Overview of Day 257: Choose to Love (2026)
In this episode of Bible in a Year, Father Mike Schmitz walks through the end of Jeremiah, the short but powerful book of Obadiah, and a few verses from Proverbs. The day centers on the collapse of Jerusalem, the judgment of Edom, and a final prayerful challenge: choose to love, especially when family, history, or hurt makes that difficult.
Scripture Readings Covered
Jeremiah 52
- Zedekiah’s downfall: Jerusalem falls after a long siege. Zedekiah tries to flee, but he is captured, made to witness the death of his sons, blinded, and taken in chains to Babylon.
- Destruction of Jerusalem: The Babylonians burn the temple, the royal palace, and the city’s major houses, and break down Jerusalem’s walls.
- Temple treasures taken: The bronze, gold, silver, and sacred vessels from Solomon’s temple are stripped away and carried to Babylon.
- Exile and captive counts: The chapter lists multiple deportations totaling 4,600 people.
- Hope through Jehoiachin: After 37 years in prison, King Jehoiachin of Judah is released by Evil-merodach and given a seat at the Babylonian king’s table, a quiet sign that David’s line is not erased.
Obadiah
- Judgment on Edom: Obadiah condemns Edom’s pride, arrogance, and violence against Judah during Jerusalem’s ruin.
- Sibling betrayal: The core accusation is that Edom, descended from Esau, stood by and even rejoiced while Jacob/Israel suffered.
- Divine justice: The message is that what Edom did to Judah will come back upon them.
- Future restoration: The book ends with hope for Zion, the defeat of Edom, and the declaration that “the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.”
Proverbs 18:13–16
- Listen before answering — responding too quickly is foolish and shameful.
- A strong spirit endures hardship — but a broken spirit is crushing.
- Wisdom seeks knowledge — the intelligent keep learning.
- Generosity opens doors — a gift can make room for someone before the great.
Main Themes and Reflections
Consequences of disobedience
Father Mike highlights how Zedekiah’s choices brought devastation on Jerusalem. The fall of the city is presented as the tragic result of repeated rebellion and refusal to heed God’s warnings.
Exile is not the end of the story
Even in judgment, there are signs of mercy and continuity:
- The Davidic line survives through Jehoiachin.
- The king’s release after decades in prison hints that God is still working, even in exile.
Pride destroys relationships
Obadiah becomes a warning about family breakdown:
- Jacob and Esau may have reconciled personally, but their descendants did not.
- Edom’s failure to help its “brother” Judah becomes a picture of how quickly families and communities can drift into indifference, rivalry, and resentment.
“Choose to love”
The episode’s spiritual takeaway is a direct challenge:
- Love is not always easy or automatic.
- Sometimes it must be chosen intentionally, especially with people close to us.
- Father Mike emphasizes that we can only love well if we first receive God’s love.
Notable Takeaways
- Jerusalem’s fall is both a historical disaster and a theological warning.
- Obadiah shows that God takes betrayal of kinship seriously.
- Proverbs reminds listeners that wisdom begins with humility, patience, and discernment.
- The episode ends with a prayerful invitation to ask: Who is God calling me to choose to love today?