READING FOR DECEMBER 5, 2025: JONAH 4, REVELATION 3, PSALM 119:145-152 JONAH 4 When the people heard the word of the Lord through Jonah, they repented and believed in God. One would hope that we would be overjoyed if God used us to communicate truth to entire city and an entire city repented? Amazingly Jonah was displeased and said he was afraid this might happen. This reminds us that even if God gives someone a spiritual gift, such as prophecy, it does not necessarily mean that person is spiritually mature or always right. Remember that Paul described the Corinthians as “enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift” (1 Cor. 1:5-7). But later he said their church meetings do more harm than good: “Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better” (1 Cor. 11:17).
Perhaps Jonah was upset because he said Nineveh would be destroyed, but because they repented, what he said would happen did not happen. So, Nineveh was more concerned that he not look mistaken than if over 120,000 people perish. Sad. Elsewhere God provides a principle about the warnings He gives: “The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy [it], if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it” (Jer. 18:7-8).
God graciously provided Jonah a little object lesson that probably we all could use today. Jon- ah sat down to view the city. Much to his delight, God made a tree instantly grow to give him shade. Then God sent a killer worm to destroy the tree. Jonah again got very angry. (He needs an anger management class.) God showed him how ridiculous he was to be upset over the loss of a tree he didn’t plant yet not have compassion over 120,000 people who had no spiritual knowledge. How do we respond when we contemplate the millions who don’t know Jesus? “And when he [Jesus] drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes’’’(Luke 19:41–42). Revelation 3: In this chapter Jesus completes his letters to 7 churches with these last three:
READING FOR DECEMBER 5, 2025 CONTINUED: REVELATION 3, PSALM 119:145-152 Let’s consider the church in Sardis. Their current reality didn’t match up to their past reputa- tion. Jesus doesn’t mince words, as he declares, “You are dead!!” Not everyone who claims the name of Christ will have a living faith! A faith that is not practiced will not grow and it can die. Jesus makes it clear that it is not just being busy doing things for what they were doing was leading to death. This is because their deeds were not complete. Their deeds did not arise out of a living vibrant faith which would enable the Holy Spirit to bring their deeds to completion.
PSALM 119:145-152 On first reading it appears that the Psalmist is suggesting a deal to God: Save me and then I will obey your word. In reading the whole passage, though, it is more that the Psalmist is giving a reason for God to save him: Since I follow your word, I will continue to do so longer on earth should you save me so that I won’t die. Thus, he is not suggesting that his willingness to obey is contingent upon God answering this prayer. This should be our stance. Consider the words of the young Hebrews in the fiery furnace: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up” (Dan. 3:17-18).
Notice, though, how intently the Psalmist seeks God’s answer and wisdom due to his being in a difficult spot: “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. My eyes anticipate the night watches, so that I may meditate on Your word” (vs. 147-148). Isn’t being totally dependent upon God an undeniable benefit of experiencing extreme hardship? That’s just the way we are in our relationship with God. C. S. Lewis puts it this way: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” The Psalmist also clearly describes the wicked as those who “are far from Your law.” We avoid that terrible designation by considering that His “commandments are truth.” Stop rationalizing why we don’t agree with the Bible. Instead, as the song says, "Trust and Obey.”
