“Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. 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” (Micah 5:1-2).
Today’s Morsel: A few years ago, on our trip to Israel, we had an opportunity to tour Bethlehem. I was surprised at how small it really is. Why was this city chosen? It was the city of David. Here Rachel was buried and Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field. David was anointed to be king here, and Jesus was born in a manger, and the wise men came from the east seeking the Savior here. There was something special about this little town. The name itself enlightens us. Bethlehem, the city of bread. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35). Isaiah said that His going forth have been from of old, from everlasting. From the moment that time had its birth, He came forth. He was before that time in which He began to come forth to save the souls that He had created. He was before all things. He is the Creator of all things, so He is the Eternal. Paul said that Jesus is the Creator of all things (1 Corinthians 8:6). Therefore, He is God; for He cannot be a part of His own work.
Sing: 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.
Thought For Today: Bethlehem, the city of bread.
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