December 11 - O’ Little Town Of Bethlehem

O’ Little Town Of Bethlehem

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.” Micah 5:2

On December 24, 1865 at the age of thirty, Phillips Brooks’ life would be changed forever by a Christmas Eve service that lasted nearly five hours. The service took place at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Brooks wrote, “I remember standing in the old church in Bethlehem close to the spot where Jesus was born, when the whole church was ringing hour after hour with splendid hymns of praise to God, how again and again it seemed as if I could hear voices I knew well, telling each other of the wonderful night of the Savior’s birth.” The full impact of his Bethlehem experience would become evident as he prepared for the Christmas season in 1867.

Brooks wanted to compose an original Christmas hymn for the children of his congregation to sing during their annual Christmas program. Memories of that life changing experience in Bethlehem flooded his mind and he wrote a hymn of five stanzas and handed the words to his organist Lewis Redner saying, “Lewis, why not write a new tune for my poem.” Redner struggled with the task of putting Brooks’ words to music. Finally, on the night before the Christmas program, he awoke with the music filling his soul. He wrote down the melody and then went back to sleep. The next day, a group of six Sunday School teachers and thirty-six children sang “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.”  Brooks was thrilled with Redner’s melody and named the song St. Lewis in honor of him. Redner claimed the melody to be a gift from God. The song became an instant favorite of adults and children alike. The song would finally be published for the first time. The words were these:

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years ..... are met in thee tonight.

Just as Brooks’ life was changed by one night in Bethlehem ours is as well. Christmas is a celebration of our own Bethlehem experience. The name "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread". Micah also calls it by another name "Ephrathah " which is an older name for the city.  It means "Place of Fruitfulness" and “House of Bread.” How fitting that Jesus should be born in Bethlehem! For He is the true "The Bread of Life" that takes away the sin of the world.

It was in Bethlehem that Jacob buried Rachel. And it was in Bethlehem that Ruth lived married Boaz. But to most Jews the very name Bethlehem was synonymous with King David, who was born and raised in Bethlehem.

Those verses declare the heart of Christmas. It is a time of celebration, salvation, and contemplation.

The prophet Micah put his pen to paper and wrote about this little town of Bethlehem. 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.” Micah 5:2

In brief words, Micah tells the story of a very special town. The story Of Bethlehem is a special story that needs to be told and retold. Especially in these trying times in which we live.

1.  Bethlehem was quite the unexpected place for a King to be born:  he earliest historical reference that we have about Bethlehem is from the 14th century BC. Bethlehem was located five miles south of Jerusalem within the boundaries of the land that was allotted to the tribe of Judah.

2. A quiet night in a small village would literally turn the world upside down: The Jewish people had been waiting patiently for the birth of their new King and the news turned Jerusalem upside down. Matthew continues to use prophecy to make the case that Jesus was truly the Messiah that the prophets foretold.

3.  Bethlehem’s honor would rest in the fact that it was there where a great turning point in human history took place: The birth of Jesus would literally turn the people of Israel upside down which would ultimately lead to a great blessing for the entire world. How could the very people anticipating the birth of the Messiah not recognize

4.   Bethlehem would be the place where the creation would meet its Creator face to face: In Bethlehem we came face to face with our Creator, no longer would He be far off, He was now with us. The most significant event in human history happened as this one child was born and called Immanuel. This new King would not be another Herod, frantically clutching His throne at any cost, but a shepherd loving His sheep, protecting His people.

So often it’s not the big things that matter; it’s the little things in our lives—things we can do for others. Phillips Brooks once said, "It is while you are patiently toiling at the little tasks of life that the meaning and shape of the great whole of life dawns on you." Our hope is that Brooks’ prayer in the last stanza of O Little Town of Bethlehem is your prayer today:

"O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angles, the great, glad tidings tell. O
come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel." Amen!

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1.     How has God shown Himself big to you in the little things?

2.     What sin can we cast out?

Consider reading the Word today:

Copyright 2014-Terry Risser