Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE PLACE OF
SORROW [Gn. 35]
1. The 1st mention of Bethlehem is a time of sorrow and
death--- reminding us of the curse sin has brought upon mankind [35:16-19,
3:16]
-And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little
way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it
came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear
not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in
departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father
called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath,
which is Bethlehem.
-Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow
and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire
shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
2. Rachel, beloved wife of Jacob, while dying names her son
"Benoni" (son of my sorrow) -consider that Christ, born in Bethlehem
was the man of sorrows for our sins [Is. 53:3]
-He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.
3. The New Testament Sorrow of Rachel [Mt. 2:16-18]
- Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise
men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were
in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then
was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was
there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
II. THE PLACE OF
SOVEREIGNS
1. Here Come the Judges [Judges 12:8, John 5:22]
-And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
-For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son:
-Jacob renamed his son "Benjamin" son of my right
hand, Christ sits at the Father's right hand! [Gn. 35:18]
2. David, the greatest king of ancient Israel was from
Bethlehem [1 Sm. 16:1, 13]
-And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for
Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn
with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have
provided me a king among his sons.
-Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the
midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day
forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
3. Christ, the King of Kings, was born in Bethlehem and
kings came to honor Him [Micah 5:2, Mt. 2]
- But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among
the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to
be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting
III. THE PLACE OF THE
SHEPHERDS [Lk. 2]
1. David had been a Shepherd [1 Samuel 16:11]
-And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And
he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till
he come hither.
2. God Chose Shepherds to Hear the Message [Lk. 2:4-14]
3. Christ is the Shepherd Smitten for Us [Mark 14:27]
-And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because
of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep
shall be scattered.
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