The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Episode: Day 98 – Israel Asks for a King (2026)
Date: April 8, 2026
Readings: 1 Samuel 6–8, Psalm 86

Episode Overview

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks listeners through 1 Samuel chapters 6, 7, and 8—pivotal moments in Israel’s history, including the return of the Ark of the Covenant, Samuel’s faithful leadership, the failures of his sons, and Israel’s fateful request for a king. Fr. Mike offers reflection, prayer, and personal insights, emphasizing themes of faith, disappointment, leadership, and the human desire to conform to the world. The episode concludes with hopeful anticipation as listeners prepare to begin the Gospel of John in the next episode.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Return of the Ark (1 Samuel 6)

(01:30 – 07:10)

• The Ark of the Covenant, captured by the Philistines, brings plagues (tumors, perhaps associated with a rodent-borne disease) upon them.

• The Philistines consult their priests, who recommend returning the Ark with a “guilt offering” of golden tumors and golden mice.

• They devise a test: sending the Ark on a new cart pulled by unyoked cows to see if it makes its way straight to Israel—a means of discerning whether their misfortune was from God or simply chance.

  “They are saying that this could be the Lord God of Israel or it could be just a coincidence and that kind of test is, I don't know, pretty wise on their part.”
  — Fr. Mike (17:32)

• The Ark returns to Beth Shemesh; some Israelites, in their curiosity or irreverence, look into the Ark and are punished.

• The Ark is moved to Kiriath Jearim and entrusted to Eleazar, son of Abinadab.

2. Samuel as Judge & Israel’s Repentance (1 Samuel 7)

(07:11 – 13:50)

• Samuel, established as judge, calls Israel to return to the Lord wholeheartedly, abandoning foreign gods.
• The people repent, fast, confess their sins at Mizpah.
• When the Philistines attack, Samuel intercedes with prayer and sacrifice. God miraculously intervenes (“thundered with a mighty voice,” 1 Sam 7:10), confusing the Philistines; Israel prevails.
• Samuel sets up the stone "Ebenezer" as a memorial:

  “Hitherto the Lord has helped us.” (1 Sam 7:12)

• Samuel leads Israel faithfully, traveling a yearly circuit to judge and maintain justice.

3. The Failure of Samuel's Sons & Israel’s Demand (1 Samuel 8)

(13:51 – 20:59)

• Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah, become judges but are corrupt:

  “They did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.”
  (1 Sam 8:3)

• The elders of Israel cite this as the reason they want a king “like all the nations.”
• God instructs Samuel to listen, but to warn the people about kings:

  “They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”
  — (Fr. Mike reading 1 Sam 8:7, 20:20)

• Samuel warns that a human king will conscript their sons and daughters, tax their land, and take the best for himself. Despite these warnings, the people insist:

  “No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations...”
  — (1 Sam 8:19-20)

4. Psalm 86 and Prayer

(21:00 – 23:05)

• Psalm 86 is a heartfelt supplication for God's help, mercy, and guidance.
• Fr. Mike leads a prayer for God to renew His Spirit in listeners’ lives, to inspire all action and to bring comfort and help.

Reflections & Memorable Moments

The Pain of Rejection—Parental & Divine

(22:00 – 27:30)

• Fr. Mike reflects tenderly on how Samuel’s disappointment with his sons echoes the sorrow felt by parents when children stray from faith:

  “God doesn’t have grandchildren. He only has children... every generation has to choose Him again.”
  — Fr. Mike (22:40)

• He connects this grief to God’s sorrow over Israel's rejection of Him as king, emphasizing the deep personal pain behind these biblical stories.

• Memorable anecdote: Fr. Mike recalls his sister’s comment on parenting:

  “I just don't ever want them to lose their souls.”
  — Fr. Mike’s sister, Sarah (26:00)

The Human Desire to Conform

(27:31 – 29:00)

• Fr. Mike points out how Israel’s wish for a king reflects a universal tendency to settle for less—to reject God’s unique guidance for the apparent security or prestige of being “like everyone else.”

  “God says, let me guide and guard, let me feed and lead. Let me be your God. And we say, I'll take a second-hand god over you so often.”
  — Fr. Mike (28:10)

• He notes that, even in Israel’s mistaken desires, God can work good.

Anticipation of the Messianic Checkpoint

(29:15 – 29:50)

• Fr. Mike shares his excitement for the next day’s transition to the Gospel of John—the “first Messianic checkpoint”—encouraging listeners to keep praying for each other as they move from Old Testament to New.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Miracles and Discernment:

  “The default position of the church is we assume a natural cause for this thing... It has to be demonstrated that this is... beyond reasonable doubt...”
  — Fr. Mike (16:20)

• On Spiritual Parenthood:

  “God doesn’t have grandchildren... Every generation has to choose Him again.”
  — Fr. Mike (22:40)

• On the Pain of Wayward Children:

  “When we don't see the faith living in our kids, that can be even more devastating than anything else.”
  — Fr. Mike (23:35)

  “‘I just don't ever want them to lose their souls.’... Yes, thank you for the reminder, my sister reminding the priest that that's even more important.”
  — Fr. Mike (26:00)

• On Wanting a King:

  “They're not rejecting you, they're rejecting me.”
  — Fr. Mike reading God’s words to Samuel (20:20)

• On Conforming to the World:

  “We want to be like everyone else... Which is the story of all of our lives... And yet we're going to see what happens to that, because God can even use some of these broken desires of ours to do something pretty incredible.”
  — Fr. Mike (28:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:30] – Return of the Ark and the Philistines’ test
• [07:11] – Samuel calls for repentance, Philistine attack thwarted
• [13:51] – Samuel’s sons’ failures, Israel’s request for a king
• [21:00] – Psalm 86 prayer and reflection
• [22:00] – Reflections on parenting, spiritual legacy, and sorrow
• [27:31] – The deep meaning behind Israel’s desire for a king
• [29:15] – Looking ahead to the Gospel of John

Summary

This episode guides listeners through the narrative of Israel’s longing to be “like all the nations,” Samuel’s faithful leadership and heartbreak, and God’s desire to be intimately involved with His people. Fr. Mike interweaves the biblical story with pastoral wisdom on faith, disappointment, and hope, culminating in prayer and anticipation for the coming encounter with Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Key Takeaway: The human heart often rejects God’s best in favor of worldly reassurance—but in every generation, God calls anew, and even our broken desires can be turned to His greater purposes.