Charles W. Holt
email: cholt@gt.rr.com
WHY BETHLEHEM?
Scripture reading: Luke 2:1-7
Of all the cities, towns and villages in Palestine why did the Lord God choose such an unheard-of hamlet as Bethlehem for the birth of the greatest figure ever to enter into human history? If a site selection committee had been appointed, the name of Bethlehem probably would have never made the list. There are all kinds of important reasons to favor another location.
The city of Hebron, for example, played an important role in the beginning of Hebrew history. In the Old Testament record its name occurs 73 times. Why not again? If our mythical site selection committee could meet Hebron’s Chamber of Commerce they would hear how Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and later David were associated with this town. So why not a brief mention or two in the New Testament, this time for the heir to the throne of the great king David. It would be a smart selection.
On the other hand, Jerusalem is an even more logical choice. Six hundred eleven times the city is mentioned in the Old Testament. For centuries, from the day David captured it from the Jebusites to make it his city, Jerusalem was the center of religious and civil life in Israel. The magnificent temple of Solomon was there. The royal palace too. Our site selection committee would be hard pressed to find reasons to deny Jerusalem the privilege of welcoming the new king. But Jerusalem fails to make the cut.
Nazareth comes to mind. Why not Nazareth? This is a logical favorite because it is the home of Mary and Joseph. It offers the most in convenience. Life can go on as usual for Joseph, Mary and Jesus surrounded by relatives and good neighbors. There would be no interruption in the daily flow of activity. In view of the impending birth of Mary’s baby it could save days of travel at this most inappropriate time.
God could have chosen the imperial and political Rome or cultural and intellectual Athens. He didn’t. Nor did he choose Hebron or Jerusalem or Nazareth. But why Bethlehem? By the ancient Prophet’s own words Bethlehem "was small among the clans of Judah" (Micah 5:2 NIV). Or, as Matthew records, "least among the rulers of Judah" (Mt. 6:2 NIV).
For whatever the reasons, Bethlehem never rose to a position of prominence in its entire history. Bethlehem was never the theater of any action or business. There are, however, two events which stand out in its history and either one of them could have propelled it into a place of lasting glory and honor. After all, it was here that Israel’s great and ideal king, poet, and hero drew his first breath and grew up. Before that, a most beautiful love story, set within its environs, was lived out. It is the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz recorded in the Book of Ruth. Still, through the passing years and centuries, it remained an ordinary Judean village like scores of others.
This much can be said for it. Fertile fields that yielded fruit and grain surrounded the hamlet. The water was sweet to the taste. It was located on one of the main roads that meant visitors and trade would pass through. Its excellent location attracted the attention of the Philistines who, once in its history, made it a military outpost and kept one of their garrison’s there.
Although it was not named a Levitical city, it was apparently a residence of Levites because the young Jonathan, son of Gershom, lived there. He became the first priest of the Danites at their new northern settlement (Judges 17:7; 28:30). Any of these people and the events surrounding their lives could have elevated Bethlehem or "put it on the map." Instead, people came and went. People lived and died. It experienced the ebb and flow or seedtime and harvest of scores of other nondescript places as the years passed. Bethlehem was . . . well . . . THERE.
This notion of obscurity is captured by a verse from one of the favorite songs sung during the Christmas season.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above the 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.
Bethlehem’s beginning dates back into the dim past of history. It had lain still in a "deep and dreamless sleep" for nearly two thousand years before shepherds came to seek a babe lying in a manger or Magi from the east were led by a star and bowed to the new king. Why stir it from its slumber now? I want to suggest at least two reasons:
1. A rich past with its associations with the greatest men of Israel’s history and ultimately of the entire world.
2. The meanings and metaphors, which can be drawn from its history and from these great figures, associated with Bethlehem.
Bethlehem was already in existence at the time Jacob returned from Canaan. When he and his family came to Bethel, the scripture says,
And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto
her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called
his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem (Gen. 35:16-19 KJV).
