Advent Devotional December 14, 2025

Scripture

Amos 9:11-15

11 On that day I will raise up
the booth of David that is fallen
and repair its breaches
and raise up its ruins
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
12 in order that they may possess the remnant of Edom
and all the nations who are called by my name,
says the Lord who does this.

13 The time is surely coming, says the Lord,
when the one who plows shall catch up with the one who reaps
and the treader of grapes with the one who sows the seed;
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and all the hills shall flow with it.
14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel,
and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant them upon their land,
and they shall never again be plucked up
out of the land that I have given them,
says the Lord your God.

Devotion

The Rev. Dr. Diane Knauf '23

The ancient Israelites were in spiritual shambles. They had betrayed God’s commands to care for the poor, deal justly in economic matters, and live with righteousness. Terrible choices, warned the prophet Amos, bring terrible consequences. Instead of smiting their enemies, as the Israelites hoped, God would allow their political alliances to be shattered, their idols thrown down, and the people scattered by invasion and exile.

And yet, Amos concludes his words of judgement with a vision of hope. A time will come, he says, when God will gather in those who have been scattered, rebuild desolated cities, and make vineyards and gardens produce abundantly. God will never utterly forsake God’s people.

Today there is a heaviness to life that often takes me by surprise. I guess I assumed that we would be in a much better place as a society, and as the church, than we are. Reading Amos’ words reminds me that we have always put our faith in ourselves rather than in God, looking to systems, institutions, denominations, and political parties to save us. We like to imagine that God will judge our enemies harshly, but Amos’ message is clear: God expects even more of those who profess to be followers.

It seems particularly appropriate in Advent that we revel in Amos’ vision of a future in which God rebuilds broken things—even us. As we celebrate again the birth of a baby who would experience the pains and joys of human life and show us the way through death to new life, we also yearn for Christ’s second coming, when He will repair and renew the world that He so loves. In the meantime, may we look within our own hearts, making room for the Holy Spirit to turn us back to God in this season of Advent waiting.

Prayer

Dear God, we hope in You, for You alone are the bringer of true and lasting peace. Make evident to us the difference between what the world promises and what Christ gives to us, so that we would trust and obey You always. Amen.

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