AI Summary
5 min readThe Book of Baruch and the Exile’s Confession
On day 206 of the Bible in a Year, Father Mike Schmitz reads from Isaiah 32–33, the opening chapters of Baruch, and Proverbs 11:17–20. The episode’s central thread is the posture of God’s people in exile—not as a historical curiosity, but as a pattern for how believers today are meant to respond when they find themselves distant from God, whether through sin, complacency, or judgment.
The Righteous King and the Complacent
Isaiah 32 opens with a prophecy of a king who will reign in righteousness, each ruler “like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest.” Father Mike notes that this could refer to Hezekiah, who pleaded with God as the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem, or to Josiah, the reformer king. But the chapter also turns sharply toward the “complacent women”—a figure for anyone who is self-satisfied and untroubled while trouble surrounds them. “That complacent, that self-satisfied,” Father Mike says, “what it ultimately can become is lukewarm.” He connects this to the church of Laodicea in Revelation, where God says he wishes the people were hot or cold, but because they are lukewarm he will spew them out. The call is to wake up, to turn back, because everything that does not belong to God will be burned away.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:03) **Episode Opening & Reading Plan** - Fr. Mike introduces Day 206, listing readings from Isaiah 32-33, Baruch 1-2, and Proverbs 11:17-20, with a note on Baruch as a deuterocanonical book.
- 2 (01:15) **Isaiah 32: Prophecy of a Righteous King** - A king will reign in righteousness, bringing justice, peace, and restoration; the fool and knave are contrasted with the noble.
- 3 (02:21) **Isaiah 32: Warning to the Complacent** - A call to the "women at ease" and "complacent daughters" to tremble at coming judgment, followed by a promise of the Spirit's outpouring and lasting peace.
- 4 (03:45) **Isaiah 33: Divine Judgment and Deliverance** - A prophecy of woe against the destroyer, the Lord's exaltation, and the security of those who walk righteously; "the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king."
- 5 (07:22) **Baruch 1: Exile Context and Letter to Jerusalem** - Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, writes from Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem; the exiles collect money, send it to Jerusalem for sacrifices, and ask for prayers—even for King Nebuchadnezzar.
- 6 (09:35) **Baruch 1-2: Confession of Sins** - The exiles confess their disobedience from the Exodus onward, acknowledging that God's calamities are just, and that they failed to heed the prophets.
- 7 (11:52) **Baruch 2: Prayer for Deliverance** - A plea for God to turn away his anger, remember his covenant, and restore the people; the dead cannot praise God, but the distressed can.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Fr. Mike explains the context of the book of Baruch, he also highlights Isaiah's warning against complacency and how God's justice applies to everyone, even those who don't believe in Him. The readings are Isaiah 32-33, Baruch 1-2, and Proverbs 11:17-20.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.
Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
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