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

Episode: Day 48 – God's Presence (2026)

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)

Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike leads listeners through Exodus 33–34, Leviticus 24, and Psalm 80, focusing on the theme of God's presence among His people. The readings highlight crucial moments: God's threat to withdraw His presence due to Israel's stiff-necked rebellion, Moses' intimate mediation on behalf of Israel, the renewal of the covenant on new tablets, and laws emphasizing distinctiveness and holiness. Fr. Mike reflects on what sets God’s people apart and issues a heartfelt call to live distinctly because of God’s abiding presence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Encouragement for Consistency on the Journey

• Fr. Mike opens with practical motivation about staying consistent in Bible reading, even if you’ve missed days.
  • “Don’t let that derail you... The hardest day to read your Bible is the day after the day you don’t read your Bible… Failure is quitting. And you haven’t quit yet. You’re on day 48, for crying out loud.” (00:04–01:56)

2. Exodus 33–34: God’s Presence and Moses, the Mediator

A. God’s Conditional Presence

• God instructs Moses to move on from Sinai, promising an angel will drive out their enemies, but warns,
  • “I will not go up among you, lest I consume you in the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
• The people are mournful at God’s threatened absence; they strip off ornaments in repentance.

B. The Tent of Meeting and Intimacy with God

• Moses establishes the Tent of Meeting outside the camp:

  • “Whenever Moses went out to the tent… the pillar of cloud would descend… and the Lord would speak with Moses. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11)

• Joshua, Moses’ servant, remains at the tent, signifying attentive devotion.

C. Moses’ Profound Intercession

• Moses pleads:

  • “If your presence will not go with me, do not carry us up from here.”
  • He asserts that it is God's presence that distinguishes Israel:
    • “For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight… Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct… from all other people…?” (Exodus 33:16)

• God relents:

  • “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

• Moses asks to see God's glory; God reveals His goodness but shields Moses from a direct vision of His face.

D. Renewal of the Covenant

• God commands Moses to carve new tablets after the first were broken.
• God proclaims His character:
  • “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6)
• God renews His covenant, highlighting commands for exclusive worship, destruction of pagan idols/altars, observing feasts, and Sabbath rest.

E. Moses’ Shining Face

• After communion with God, Moses’ face shines with reflected glory, frightening the Israelites. He veils his face when addressing them, uncovering it only when he speaks to God (34:29–35).

3. Leviticus 24: Holiness Practices and Justice

- The Lamps and Bread

• God commands that the lamps in the tabernacle burn perpetually and that twelve loaves, representing the tribes of Israel, be set before Him weekly with frankincense.

- Blasphemy and Retributive Justice

• A man blasphemes and is stoned after God's judgment:

  • “Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin… Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall be put to death.”

• Law of Lex Talionis (“eye for eye, tooth for tooth”): a principle ensuring justice and equality before the law.

• “You shall have one law for the sojourner and for the native; for I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 24:22)

4. Psalm 80: Plea for Restoration

• A communal lament, pleading for God’s intervention after Israel’s suffering and humiliation:
  • “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” (Repeated refrain)
• Imagery of Israel as a vine brought out of Egypt, now ravaged, asking God to look down and renew them.

Fr. Mike’s Reflection & Commentary

Theme: What Makes God’s People Distinct?

• Fr. Mike focuses deeply on the idea that God’s presence is what marks Israel as distinct—not their goodness, not their abilities.

  • “What makes the people of Israel distinct? … God was present with them in a unique way… The unique way is the covenant.” (16:55)

• Powerful quote [attributed to Jeff Cavins]:

  • “If we are not distinct, we will be extinct.” (17:19)
  • Fr. Mike repeats and underscores this:
    • “That is it—that is the key. What makes every people of God in the new covenant, right? What makes us unique, what makes us distinct is that God’s presence dwells with us constantly.” (17:30)

Response: Distinct Living

• The response to God’s presence is a call to live differently:

  • “If we really are going to be distinct, we have to live in a distinct way… One of the temptations that so many of us have is that I don’t want to live distinctly—I want to live like everyone else… And yet… you have to be distinct, you have to be unique.” (19:00)

• Examples given:

  • Sabbath rest (“No one else does that.”)
  • Celebrating festivals and worship uniquely
  • Refusal to intermarry or syncretize with pagan nations

• For Christians, he draws the parallel to the new covenant:

  • God dwells in us (Holy Spirit, sacraments), and so we are to translate “that lens… into action.”
  • “Am I living distinctly? … How is the Lord asking me, commanding me, inviting me to live distinctly because he is truly present?” (20:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On picking the Bible back up after missing a day:

  • “The hardest day to read your Bible is the day after the day you don’t read your Bible.” (00:51)

• Moses to God:

  • “If your presence will not go with me, do not carry us up from here.” (Exodus 33:15)
  • “Is it not in your going with us so that we are distinct… from all other people…?” (Exodus 33:16)

• On distinctiveness:

  • “If we are not distinct, we will be extinct.” (17:19 - paraphrasing Jeff Cavins)

• On God’s true presence:

  • “Not because of our own specialness, our own uniqueness, but because he is there.” (19:50)

Important Timestamps

• 00:04–01:56 – Opening encouragement for those struggling to keep up
• 03:05–12:50 – Exodus 33–34 reading (God’s presence, Moses as mediator, renewal of the covenant)
• 12:51–15:19 – Leviticus 24 reading (perpetual lamps, blasphemy, “eye for eye” law)
• 15:20–17:07 – Psalm 80 reading (plea for restoration)
• 17:08–22:08 – Fr. Mike’s reflection: what makes us distinct, response to God’s presence, parallel with Christians living distinctly

Flow & Tone

• Warm, exhortative, and pastoral. Fr. Mike offers encouragement, practical guidance for reading Scripture, and bold spiritual challenges. He interweaves biblical content with real-world application for Christians today, maintaining a tone that is both accessible and reverent.

Conclusion

Fr. Mike’s episode not only guides listeners through crucial Old Testament passages about the power and consequence of God’s presence but also distills them into core challenges for Christian life now: Recognize that God’s presence is the only true distinction for God’s people, and let that shape our daily choices, setting us apart in the world. As always, Fr. Mike invites mutual prayer and perseverance, trusting God’s grace to sustain the journey.

“We are on this journey together and we’re trucking along… Without God’s grace, all of us are in big trouble.” (22:05)