Advent Gems #19

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

Most of us are familiar with the story of the Biblical Ruth, but few realize that the story took place in Bethlehem during the period of the Judges when, as scripture relates, “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25).

The major theme of the Book of Ruth is agape love, the kind of love and faithfulness that God pours out upon us. It describes the faithfulness of God to both a person, Naomi, and a nation, Israel, that no longer walked consistently in covenant with him.

The book brings together some interesting and divergent people. We meet Naomi, the widow who, driven by sorrow and poverty, returns from Moab to her ancestral home. Traveling with her was her widowed daughter-in-law, the Moabite Ruth, descended from an incestuous relationship between Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and one of his daughters. Ruth met and married Boaz, a relative of Naomi and the son of Rahab the harlot who had been rescued from the battle of Jericho and who had later married Salmon, a member of the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1).

Naomi represents the nation of Israel returning to her covenant with Jehovah. Rahab and Ruth represent the Church, rescued from sin and entering into covenant with God through the sacrifice of Jesus who is a descendent of both.

Naomi and Ruth most likely had traveled from Moab to Bethlehem with other pilgrims during the festival of Pentecost which occurs during the wheat harvest. Boaz, a man of compassion and obedience not only allowed Ruth to glean his fields but arranged for Ruth to glean in abundance. Boaz, the great-grandfather of David and ancestor of Jesus, is a personification of John10:10b: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10 (NKJV).

In that place, little Bethlehem, the Davidic kingship of the Messiah was established. Isaiah 9:6-7: “6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”

Hundreds of years later, Mary heard that her child would inherit the throne of David. Luke 1:30-33: “30. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.''

 

 

 

Advent Gems #18

Rev. Lonnie C, Crowe

Isaiah 11:1 (NKJV)

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.”

The rod that came forth from Jesse is metaphorically both the shepherd’s staff and the king’s scepter.

The people of God, the Israelites, were a shepherding people. Their great king David, the son of Jesse, was a shepherd. He tended his father’s flocks in the fields of Bethlehem. He grew up near the fields that Ruth had gleaned. He grazed his sheep where centuries later the army of heaven announced the birth of Messiah to shepherds from Bethlehem.

When David, the youngest son of Jesse, was a young man, the prophet Samuel came to Bethlehem with a directive from the Lord to anoint the one who would replace Saul as king. David was called in from tending the sheep. There, in Bethlehem, in the presence of Jesse and his older sons, Samuel anointed David to be the next king of Israel.

Many years later, David, shepherd, king and psalmist wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

Jesus confirmed His own role as shepherd. John 10:7-11 (NKJV) "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

David was a shepherd who became a king. Jesus is a king who is also a shepherd, a shepherding king. Both were born in Bethlehem.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

What the world may see as unimportant is not unimportant to God. That includes us. No matter how insignificant we may feel, we are significant to God.

 Advent Gems #17

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

Most of us are familiar with the story of the Biblical Ruth, but few realize that the story took place in Bethlehem during the period of the Judges when, as scripture relates, “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25).

The major theme of the Book of Ruth is agape love, the kind of love and faithfulness that God pours out upon us. It describes the faithfulness of God to both a person, Naomi, and a nation, Israel, that no longer walked consistently in covenant with him.

The book brings together some interesting and divergent people. We meet Naomi, the widow who, driven by sorrow and poverty, returns from Moab to her ancestral home. Traveling with her was her widowed daughter-in-law, the Moabite Ruth, descended from an incestuous relationship between Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and one of his daughters. Ruth met and married Boaz, a relative of Naomi and the son of Rahab the harlot who had been rescued from the battle of Jericho and who had later married Salmon, a member of the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1).

Naomi represents the nation of Israel returning to her covenant with Jehovah. Rahab and Ruth represent the Church, rescued from sin and entering into covenant with God through the sacrifice of Jesus who is a descendent of both.

Naomi and Ruth most likely had traveled from Moab to Bethlehem with other pilgrims during the festival of Pentecost which occurs during the wheat harvest. Boaz, a man of compassion and obedience not only allowed Ruth to glean his fields but arranged for Ruth to glean in abundance. Boaz, the great-grandfather of David and ancestor of Jesus, is a personification of John10:10b: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” John 10:10 (NKJV).

In that place, little Bethlehem, the Davidic kingship of the Messiah was established. Isaiah 9:6-7: “6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this”

Hundreds of years later, Mary heard that her child would inherit the throne of David. Luke 1:30-33: “30. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

 

Advent Gems #16

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

More than 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah foretold His birthplace. Most of us are familiar with Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” That is a powerful message for today and everyday.

Not so many of us are familiar with Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.''

To many Christians, ancient Bethlehem seemed to be a small, insignificant village located about 5 miles from Jerusalem.

Bethlehem means house of the bread of God. Many scholars believe that the bread used in the Temple was baked in Bethlehem. Evidence also indicates perhaps the sacrificial lambs were shepherded near Bethlehem. Biblical references teach that Bethlehem, though little, has long been significant.

A significant event occurred as Jacob journeyed back to the Promised Land with his wives and children: “Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, "Do not fear; you will have this son also." And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow); but his father called him Benjamin (son of my right hand or strength). So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day” (Genesis 35:16-20 NKJV).

Rachel was also the mother of Joseph who rose from slavery to become a leader in Egypt and the one who saved his family from famine and extinction. Her grave near Bethlehem reminds us even today of God’s love, protection and deliverance.

 

Advent Gems #15

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Isaiah :9: 6: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His desire is that believers walk in peace. John 14:27: “27. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Our Lord encourages us to walk away from worry and fear. We do that when we focus on Him rather than our situation. St. Paul offers some strategy for walking in peace. Philippians 4:6-7: ”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

We have often been told that we can’t help what we think. However, the Word of God is clear. We can and should control our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Trust in the promises of God. Have a thankful heart. Bring every thought into obedience to God.

One of my favorite hymns is “Wonderful Peace” by Warren C. Cornell

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight

Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm

In celestial-like strains it unceasingly falls

O'er my soul like an infinite calm

Peace, peace, wonderful peace

Coming down from the Father above

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray

In fathomless billows of love

Ah, soul are you here without comfort and rest

Marching down the rough pathway of time?

Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark

O accept of this sweet peace so sublime

Top of Form

 

Advent Gem #14

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Isaiah 9: 6: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The Child, the Son, is also the Everlasting Father. God is truth, God is infinite. God is also a paradox. A paradox is a statement or action that seems to contradict itself, yet is true. How can the Son be the Father?

Jesus Himself declared the He and the Father are one. In the context , John 10: 30-33,37-38, was presenting a defense of His authority to Jewish leadership.

“ I and my Father are one. “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Jesus responded, “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.''

Hebrews 1: 1-8: God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You''? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son''? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him.'' And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.'' But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.”

Jesus is God in the beginning; He is God in the present; He is God in eternity. “I am” is always in present tense. Hebrews 13:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” 

 Advent Gems #13

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Isaiah :9: 6: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

He is Mighty God. He is omnipotent. No strength, power or valor is greater than His. Sometimes we misunderstand the power of good over evil. We often define evil as the opposite of good. If they are opposites, then they are equal in strength. However, evil is not the opposite of good. Evil is the absence of good.

Jesus not only is strong and powerful; He is the source of our strength and power.

Isaiah 40: 28-40: “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

In this weary world (The world has always been weary.), we must learn to be still and know that He is God, we must wait upon Him and we must live and move and have our being in Him.