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

Episode: Day 250: Final Wave of Exile
Date: September 7, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz, Ascension

Episode Overview

On Day 250, Fr. Mike guides listeners through the traumatic climax of Judah’s history—the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon (Jeremiah 39-40), Judith’s cunning infiltration of the enemy camp (Judith 10-11), and pithy lessons from Proverbs (17:9-12). The tone is reflective, somber, and pastoral as Fr. Mike meditates on the consequences of persistent disobedience, the necessity of trust in God through exile and hardship, the importance of wise speech, and the courageous faith demonstrated by unlikely figures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fall of Jerusalem and Final Wave of Exile

Text: Jeremiah 39-40

• Backdrop: Nebuchadnezzar’s army besieges Jerusalem after years of prophetic warnings from Jeremiah.
• Zedekiah’s Fate: King Zedekiah flees, is captured, witnesses the death of his sons, and is blinded—taken in chains to Babylon.
  • Fr. Mike describes the moment as “brutal,” emblematic of the violence and harsh realities of ancient times.
  • Quote: "Nebuchadnezzar kills Zedekiah's sons right in front of his eyes... and then Nebuchadnezzar gouges out the eyes of Zedekiah so the last thing he sees is the death of his sons." (23:55)
• Complete Destruction: Homes and city walls are razed; the majority are exiled, with only the poor left to tend the land (39:10).
• Treatment of Jeremiah: Recognizing his consistent message, the Babylonians free Jeremiah, offering him a choice to go to Babylon with privileges or remain with the remnant in Judah.
  • Trust in God: Jeremiah chooses to stay, exemplifying a life of trust in God amidst catastrophe.

2. Redemption for the Trusting: Ebedmelech

• Character Focus: Ebedmelech, the Ethiopian eunuch who once rescued Jeremiah, receives God’s promise of protection—not for status or might, but for his trust.
  • Quote: "I will surely save you... because you have put your trust in me, says the Lord." (27:02)
• Application: Fr. Mike emphasizes the universal call to trust in God, regardless of background or perceived worthiness.

3. Leadership and Rebellion: Gedaliah and the Fragmented Remnant

• Gedaliah's Appointment: Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah governor over those left in Judah; a fragile peace among traumatized survivors and resistance bands (40:7-10).
• Ishmael’s Plot: Hints of new intrigue emerge as Ishmael, a resistance leader, is accused of plotting to kill Gedaliah (40:13-16). Gedaliah’s refusal to heed warnings foreshadows further conflict.

4. Courage and Craft in the Book of Judith

Text: Judith 10-11

• Judith's Preparation: After mourning and prayer, Judith adorns herself to infiltrate the enemy camp. Her beauty and composure stun all who see her—both foes and her own people.
  • Community’s Hope: Elders bless and encourage her, seeing her mission as divinely inspired (Judith 10).
• Deception as Strategy: Judith passes herself off as a defector, convincing Holofernes that the Israelites are doomed for breaking God’s law under siege.
  • Quote: "[Judith]...convinces Holofernes that, listen, God will fight for us... But soon... the people of my city, Bethuliah, they're not going to give the firstfruits to the Lord. They're going to eat the firstfruits themselves. And then you'll know that the Lord God will not fight for them anymore." (42:20)
• Holofernes’ Response: He and his men are enthralled by her wisdom and beauty, setting the stage for her bold plan.

5. Proverbs: Wisdom in Speech and Correction

Text: Proverbs 17:9-12

• Key Verses:
  • "He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend." (17:9)
  • "A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool." (17:10)
• Reflection: Fr. Mike reflects on forgiveness, the dangers of gossip, and how truly wise people respond to correction, linking it to Israel’s refusal to heed warnings.
  • Quote: “Some things don't need to be said. Some things don't need to be repeated. In fact, some words can actually destroy relationships.” (32:50)
  • Israel's catastrophe becomes a living parable: the rebuke of the prophets went unheeded, so harsh consequences followed.

6. Personal and Pastoral Reflections

• On Trusting God:
  • “God says, I'm going to deliver you... because you put your trust in me. And there's something so, so powerful that we just need to interiorize...” (27:37)
• On Our Role in Salvation History:
  • Listeners are encouraged to see parallels with their own lives: “Even when I don't understand it... to be able to say, 'Thy will be done.'”
• Looking Ahead:
  • Fr. Mike previews the upcoming readings from Lamentations, which will deepen the sense of loss and hope in exile.
  • "In Lamentations, Jeremiah gives us this incredibly tragic picture of here's what life was like during that siege." (48:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Brutality in the Bible:
  “As we've been journeying through the Bible like this, we recognize that the Bible stories are incredibly violent. The people are incredibly brutal. They're living in brutal times.” (24:37)

• On True Security:
  “It's not because Ebedmelech was a great hero… but because you have put your trust in me, says the Lord. This is so critical for every one of us.” (27:12)

• On the Power and Danger of Speech:
  “Some things don't need to be said. Some things don't need to be repeated. In fact, some words can actually destroy relationships.” (32:50)

• Relating Proverbs to Israel’s Downfall:
  “A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool… here we're reading Jeremiah... There's a hundred blows upon those who would not listen.” (33:12)

• Humorous Aside:
  On Babylonian names: “Some fun names like Nergal, Scherezar, which reminds me of Pokemon…” (22:40)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [02:08] - Reading outline (Jeremiah 39, 40; Judith 10, 11; Proverbs 17:9-12)
• [05:45] - Fall of Jerusalem described (Jeremiah 39)
• [09:30] - Fate of Zedekiah and destruction of Jerusalem
• [15:50] - Jeremiah's liberation and choice offered by Babylonian captain
• [21:20] - God’s promise to Ebedmelech and reflection on trust
• [28:00] - Gedaliah’s appointment and Israel’s remnant
• [35:30] - Ishmael's conspiracy discussion
• [38:00] - Judith’s preparations and entrance into the enemy camp
• [41:00] - Judith’s eloquence before Holofernes; deception as a divine tactic
• [44:40] - Reflection on Proverbs 17:9-12 and guarding one’s speech
• [47:15] - Application to Israel’s fate; preview of Lamentations
• [50:00] - Final prayers and encouragement

Conclusion

Day 250 stands as a pivotal juncture in the Bible’s narrative— not just in historical loss and physical exile, but in lessons of trust, humility, and the power of wise living amidst catastrophe. Fr. Mike weaves ancient tragedy, prophetic wisdom, and pastoral encouragement, reminding listeners that God’s promises hold for all who trust Him, and every person has a place in the ongoing story of salvation, even amid personal or communal exile.

Listeners are left both sobered and inspired:
“Today I am praying for you, and please pray for me. My name is Father Mike, and I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.” (52:20)