Day 207: The Lord Will Come (2026)

Summary of Day 207: The Lord Will Come (2026)

by Ascension

28m•July 26, 2026
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Overview of Day 207: The Lord Will Come (2026)

In this episode of Bible in a Year, Father Mike Schmitz reads Isaiah 34–36, Baruch 3–4, and Proverbs 11:21–24. The day’s readings move from God’s judgment on the nations, to the hope-filled promise that the Lord will come to save, to a retelling of Assyria’s threat against Jerusalem, and finally to Baruch’s extended encouragement about wisdom, repentance, and God’s mercy.

Key Readings and Themes

Isaiah 34–35: Judgment and Salvation

  • Isaiah 34 describes God’s wrath against the nations, especially Edom, portraying divine judgment in vivid, cosmic imagery.

  • Father Mike highlights that this is not primarily judgment on Israel, but on Israel’s enemies.

  • He also explains the biblical image of a place becoming a wilderness:

    • In the ancient world, wilderness signified danger, chaos, and desolation, not scenic beauty.
    • So when God turns a land into a wilderness, it signals judgment, not restoration.

  • Isaiah 35 shifts sharply to hope:

    • The Lord comes with vengeance and recompense, but also to save.
    • The chapter promises healing, restoration, and joyful return:
      • the blind see,
      • the deaf hear,
      • the lame leap,
      • the desert blooms,
      • the redeemed return to Zion with singing.

Isaiah 36: Assyria Threatens Jerusalem

  • The episode retells the confrontation between King Hezekiah and Sennacherib’s representative, the Rabshakeh.
  • The Rabshakeh mocks Judah’s trust in:
    • Egypt, calling it a broken reed,
    • and the Lord, claiming Judah’s reforms have angered God.
  • Father Mike notes this as a familiar story from earlier historical books, helping listeners see how Scripture interconnects.
  • The officials of Judah respond with silence and tear their clothes, showing the seriousness of the threat.

Baruch 3–4: Wisdom, Repentance, and Hope

  • Baruch offers a prayer of repentance and lament, admitting Israel’s sin and exile.

  • A major theme is wisdom:

    • worldly power, wealth, and status cannot provide life;
    • true wisdom comes from God alone.

  • Father Mike draws special attention to a striking line in Baruch 3:

    • “Afterward she appeared upon earth and lived among men”
    • He notes this as a powerful foreshadowing of the Incarnation, pointing toward Christ.

  • In Baruch 4, the tone becomes deeply encouraging:

    • Israel is called to take courage.
    • Though the people were disciplined for their sins, God has not abandoned them.
    • Their punishment is not the end; restoration and joy are coming.

Proverbs 11:21–24

  • These verses contrast the outcomes of righteousness and wickedness:
    • evil will not go unpunished,
    • the righteous will be delivered,
    • generosity leads to increase,
    • withholding what should be given leads to loss.
  • The passage reinforces the day’s larger themes of justice, integrity, and faithful living.

Father Mike’s Main Reflections

1. The Day of the Lord Should Produce Hope, Not Only Fear

Father Mike reflects on whether hearing about God’s coming stirs:

  • hope and excitement, or
  • dread and fear.

He says our response often depends on:

  • our image of God — do we see Him as loving and desirable, or threatening?
  • our image of ourselves — are we repentant, or are we trapped in shame?

His pastoral takeaway: we can ask God to heal our image of Him and heal our hearts.

2. Baruch’s Encouragement Is Remarkable

Father Mike emphasizes how much Baruch leans into:

  • God’s faithfulness,
  • the call to wisdom,
  • and the promise that God will remember and save His people.

He praises Baruch as a prophet of encouragement, not just warning.

3. Scripture Is Meant to Become Familiar

By revisiting the Sennacherib narrative, Father Mike notes the joy of recognizing a story already heard elsewhere in Scripture.

  • This repetition helps listeners see the Bible as a connected story.
  • Familiarity with the text deepens confidence and understanding.

Takeaways

  • God’s judgment is real, but so is His commitment to save His people.
  • The “day of the Lord” is not merely about fear; for the faithful, it is a day of restoration and joy.
  • Wisdom comes from God, not from wealth, status, or human strategy.
  • Baruch’s words point toward Christ, especially in the line about wisdom appearing and living among men.
  • Even when people forget God, He remembers them and calls them back.

Prayer and Closing Emphasis

Father Mike closes by praying for:

  • God’s faithfulness,
  • help on “our worst day,”
  • the ability to hear God’s voice even in suffering,
  • and trust in His unstoppable love.

The episode ends with a reminder to keep praying for one another and to continue the journey through Scripture with hope.