non-belief, God calls him “my servant” (Jeremiah 27:6). This doesn’t mean God approves of his evil but rather shows that God can use anyone—even villains—to further his plans.
    • Quote: “This is Nebuchadnezzar in the role of Judas here… this is not God’s follower... but God saying, I’m willing to use these people doing evil things… in order to get his people back…” (Fr. Mike, 15:41)

• Purposeful Suffering

  • The coming Babylonian exile is not random; it is for correction and will ultimately result in the restoration of God’s people.

3. Daniel: Apocalyptic Visions and Hope

• Vision of the Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8)

  • Daniel’s prophecy is interpreted (by Gabriel) as relating to the Medo-Persian and Greek Empires. The visions’ strange imagery encode historical realities while also pointing beyond them, prefiguring future events and rulers like Alexander the Great.
    • Quote: “So the ram with two horns... is the Medo-Persian Empire... the goat... is the Greek empire under Alexander the Great.” (Fr. Mike, 19:47)

• Significance of Prophetic Imagery

  • Prophecy is inherently mysterious and multi-layered, often communicating more than is immediately evident.
    • Quote: “It’s always shrouded in mystery and always shrouded in imagery because it almost always means something more than we just see on the surface…” (Fr. Mike, 20:39)

• Daniel’s Prayer and the 70 Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9)

  • Daniel confesses Israel’s sins and prays for mercy after realizing Jerusalem’s exile is foretold to last 70 years. Gabriel then outlines the prophecy of “seventy weeks,” anticipating not only the restoration but also the coming of an "Anointed One”—interpreted by many as Jesus Christ.
    • Quote: “There’s also this prophecy about almost 500 years after this, an Anointed One is going to come… Is that Jesus?... It is a prophecy of the Anointed One, not just an anointed one, but the one who would come and establish a kingdom without end.” (Fr. Mike, 22:31)

4. Proverbs: Divine Guidance and Righteousness

• Human Planning vs. God’s Guidance (Proverbs 16:9)
  • Plans originate with people, but God ultimately directs the outcome. Fr. Mike reflects on the humility required to accept God's guidance, linking it to the broader themes of surrender and trust.
    • Quote: “We plan our own ways, but you direct our steps. And when we belong to you, when we’re open to you, when we listen to you, when we obey your word… there’s almost nothing that can replace just humility before your voice…” (Fr. Mike, 11:21)

Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes

• On unpopular truth:

  • “That’s probably Jeremiah’s least popular prophecy. And it pains Jeremiah to have to say this because no one listens to him.” (Fr. Mike, 17:20)

• On God using unlikely agents:

  • “God is using them to punish us, to correct us, to heal us.” (Fr. Mike, 16:57)

• On the prophetic timeline:

  • “God actually gives a timeline at this point... and then the Anointed One is going to come.” (Fr. Mike, 21:48)

• Daniel’s unique contribution:

  • “Daniel has some incredible prophecies for Jesus, just like Isaiah had prophecies of the Anointed One…” (Fr. Mike, 23:14)

Timestamps of Major Segments

• 00:04 – Introduction, reading plan overview
• 02:30 – Jeremiah 26-27 readings (Jeremiah threatened, role of Nebuchadnezzar)
• 12:00 – Fr. Mike commentary: timeline and the defense of Jeremiah
• 15:30 – Discussion on Nebuchadnezzar as God’s instrument and the surrender prophecy
• 18:30 – Daniel 8-9 readings and commentary (ram/goat vision, 70 weeks prophecy)
• 21:45 – Interpretation of Daniel’s prophecies and their connection to Jesus
• 24:00 – Proverbs 16:9-12 reading and spiritual application
• 25:00 – Concluding prayer and encouragement

Tone and Approach

Fr. Mike uses a tone both pastoral and practical—sympathetic to the pain and confusion of living through God’s discipline, while constantly inviting listeners to humility, hope, and faith in God's wisdom. He balances historical explanation with spiritual exhortation, making Old Testament prophecy accessible and personally resonant.

Takeaways

• Even “villains” can be tools in God’s hands; His sovereignty is unmatched.
• Prophetic words can be deeply counter-cultural—but also necessary for healing and redemption.
• God’s guidance transcends human plans; surrender and humility are required.
• Daniel’s imagery and timelines instill both awe and hope, pointing to Christ.
• Trust in God’s ultimate good; exile and suffering may be stepping stones to restoration.

“My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” (Fr. Mike, 26:41)