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

Episode: Day 90: Ruth and Boaz (2026)

Date: March 31, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Podcast by: Ascension

Episode Overview

On Day 90 of "The Bible in a Year," Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through Judges 4–5, Ruth 2, and Psalm 134. The episode explores the stories of heroic and faithful women—Deborah, Jael, and Ruth—highlighting God's providence, the nature of faithfulness in difficulty, and the promise of redemption. Fr. Mike’s reflection ties together violence and hope, the roles of women in salvation history, and the theme that God’s timing can bring sudden and unexpected hope after a long period of darkness.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Judges 4–5: Deborah, Barak, Jael, and the Victory Over Sisera

• Context: Israel again does what is "evil in the sight of the Lord" and suffers oppression by Jabin, king of Canaan, and his commander Sisera, for 20 years (04:00).
• Deborah’s Leadership: Deborah, prophetess and judge, calls Barak to lead a rebellion after hearing God’s command. Barak requests Deborah’s personal presence as a condition for going to battle (06:00).
  • Deborah replies:
    "Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." (Deborah, 07:00)
• The Battle: Barak, Deborah, and the tribes defeat Sisera’s forces, but Sisera escapes on foot (08:30).
• Jael’s Deed: Jael offers Sisera hospitality, lulls him into a false sense of security, then kills him by driving a tent peg through his temple, fulfilling Deborah's prophecy (09:30).
• The Song of Deborah (Judges 5): A poetic retelling praising the volunteers and especially Jael:
  • "Most blessed of women be Jael… She put her hand to the tent peg… She struck Sisera a blow… He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead." (Deborah and Barak, 14:40)
• Outcome: Israel has 40 years of peace after this deliverance (17:15).

2. Ruth 2: Encountering Boaz and God's Providence

• Background: Ruth and Naomi, widows and foreigners, return destitute to Bethlehem. Ruth seeks to glean in the fields for sustenance (17:50).
• Meeting Boaz: By "chance," Ruth gleans in Boaz's field, who, upon learning of her kindness and loyalty to Naomi, shows her extraordinary kindness:
  • "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me... The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Boaz to Ruth, 20:30)
• Protection and Provision: Boaz protects Ruth from harm, invites her to eat with his workers, and instructs his workers to leave grain specifically for her (21:00). Naomi rejoices at this providence and identifies Boaz as a family redeemer (23:30).
• Meaningful Moment:
  • "This is maybe the first day where there’s been hope in Ruth’s life in a really long time…" (Fr. Mike, 27:10)

3. Psalm 134: Praise in the Night

• Brief, uplifting call to bless the Lord at all times, especially through service and darkness (24:50).

Fr. Mike’s Reflection & Application

1. The Reality Behind Ruth’s "Luck"

• Fr. Mike challenges the view that Ruth’s encounter with Boaz simply makes her "lucky," highlighting how her earlier experiences were filled with pain, loss, and uncertainty:
  • "When it comes to Ruth, we have to remember that this is one day in Ruth’s life. It is maybe the first day of blessing in Ruth’s life… She’s been in trouble, with no guarantees, with no certainty that things will ever get better. And yet she kept walking in faithfulness with Naomi…" (Fr. Mike, 28:15)
• Emphasizes that faithfulness often means walking in darkness, holding on even when there’s no visible hope.

2. Hope, Darkness, and God’s Timing

• Fr. Mike draws a parallel between Ruth’s first day of hope and the long spans of darkness in listeners’ lives:
  • "You might be in a place right now where you’re wondering, where is the hope for me?…Remember that it takes sometimes a long time…there are glimmers of hope in every one of our lives if we’re willing to look for it." (Fr. Mike, 29:10)
• He references Genesis 3:15 as a core biblical promise—that the "head of the enemy will be crushed"—and interprets Jael’s act as a foreshadowing of Christ defeating evil:
  • "What we have is a foreshadowing of the fulfillment of what God had promised…Where in Judges chapter four there is this woman, Jael, and what does she do? She crushes the head of the enemy, Sisera… Ultimately, that crushing is done by Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate redeemer." (Fr. Mike, 30:05)

3. Encouragement for Listeners

• Fr. Mike closes with a prayer and encouragement:
  • "I’m praying for that for you. That not only that you walk in faithfulness and that I walk in faithfulness, but also if you were walking in darkness, I’m praying that that day of the glimmer of light shines upon you very, very soon. Because you’re not alone. We do not walk alone. We continue to pray for each other. And God is with you." (Fr. Mike, 31:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Deborah’s Prophecy:
  “Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” — Deborah (07:00)
• Praise for Jael:
  “Most blessed of women be Jael… She put her hand to the tent peg… where he sank, there he fell—dead.” — Song of Deborah and Barak (14:40)
• Boaz Blesses Ruth:
  “The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” — Boaz (20:30)
• Fr. Mike on Ruth’s Hardship:
  “This is maybe the first day where there’s been hope in Ruth’s life in a really long time…” — Fr. Mike (27:10)
• Encouragement in Darkness:
  “You might be in a place right now where you’re wondering, where is the hope for me?…Remember that it takes sometimes a long time…there are glimmers of hope in every one of our lives if we’re willing to look for it.” — Fr. Mike (29:10)
• Christ as Fulfillment:
  “Ultimately, that crushing is done by Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate redeemer, the ultimate judge, the ultimate warrior who’s fighting for his people.” — Fr. Mike (30:40)
• Assurance to Listeners:
  “Because you’re not alone. We do not walk alone. We continue to pray for each other. And God is with you.” — Fr. Mike (31:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00] – Israel's oppression and Deborah's leadership
• [09:30] – Jael fulfils prophecy by killing Sisera
• [14:40] – Song of Deborah and Barak praises Jael
• [17:50] – Ruth gleans in Boaz’s field
• [20:30] – Boaz blesses and protects Ruth
• [23:30] – Naomi recognizes God’s providence through Boaz
• [24:50] – Psalm 134
• [28:15] – Fr. Mike's reflection on Ruth’s hardship and faithfulness
• [29:10] – Hope and faithfulness in darkness
• [30:05] – Jael as a symbol of God’s promise fulfilled
• [31:10] – Closing encouragement and prayer for hope

Summary

This episode masterfully weaves together the stories of Judges and Ruth, drawing spiritual lessons about faithfulness, unsuspected deliverance, and the gentle but profound ways God’s promises unfold, often through unlikely individuals. Fr. Mike encourages listeners to persist in hope even through extended suffering and assures them that God can bring about dramatic change in a single day, as He did for Ruth and Naomi. The episode offers not just biblical narrative and theology, but also real pastoral encouragement for modern spiritual journeys.

For those feeling hopeless or in darkness, Fr. Mike’s message is: You are not alone—the God of Israel still brings hope and redemption at precisely the right time.