Micah 5:2-4 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,though you are small among the clans of Judah,out of you will come for Me, One who will be ruler over Israel,whose origins are from of old,from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Revelation 1:1-2 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
God had Bethlehem in His heart before the creation of the world. It was always a part of His plan in sending His Son to this earth.
He is a God of Might and Power Who delights in using out of the way places and seemingly insignificant people to accomplish His purposes.
Bethlehem was perfect for this.
1. Bethlehem, the Place of David's Birth
Bethlehem, the city of David
The place he grew up in.
The place he tended the flock of his family.
1 Samuel 16:10-12 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
David became Israel's King after Saul died. He was of the tribe of Judah. Joseph and Mary were descendants of David. Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem, the place of His father, David's birth. They certainly did have the look of royalty- a young carpenter and his wife, humble, working class.
It is translated The House of Bread.
John 6:35, 41 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
With Jerusalem 6 miles away, Bethlehem was a very insignificant place. Many believe the place where the temple sacrificial sheep were raised.
2. Bethlehem, Least Among the Tribes of Judah
The previous chapter is about the Daughter of Zion, Jerusalem.
God delights in using nobodies.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.
Celebrity Christianity is a gross distortion.
God is using unnamed people all around the earth today who are advancing His Kingdom. Friends who are undercover missionaries in a place where it is forbidden by the government. Friends in India running orphanages and ministering to lepers, Young pastors in Cambodia planting churches. You who put together shoeboxes going to needy parts of the world, part of millions going out. Least, small, God has chosen the weak things of the world.
Our faith in Him is used by Him to show His great power and so that no one can boast before God.
3. Bethlehem Today
Church of the Nativity
Christmas Carols About It
Philip Brookes
O Little Town of Bethlehem
After an early dinner, we took our horses and rode to Bethlehem,” so he wrote home in Christmas week of 1865. “It was only about two hours when we came to the town, situated on an eastern ridge of a range of hills, surrounded by its terraced gardens. It is a good-looking town...
Somewhere in those fields we rode through the shepherds must have been. . . . As we passed, the shepherds were still “keeping watch over their flocks or leading them home to fold.” Mr. Brooks returned in September, 1866, and it must have been while meditating at home over what he had seen that the carol took shape in his mind.
Lewis Redner writes:“As Christmas of 1868 approached, Mr. Brooks told me that he had written a simple little carol for the Christmas Sunday-school service, and he asked me to write the tune to it. The simple music was written in great haste and under great pressure. We were to practice it on the following Sunday. Mr. Brooks came to me on Friday, and said, ‘Redner, have you ground out that music yet to “O Little Town of Bethlehem”?’ I replied, ‘No,’ but that he should have it by Sunday. On the Saturday night previous my brain was all confused about the tune. I thought more about my Sunday-school lesson than I did about the music. But I was roused from sleep late in the night hearing an angel-strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.
In our lives- how He works
God is looking for us to offer ourselves to Him.
Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
A person who has fully given his life over to Jesus will be used in way more wonderful than he can imagine in the work of the kingdom of God on earth.
We think so far ahead at times or we think too much.
We need to be like Isaiah who said when God asked for someone to send. Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Great prayer for these times in our church. Rough week. God is purging us. This is the way He strengthens us. Cut back- make us stronger so we will bear even more fruit.
Jesus Here Am I please use me.
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