Our first introduction to Bethlehem leaves us with mixed emotions. We are confronted with a life and death struggle. Joy and sorrow clash. The dying Rachel names her newborn son BENONI meaning, "son of my trouble." This is understandable from her point of view. Jacob, on the other hand, has a different perspective. He immediately changes the name to Benjamin, which means "son of my right hand." Years later, at the end of his own life, Jacob recounts those days to his sons. He says, "As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem)" (Gen. 48:7 NIV).
Thus did the mother of Joseph and Benjamin die and Jacob erected a tomb for her. Without realizing it, Jacob’s simple, conventional, and quite customary act ties the future generations of Israel to this virtually unknown plot of ground. So too, each of our lives is affected by what is sometimes called "fate." But to a believer—a Christian—it is best described as "Divine providence." People of faith acknowledge, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Ps. 37:23), and they know that, "A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps" (Pr. 16:9). Coincidental meetings turn out to be more than mere "chance." A sudden, unplanned stop links us to people and places we would have never imagined.
In a small sense also, what happened to Jacob and Rachel at the time of the birth of Benjamin was a predictor of the events to take place there nearly two thousand years later. For this part of the story we turn to Matthew and read of Herod’s brutal massacre of the infants two-years-old and under.
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not" (Mt. 2:16-18)
Once again, it is a scene of life and death, sorrow and joy. The mothers of Bethlehem, seeing their children slaughtered have rightful reasons to cry with Rachel, "sons of my trouble." From God’s point of view, however, the escaping infant born of Mary was indeed, "son of my right hand." The author of the book of Hebrews speaks of God’s son.
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; . . .
"But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool"? (Heb. 1:3,13 KJV).
What truth emerges from these events? Simply that God guides our steps and our stops. That God’s perfect plan is not always immediately recognized by us. That, in fact, we are often the happy victims of His overruling providence. That the cycles of life include good times and bad, life and death, sorrow and joy. When we are committed to doing God’s will we happily confess: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rm. 8:28).
Several centuries must pass before the next series of significant events involving Bethlehem take place. The Book of Ruth describes a wonderful and moving story of tragedy and triumph. It is an account of a woman named Naomi driven from her land because of famine. And Ruth, her daughter-in-law, who clings to her when their lives are changed forever by the death of their loved ones. It is a touching story of Ruth’s devotion to Naomi when she returns to Bethlehem. Naomi’s homecoming is an unhappy one. She tells the women of the village: "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me…the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me" (Ruth 1:20,21).
The story in the Book of Ruth is set approximately one thousand years before Christ is born in Bethlehem. Again the question can be raised: why Bethlehem? From the record of Ruth we will get some of our most significant clues for the answer.
Ruth marries one of the most influential men of the city. His name is Boaz. Turning quickly to the end of the story we read, "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son" (Ruth 4:13). That may sound rather natural and unremarkable, something to be expected. It is when we look at the "family tree"—the genealogical record—that we see the significance.
"Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Nahshon, and Nahshom begat Salmon, and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David" (Ruth 4:18-22).
David’s story is well known. He was born in humble circumstances in this obscure village of Bethlehem. A few years pass while he grows into a handsome teenager. One day the great Prophet Samuel comes to the home of Jesse to anoint a new king in Israel. David is brought before the Prophet. The Scripture describes the scene: "Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward" (1 Sam. 16:12,13).
David’s boyhood years were spent in and around Bethlehem. But as he moved forward toward his God-given destiny he moves miles away from this boyhood home. Not that he forgot completely his roots, his hometown. In fact, an interesting footnote to his life is found in connection with another event of his life. It happened one day when David, now the leader of a rag-tag army, is hiding in the cave of Adullam. The Philistines had stationed a garrison in Bethlehem. At that time the Bible says, "And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" (2 Sam. 23:15). So, there is something about the quality of the water at Bethlehem that is especially appealing! Let us keep this fact in mind, as we will come back to it later. It is an important part of the answer we are seeking.
Despite the glory that Bethlehem could have garnered from its illustrious king and poet David, the village continues to slumber through more centuries. Suddenly around 700 BC (or 300 years after David is born) Bethlehem pops into the headlines again. This time its name is mentioned in the context of a prophecy of things that seem not to relate to the immediate circumstances. At this time in their history, Israel is threatened by an invasion of the fierce Assyrians. To an uncelebrated Prophet name Micah, at a time of great distress for the nation, comes this amazing announcement:
"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 going forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).
