People of the Word-- The Places

Text:

English Standard Version Chapter 5

2 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.

3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of his brothers shall return

to the people of Israel.

4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth.

5 And he shall be their peace.

God’s Word is so filled with meaning that you really can spend a lifetime exploring all of it. There are so many ways that it tries to communicate God’s grace to you. Tonight we’re going to spend a couple of minutes just introducing you to one aspect that we don’t often focus on. And it will only be an introduction, we won’t come close to covering it fully. Hopefully it will encourage you to go deeper, or at least begin to notice it as you read and study God’s Word.

This The places preach to us.

What I want to highlight tonight is the fact that the places in scripture preach to us. The towns, the nations, the kingdoms, they preach to us, as well. Our theme for these Wednesday night services is “People of the Word.” And we are “People of the Word” when it comes to the places, too.

Let’s take a recent example. A couple of weeks ago one of the hymns that we sang was “Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion, city of our God....” You may or may not know what ‘Zion’ actually is, what it refers to, but ‘Zion’ actually preaches to us quit powerfully about what God has done and is doing. In fact, let’s take a second to look through the words of that hymn. (It’s #648 in our Lutheran Service Book.) Look at the first stanza:

Place is very significant.

“Let us go up to the house of the Lord....”

Prayers were offered toward Jerusalem

That was the location of God.

Look at the first stanza:

Let’s take a recent example. A couple of weeks ago one of the hymns that we sang was “Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion, city of our God....” You may or may not know what ‘Zion’ actually is, what it refers to, but ‘Zion’ actually preaches to us quit powerfully about what God has done and is doing. In fact, let’s take a second to look through the words of that hymn. (It’s #648 in our Lutheran Service Book.) Look at the first stanza:

1 Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken Formed you for His own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake your sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, You may smile at all your foes.

2 See, the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply your sons and daughters And all fear of want remove. Who can faint while such a river Ever will their thirst assuage? Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hov'ring, See the cloud and fire appear For a glory and a cov'ring, Showing that the Lord is near. Thus deriving from their banner Light by night and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which God gives them on their way.

4 Savior, since of Zion's city I through grace a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Your name. Fading are the world's vain pleasures, All their boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasures None but Zion's children know.

What is Zion? It’s God’s holy city; formed by God, formed as the place where God, Himself, dwells with us; founded on the Rock of Ages, surrounded by salvation’s walls; and, as a result, it has nothing to fear from any enemy. In fact (and this isn’t actually in the text of the hymn) it’s Jerusalem, but Jerusalem as it should be. Jerusalem as it was under King Solomon— although actually even better, without the corruption of the worship of false gods that would eventually lead to its ruin. We’ll skip stanzas 2 and 3, but we have to notice stanza 4.

In fact (and this isn’t actually in the text of the hymn) it’s Jerusalem, but Jerusalem as it should be. It’s holy.

It’s God’s holy city. It’s Jerusalem, but Jerusalem as it should be— perfected; holy; completely and exclusively dedicated to God; the place in which God, Himself, dwells. You may or may not know what it’s referring to, but ‘Zion’ certainly preaches to us quit powerfully.

4 Savior, since of Zion's city I through grace a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Your name. Fading are the world's vain pleasures, All their boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasures None but Zion's children know.

1 Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken Formed you for His own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake your sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, You may smile at all your foes.

2 See, the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply your sons and daughters And all fear of want remove. Who can faint while such a river Ever will their thirst assuage? Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hov'ring, See the cloud and fire appear For a glory and a cov'ring, Showing that the Lord is near. Thus deriving from their banner Light by night and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which God gives them on their way.

4 Savior, since of Zion's city I through grace a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Your name. Fading are the world's vain pleasures, All their boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasures None but Zion's children know.

The best part of this image of ‘Zion’ is that it’s you. You are part of that holy city. You have been founded by God on the Rock of Ages, surrounded by the walls of salvation, able to smile at all your foes. You may or may not know what it’s referring to, but ‘Zion’ certainly preaches to us quit powerfully.

You may or may not know what it’s referring to, but ‘Zion’ certainly preaches to us quit powerfully.

That’s one example. But tonight the place that preaches to us is Bethlehem.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

2 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.

3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of his brothers shall return

to the people of Israel.

4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth.

5 And he shall be their peace.

If you’ve been reading the daily devotional we made available, you read yesterday that God is doing more here than just saying, “I told you so.” When Matthew says “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet…,” the message is that the Old Testament was fulfilled.

