The Town

“ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,   
      Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, 
      Yet out of you shall come forth to Me 
      The One to be Ruler in Israel, 
      Whose goings forth are from of old, 
      From everlasting.” 
Therefore He shall give them up,   
      Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; 
      Then the remnant of His brethren 
      Shall return to the children of Israel. 
And He shall stand and feed His flock
      In the strength of the LORD, 
      In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; 
      And they shall abide, 
      For now He shall be great 
      To the ends of the earth; 
And this One shall be peace. (Micah 5:2-5, NKJV)   

The little town of Bethlehem. The City of David, the King. Humble, obscure... and one night, there was no room for a weary couple to lay their heads.

Did you note the line, "Whose goings forth are from everlasting"? That's Jesus. He was there before the world was created, and He is the Word which went forth and made it. From before the foundations of the earth, the Godhead had planned this Salvation, and the culmination began when the Christ was born into human flesh in a tiny town called Bethlehem.

God the Father had promised a Ruler would come forth, a Ruler who was just and perfect, a Ruler who would do His will. And now Bethlehem is blessed with the birth of the True King, who will reign forever according to God's promises.

How shall He rule? Look at the images.

• He rules like a Shepherd - He is the True Shepherd, who tends and guides His flock with loving care. He protects them from danger, and provides for their every need. He chastens them with His rod, and leads them with His staff, and finds safety for them when they sleep.
• He rules in the strength of the LORD - God is all-powerful and nothing is too hard for Him. Since Jesus is God, His strength never diminishes, never wanes. He cannot weaken with age and infirmity. Nothing can withstand Him, and His word is always accomplished.
• He rules in majesty - The holiness of the LORD is without compare, and His glory is beyond understanding. The riches of His grace and mercy soar above the Heavens, and pass the outermost limits of the Universe. There is none like unto Him, and He will reign forever.
• He rules in peace - Peace with God is the only true peace there is, and you can only have it when He reigns in your life and in your heart. With His peace, He helps you scale the mountains of tragedy and brings you out of the depths of  sin and sorrow. When you have peace with God, you may have peace with yourself - and when you are at peace with yourself, you may be at peace with others.

But yet again, we circle back to the fact that the Mighty God, the LORD of Hosts willingly created this world and humanity, knowing that we would sin and need His deliverance. Yet, even knowing this, He created anyway, and began His work of Redemption. Thus He was born, according to His own plan and His own will, into humanity -  in a little town called Bethlehem.

Alleluia, alleluia, how great is the love of the LORD our God! He saves from the deepest depths and sets our feet upon the highest mountain for His Name's sake. How wise, how gentle, how persistant is He. Born of a poor virgin in humility and lowliness, and yet the Sovereign of the Universe. God the Son, given to us in grace and mercy. Praise be to the LORD God, our Rock and Redeemer! Amen.

(Please don't forget Adam's request for submissions to the Carnival of Christmas!)

(Crossposted at the Wide Awakes)

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