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00:00:00 – 00:26:17
In Day 165 of the Bible in a Year podcast, Father Mike Schmitz guides listeners through readings from First Kings, Second Chronicles, and the Song of Solomon, emphasizing a deep engagement with Scripture. The segments detail the reigns of various biblical kings and their faithfulness or lack thereof to God. Asa, king of Judah, is highlighted for his initial religious reforms and faithfulness but criticized for later relying on human alliances over divine guidance, resulting in conflict and personal downfall. His son Jehoshaphat succeeds him, noted for his devout leadership and strengthening of Judah. The narrative also covers the tumultuous reigns of Israelite kings such as Baasha, Omri, and Ahab, who perpetuate sinfulness and idol worship. The video transitions to the Song of Solomon, reflecting on its themes of love and beauty, paralleled to divine love and human intimacy, with insights from Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the Body." The importance of recognizing individual dignity in relationships is underscored. The podcast encourages listeners to understand biblical timelines and key figures to grasp overarching spiritual lessons, particularly the significance of steadfast faithfulness to God throughout one's life.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Father Mike Schmitz introduces Day 165 of the Bible in a Year podcast, where listeners will read from First Kings chapters 15-16, Second Chronicles chapters 16-17, and the Song of Solomon chapter 4. He emphasizes the significance of ongoing engagement with Scripture, congratulating listeners for their commitment over the past 165 days. He also mentions practical details like the Bible translation used (Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition) and where to obtain related resources. The Scripture reading starts with the accounts of Abijam and Asa’s reigns over Judah, discussing their actions, their faithfulness (or lack thereof) to God’s commandments, and how their legacy was documented. Asa is noted for his religious reforms and dedication to God, significantly removing idolatrous practices influenced by his predecessors.
00:03:00
In this segment, Asa, the king of Judah, remains faithful to the Lord and brings silver, gold, and vessels into the Lord’s house. A conflict arises between Asa and Baasha, the king of Israel, who constructs a blockade at Ramah. Asa responds by sending treasures to Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, to form an alliance against Baasha. Ben-Hadad attacks Israel’s territories, prompting Baasha to cease his construction. Asa then uses Baasha’s building materials to fortify other cities. Asa’s acts and his eventual death and succession by his son Jehoshaphat are mentioned.
Nadab, son of Jeroboam, reigns over Israel but does evil in the sight of the Lord. Baasha conspires against and kills Nadab, exterminates Jeroboam’s house, and reigns over Israel for 24 years, continuing the conflict with Asa.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the narrative focuses on the actions and consequences of Ba’asha and his house according to the word of the Lord as conveyed by the prophet Jehu. Ba’asha, having led Israel into sin like Jeroboam, faces a prophecy of complete destruction of his lineage. His son Elah reigns but is assassinated by his servant Zimri, who then exterminates Ba’asha’s entire house in fulfillment of the prophecy. However, Zimri himself meets a quick end when Omri, appointed by Israel, besieges Tirzah, leading Zimri to burn the king’s house down upon himself and die. The rest of their acts are noted as recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, it details the reigns of Omri and Ahab over Israel. Omri’s rule began after defeating Tibni, and he established Samaria as the capital by purchasing and fortifying a hill. Despite his achievements, Omri was noted for his evil deeds, surpassing his predecessors in sinfulness. Upon his death, his son Ahab became king, continuing a legacy of greater wickedness by marrying Jezebel and promoting the worship of Ba’al. This segment also touches upon the alliance between King Asa of Judah and Ben-Hadad of Syria against King Baasha of Israel, showcasing strategic political maneuvers and the resulting conquests over various cities.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, King Asa of Judah is chastised by the seer Hanani for relying on the king of Syria instead of the Lord, leading to future wars. Asa, angry, imprisons Hanani and inflicts cruelty on some people. Despite being severely diseased, Asa seeks help from physicians rather than the Lord and dies in the 41st year of his reign. Asa is buried with honors, and his son Jehoshaphat succeeds him. Jehoshaphat fortifies Judah, follows God’s commandments, removes high places and Asherah poles, and sends princes and Levites to teach the law. This leads to the fear of the Lord among surrounding kingdoms, preventing war, and tributes are brought to Jehoshaphat, who grows in power and wealth.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the organization and deployment of soldiers in the cities of Judah, highlighting the commanders and their respective troops. Additionally, the segment transitions to “The Song of Solomon, Chapter 4,” which extols the bride’s beauty with vivid and poetic metaphors, describing her physical attributes and expressing profound admiration and love. The passage uses imagery related to nature and precious substances, encapsulating the deep affection and desire between the bride and the groom.
00:18:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker reflects on the Song of Solomon, emphasizing it as a love song between God and His people as well as human love. The speaker highlights points made by Pope John Paul II in his “Theology of the Body” teachings, particularly regarding the dynamics of love and intimacy between a husband and wife. Pope John Paul II notes that in a marital relationship, the woman remains “the master of her own mystery,” meaning she has the right to accept or refuse her husband’s advances, and he must approach her with respect and the risk of refusal. This section also underlines the metaphor of the woman as a “garden locked,” representing her ownership over her own person. Additionally, it discusses the idea that spouses should consider one another as brother or sister first, emphasizing respect and love for their own sake, devoid of an inherently sexual perspective.
00:21:00
In this part of the video, the speaker reflects on John Paul II’s teachings about seeing spouses as individuals with their own dignity before viewing them as partners. This perspective emphasizes the importance of recognizing the inherent worth of each person in a relationship. The speaker then delves into the complexities of understanding the timelines of kings in the biblical books of Kings and Chronicles. They suggest using tools like the Great Adventure Bible or timelines available from Ascension Press to make sense of the overlapping reigns and regions (North or South). The importance of noting key figures, such as King Asa, who started as a good king but failed to end well, is highlighted. The segment concludes with a reference to an upcoming introduction to the prophet Elijah and the contrast between the generally unfaithful northern kings and the few good ones mentioned, underlining how relying on human plans over divine guidance led to failures.
00:24:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the biblical story of Asa, who initially triumphed over the Ethiopians due to his faith in God but later faltered by relying on an alliance with Syria instead of God. When rebuked, Asa reacted poorly and even mistreated the seer, leading to further problems in his later years, including a disease he refused to seek God’s help for. The key lesson highlighted is the importance of remaining faithful to God throughout one’s life, not just starting well but finishing well too. The segment then introduces Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat, who is depicted as a king who starts, runs, and finishes well. The speaker also mentions Ahab, a northern king who is not a good ruler. The segment underscores the benefit and potential confusion of reading similar stories in Kings and Chronicles and advises keeping track of names for clarity. The segment closes with a commitment to ongoing prayer and a sign-off from Father Mike.