O Little Town of Bethlehem

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Luke 2:4 "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the Town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."

This Christmas carol is one of my very favorites. The words are well chosen, well placed and tell the facts of the occasion beautifully. The tune is so simple with emphasis where needed and good for children's voices. The story behind the hymn is humble and uplifting. And the imagery is, well, perfect in creating the scene in the mind's eye.

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was, like others we have noted, Harvard educated and spent the large part of his pastorate in the Episcopal Trinity Church of Boston where he was a giant of the faith - well known for his sermons, writings and his ability to relate to his parish. In 1865 Brooks took a trip to the Holy Land and spent Christmas eve at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, and the evening made quite an impression upon him. Three years later when he was pastoring a church in Philadelphia he wanted a special song for the children to sing in their Christmas Sunday school pageant and remembering his special Christmas evening in Bethlehem wrote the words in just one sitting. His organist, Lewis Redner, was asked to put the words to music and after hearing the tune in a dream, quickly wrote it out. And the rest is history, as the carol has become a favorite with children and adults all over the world.

There are 5 verses, although only 4 are usually sung. And the theology is stunning in every verse. One of the most memorable phrases in the 1st verse is the last line: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." - the hope of eternal life with Christ and the fear of eternal judgement without Him became manifest at that moment of birth.

Verse 2 has the familiar hope again for peace to men on earth following acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as God the King.

Verse 3 has to be given in total:
"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."

The 4th verse is really a prayer and can be used as a Christmas devotional prayer. This would be an excellent word tool to help little ones learning how to pray and asking Jesus into their hearts. Again, the whole verse is:
"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 Emmanuel!"

Brooks kept the focus of the hymn on Christ as the Savior, still telling the lovely story of the birth yet with the definite emphasis on Savior - the hopes, peace, impart to human hearts, meek souls receiving and be born in us today.

In all our hurrying and scurrying about this week, my prayer is that you will quiet yourself and become aware of silent stars passing by, dark streets where the everlasting LIGHT is aglow, and enjoy the pure joy of experiencing, either for the first time or again, the wondrous gift that is given - our Lord Emmanuel.

If you need the words or tune - http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/olittle.htm