If you’ve been reading the daily devotional we made available, you read yesterday that God is doing more here than just saying, “I told you so.” When Matthew says “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet

That’s certainly true here. Micah is not just predicting the place. He was saying something about who the Messiah would be. And it was, in fact, fulfilled that the one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth from of old, from ancient days, would be of Bethlehem.

I want you to try to picture Bethlehem for a moment. Bethlehem was not a huge town. Archaeology tells us that the population then was pretty close to the population of Unionville now. It was overshadowed, almost literally, by the city to the north. Bethlehem was just south of Jerusalem— about 5.5 miles, so about the same distance from Jerusalem as Unionville is from Sebewaing. But imagine if Unionville were the home of a US president. And not one like Grover Cleveland, a good president— in fact, The Great President. Imagine if Unionville were the birthplace of George Washington. That’s not a bad picture of Bethlehem and what that town meant to God’s people.

Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, The Great Shepherd-King of Israel. Elsewhere we read about Nathaniel asking, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” They would have asked almost the complete opposite question of Bethlehem: “Can anything as good ever come from Bethlehem again?” Micah’s answer is a resounding “Yes!” In fact, the fact that it is the birthplace of King David is just a hint at the true identity— and the true greatness— of the ruler who was still to come.

But imagine if Unionville were the home of a US president. And not one like Grover Cleveland, a really good president— in fact, The Great President. Imagine if Unionville was the birthplace of George Washington, for example.

But there’s more. The name “Bethlehem” literally means “House of Bread.” Bread is obviously important for any people. Not much else matters if you have no food. But bread was especially significant for the Children of Israel. 12 loaves of bread— called the “showbread” or “bread of the presence” were placed on a special table in the temple, symbolizing the 12 tribes. But what probably leaps to mind first is the manna— the “bread from heaven.” Bread wasn’t just a symbol of their sustenance, it was a reminder of God’s provision.

“House of Bread”

Is there any better place for the arrival of the One born King of the Jews? And the words of Micah didn’t just come true. They were fulfilled.

Application

Home of David

King

Shepherd

“House of Bread”

Manna

Bread of presence

Is there a better place for the arrival of the One born King of the Jews?

Now, I’ve made that distinction a couple of times. It’s time to clarify what I mean. To illustrate the difference, let me go off on a very short tangent. I recently came across an article written by another Lutheran pastor explaining why their congregation always had Holy Communion during their Christmas services. Even though he’s not writing about it, specifically, his answer shows beautifully how Micah’s words didn’t just come true, they were fulfilled. So follow me for a moment and we’ll make the connection pretty quickly. Why would it be natural to celebrate Holy Communion at Christmas? He explains that the answer is actually found in each of our homes.

He explains that the answer is actually found in each of our homes.

I recently came across an article written by another Lutheran pastor explaining why their congregation always had Holy Communion during their Christmas services. He explains that the answer is actually found in each of our homes.

We have nativities set up with angels, Mary, Joseph, humble shepherds, and wise travelers all gathered around this infant-God lying in a manger. That’s right—in a manger… a feeding trough.

[They are a]ll gathered around the humblest of tables where the Bread of Life, come down from heaven, has been laid out.

The same body that will be broken [on the cross] for the forgiveness of [y]our sins is first laid in a manger. The Holy God of all that is, laying in a wooden box like a meal for swine. A feast for sinners. A banquet for beggars. The image is striking and admittedly scandalous.

People were utterly scandalized when Jesus later said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever” (). Thankfully He didn’t misspeak. He was making [you] a promise—a promise that has been hinted at since that very first Christmas night. A promise on display in each nativity scene we set up. And it’s a promise He makes good on every time [you] receive His Supper.

The truth is everything about Jesus’ birth quietly points to the extraordinary and humble way He intends to keep coming to [you]. In a very real way, every time [you] receive the Lord’s Supper [you] are experiencing Christmas all over again. The Word became flesh for us, this bread from heaven gifting Himself to us sinners again and again.

Eat, drink, be forgiven—and Merry Christmas!

