Day 199: Times for War (2026)

**Fr. Mike Schmitz** (0:04)
Hi, my name is Fr Mike Schmitz, and you're listening to The Bible in a Year podcast, where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of scripture. The Bible in a Year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, we'll read all the way from Genesis to Revelation, discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 199, you guys, one more day, and it's day 200 How amazing is that? We're reading from Isaiah, chapters 16 and 17 We're reading the conclusion of the Book of the Prophet Joel, chapter 3 We're also reading Proverbs chapter 10, verses 21 through 24 The Bible translation that I'm reading from is the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. I'm using The Great Adventure Bible from Ascension. If you want to download your own Bible in a Year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com/bible in a Year. You can also subscribe to this podcast by clicking on subscribe and you receive daily episode updates and all that stuff. Because gosh, you guys, day 199, if you haven't figured it out by now, you probably have a system. Even if you've not subscribed, you probably have a system like, listen, bro, father, I know how to get it. Don't worry about me. I'm not worried about you. I just want to make sure. Maybe your friends want to jump in on day 199 and they don't even know what to do. Man, help your friends out. Subscribe, teach them how to subscribe. As I said, it's day 199 We are reading Isaiah 16, 17, Joel 3, Proverbs 10, 21-24.
The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 16
They have sent lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sila by the way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. Like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. Give counsel, grant justice, make your shade like night at the height of noon. Hide the outcasts, betray not the fugitive, let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you. Be a refuge to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David, one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.
We have heard of the pride of Moab, how proud he was. Of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence, his boasts are false. Therefore, let Moab wail. Let everyone wail for Moab. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir Haverseth. For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibma, the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jezer, and strayed to the desert. Its shoots spread abroad, and passed over the sea.
Therefore, I weep with the weeping of Jezer. For the vine of Sibma, I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Eliele. For upon your fruit and your harvest, the battle shout has fallen, and joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field. And in the vineyards, no songs are sung, no shouts are raised, no treader treads out wine in the presses, the vintage shout is hushed. Therefore, my soul moans like a liar for Moab, and my heart for Kir-Hirez. And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
This is the word which the Lord spoke concerning Moab in the past. But now, the Lord says, In three years, like the years of a hireling, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt in spite of all his great multitude, and those who survive will be very few and feeble.
Chapter 17 An Oracle Concerning Damascus An Oracle Concerning Damascus Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city, and will become a heap of ruins. Her cities will be deserted forever. They will be for flocks, which will lie down and none will make them afraid. The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria will be like the glory of the children of Israel, says the Lord of hosts. And in that day, the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean. And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain, and his arm harvests the ears, and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the valley of Rephaim. Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten, two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, says the Lord God of Israel.