READING FOR JANUARY 14, 2026: MICAH 4, JOHN 9, PSALM 142 MICAH 4 When we read the prophecies of Jesus in Mark 13 or Matthew 24, they appear to point to different fulfillments: the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. and the second com- ing of Jesus yet to take place. The same double fulfillment seems to be part of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14-16 about a young girl giving birth: Isaiah’s son in Isaiah 8:3 and Jesus in Matt. 1:23. As you may have guessed, this chapter appears to be a prophecy with a double fulfillment.
Clearly verse one states it is about the “last days.” Even those two words are used in different ways in the bible, though. Hebrews 1 and Acts 2 suggest we are now in the last days. Much of this chapter, however, appears to refer to the 1000-year millennial reign of Christ, as interpreted by those who hold a premillennial view of the future. Here are some reasons:
- Verses 1-2 suggest Jerusalem will be a destination for all nations to learn God’s ways. See Isaiah 2:1-3 for corroboration on this point. Also consider Rev. 20:4: “They [martyrs] came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” One more reference: “Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem” (Zech. 8:3).
- Verses 3-4 suggest this will be a time of worldwide peace. Rev. 20:3 explains why this is possible: “He [Satan] would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed.”
- Verse 5 hints that there will be various belief systems still present. This seems at odds with the view of some that only Christians will be present during these 1.000 years.
Verse 6-7 tell us God will provide in a special sense for those who were marginalized in this life, especially due to physical disabilities. Isn’t this wonderful! We can do the same now! Verse eight expresses an eventual bright future for the Jews, although a- and post-millennialists believe this is referencing the church, not the Jews or Israel.
Starting with “Now” in verse nine, the prophecy shifts more to the then upcoming but now past exile into Babylon. God says in effect many nations consider Israel’s situation hopeless, but God will keep them safe in exile and rescue them. He will allow Israel to bring to Jerusalem the wealth of the “all the earth.” This was fulfilled by the proclamation of Cyrus, King of Persia: “And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, the people of that place are to support him with silver and gold, with equipment and cattle, together with a voluntary offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 1:4). God had and has gigantic and wonderful plans for those who believe!
JOHN 9 Blindness and sight permeate this whole chapter. It begins with Jesus encountering a man born blind and ends with Jesus lamenting the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. The first exchange sets the stage. Disci- ples: Why was this man born without sight? Whose sin is responsible – his or his parents? Jesus: Neither. His blindness was not the result of anyone’s sin. Something bigger is going on here. Let go of your old assumptions and formulas and watch the light of new creation break into this old dark world as I “do the works of him who sent me.” (v 4) Remember that I said (in chapter 8) that I am the light of the world? Let me demonstrate it for
READING FOR JANUARY 14, 2026 CONTINUED: JOHN 9, PSALM 143 you in this way. Watch and believe. (my paraphrase).
At this, Jesus, in a manner reminiscent of creation in Genesis 2, recreated the man’s eyes and gave him sight. Then we follow two different paths for the rest of the chapter. First, the man literally moves from darkness to light as his physical blindness is healed and he can see for the first time. (Hallelujah!) All he knew at the time was that a man people had been talking about, a man called Jesus healed him. Then as the Pharisees questioned him, the man began to realize this Jesus must be a prophet, for what ordinary man could have performed this miracle? By the time the Pharisees brought the man back in later to question him further, he was “seeing” more clearly. This time he declared that Jesus was a godly person who had come from God to do God’s will on earth (v 31-33). Finally, the man encounters Jesus again (Jesus had been looking for him, it seems), and this time he bows down to Jesus and professes faith in him as the Son of Man. (Glory Hallelujah!)
Unfortunately, the religious leaders took a different path. When they first heard of the healing, some rejected immediately it because it was performed on the Sabbath. Therefore, in their minds, they could dismiss Jesus as not of God, “for he does not keep the Sabbath” (v 16). (Others, though, did remain curious, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” (v 16) We will learn in a later chapter that some of them came to believe.) Next, they tried to deny that the man had actually been blind. If they could dismiss the “sign”, they could dismiss what the sign was pointing to. When that didn’t work, they relied on intimidation and bullying – counting on the fact that the man and his parents would retract their claims under threat of being put out of the synagogue. Finally failing to silence him, they threw him out.
Thus, the one who was blind came to see clearly. And the ones who claimed to see clearly demonstrated that they were actually blind. The Pharisees were determined not to believe, so they did everything they could do to dismiss the sign and remained in darkness. The once-blind man looked at the sign and lifted his eyes to what the sign was pointing to: Jesus who healed him was the promised Messiah, the One from God who came to reveal the Father and to save the world. And he stepped from darkness into light. John crafts this chapter with great skill to show both the brilliance of Jesus’ teaching (combining this healing with his declaration of being the Light of the World) and the inevitable decision every person must make when they encounter Jesus (to follow him into the light or to reject him and remain in darkness). For as John wrote in his prologue: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:9-12)
PSALM 142 What circumstances cause us to cry out for help from God? According to the Cleveland Clinic, “isolation and lack of support can trigger depression.” Here we find David is hiding in a cave saying, “no one cares for my soul.” Yet he also knows intellectually that God is aware of him (vs 3) and is his refuge (vs 5). David finally states his belief even as he doesn’t really feel it: “The righteous will surround me, for You will look after me.” Pray to God, restating what we know to be true, even when we “feel” our situation is hopeless.
