Micah 5:2 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.
God chose His Son to be born in the little town of Bethlehem. This small, seemingly insignificant town was the platform for a few, telling Bible stories.
The Story of a Son with Two Names
Genesis 35:18-19 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.
Rachel, whose name means “lamb”, gave her life delivering a child in Bethlehem. She named him Benoni, meaning “son of my sorrow.” Jacob renamed the baby Benjamin, meaning“son of my right hand.”
Christ, also born in Bethlehem as forecasted by the prophets, would be both a Suffering Savior (“a Man of Sorrow”, Isaiah 53) and a Ruling Sovereign (“The Son of the Father’s right hand”, Psalms 2; Colossians 3:1)
The Story of a Gentile Bride
Ruth is a love story of a Gentile bride who was grafted into the blessings and spiritual privileges of the Hebrew people by a man who loved her, a willing “kinsman redeemer.” Boaz and Ruth first met in the fields outside of Bethlehem, the same fields where shepherds would be told the news of Christ’s birth by angels.
You and I, like Ruth, have been grafted in by our Boaz, our Redeemer, The Lord Jesus Christ!
Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Romans 15:11-12 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
The Story of an Anointed King
I Samuel 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
God sent his prophet to Bethlehem to anoint King David, from whose line God Himself would reign. Christ’s rule will be from “everlasting to everlasting.” He will once and for all bring “peace on earth and good will toward men.” The Lion will lie down with the Lamb and the crooked will be made straight! As we look back to Christ’s first coming this Christmas, make sure you are also looking ahead to His second coming!
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.