Reflections on Bethlehem: The Birthplace of Shepherd Kings

Reflections on Bethlehem:  The Birthplace of Shepherd Kings

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)

Bethlehem figured in the Christmas story centuries before the birth of Christ.

Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife, was buried near Bethlehem.  Ruth and Naomi traveled to Bethlehem where Ruth married Boaz the son of Rahab and Salmon and founded the royal house of David.

Matthew 1:5-6 (NKJV)
^“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.”

  

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the importance of the lineage of Ruth and Boaz:

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 were 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.

There is so much more.  Remember Balaam?  Remember the pagan prophet hired to curse Israel?  Remember the warrior angel blocking the path?  Remember the talking donkey?  (Numbers 22)

Remember the prophecy delivered by the humbled Balaam? The prophecy that spoke of the glory to come in the fulfillment of time?

Numbers 24:15-17 (NKJV)
^“”So he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;
The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: ^‘I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.’”

The symbol of David’s kingdom, the Star of David, appears on Israel’s flag today.  David’s kingdom was a partial fulfillment of the prophecy of Balaam.  Jesus Christ is the fulfillment.

Hundreds of years after the reign of David, that star spoken of by Balaam appeared.  The Wise Men of the East followed it to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.  

Matthew 2:1-2 (NKJV)
^“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
²  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2:7-10 (NKJV)
^“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

David was a shepherd who became a king.  Jesus was a king who became a shepherd who became 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 you.

Reflections on Bethlehem:  The Birthplace of Shepherd Kings

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)

Bethlehem figured in the Christmas story centuries before the birth of Christ.

Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife, was buried near Bethlehem.  Ruth and Naomi traveled to Bethlehem where Ruth married Boaz the son of Rahab and Salmon and founded the royal house of David.

Matthew 1:5-6 (NKJV) 
^“Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.”

  

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the importance of the lineage of Ruth and Boaz:

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 were 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.

There is so much more.  Remember Balaam?  Remember the pagan prophet hired to curse Israel?  Remember the warrior angel blocking the path?  Remember the talking donkey?  (Numbers 22)

Remember the prophecy delivered by the humbled Balaam? The prophecy that spoke of the glory to come in the fulfillment of time?

Numbers 24:15-17 (NKJV) 
^“”So he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;
The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open: ^‘I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.’”

The symbol of David’s kingdom, the Star of David, appears on Israel’s flag today.  David’s kingdom was a partial fulfillment of the prophecy of Balaam.  Jesus Christ is the fulfillment.

Hundreds of years after the reign of David, that star spoken of by Balaam appeared.  The Wise Men of the East followed it to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem.  

Matthew 2:1-2 (NKJV) 
^“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
²  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

Matthew 2:7-10 (NKJV) 
^“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”

David was a shepherd who became a king.  Jesus was a king who became a shepherd who became 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 you. No matter how insignificant we may feel, we are not insignificant to God. 

 

 

A Christian Hanukkah Meditation

A Christian Hanukkah Meditation

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Hanukkah is time to rededicate ourselves as the Temple of God.  It is a time to remember that Jesus is the light of the world and has declared that believers, too, are to be light in dark times.  During this Hanukkah season, let’s join together to celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World, and to dedicate ourselves to bring light into the darkness.

Read and meditate on the following each day:

1.       John 1:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
²  He was in the beginning with God.
³  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
⁴  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
⁵  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

2. Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)
¹  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

3.  John 8:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
¹²  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

4.  Isaiah 60:1 (NKJV)
¹  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 

5. Matthew 5:14-15 (NKJV)
¹⁴  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

6.  Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

7. Ephesians 5:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
⁹  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).

8.  Song of dedication:

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.

Hide it under a bush, on no.  I’m going to let it shine.

All around my neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine.

Satan, you can’t blow it out.  I’m going to let it shine.

Let it shine for Jesus. I’m going to let it shine.

Reflections on Bethlehem: In the Fields of Fulfillment

Reflections on Bethlehem:  In the Fields of Fulfillment

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).

