O Little Town!
"Rachel died and was buried on the
way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."
Genesis 35: 19
The first biblical mention of Bethlehem is a sorrowful one.
Genesis 35 says that Rachel died near there. Rachel was
beloved by her husband, Jacob, and he was anguished
when she perished during a difficult childbirth.
With her final breath, she named her child Ben-Oni, which
means “Son of My Sorrow.” But Jacob changed his name
to Benjamin, which means “Son of My Right Hand.” Jacob
set a monument over her grave, and pious Jews visit the
site to this day.
Today we find delight in visualizing our Lord’s birth town. We
build models of it on stages of churches and in public parks.
We love to sing about the “little town of Bethlehem” where
“in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.”
It’s Lord Jesus who eases our sorrows and lifts our
spirits.
His birth became means by which He entered the human
family to “preach good tidings to the poor” and “to heal
the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1).
Do you have a zone of sorrow in your life?
Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to give you
comfort,
understanding, healing, and happiness today.
"O come to us, abide with
us, our Lord, Emmanuel!"
Phillips Brooks
