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…
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. O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth.
For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above.
While mortals sleep, the angels keep, Their watch of wondering love.
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.
Where children pure and happy, Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee, Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching, And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
Bethelehem 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. It didn’t matter the surroundings, or that those who attended the birth were most likely barn animals. 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 of one of the oldest surviving Christitan churches in existence today, makes 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 you and I today. That Hope of the World still reaches for the masses and offers life at this most wonderful time of the year!
Do you know Him?
Sharon, you always find the little nuggets in the story! The hymns are my favorites too. My husband was just telling me tonight about a school on the east coast where the music teacher had the fifth grade choir sing “Silent Night” without any reference to Jesus, “round yon virgin, mother and child” or “holy infant, so tender and bright”. There was no “Christ, the Savior is born!”, and I said, “Then why did they sing the song?!” What would be left if you took Jesus out?!” He IS everything!! Dear Lord help us, what is this world coming to? I pray you have a Merry Christmas friend of mine!
Yolanda, so happy to meet you! Welcome to Hope in the Healing, you are most welcome here. I look forward to getting to know you better. Make yourself at home and feel free to give input! Merry Christmas!
i loved this post and the one above. Thanks so much for your testimony and your wonderful blog. I am glad to have found it.
I loved this post – the *backstory* on this beloved Christmas hymn was so interesting! You know, it’s funny – I’m not a big fan of secular Christmas songs – but the hymns are among my favorites.
I love how you pointed out that the power and plan and purpose of God can sometimes be accomplished in the most humble ways.
GOD BLESS!