But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though
thou be little among the thousands
of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2 (KJV)
This prophetic utterance of Micah was made approximately 700 years before the
birth of Christ. We refer to that date, by the way, as 700 B.C. (Before Christ)
– not B.C.E. (Before the Common Era). The latter designation is being
promulgated by modern agnostics in science, the social arena, and government to
detract from that great event that happened 2,000 years ago. By the same
token, they attempt to reclassify Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord) to C.E.
(Common Era) in order to remove the proper designation of Christ’s birth. The
world is at enmity with God and, especially, His Son, Jesus Christ – so every
mention of His Name, or His birthday, is anathema to those who hate Him. The
Jehovah Witnesses began this ‘sleight of hand,’ and atheist and agnostics
gladly took it up. I refuse to bow the knee to the intimidation and
intrigue of the modern apostates, so I proudly proclaim at every opportunity the
basis of our calendar – and I proclaim “MERRY CHRISTMAS” at every appropriate
occasion.
The little town of Bethlehem bears a prominence that exceeds it’s size many
times over. Rachel, the mother of Joseph died there and is buried there. Ruth
and Boaz, grandparents of David lived there, and King David was born there –
hence, the name, City of David. The prophets tell us that the Messiah would be
born in this sleepy little hamlet, and it was so. The powers of Heaven move and
the lower powers of earth respond in absolute obedience. Even the emperor of
Rome decreed a tax enrollment in the fullness of time to bring all the stars in
alignment for the fulfillment of Scripture for the venue of Christ’s birth.
Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts, wrote the lines to this sweet and
precious carol in 1868, inspired by his trip to Bethlehem three years earlier.
He had ridden to Bethlehem by horseback on Christmas Eve of 1865 and stood on
the very hills overlooking Bethlehem where it is supposed the poor shepherds
were first to hear the Good News of Christ’s birth. The tune was composed by
Lewis Redner. This carol became an immediate Christmas favorite and its lilting
lyrics make us to stand, in figure, on those same hills with the shepherds as
the bright angels descended and hovered there in the purple-canopied heavens.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.
For Christ is born
of Mary;
and gathered all
above,
while mortals
sleep, the angels keep
their watch of
wondering love.
O morning stars,
together
proclaim the holy
birth!
and praises sing
to God the King,
and peace to men
on earth.
How silently, how
silently,
the wondrous gift
is given!
So God imparts to
human hearts
the blessings of
his heaven.
No ear may hear
his coming,
but in this world
of sin,
where meek souls
will receive him,
still the dear
Christ enters in.
Where children
pure and happy
pray to the
blessed Child,
where misery cries
out to thee,
Son of the Mother
mild;
where charity
stands watching
and faith holds
wide the door,
the dark night
wakes, the glory breaks,
and Christmas
comes once more.
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 angels
the great glad
tidings tell;
O come to us,
abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
1st Stanza: Yes,
it is true that Bethlehem lay still and sleepy under those silent stars that
traversed the skies above the village those two thousand years ago. No one
there, save Mary and Joseph, were aware of the immensity and importance of the
event that lay ahead that night in the Providence of God – and even Mary and
Joseph only had a simple knowledge and not one informed by the profundity of
all of the prophetic words uttered concerning the event. It was quite dark in
that semi-rural little town that night. The lamps had been extinguished, and
the feet of both men and cattle were stilled from commerce and travel in the
lateness of the hour. It is from the darkest shadows that light burst forth
with greatest brilliance and impact. But regardless the intensities of the
light, the spiritually blind will not see it. The culmination of the hopes of
the chosen of Israel were about to be realized, and their yearning to see
this coming Light from the days of Abraham even unto John would also be
satisfied. Malachi, in 4:2, had spoken of the effulgent and bright heavenly
Light of the World that would dawn on the entire world in due time: “But
unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in
his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall .”
(Mal 4:2) Isaiah also gives us a glimpse of that Light: “The people that
walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the
shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
All of Time and Eternity Past
have marched toward the very hour of this event, and little Bethlehem is the
scene of it.
2nd Stanza: Mary
is the young virgin prophesied of old to bring forth the only Begotten Son of
God. She was not mother of His Godhead, but of His carnal body. The men
and women of Bethlehem were soundly sleeping save the lonely shepherd boys who
were watching over their flocks at all hours of the night. There were other
beings that remained wide awake and alert as well – the Angels of God! The
morning stars sang together that climactic night in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was
least among the cities of Judah, but the most profound event in all of history,
and of the world, occurred in that small and unassuming little village. God
does not need a grand cathedral from which to proclaim His Word. He may choose
the rocky hills of a small country town miles away from Jerusalem. He may even
shun the elaborate and hypocritical opulence of the great centers of worship.
3rd Stanza: God
often performs His grandest miracles in silent darkness. The gifts of the
Spirit come wafting on wings of silence just as the dews distill in silence and
darkness on the pre-dawn flowers of the garden. No one sees the dew’s coming,
but they can readily see the benefits of its moisture-granting nature after the
fact. God does not usually come with pomp and circumstance, but in small, still
whispers. Those who are seeking an emotional experience may miss that voice
altogether. In fact, the meek souls are far outnumbered by the greedy proud who
cannot see the beauty and simplicity of Christ. Regardless the rejection
of the world, God will enter into His people’s heart and His will shall be done
in spite of all.
4th Stanza: Please
observe with what awe and expectant joy a little child looks to Christmas. How
greater would the joy be if they were fully aware that the day was about Jesus
Christ alone and not about a human Santa Claus and elaborately wrapped
packages! Perhaps it would be best to teach the children that this day is the
birthday of Christ without anything added – what gifts have we brought unto
Him? Christ well informed us that “lest ye (we)
become as these little children, we shall in no
wise enter in the Kingdom of Heaven.,” The dark night of
the soul of the world is about to awake to a new and promised hope. Centuries
of man-centered error and hatred will now be punctuated with light and love.
Much of the world will remain in self-imposed darkness, but those who receive
the Lord Jesus shall have a new birth that only God can give. The old, old
story is repeated in homes and churches year after year. Even the dark and snow
laden landscape becomes beauty and light at Christmas. The season is endowed
with the grace of brotherly love.
5th Stanza: Why
do men search vainly in the Scriptures to determine the exact moment of Christ’s
return? He comes to each of those who believe daily. Every day is Christmas to
the devout Christian. Our rough and unhewn hearts are very much light the crude
wooden manger that was the simple receptacle for baby Jesus on that first night
of Christmas. It is just as important to us that Christ be born in our own
hearts as in that small village at Christmas. “We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!”
As we attend this Christmas Eve Service at Church, and the continuing
celebration of the Twelved Days , we, too, shall again hear the words of the
Great Angel of Bethlehem proclaiming the glad tidings. We, too, hopefully, will
be drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ just as the shepherd hurried to find Him.
When we search out the place that Christ dwells, just as did the shepherds and
Wise Men, we will come to abide with Him and He with us. After all, by His very
nature, He is “God with Us!” (Our Emmanuel)
