Extraordinary Bethlehem
But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,
the runt of the litter—
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule Israel.
He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished.
(Micah 5:2 The Message Version)
Five-hundred years before Christ’s birth, Ezra records Bethlehem’s population at 123 people (Ezra 2:21). For reference, that’s about the size of Liberty, Kansas, a tiny town most have likely not heard of that is situated just north of the Oklahoma state line. It took a full five centuries for this little hill town’s population to grow by just a few hundred more. Scholars estimate Bethlehem’s population at the time of Christ’s birth somewhere between 300-1,000 people.
Little.
Bethlehem has a significant Old Testament history as the burial-place of Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachel (Gen. 35:19), and the town from which Israel’s greatest king, David, came. But it never really “grew up.”
The Hebrew word translated as “runt of the litter” in the Message translation of Micah 5:2, see above, (“little” in most other translations) is tsa`iyr .
Tsa`iyr means:
Little, insignificant, young
Little, insignificant
Insignificant, mean
Young, younger, youngest
Bethlehem was not just an ordinary small town…it was insignificant. Despite the fact that Israel’s greatest king, David hailed from Bethlehem, nobody expected much from this place, making it the perfect location for the most extraordinary person to begin life on earth!
God did not choose Bethlehem because of its wealth or success. He did not choose Bethlehem because of its “booming” population or cultural achievements.
No.
He chose Bethlehem because it was ordinary and insignificant in the eyes of people. And that made it ideal backdrop to magnify his great mercy, grace and love.
He chose Bethlehem for us.
Let’s Pray:
Father, centuries before Jesus’ birth, Bethlehem almost missed another great leader in a shepherd boy named David. That young man went on to become Israel’s greatest king. Our world is not conditioned to look for greatness in insignificant places. I’m humbled to be called your child, but my heart also aches today for others who have not yet opened their hearts to you. Lord, today I specifically pray for _______________. Help me to be a light of your love, mercy and grace to him/her. Perhaps this Christmas he/she will see the true meaning of Bethlehem and experience the depth of your love for them. Amen
Written by Jeannette Duwe