(Price, Daniel Emery. “The Meal In A Manger,” www.1517.org, 12/25/17)

As another writer puts it,

Nothing happens willy-nilly in the life of our Lord. Even the tiny dot on the map marking His birthplace is pregnant with meaning, because Bethlehem means “house of bread.” How fitting, for here was born the manna from above, the bread of God who comes down out of heaven to give life to the world by feeding us His own flesh in the bread of His supper (). Just as He was swaddled and placed in the manger in Bethlehem, so now He is swaddled in bread and placed into [y]our mouths in the house of bread called the church. His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink. Like the shepherds and wise men, [you] journey to the House of Bread when [you] kneel before [this] altar to worship this child who is [Jesus], born to save [you] from [y]our sins, and to feed [you] forgiveness and life in His flesh and blood.

(Bird, Chad. “The Gospel in Hebrew: How Ten Hebrew Words Preach Christ and His Work.” www.1517.org. 1/11/16)

Brothers and sisters in Christ— fellow People of the Word, the places preach to us, too. It’s not just true that He was born in a town that happened to be called Bethlehem. The prophet’s words were fulfilled.

“In this Jewish village,” the House of David, the House of Bread, “…Jesus was born to be King of Kings and Bread of Breads, by which we all are ruled and fed.” (Bird, Chad. “Why Christmas Is My Favorite Jewish Holiday.” www.1517.org, 12/11/15.)

Nothing happens willy-nilly in the life of our Lord. Even the tiny dot on the map marking His birthplace is pregnant with meaning, because Bethlehem means “house of bread.” How fitting, for here was born the manna from above, the bread of God who comes down out of heaven to give life to the world by feeding us His own flesh in the bread of His supper (). Just as He was swaddled and placed in the manger in Bethlehem, so now He is swaddled in bread and placed into our mouths in the house of bread called the church. His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink. Like the shepherds and wise men, we journey to the House of Bread when we kneel before the altar to worship this child who is [Jesus], born to save us from our sins, and to feed us forgiveness and life in His flesh and blood.

(Bird, Chad. “The Gospel in Hebrew: How Ten Hebrew Words Preach Christ and His Work.” www.1517.org. 1/11/16)

And, as I said, we’ve just scratched the surface of the way that even the places preach to us. As Micah taught, “He is from of old, from ancient days. He shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And [you] shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be [your] peace.”

in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth.

5 And he shall be their peace.

In this Jewish village, ...Jesus was born to be King of Kings and Bread of Breads, by which we all are ruled and fed. (Bird, Chad. “Why Christmas Is My Favorite Jewish Holiday.” www.1517.org, 12/11/15.)

Christmas is a celebration of life. The very Word of God “became flesh and dwelt among us” (). We sing songs full of hope and joy! We exchange gifts with those we love in remembrance of God giving us the gift of Himself in the person of Jesus. We have nativities set up with angels, Mary, Joseph, humble shepherds, and wise travelers all gathered around this infant-God lying in a manger. That’s right—in a manger.

For those who may not know; a manger is a feeding trough. It comes from the Latin word “manducare” meaning “to eat.” And the town where this particular manger was located was Bethlehem, which means “House of Bread.” Jesus later refers to himself by saying, “I am the bread of life” () and “I am the bread that came down from heaven” ().

So yes, the Creator of all things makes Himself lowly, to the point of being placed in a manger where dirty creatures come to eat.

They do not come to prepare a meal, but rather to receive what has been prepared for them. They come there to be fed. The poor shepherds are there too. And hosts of angels are there. All gathered around the humblest of tables where the Bread of Life, come down from heaven, has been laid out.

The same body that will be broken in crucifixion for the forgiveness of our sins is first laid in a manger. The Holy God of all that is, laying in a wooden box like a meal for swine. A feast for sinners. A banquet for beggars. The image is striking and admittedly scandalous.

People were utterly scandalized when Jesus later said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever” (). Thankfully He didn’t misspeak. He was making us a promise—a promise that has been hinted at since that very first Christmas night. A promise on display in each nativity scene we set up. And it’s a promise He makes good on every time we receive His Supper.

The truth is everything about Jesus’ birth quietly points to the extraordinary and humble way He intends to keep coming to us. In a very real way, every time we receive the Lord’s Supper we are experiencing Christmas all over again. The Word became flesh for us, this bread from heaven gifting Himself to us sinners again and again. He is the reason why we keep the “mass” in Christmas.

Eat, drink, be forgiven—and Merry Christmas!

(Price, Daniel Emery. “The Meal In A Manger,” www.1517.org, 12/25/17)

People of the Word-- The Places

Zion

History

Application

Zion

Application

Zion

Application

History

Application