O Little Town of Bethlehem

The following is a bit of background information on the Christmas Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem.

“Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903) of Philadelphia, wrote the words to O Little Town of Bethlehem in 1868, following a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine especially at night time hence the lyrics of O Little Town of Bethlehem. His church organist Lewis Redner (1831-1908) wrote the melody to O Little Town of Bethlehem for the Sunday school children's choir (www.carols.org.uk/).”

The lyrics to it are as follows:

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 tonight

For 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 earth

How 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


Why Bethlehem?

Mathew 2:1 reads: “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem (ESV Bible).”

Now, about 700 years before Jesus was born, the Prophet Micah wrote the following:

Micah 5:2 (5:1) “But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from ancient days (JPS Tanakh).”

Personally, I think the foregoing is interesting, but then again that’s just me. Either way, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas whether you celebrate it or not.


References:

ESV Bible

JPS Tanakh

Carols.org.uk. “O little town of Bethlehem.”

http://www.carols.org.uk/o_little_town_of_bethlehem.htm