READING FOR DECEMBER 24, 2025: AMOS 3, REVELATION 16, PSALM 129                                     AMOS 3 This chapter offers some deep philosophical insights about human responsibility, God’s sovereignty, and the principle of cause and effect. First, God reveals that He chose to develop a closer relationship with the people of Israel than with any other people (vs. 2). He doesn’t say why, so there will be no speculation here. God also emphasizes the extreme goodness He expressed to Israel by freeing them from slavery in Egypt (vs.1). Then He says because of these two undeniable blessings, He will punish them for their wrongdoing (vs.2b). Is that how we understand God’s method of operation? Does God still operate this way? Consider Hebrews 12:5-6: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are punished by Him; For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”  This is a reference from Proverbs 3:12, which Amos’s audience would have known well.  Then God lists of series of incidents demonstrating that certain results are inevitable given certain triggering actions: 

Verse seven makes the remarkable assertion that God has limited Himself in that He will not take such punishing action unless He first reveals His plans to His prophets. If the Bible record can be instructive about the reason for giving prior knowledge to prophets, it seems that He wishes to give those about to be punished one last chance to repent. This is how God lovingly acted in response to Jonah’s prophetic word to Nineveh. 

Notice this New Testament parallel: “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). Those who don’t take advantage of God’s patience, though, will experience the wrath of God against sin made necessary due to His holiness: “But to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation” (Rom. 2:8). 

The most remarkable truth is that God sent His Son the “lamb of God” to pay for our sins and experience the Father’s righteous wrath in our place. The prophetic warning to us is to receive this gift by making Jesus our Savior and Lord. The inevitable result of not doing so is expressed by the devastation God warned about and, in fact, brought to His people in verses 11-15. 

REVELATION 16: The chapter details the events that occur when the seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out on the earth.

First Bowl: Ugly and painful sores break out on people

Second Bowl: Sea turned to blood killing all sea creatures

Third Bowl: Rivers and springs of water turned to blood 

Fourth Bowl: People seared with intense heat from the sun

Fifth Bowl: Darkness comes over land

Sixth Bowl: Demons come to prepare for the final battle at Armageddon 

Seventh Bowl: Great earthquake and huge hailstones

READING FOR DECEMBER 24, 2025 CONTINUED: REVELATION 16, PSALM 129 

In the face of massive death and destruction, people refused to repent and instead cursed God for all that was happening. But in the middle of the chapter, when demons are at work, Jesus gives a word of hope for those who belong to him, "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed" (16:15).                                                                                                                                           

This week we remember and celebrate Jesus’ first coming as a baby in Bethlehem, but there is another coming promised in Scripture. Jesus is coming again! Several times the Bible speaks of Jesus coming like a thief:

• But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was com- ing, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matt 24:43-44
• For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 1 Thess. 5:1-4                                   
• But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. 2 Peter 3:10
• But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Revelation 3:3

To come like a thief does not mean no one will see him but rather he will come unexpectedly. Unlike the first coming when only a few people recognized him, when he comes again, every eye will see him for he will come in his glory with all his angels. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.” (Matthew 25:31) Rather than trying to figure out dates and times of this second coming, the Bible calls us to focus on being ready. Are you ready if Jesus comes today? 

PSALM 129: This is an interesting Psalm in that on first reading seems to be a complaint about the Psalmist’s difficult position in life.  Yet, on closer reading, reveals itself to be a Psalm testifying to God’s faithfulness in the past and trust in His goodness for the future.  The Psalmist states and immediately restates the reality that “they,” whoever they are, have been afflicting him all his life. He is also perhaps using his own experience to represent that of the entire nation when he adds “let all of Israel now say.” In verses 3-4, the Psalmist identifies to whom the pronoun “they” refers: wicked men who hate God’s people, who are called Zion.  But even though the wicked have “ploughed his back with long furrows,” in other words have made quite a negative impact on him, they have not prevailed against him. 

Why haven’t they prevailed or why won’t the wicked or those who hate Christians today prevail? It is because the Lord is righteous. Jesus put it this way: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18).  Knowing of God’s unbeaten track record and His and eternal attribute of righteousness, the Psalmist confidently asks God to make His enemies like grass that withers on the roof. Because it has little root, it is not even necessary for the reaper to collect it; it withers due to its own inadequacies. We as believers should pray against the forces and powers arrayed against God today: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). They also wither like grass, but what will never wither?  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa.40:8).