O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth to her son. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’S strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored all around the world. And he will be the source of our peace.
 
Micah 5:2-5a
 
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 prophet Micah foretold, hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, that the One who is “the source of our peace”, the One who is “highly honored all around the world”, would come from the little town of Bethlehem. Scholars who admit they don’t have all the information try to cast doubt on this truth from scripture. I would rather listen to the words from the all-knowing God and believe that He is wise enough, powerful enough, to fulfill His prophetic words.
 
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!