December 23

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR DECEMBER 23, 2025: AMOS 2, REVELATION 15, PSALM 128                         AMOS 2 This chapter concludes the judgments against Israel’s and Judah’s neighbors and then lists judgments against the divided kingdom of God’s chosen people. You may recall that the country of Moab descended from an incestuous encounter between Lot and his elder daughter: “Both of the daughters of Lot conceived by their father. The firstborn gave birth to a son, and named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day” (Gen. 19:36-37).  The offence specifically charged to Moab was not action against God’s chosen people, but violence against Edom: burning Edom’s king’s bones. Once again, we see God concerned about justice for all people, not only his people.  This judgment will include fire, panic of battle, and loss of leadership. 

Notice the charges God levels against His people Judah are not crimes of violence, like those of their neighbors, but of failure to obey God’s laws. This principle could apply to Christians and the church today. Likely most of us have not been robbing banks or kidnapping children, but have we “rejected the Law of the Lord and have not kept His statutes?” (vs. 4) Perhaps we take figuratively those parts of the Bible we don’t like, or even don’t know what the Bible says about a subject. Of course, there are key differences between the Old Covenant and the New, but much of the New Testament reiterates and clarifies many Old Testament principles. We are just as accountable to obey the truths Jesus gives us as Judah was to obey the Old Testa- ment: “One who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). Likewise, we are accountable for what Paul and the apostles teach “Therefore I exhort you, be imi- tators of me. For this reason, I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor 4:16-17). 

The offences mentioned of Israel appear to be a combination of social justice and personal holiness transgressions. These include oppression against the poor, which many liberal Christians point out, and sexual misbehavior, which concern many conservative Christians. Both kinds of sins violate God’s standard for us. It’s not either or but both and.

During the final verses of this chapter, God recounts all that He had done for His people by bringing them out of slavery in Egypt, preserving them in the wilderness, and driving out their enemies in the promised land. This makes their subsequent rebellion against God all the more galling. Over the centuries God raised up some of their sons to be holy and to prophesy, only to have the people abuse them. Thus, God had decided to take punitive action against them.  Even the bravest, strongest, and most well equipped will not escape God’s coming judg- ment. For Israel, this meant absorption by Assyria—for Judah, exile to Babylon. For us? “If  anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15).

READING FOR DECEMBER 23, 2025 CONTINUED: REVELATION 15, PSALM 128             REVELATION 15: The chapter begins with seven angels holding seven last plagues. These are called last for with these, God’s wrath will be completed. (15:1) Before the plagues are poured out, the scene moves back to the throne of God where a multitude of saints sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. In their song, we can find several reasons to join them in praise: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." (15:3-4) 

  • They sing praise because God has done great and marvelous deeds. This reminds us that God is an active God. He is not just sitting in a distant heaven ignoring us.  
  • They sing praise because God is the Lord God Almighty. There is no one like him and there is no other God but him. All the power of the Antichrist and the Beast and the Dragon are seen as nothing compared to the Lord God Almighty. 
  • They sing praise because God’s ways are true and just. God’s deeds refer to things he does, but his ways are a reflection of his heart. It’s the reason he acts in certain ways. Even in this part of the Bible filled with pictures of God’s wrath against sinners, his ways are true and just. Even if it doesn’t make sense to us, we can trust that God will always be true and just.
  • They sing praise because God is the King of the Ages. At Christmas time, we remember the Magi who came looking for a King. They found the baby Jesus who is the King of the Kings and who will reign throughout eternity.    
  • They sing praise because they fear the Lord. The “fear of the Lord” is used over 100 times in the Bible. The Fear of God is hard to define for it is to be experienced rather than analyzed. Christian author Jerry Bridges defines it as, “The fear of God is the animating and invigorating principle of a godly life. It is the well spring of all godly desires and aspirations.”    
  • They sing praise because they want to bring glory to God’s name. The baby that we celebrate this week has been given the name that is exalted above all other names. (Philippians 2:9) We bring glory to his name when we honor his name.    
  • They sing praise because God is holy. They sing, “For you ALONE are holy,” yet we are also called to be holy, and we are told that without holiness, no one will see God. (Hebrews 12:14) The difference is that God is holy, but we can only be made holy. God’s very essence is holy whereas we must come to the Christ-child to be changed and made holy. 
  • They sing praise because God has revealed righteous acts. The best example of this is the life of Jesus. For 33 years, Jesus revealed the righteousness of God.

PSALM 128 The Psalmist tells us what a person who fears and follows God could generally expect from life. Of course, these blessings from God are based on His value system, are given in His timetable, and are contin- gent on our studying and obeying God’s word. With all that in mind, we can expect to enjoy the sustenance we earn from our own hard work. In fact, we can expect the normal aspects of life to go well for us.  Normally, if we are married, we can expect to be blessed with children, which we learned in Psalm 127, is clearly to be desired in life. In fact, we will be especially blessed if we experience peaceful times and live to see our grand- children. Consider if this has been our experience thus far. If so, give thanks to God who made it possible. If not, either start or keep fearing and following God and see what God does in His perfect timing!  God, in his great wisdom, may have a different plan for some.