Msg #2049 The First Advent of Christ - Bethlehem

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When things look the bleakest God can be most miraculous. O Little Town of Bethlehem is just that. Rachel died there giving birth to Benjamin, and the “house of bread” took the name Ephratah, “out of ashes – fruitfulness.” As Rachel died she called her son Benoni, son of my sorrow, but Jacob called him Benjamin, son of the right hand (Genesis 35:18). In Bethlehem-Ephrata Naomi wanted to change her name to Mara, “for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” Providentially Ruth's “hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz” (Ruth 2:3), and out of ashes – fruitfulness,.... a Kinsman Redeemer.

From the line of Benjamin came Israel's first king, a disobedient disaster, but from that failure came a man after God's own heart; King David, grandson of Boaz, was born in Bethlehem-Ephrata; as was the soon coming King of kings.

Despite the garrison of Philistines there, David desired water from the well of Bethlehem. When his men brought it, he poured it out because they jeopardized their lives to get it (2Sam 23:14-17). Jesus gave his life to be Springs of Living Water. We too are to pour out that living water, for out of our belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).

The culmination of the “out of ashes – fruitfulness”, in Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, is of course the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem-Ephratah. He was made flesh and dwelt among us to die for our sins, but out of those ashes comes the very Bread of Life, for “as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom 5:18). Merry Christmas.

An Essay for week #49 Dec 6, 2020

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs201206.mp3

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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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