Faithful on Fridays Blog

‘O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie, above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.’

This little sleepy village, just south of Jerusalem with no place for Him in the inn, was the birthplace of Jesus, and also where a myriad of angels declared to some shepherds that the Messiah was born today. Why did God choose this town? Possibly because the Messiah was from the bloodline of Ruth, Boaz, and King David, all Bethlehemites, but is there more to the story?

We can trace this town back to the prophet Micah (5:1-5) who spoke God’s word declaring a future military action using words like troops, siege, rods to strike, and an enemy poised against God’s chosen people. Sounds like war, right? It is. The hidden nugget in the name Bethlehem is that it’s meaning isn’t simply ‘house of bread’ like many of us know, but also ‘place of war’. God gave us the name of the birthplace of a Ruler in Israel, sent by Him, to make a powerful military stand but also to shepherd His people. The drawing of the battle lines for this future, eternal king would begin in Bethlehem.

‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’ Matthew 2:6

The reigning king of Jesus’ day, Herod, had a foreboding sense of this coming kingly dominion for in his search for the Christchild he executed many Jewish babies hoping Israel’s king would be among them. That meant war. Later, the Pharisees searched for ways to kill Jesus as the battle continued. It wasn’t coincidental that Messiah was named the Captain of the hosts or armies of heaven and a Man of War (Ex. 15) who began His battle for souls in Bethlehem: a place of war.

As we meditate on the first advent of Christ let’s not forget there’s second advent, when He’ll look like a warring king (Rev. 19:11-16) not a Christchild but a Commander in Chief seated on a white horse ready to ‘make war’. His eyes like fire, crowned with many crowns, a blood-soaked robed, a sword proceeding from His mouth, and a rod of iron in His hand: that’s our King. His armies will be alongside Him ready to battle,

The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14 

After the birth Simeon, a Spiritfilled man (Luke 2:25-35), received a revelation as he blessed the Son of God and spoke to Mary, Jesus’ mother. 

“This Child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:34-35

Bethlehem, the ‘house of bread’ was also a ‘place of war’.