O Little Town of Bethlehem

Artwork:
View of Bethlehem at Night by Josef Langl, is an oil on canvas with a view of the city Bethlehem by moonlight. Langl depicts a shooting star, a sign of Christ’s birth, in the background illuminated by the moonlit sky guiding the three silhouettes on camels in the foreground to the Christ child.

Carol Text: Phillips Brooks, 1868;
Carol Melody: Lewis Redner, 1868
Piano accompaniment by Lezlie Taguding

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

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

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

- Micah 5:2

Advent Devotional


God seems to delight in using the humble, unexpected, and seemingly insignificant to accomplish His grand purposes. Little Town of Bethlehem helps us enter into this mystery. In the silent and dark streets of a small village, while the world sleeps, God’s holy child is born. This is the promised Savior whose birthplace was announced eight centuries earlier.

Micah, a “minor prophet” from another small town, is often considered a champion of the poor and oppressed, and his oracles of judgment are mixed with messages of hope and the promise of a Messiah. Micah spoke of a promised ruler who would one day come to establish a kingdom of peace, security, and close relationship with Yahweh (4:1- 8). He would act as judge (4:3), ruler (5:2), and shepherd (5:4). Micah describes the Messiah’s birthplace, lineage, origin, and future reign.

Ancient Jewish interpreters universally regarded Micah 5:2 as referring to the Messiah, and in the opening pages of the New Testament, the chief priests and scribes find Christ’s birthplace clearly foretold in Micah’s message (Matthew 2:5).

The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, the city of David (the house of bread), and He would rule over Israel (5:2), coming as king to Jerusalem (4:8). Not only this, but the Messiah would be one who came from the distant past or “ancient times” (literally days of immeasurable time).

And so the everlasting Light was born into the darkness of our world. . . And He can also be born in us. This is the message of Bethlehem.

Prayer

Come to us and abide
with us Lord Christ.
Overthrow and
cast out my

sin. Enter in and
be my Shepherd,
Peace, and King.


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Dave Chaves

Dave Chaves, Technology and Product Development Manager, has worked in nonprofit, Christian communications for over 10 years, including most recently with Five Talents USA. He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and an MDiv from Africa International University. He’s been involved in cross-cultural missions in East Africa for over 10 years and is an Associate Missionary with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders.  Dave met his lovely wife Lucy in Kenya and they have four children. He is excited to be part of the CSLI team and to support communications and technology to further the ministry of discipleship.

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