It was in those same fields that, centuries later, the shepherds watching their flocks by night, met the army of heaven and learned of the fulfillment of covenant in the miraculous birth of the Christ child.  In His earthly ministry, Jesus declared to the disciple Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6 (NKJV) . 

John also wrote, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4 (NKJV). And that life is abundant.

In the fields that Ruth had gleaned, Warfare in the heavenlies was taking place the night Jesus was born.  God sent a multitude of the heavenly host protecting the Child and declaring the purpose of God in the incarnation, that in Jesus Christ, we have peace and good will.

The angels who declared the glory of God to the shepherds were not a choir of lovely females with halos and harps.  They were the heavenly host, the army of God poised in strength, power and authority.  Throughout scripture, the host of angels refers to the mighty army of God.  The Hebrew word used is “Sabaoth” and refers to a large army.  Most descriptions of angels in the Bible describe them in military terms, such as encampment (Gen.32:1-2), command structure (Ps.91:11-12; Matt.13:41; Rev.7:2), and combat (Jdg.5:20; Job 19:12; Rev.12:7).

“We don’t often see angels pictured as the army of God. We have hidden the epic, heroic force of heaven under the cloak of the Celtic fairyland.  Most of our modern day pictures of angels are taken from fairy stories and not from descriptions from the Word of God.  Cinderella has a fairy godmother.  God has an angelic army, and that army stood guard over the birth of His son in the fields once owned by Boaz."  [i] 

 God’s army is greater than all the forces of Hell.  His army stands guard over the Church, the body of Christ today. Just like the powerful, influential Boaz stood guard over Ruth.  

 Boaz provided, Ruth gleaned, shepherds watched their flocks and angels stood battle-ready, all in the fields of Bethlehem, the house of the Bread of God. All part of God’s plan to bring us the bread of life in Jesus Christ.

---

[i]  Crowe, Lonnie C. , “The Empowering Epic of the Birth of Jesus—Part  2”

Reflections on Bethlehem: Little among the Thousands of Judah

Reflections on Bethlehem:  Little among the Thousands of Judah

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)

Bethlehem, in Hebrew, means “House of the Bread of God.”  It is no coincidence that Jesus, the Bread of Life, was born there.

Bethlehem, a little, seemingly unimportant, village a few miles from Jerusalem pictures God’s use of little, seemingly unimportant, people and incidents to bring forth His plans and His purposes.  We often overlook the ancient history of Bethlehem.  Yet from the book of Genesis on, significant events have taken place in that tiny hamlet.

One such 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).

The gospel writer Matthew referred to Rachel and a prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah when he related the Massacre of the Innocents after the Magi visited King Herod “Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." Matthew 2:16-18 (NKJV).

Several years ago, I visited Bethlehem and then went on to Jerusalem to the Holocaust Museum.  Part of that museum complex is The Children’s memorial.  This unique memorial, hollowed out from an underground cavern, is a tribute to the approximately 1.5 million Jewish children who died during the Holocaust.  Memorial candles are reflected infinitely in a dark, somber space, creating the impression of millions of stars shining in the heavens.  Visitors hear, in the background, the names, ages and countries of the murdered children. 

My heart cried out, not only for the children lost in the Holocaust, but for all children who have been hurt, neglected, and aborted.  I felt led by the Holy Spirit to write the following poem.

Rachel Weeps

And Rachel still weeps for her children

For those little candles crushed in the crucible of cruelty.

Rachel, Rachel, sound forth your anguish against

All the bruising, bloody Herods of all the darkening ages.

Rachel, find your comfort in the Christ

Born near your tomb in Bethlehem

Find comfort in the One who says,

“Bring the children to me.”

“Bring the children to me.”

“Bring the children to me.”

Today, all of Bethlehem, except the Tomb of Rachel, is under Palestinian authority.  A mosque, across from the Church of the Nativity, calls Muslims to prayer five times each day.  Christmas décor is seen year around. Cheap souvenirs are ubiquitous.  Yet, the presence of God is still manifest in Bethlehem.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.

---Phillip Brooks.