O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

O Little Town of Bethlehem

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on My behalf.”

Micah 5:2 NLT

Bethlehem, it was a small town, insignificant really from human perspective. The prophet Micah made a point of emphasizing Bethlehem’s size. But or yet, two English words that change the whole perceptions of things. Micah says YET, yet a ruler over Israel will one day come out of this small insignificant village. This RULER has origins from days of old, and this RULER will come on God’s behalf.

This RULER, this RULER… Who is He? Who did Micah see coming?

First off, let’s travel with the Ghost of Christmas past. Let’s soar over this village of Bethlehem Ephrathah. In Jesus’ day it was an agricultural village just five miles south of Jerusalem. Greatly overshadowed by the capital city of Judea with the ornate Temple of worship for the Jewish people, Bethlehem wasn’t even a walled city. The fields and hills surrounding the village were filled with shepherds and their sheep. These sheep were significant. They were the Temple sheep. Their perfect spotless lambs, if they were fortunate enough to birth such a lamb, were used in the sacrifices of Temple worship. The fields and the birthing caves smelled of manure and fresh grass. It was messy. A shepherd’s occupation was shameful and dirty. YET…A RULER of Israel would be born there.

Bethlehem means house of bread. YET the Bread of Life would be born there.

Ephrathah means fruitful. YET… Only in Christ are we fruitful.

Bethlehem may have been small. YET… It’s history carried a powerful punch.

“Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.”

Genesis 35:16-20 NLT

The famous ancestors of Jesus, Boaz and Ruth, were married there.

“Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, “We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.”

Ruth 4:11 NLT

“This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.”

Ruth 4:18-22 NLT

“Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. Jesse was an old man at that time, and he had eight sons.”

1 Samuel 17:12 NLT

And finally

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,”

Matthew 2:1 NLT

Jesus is that RULER the prophet Micah spoke of. Micah was speaking with the power of the Holy Spirit. He was able to look thru the ages and to see this Jesus, this RULER, the PRINCE OF PEACE. Jesus’ origins are timeless and eternal. It was thru HIM all things were created. He was there when our timeline began. HE is the ANCIENT OF DAYS.

So today we light another purple candle. It carries many names.

THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE

THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION

THE CANDLE OF PEACE

Jesus is our PRINCE OF PEACE.

Peace – shalom – wholeness – completeness.

Stand up straight. Let your head rise. Lift up your eyes. You are not small, you are not insignificant. Just like Bethlehem, God has purpose for your life. The miraculous event of Jesus’ birth forever changed our future. It happened in an unlikely village just five miles south of Jerusalem. YET… our Prince of Peace would never sit on the throne of King Herod, a throne made by human hands. Our KING OF KINGS sits on a higher throne, standing in the COURT OF HEAVEN, and one day HE WILL RIDE BACK.

“And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.”

Revelation 20:11 NLT

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all Lords.”

Revelation 19:11-16 NLT

Prepare your hearts this day. Celebrate Jesus this Christmas season.