The story behind O Little Town of Bethlehem! One week ’til Christmas! Hope today finds you resting in the season, in the hustle and bustle that you will find that peace in Jesus Christ.
Phillip Brooks was a preacher and a Sunday School teacher who stood six feet, six inches tall and weighed over 300 pounds! He made quite an impression wherever he went but he was beloved by his students and those who knew him well. So much so that when he died one of his little ones said, “Oh, how happy the angels will be!”
He had occasion to travel to the Holy Land in 1865 and on Christmas Eve he mounted on horseback and rode from Jerusalem to the City of David. He was to assist in the midnight service at the Church of the Nativity, just a short distance from where the shepherds first saw the star that led them to the baby in the manger.
Three years later, at Christmastime, remembering that experience, Brooks penned the words to this beautiful song for the children’s choir of his church. The organist of the church put music to the lyrics and on Christmas Eve, 1868, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was sung for the first time.
We don’t know too much about Brooks, although he was a published author and his church did erect a statue of him standing near a cross in his honor. He may have been quiet and unassuming, we aren’t sure. But from the words of the song we know he was impacted by his experience in Bethlehem… 
Bethlehem was about six miles outside of Jerusalem, the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Meaning house of bread, it was also the City of David. This is where Samuel, the prophet, anointed David to be king over Israel. Then, in the book of Micah, the prophet tells that the Messiah would come from this small unimportant town of Bethlehem!
By the time Jesus was born, Bethlehem was just a tiny village.
But it didn’t matter the place. This was God’s plan. He didn’t choose to come with fanfare and crowds broadcasting the news. He chose to come humbly with the host of heaven proclaiming His birth!
You see, it doesn’t matter how little or insignificant we may be, we have the potential to be used for something great in the Kingdom of God!
Just like the little town of Bethlehem, if God chooses us, He will make a way for us to be used and to be used in a big way. Don’t sell Him short!
The city of Bethlehem today? Approximately 60,000 people live in and around the area. It is home to one of the most sacred Christian sites in the world, the Church of the Nativity, circa 330 A.D. It still stands over a cave believed to be the very spot where Jesus was born. Of course, this tourist site is one of the oldest surviving Christian churches in existence today, making Bethlehem a thriving tourism destination.
True, tourism is not Bethlehem’s destiny. But centuries ago, the God of the universe picked this Little Town for the birth place of the Messiah. And that Child of Bethlehem can come and abide in us today.
That Hope of the World still reaches for the masses and offers life at this most wonderful time of the year!
O 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 tonightFor Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earthHow silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
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I have always loved this song! I especially like when the music changes at this line: “yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting Light…” To me it has always sounded like marching, like an army arriving. And, in some way, that is exactly what happened. Jesus, the Rescuer, arrived on the scene to rescue and save His people.
I’m so glad for that tiny town that held the Almighty God of the Universe. For I have indeed gratefully accepted His grace-full gift of salvation.
GOD BLESS!