“Oh, little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” How we love this old Christmas song. In Luke 2:10-11, the angel called it a city (or town) of David – “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Of course, Bethlehem is a city now, but two thousand years ago, it was just a pastoral town. What may seem strange is why the angel called it “the city of David.” The Bible, at least the Old Testament up to that time, has always referred to Jerusalem, and no other city, as the “city of David.” Suddenly, Luke recorded the angelic pronouncement. On that night, the angel called Bethlehem as “the city of David.”
Of course, we also note that King David himself was also born and actually grew up in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17:12), a thousand years before Christ’s birth. He was a shepherd, and later on became a warrior, a general, and ultimately the king, often regarded as Israel’s greatest. He established the kingdom in Jerusalem and his son and successor, Solomon, built the Temple of God in Jerusalem, making the city both the political and spiritual capital of Israel. Jerusalem was also regarded as the seat of the Kingdom of Israel, and later, of Judah, after the split with the northern tribes. But from his time onwards, it was always referred to as the “city of David.”
The angel’s pronouncement so aptly established the bloodline of Jesus as the descendant of David as promised in the Old Testament. And it highlights the prophecy of his going to be the Messiah as well as the coming King. Like David, he was born in the Bethlehem, also in fulfillment of the prophecy uttered by Micah “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.” (Micah 5:2). As the Christ, he offered his life as a sacrifice for our sins in Jerusalem. And he is also our only eternal King, not only in Jerusalem but for the whole creation.
Through the birth, life, and death of Jesus on the cross, he offers us salvation when we accept him as our Savior and Lord. Many would agree he is the savior, but do we surrender to him as our Lord and King? Do we live our daily lives, every minute of it, following his will? Or do we just do what we think is right, unmindful of where the heart of God is. Christmas is a time of self-reflection, too, of our relationship with this baby born on Christmas day. That baby was never crowned in his life, except with thorns. But do we submit to his kingship today? Everyday?