”But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.“
Micah 5:2 ESV
”So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.“
Ruth 1:19-22 ESV
I used battery powered candles this year for my advent wreath. I love it because I can keep the candles glowing through out the week and as I pass by I reflect on their symbolisim. The second candle to light during these weeks of advent is the CANDLE OF PEACE or THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE. I paused this morning and just let my thoughts wander. I wondered why link Bethlehem candle to the Candle of Peace? I think during Christmas I could go down a thousand rabbit holes just chasing what God did when He sent us His Son.
I look to my Bethlehem decoration, and the lights of the village, the shepherds and their sheep, and the wisemen with their camels traveling, bearing gifts for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. My decoration gives the aura of a busy and prestigious village, but the prophet Micah says, “too little to be among the clans of Judah.” However, this sleeping little village was destined for greatness.
Bethlehem, it means House of Bread. THE BREAD OF LIFE would be born in the House of Bread. The PRINCE OF PEACE would come as a vulnerable infant and lay His sweet head in a manger of hay.
Bethlehem though it is small, it is very significant throughout the biblical accounts.
From the book of Ruth we read of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi returning to Bethlehem in a state of grief. Naomi had lost her husband and her two sons, one of whom was Ruth’s husband. They came looking for peace of heart, shalom, completeness and wholeness. Naomi called herself, “Mara,” which means bitter. They were two broken women who needed healing. So they came to the HOUSE OF BREAD looking for Peace and sustanance. God filled them with food, abundance, wholeness, and an inheritance.
”So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.“
Ruth 4:13-22 ESV
And David became King of all of Israel and would be listed in the genealogy of Christ.
And it says of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6-7
”For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.“
Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV
Jesus is our Prince of Peace, our Prince of Shalom. He is the only one who can give our hearts, minds, souls, and strength completeness and wholeness.
Our world is not at peace right now. In fact I can’t think of a time in all the history of the world it was ever really at peace.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his poem, “I heard the bells,”
“And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth,” I said. “For hate is strong and mocks the son of peace on earth, good-will to men.”
I concur, there is no peace on earth, but I know the PRINCE OF PEACE. He was born in a stable in Bethlehem. If you know HIM also, then you know real peace, not the peace the world and its leaders try to give us, but real peace that flows from inside out, the kind that gives you wholeness in your thoughts and souls.
And that is why this candle is BETHLEHEM’S CANDLE THE CANDLE OF PEACE. Won’t you travel with me, Naomi, Ruth, the shepherds, and the wisemen to Bethlehem?
”In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.“
Luke 2:1-7 ESV