Week 2 (12/04): Advent 2: Micah 5:2 – O Little Town of Bethlehem (Bethlehem)
“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
Waiting
Advent is about waiting. I don’t normally like waiting, but my husband and I have been talking about a phenomenon for a few years now. We have been reflecting on how Christmas Day often seems like a let-down. The fun of Christmas is in the anticipation. We watch Christmas movies, decorate our houses, see other houses bedecked with lights, spend more time with family and friends, have special parties and events, all leading up to Christmas Day. Then, wham! It is all over.
The waiting (or anticipation) is the best part of the season. That seems backwards from how most of life is. It is the opposite of how the centuries leading up to the first Christmas were. The Israelites were waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah. Waiting for deliverance. Waiting for joy. Waiting for freedom. Waiting for significance in a world viewed them as worthless.
From Insignificant to Ultimate Importance
And within the Israelites, Bethlehem was looked down on and viewed as worthless.
“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
The small and insignificant was given the greatest purpose and importance in the world on that first Christmas and is now famous forever because of that one event.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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.
The world was moving along like Bethlehem was nothing special, like this family in the line of Judah was completely insignificant. And yet, while the world ignored and devalued it, this place was host to the fulfillment of the hopes of a nation for generations.
Ignored yet Observed
For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all the earth
Mary, the young girl, insignificant to the world around her, was chosen as the vessel for the Son of God. Are we seeing a theme repeating itself here? While everyone ignored her and shoved her away in the place where the animals were kept, the angels were watching everything she did. The very stars were crying out the praises to God because of the work of God in her life and how she allowed Him to use her.
The Wondrous Gift
This pattern is not exclusive that first Christmas. Today, those of us who feel insignificant can be given purpose and importance as children of the King of Kings. If we will believe on the Lord Jesus and receive Him in to be Lord of our lives, we get the ultimate Christmas gift.
How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.
Abide with Us
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 Immanuel!
This last verse of O Little town of Bethlehem is a prayer. A prayer of salvation and deliverance. A prayer of belief. “Come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel!” Immanuel – God with us! That is the promise of Christmas – our insignificance transformed by the presence of the almighty God in our lives.
ACTION STEP:
Some of us have been living like we are still insignificant, like we have no purpose or importance. And yet, we have the Savior of the World living in us and with us. Immanuel. We need to lift our heads and embrace the gift given us by the Father. We are no longer waiting and hoping for the fulfillment of the promise.
Just like it was the first Christmas, our mission actually begins on Christmas Day. It is not the end, but the beginning. Birth and not death. Life, and that life full of significance and mission to tell the world of God who abides with us.
Join the Facebook group @DevoInAction (https://www.facebook.com/devoinaction) and introduce yourself to us! Or if you prefer instagram, follow @devoinaction! Share your thoughts about today’s devotional or post a pic of your journaling!
PRAYER:
Dear God, help us to see ourselves the way you do. Enable us to embrace the gift of significance that you have given each and every one of us when you sent your Son to abide with! us. Help us not to live in perpetual waiting but to actively walk in Your mission for our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Advent Carols Series Free Printables:
Head on over to the Devotion in Action Free Resource Library for your free printables for this series! If you don’t have access yet to the Resource Library, find out how to get free access HERE!
Advent Carols Series Overview Page:
Advent Carols Series Overview Page:
For more posts in this series, click here.