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- Oct 26, 2007
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Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 CSB
Bethlehem has a significant history in Israel’s dalliance with kingship. After the people of Israel chose Saul—tall, handsome, and commanding—to be their king, God lined up Saul’s replacement, since He knew that appearances didn’t matter. So Samuel, the prophet at the time, was sent to Bethlehem to anoint the next king.
When Samuel came to Jesse’s clan, he almost made the same mistake Israel did. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).
When Micah prophesied the Messiah’s birth as coming from Bethlehem, the suggestion was that He would be a King who didn’t fit the image of what people expected to find. He wouldn’t be tall or handsome, but God’s heart would beat within Him.
As we get closer to Christmas, remember the significance of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. God doesn’t act according to human expectations. He keeps His promises and does what’s best according to His heart. We’d be wise to do the same.
Prayer: God, make my heart like Yours, and help me to look at what truly matters.
Bethlehem has a significant history in Israel’s dalliance with kingship. After the people of Israel chose Saul—tall, handsome, and commanding—to be their king, God lined up Saul’s replacement, since He knew that appearances didn’t matter. So Samuel, the prophet at the time, was sent to Bethlehem to anoint the next king.
When Samuel came to Jesse’s clan, he almost made the same mistake Israel did. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).
When Micah prophesied the Messiah’s birth as coming from Bethlehem, the suggestion was that He would be a King who didn’t fit the image of what people expected to find. He wouldn’t be tall or handsome, but God’s heart would beat within Him.
As we get closer to Christmas, remember the significance of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. God doesn’t act according to human expectations. He keeps His promises and does what’s best according to His heart. We’d be wise to do the same.
Prayer: God, make my heart like Yours, and help me to look at what truly matters.
