Overview of Day 255: God Is Good
In this episode of Bible in a Year, Father Mike Schmitz reads Jeremiah 49–50, Lamentations 3, and Proverbs 18:5–8. The focus is on God’s judgment against the nations, the fall of Babylon, and Jeremiah’s deeply personal lament that turns into one of Scripture’s clearest declarations of hope: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” Father Mike emphasizes that God’s justice is real, but so is His mercy—and that the exile is not the end of the story.
Scripture Readings
Jeremiah 49–50: Judgment on the Nations and Babylon
Jeremiah delivers prophecies against several surrounding nations:
- Ammon
- Edom
- Damascus
- Kedar and Hazor
- Elam
These oracles highlight God’s sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel. Pride, violence, and false security are all exposed and judged.
The major section in Jeremiah 50 is the judgment against Babylon:
- Babylon’s idols are shamed.
- The nation that oppressed Israel will itself be overthrown.
- The people of Israel and Judah will be restored and return to seek the Lord.
- Babylon’s fall is presented as both justice for its sins and deliverance for God’s people.
A key theme is that God will bring down the empire that dominated His people, and use that downfall to open the door for Israel’s return home.
Lamentations 3: Suffering, Hope, and God’s Mercy
This chapter is the emotional center of the episode. Jeremiah describes crushing suffering in vivid language:
- darkness, bitterness, and grief
- feeling trapped and abandoned
- loss of peace and happiness
- deep anguish over Jerusalem’s destruction
Then comes the turning point:
- “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope”
- “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases”
- “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning”
- “Great is your faithfulness”
Jeremiah also affirms that God does not delight in human suffering and does not afflict willingly. The chapter calls the people to:
- examine their ways
- return to the Lord
- wait quietly for salvation
Proverbs 18:5–8: Justice, Foolishness, and Gossip
These verses warn against:
- showing partiality to the wicked
- denying justice to the righteous
- the destructive speech of fools
- the way gossip spreads inward and corrupts
The proverb about the whisperer underscores how easily gossip can become something we take in and carry with us.
Key Themes and Takeaways
God’s justice is universal
Jeremiah’s prophecies make it clear that God judges all nations, not just Israel. No kingdom is too powerful, proud, or secure to escape His justice.
Babylon’s fall means Israel’s restoration
Babylon’s judgment is not random destruction—it is part of God’s plan to free His people and fulfill His promises after exile.
Suffering does not cancel hope
Lamentations 3 captures both honest grief and stubborn faith. Jeremiah does not deny pain; he brings it before God and then remembers God’s mercy.
God’s mercy is renewed daily
The episode centers on the truth that God’s mercies are new every morning, and that He does not permanently cast off His people.
Watch your words
Proverbs warns that gossip, manipulation, and foolish speech can damage both others and ourselves.
Father Mike’s Reflections
Father Mike spends much of the episode reflecting on three main ideas:
- God is just: His judgment is fair, true, and necessary.
- God is merciful: His mercy comes at the cost of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
- God is good even in exile and sorrow: Jeremiah’s hope in Lamentations shows that pain is not the final word.
He also encourages listeners to return to Lamentations 3:16–33, especially the hope-filled center of the chapter, and to let those verses speak to seasons of grief, discouragement, or emotional exhaustion.
Practical Takeaways
- Meditate on Lamentations 3:22–24 as a daily reminder of God’s faithfulness.
- Reflect on whether you are tempted to gossip, speak foolishly, or show favoritism.
- Trust that God can bring justice and restoration even after long seasons of exile or suffering.
- Remember: pain is real, but it is not permanent; God’s mercy is renewed every morning.