Father Mike Schmitz hosts The Bible in a Year podcast on day 91, reading from The Bible using the Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition from the Great Adventure Bible published by Ascension Press.

Today's readings cover Judges chapters 6-8 following the story of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), Ruth chapter 3 exploring the kinsman redeemer concept, and Psalm 135 praising God's goodness and might.

The narrative reveals how even faithful judges like Gideon can fall into idolatry, while Ruth's story demonstrates the Old Testament kinsman redeemer role that prefigures Christ's redemptive work.

Gideon's Call and the Destruction of Baal's Altar

Israel suffered seven years under Midianite oppression, with enemies destroying crops and leaving no sustenance, forcing Israelites to hide in caves and strongholds.

The angel of the Lord called Gideon 'mighty man of valor' while he was secretly threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from Midianites.

Gideon questioned God's presence, asking 'if the Lord is with us, why then has all this befallen us?' and citing the lack of wonderful deeds their fathers recounted.

God commanded Gideon to destroy his father's Baal altar and Asherah pole, which he did at night out of fear, earning the name Jerubbaal meaning 'let Baal contend against him.'

The Fleece Test and Army Reduction

Gideon tested God twice with a fleece - first requesting dew only on the fleece while ground stayed dry, then reversing the conditions the next night.

God reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men through two tests, stating 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me.'

The final selection involved observing how men drank water - only 300 lapped water like dogs while the rest knelt down to drink.

Victory Through Divine Strategy

Gideon overheard a Midianite's dream about a barley cake destroying their camp, which was interpreted as 'the sword of Gideon' bringing God's victory.

The 300 men attacked with trumpets and torches hidden in jars, shouting 'A sword for the Lord and for Gideon' and causing the enemy army to turn on itself in confusion.

The victory was so complete that 120,000 enemy soldiers fell, with only 15,000 remaining when Gideon captured the kings Zebah and Zalmunna.

Gideon's Golden Ephod and Fall into Idolatry

Gideon refused kingship, declaring 'I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.'

From captured gold earrings weighing 1,700 shekels, Gideon made an ephod that 'all Israel played the harlot after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.'

After Gideon's death, Israel immediately returned to Baal worship, making 'Baal-berith their god' - a false deity whose name means 'Baal of the covenant.'

Ruth and the Kinsman Redeemer

Naomi instructed Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor, saying 'uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.'

Ruth requested Boaz to 'spread your garment over your maidservant, for you are next of kin,' invoking the kinsman redeemer tradition.

Boaz acknowledged Ruth as 'a woman of worth' but noted 'there is a kinsman nearer than I' who has first rights to redeem her.

The kinsman redeemer (goel) role included buying relatives out of slavery, seeking justice for murder, redeeming lost family land, and marrying childless widows to continue family lines.