READING FOR DECEMBER 25, 2025: AMOS 4, REVELATION 17, PSALM 130 AMOS 4 God calls His people in Samaria (the northern kingdom) “cows of Bashan.” That is a reference to the fat livestock grown in this region: “Of rams and lambs, Of goats and bulls, All of them fatlings of Bashan” (Ezek. 39:18). This seems to be directed at overly affluent wives in Israel who oppress the poor and continually make demands on their husbands for yet more luxuries. God, however, in His righteous holiness, will instead forcibly and humiliatingly lead them out their comfort and parade them toward Harmon. This is the only mention of Harmon in the Bible, so all we really know is that it’s not a good place to be. If one were to fairly evaluate our life- styles in Yorktown in 2025 compared to most in the world and to most periods of history, we might be accurately judged to be living in extreme wealth. We need to be certain that our wealth is not at the expense of others who must work for little pay in miserable conditions.
Bethel and Gigal in Israel, were two sites that were set up for sacrificial offerings that were not authorized by God. They were established to prevent people in the north from going to Jerusa- lem, God’s authorized site for the temple sacrifices. God appears to be sarcastically inviting the northern kingdom to keep sacrificing at these two sites if it makes them feel good or religious. These sacrifices are not accepted by God, though. They will have no atoning value.
In response to offering invalid sacrifices, God gave them clean teeth (not a lack of cavities but a lack of food). He gave them uneven and insufficient rain. He sent them scorching winds, mildew, and pests. He did all this to bring them back to living in obedience to Him, but they disregarded all these efforts of loving discipline. In an attempt to get their attention, God ratcheted up the punishment to include plagues like Pharoah experienced, soldiers killed in battle, and an overwhelming stench—still to no avail: “’Yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the Lord.” (vs. 10).
Since none of this prompted Israel to repent, God finally determined to overthrow them, as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. He ominously tells them to “prepare to meet your God, Israel” (vs. 12). We all need to be so prepared. Jesus gives us this wisdom: “Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour” (Matt. 25:13). Let’s keep in mind who we will be meeting so our preparation will be appropriate: “For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind, and
declares to a person what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of armies is His name” (vs. 13).
REVELATION 17: This chapter shows the final display of God’s wrath as poured out upon the city of Babylon which is portrayed as a harlot. Scholars have various opinions on the identity of this city. (Rome, Jerusalem, Babylon or even the church that goes apostate.) We can’t be sure
READING FOR DECEMBER 25, 2025 CONTINUED: REVELATION 17, PSALM 130 of the identity, but we can be sure of why God judges her. She is full of abominations and adulteries. She is also guilty of killing God’s people. The woman is portrayed riding a beast with seven heads and ten crowns. The 10 crowns are said to represent ten kings who will receive power to make war against the Lamb. We will reflect on the outcome of that war: They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. (17:14)
We gather to celebrate Christmas Day and we remember that Jesus came into the world so that we might be saved. But there is another reason Jesus came:
- The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. (1 John 3:8)
- …he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil… (Hebrews 2:14)
We don’t normally think of the first Christmas as being an act of war, but in a very real sense, that is what it was. The light had come to invade and ultimately defeat the darkness. Jesus had come to reclaim that which had been lost in the garden of Eden. While on earth, Jesus confronted and defeated the powers of darkness. His death on the cross sealed the defeat and assured that the war would be won. (Remember Revelation 12:11 declares the enemy was overcome by the blood of the Lamb!) Although the enemy has been defeated, he continues to fight right up until the battles portrayed here in Revelation. But the end has already been determined…The Lamb will win the war. He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
Those who follow the King of kings are portrayed as called, chosen, and faithful. We are a called and chosen people. Peter says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). May these words describe us as we seek to follow Jesus.
PSALMS 130 The Psalmist said he cried out to the Lord while in the depths. We might never cry out to the Lord with much passion if we are never in the depths of life. Perhaps that is the real blessing that accom- panies such a crisis. Here the Psalmist only asks for God’s attention, not a specific result. God knows better than we what we need at such a time of challenge. Notice the Psalmist’s understanding of both God’s holiness and mercy. Our guilt before such a holy God is more than we could ever address by our own efforts. But God’s mercy, made available to us by Jesus at the cross, is sufficient for us if we put our faith in Him. This forgive- ness in turn makes us revere God, not ignore Him once our guilt is gone. Let’s be honest, do we really wait in hope for the Lord and on His word as would a sentry, think Paul Revere, waits for the first light of dawn before war with a dreaded enemy? Let’s measure ourselves in this regard through our prayers, Bible reading, and default thought life. Finally, he said this mercy from and reverence for God is possible for God’s people as a community. That includes Yorktown Methodist. Let’s revere our God, not be ashamed of HIm: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom1:16).
