January 23

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR JANUARY 23, 2026: ISAIAH 14, JOHN 16, PSALM 147:1-11                             ISAIAH 14 This chapter has been a struggle for this writer. The struggle is not believing it, but in interpreting correctly. It starts harmlessly enough. Isaiah says our Lord will have compassion again on Judah and resettle them back in their land. We certainly know that after the 70-year period was up, the Jews began to return to their homeland—with the assistance of King Cyrus. Now it gets tricky. In verses 1b-2, Isaiah says they will take strangers with them and eventually rule over their former captors. To this writer’s knowledge, there is nothing in the Bible mentioning the Jews ruling over anyone once they returned from the exile. Those writers, includ- ing John Calvin and all reformed theologians, who believe this chapter to be only about the historical return from exile, simply ignore this detail. Remember we mentioned yesterday that “Babylon” is used to represent Satan’s final fallen kingdom (Rev. 18:12). Those seeing this passage as having a double fulfillment believe these verses were partially fulfilled with the return from exile, but will be completely fulfilled when believing martyrs (Jew and Gentile) return to rule with Jesus during the 1000 years of peace on earth when Satan is bound (Rev.20:4).

This interpretation makes verses 13-21 even more understandable than if we were referring to only the Jews returning from their 70-year exile in Babylon. Consider a few matching points:

  • The Lord will give His people rest (vs. 3).  People will come to Jerusalem for truth, not war (Isa. 2:3).
  • The oppressor has ceased (vs. 4). Satan will be thrown into the pit for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:3).
  • The Lord breaks the ruler’s rod (vs. 5). Satan is bound (Rev. 20:2)
  • The whole earth is at rest (vs. 6).  Weapons will be destroyed; the world will be peaceful (Isa. 2:4).
  • Even nature will rejoice (vs. 8). Total harmony within all nature (Isa. 11:6-9).
  • The morning star (Lucifer) who sought to be like God will be thrown in the pit (vs. 13-15 and Rev. 20:3).

The remainder of this chapter details the judgment coming toward Israel’s persistent oppressors Assyria and Philistia. Yes, Isaiah focuses on God’s judgment toward Israel and Judah. Yes, God even used these other nations as His instruments to punish His people. But God has always been and will always be the universal sovereign of all nations. All people are accountable to our holy and just God for their sins. Only through Jesus can all of us be made in right relationship with Him. He died for the whole world and offers salvation to all who believe.

JOHN 16 If I could choose to have Jesus with me in person, in the flesh, every day I would absolutely do so! To have him by my side to guide me into right thinking and right behavior, to be able to ask him my many questions about life, to have his help with difficult situations – I’d give anything for this! Wouldn’t you? That is certainly what his disciples thought, for they were filled with sorrow at his going. But he clearly told them that his going away is better than his bodily presence with them: “It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (16:7). Jesus’ last conversation with his students is filled with references to the Holy Spirit. Here’s what he teaches this last time with them:                                                                                                                                                               

  • The Holy Spirit is a paraklétos (which means Advocate, Helper, Comforter, or Counselor) whom the Father will send who will teach the disciples everything they need to know and who will bring to their minds what Jesus has been teaching them so they can meditate on it and live by it. (John 14:26)
  • The Holy Spirit is a paraklétos who emanates from the Father and whom Jesus will send who will testify or bear witness to Jesus being who he claimed to be (one with the Father, bringing light and life into the world). (John 15:26)

READING FOR JANUARY 23, 2026 CONTINUED: JOHN 16, PSALM 147:1-12

  • The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth who will guide Jesus’ followers into what is true, who will glorify Jesus, who will make Jesus known to those who seek him, and who will bring further revelation as needed by Jesus’ followers along the way. (John 16:13-15)
  • The Holy Spirit brings conviction. When he comes, says Jesus, he will elegchó the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. This Greek word is most often translated convict and carries the meaning of reproving, correcting, proving, or convincing. Jesus is saying here that the Spirit will bring a right understanding or correction, a right judgment of truth. With Jesus leaving, who will show the world the better way? Who will guide the faithful in applying Jesus’ teachings to their daily lives? Who will have the final say over what is true and right and what is false teaching? The Holy Spirit will.

What does this mean for us? For one, we do not need to be convincers of the ungodly or condemners of the world’s systems; the Holy Spirit is at work doing that job. And we don’t need to be anxious about living a righteous, godly life; the Holy Spirit will lead us into righteous living. Secondly, we don’t need to be afraid in the face of evil and opposition. Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, Jesus remains with us. And his presence is our source of joy – through the Holy Spirit now and in person when he comes again in glory.

In my name: What does Jesus mean by “in my name” which he uses so often in these passages? To do something in Jesus’ name is to do it according to his purposes using his resources. Imagine that you have been brought in as a junior partner in a long-standing family business. It would be your role to study the family, get to know their goals and the ethos and the ethics, until their ways become your ways. As you grow in knowledge of their ways and commitment to their ethos, the family would increasingly turn over resources to you to use. Eventually, as your ways conform to theirs, they will trust you to make decisions on behalf of the company and will likely even give you signing privileges on their checking account or a credit card of your own, for they are confident that you are acting in their name. This gives us an idea what it means to act and ask in Jesus’ name. It is so much more than tacking a phrase on the end of our prayers! How might we apply this understanding to our prayers?

PSALM 147:1-12 Once again the Psalmist emphasizes the beauty of praise, in this case through music. This is not just an Old Testament thing or nice group activity before the sermon. It is a command of the Holy Spirit to us through Paul: “Be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father” (Eph 5:18-20). Just in case we’ve run out of attributes of and actions by God, the Psalmist gives us these: He builds up His people; gathers those who are considered outcast; heals our wounds; created and maintains the cosmos. He is all powerful, wise, loving and just, and He sustains our climate, plants, and animals. God isn’t impressed by what might be considered military assets, but He favors those who fear Him and depend on Him.  Many times, folks immediately replace the word “fear” with the word “awe” whenever they encounter it in the Bible. The Hebrew word here is “yare,” which, according to Strong, includes reverence. When used in the New Testament, such as in “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), The Greek is phobos, from which we get the English word “phobia.” Clearly the translators could have used the word “awe” had they thought it more accurate. When contemplating our God, we would do well to remember to approach Him with a sense of “fear and trembling” as well as love.