"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 - Day 354 - (Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 17:1-14; Psalm 141; 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5)
BETHLEHEM PEACE
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.... And he shall be their peace.” (Micah 5:2 & 5a ESV)
We can safely predict that in five days, barring the Lord’s intervention, we will celebrate Christmas, the nativity of our Lord. Our verse for today is also a prophecy of Christ’s birth. Micah predicted that the Messiah (Jesus) would be born in Bethlehem about 700 years before that glorious event occurred!
Believers take great comfort in the prophecies of the Savior’s birth fulfilled some 2,000 years ago.
● Jesus would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14)
● Jesus would come from the tribe of Judah. (Genesis 49:10)
● Jesus would be a descendant of King David. (Jeremiah 23:5)
● And Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
Yes, we find great peace in the fact that the Prince of Peace was, in fact, born in Bethlehem.
1. 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 darkness shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
3. How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.
4. 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 Immanuel!
(O Little Town of Bethlehem, Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006, #361)
Almighty God, we praise You and thank You for fulfilling Your promise to send the Savior of mankind to Bethlehem. May I find great peace in all of Your promises fulfilled in Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
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