Why Bethlehem? Because of this wondrous prophecy given 700 years before Mary and Joseph would take their five-day walk from the tiny country village of Nazareth located in lower Galilee. It was a journey made necessary because it just so happened that Bethlehem was Joseph’s ancestral home. But like so many before him he too had moved away—90 miles to the north.
As we know, Joseph must return to his ancestral home because of the census being taken by Rome. It was an unplanned journey. It was an inconvenient journey. It was a perilous journey fraught with hardship and discomfort. But in God’s providence and wisdom they must make this 90-mile trip to the edge of the Judean wilderness about four and one-half miles south of Jerusalem.
This brings us to the Bethlehem we know most about because its name is mentioned prominently in the Christmas story. The village is overflowing with travelers like Joseph and Mary. There is no room in the local inn. To the warmth and quiet of a stable they go and Jesus is born. To shepherds watching their flocks by night there comes the startling announcement of the birth. Going into Bethlehem they find the babe "wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger." Some weeks, perhaps months, later the Magi arrive with their treasure for the new King of Israel.
Why Bethlehem? There are some simple answers.
First, the birthplace in Bethlehem is chosen to stress the simple and humble origin of both David and his future successor who is promised to be the True Shepherd of the people. He is Jesus.
Second, it is chosen to point out the marvel of God’s sovereignty in ruling and overruling in our lives. Think of the marvel in the truth that Jesus was born in Bethlehem at all considering the fact that his family home was Nazareth. Only an Omniscient and Omnipotent Lord could arrange these details.
Third, because it demonstrates the validity of the inspired word of God. A Prophet spoke 700 years before the event to name the very town in which he was born. Add this reality to other unassailable evidence and you know the Scripture is indeed "God breathed!" The Bible is reliable. It can be trusted. God means what he says. He will do what He has promised.
Fourth, because of the significance in the meaning of the word. Bethlehem means, "House of bread." Christ is the Bread of Life. He said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (Jn. 6:35). Thus God chose Bethlehem "The House of Bread" as a proper setting to showcase Him who would meet the needs of hunger stricken souls.
Add to this, moreover, the reference earlier made about the sweet water that could be found at the well near the gate of the village. It was water that David longer for, and his men risked their lives to bring to him. A wonderful truth here lies in the fact that in Christ we have not only bread enough and to spare, but we may come and take also of the water of life freely.
Fifth, because it teaches us that God delights in taking:
"the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and weak things to confound the thing which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence…that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:26ff.).
Out of Bethlehem, "the least among the princes of Judah" there came the ruler of God’s people. This fact should provide hope and encouragement for all of us. It may be summed up by these words:
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isa. 57:15).
There is still another reason why God chose Bethlehem. Although nearly 2000 years have passed all roads still lead to this unobtrusive, humble, and insignificant place. A Bethlehem emerges before us all. Sooner or later we must all take the road that leads to our own Bethlehem experience and learn its lessons. What are these lessons?
We learn the lesson that Christ may be found in the most unobtrusive and unexpected places. In Bethlehem shepherds found him in a stable, lying in a manger. Where he is found is not nearly as important as the outcome of that discovery. For those in and about Jerusalem it was an occasion to merely "wonder" (Lk. 2:18). But for the shepherds it was an occasion to make "known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child…and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them" (Lk. 2:17,20). Their lives were forever changed as they "returned" to duties and responsibilities but now as both worshippers and witnesses.
The Bethlehem experience also altered the lives of the wise men from the east who came to Jerusalem, "Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him: (Mt. 2:2). When they found Him they, "fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" (Mt. 2:11).
Why Bethlehem? So that we might learn lessons in humility, to trust in the providence of God, to understand that what seems to be tragedy may be turned into triumph. It is to know there is a "House of Bread" and a "well of water" to meet the deepest yearning and longings of the soul. It is to know that like shepherds and wise men we may find Him, bow to Him in worship and adoration and "return another way" as His rejoicing witnesses.
Let us bow before Him today, open and present to Him our gifts and go forth as witnesses of His glory.
