WE would tell you this time a. little something about another little town from the holy land, it is Bethlehem, the meaning of which is “of bread.” In early time it used to be called Ephrath, which means fruitful. Both names signify how blessed and fruitful its fertile fields must have been; and to this day Bethlehem is considered to be of the best, most fruitful district in Palestine. The town is about four or five miles from Jerusalem, upon a rocky elevation surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Its population, of about 6 or 7000, is mostly nominal Christians, almost all belong to the Greek Catholic and the Armenian churches. There is a small evangelical congregation there, numbering about 50 souls.
Bethlehem’s history reaches way back unto the patriarchs, and accordingly would be about 3,500 years old.
The first time it is ever mentioned is in Genesis, and that at the birth of Jacob’s youngest son Benjamin, whose mother Rachel died after his birth and was buried here.
In the time of the judges, when God’s beloved people wandered so often in bad and forbidden ways, the lovely incident of Ruth took place.
She was a young Moabitish widow, a heathen, who through the Jew Elimelech had learned of the living God. Elimelech, in time of famine, had gone to Moab and while there, his son had married Ruth. But Elimelech and his son, Ruth’s husband, both died, and Ruth with her mother-in-law, whose name was Naomi, left Moab to go to the holy land. Ruth loved Naomi, but she loved the living God more. Thus the two widows arrived at Bethlehem, and there Ruth was to taste in full measure the grace and goodness of Israel’s God. She became not only the wife of the pious and wealthy Boaz, but you can find her name also in the New Testament in our Lord’s genealogy. (See Matt. 1:55And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Matthew 1:5).) How rich was she rewarded for her faith in Israel’s God! “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” And again in another scripture: “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Yes, surely, “godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Many things out of David’s life take us back to Bethlehem, yea, it is called the “city of David,” for here David, Israel’s great king, was born. As a shepherd boy he ha I gone over the rich pastures around the city, playing his harp; here also he killed the lion and the bear, in faith, as well as proved in many ways, God’s faithfulness.
The most precious incident of all which happened at Bethlehem was the birth of our Saviour. The prophet Micah had, about 700 years before it took pointed out this lovely spot as the Lord Jesus’ birth place, Micah 5:22But 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). What precious, wondrous grace! God’s well-beloved Son come down from yonder glory, and as a child lies in Bethlehem’s manger; and over the pastures, where the Godfearing shepherds are watching their flocks, sounds the glad tidings of the angel: “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord!”
As often as you hear the name Bethlehem you may think of the glad tidings and rejoice. But true and lasting joy you can only have if that Saviour has come into your heart to abide. In Bethlehem, the Lord found no room in the inn; has He found any room in your heart, my little reader? He has room for you up there, for He says, “Yet there is room.” How happy for yourself and others, and what joy it would give the Lord Jesus, if you were to receive God’s word and believe it, that you like those shepherds, might praise Him and bear witness of Him. Of them we read: “An.1 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all thethings they had heard and seen.”
Not long after the birth of the Lord, noble guests came to Bethlehem, they were three wise men from the east, come to worship the child Jesus. They were wise, were they not? Yes, indeed all are that, who truly seek the Saviour. But children, what do you think of such whom the Lord came to seek, and save, and they keep out of His way, don’t want to be found of Him, nor saved by Him? Don’t you think they are unwise, foolish? Are you among the wise like the conies who make their home in the rock? These wise men are not deceived by the lowly and humble surroundings; they came to seek the Child whose star they had seen in the east, and they bow their knees and
worship Him, the King of the Jews and the Ruler of the universe. What the elders of the Jews refused and despised to do, these men did, whose hearts had been taught of God.
You see, children, God knows the pride and haughtiness of man’s heart, He resists the proud. The Lord Jesus made Himself of no reputation, that He might seek and save us, He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. How wonderful and precious that the Creator of all things, the Lord of glory, should be born into this world in Bethlehem and to lie in a manger.
Messages of God’s Love 2/2/1908