Category: hope

Bethlehem: Where the Kingdom Begins

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

 

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:3 ESV)

 

Empty. Bitter. Hopeless.
 
A famine in the land, destitute and grieving, Naomi hears that God has visited her hometown with food. She starts out toward Bethlehem with her two bereaved daughters-in-law in tow. As they walk, she has second thoughts about bringing them along. “No, go back,” she tells them, “there is no hope, no husbands, no future with me.” One turns back, the other clings to Naomi. Her name is Ruth.

This love story gets me every time. Even though, I know how it turns out, the narrative action builds the anticipation. As Naomi expresses her bitterness, Ruth exclaims her hope. Ruth sees past the famine, the loss, the grief, the poverty and hunger. She clings to the news that God has visited Bethlehem with food.

When they first arrive in the little town, the hushed voices begin to stir. Naomi’s back. Who’s that with her? Did you hear she lost her husband and both her sons? What did she do to incur God’s displeasure? She should have never left Bethlehem. We told her, but she didn’t listen. Now she’s back with this foreigner. What good will come of this? They whisper and wonder.

Naomi laments, “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. I am not that woman anymore; call me Mara, the bitter one.”

Even in her despair, God hears her cry.  They just happened to return at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth volunteers to go glean in the fields. And Boaz, a relative, just happens to return to his fields to see how the harvest fares. He hails his workers with words of blessing, “The LORD be with you!” and they reply, “The LORD bless you.”

And the blessings begin to flow. Boaz notices Ruth and inquires about her, then offers her abundant access to all that she needs. She bows before him and asks him why such favor on a foreigner like herself.  He had heard of her. Her reputation preceded her.  So he invites her to sup with him, and she does and she is satisfied, with enough left over to take home to Naomi. God begins to fill up what had been empty.

When Naomi hears that Ruth has met Boaz, her hope revives. The kindness of Boaz stirs her heart to hope again. She cries aloud, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” The blessings continue to flow.

I can almost see Naomi’s eyes dancing with delight, as she conspires with Ruth on how to approach Boaz. He was a kinsman-redeemer. She sends Ruth in hopes of seeking his favor in their plight, seeing that by law a relative was bound to keep the family lineage alive.

Ruth goes to Boaz in the night, hides until he has settled down for sleep, and rests at his feet. When he stirs in the night, she reveals herself and he blesses her with a promise. He agrees to redeem her.

He tells her not to fear, for she is publicly known as a worthy woman. He will go to the town square the next day to settle everything.  And he does, and they marry. And then they have a child, a child who becomes the father of Jesse, who becomes the father of David, who becomes the father of the Messiah.

Do you see what I see? The contrast of Ruth’s story with the tragic death of the last woman from Bethlehem, we met in Judges. The beauty of blessing and redemption in the way Ruth and Naomi relate, and Ruth and Boaz. I love the part where Ruth says, “Spread your wings (or cloak) over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” This request and her response to him earlier about his favor, do they not remind you of Mary? When she responds to the angelic message that she will be with child and give birth to a Savior.



The book of Ruth is chock full of God-bumps and God-incidences, so I’m linking up with Jennifer today at:

 
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Bethlehem: Our Hopes and Fears are Met in Thee

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

 

Now in those days Israel had no king. There was a man from the tribe of Levi living in a remote area of the hill country of Ephraim. One day he brought home a woman from Bethlehem in Judah to be his concubine. ( Judges 19:1 NLT)

If I were the historian of Israel, the book of Judges would have been buried under a pile of dung or thrown into a fiery furnace. The book chronicles the downfall of Israel (you know, Jacob’s twelve sons, those who increased in number and were led by Moses out of captivity into the wilderness, and then led by Joshua into the promised land.) These characters rival the cast of a modern soap opera or mobster movie.
 
It’s easy to point the finger at them, but I do it warily, as I know that my deceitful heart has the potential for the same dark deeds, if given over to the folly of living my own way.

The last chapters of Judges (17-21) reveal some of the darkest and most foolish choices of the fractured tribes of Israel. They were living  in their own designated territory, with the tent of meeting in Shiloh, being their only common place to gather for worship. However, they tended to set up their own places of “worship” for convenience.

A man named Micah meets a young Levite from Bethlehem, who is wandering homeless around the wastelands of Ephraim. Seeing that Ephraim is so far from Shiloh, he establishes the young Levite in his home as his private priest. He even carves some figures to aid them in their worship.
Later the wandering Danites, who had failed to establish their God-given inheritance, covet Micah’s priest and idols. They abduct the priest and the idols, setting up their own town and their center of worship, disregarding the house of God over in Shiloh.

Mostly this little story reeks of foolishness, but the downward spiral continues.

Another Levite, from the outskirts of Ephraim takes for a “wife” a woman from Bethlehem. She runs away from him to return to her father’s home in Bethlehem. He follows her to persuade her to return to the wilderness with him, but her father counters his offer with food and lodging, keeping him delayed for about six days.
On the seventh day, the determined man loads up his belongings and his “wife” on two donkeys. They wander from town to town, not finding any suitable lodging. They refuse to stay in a foreign town.  Upon entering Gibeah, a town of Benjamin, no one offers them a room. They are shivering in the night air, when a hospitable man fearing for their safety in the open town square, invites them to his home.

They get settled in. The host’s fear comes knocking on the door. Some men of the city have arrived, looking for some sport. They want the Levite, but the host “graciously” offers his virgin daughter and his guest’s concubine. The men don’t want the women, and insist on having the guest. Finally, the guest “valiantly” pushes his concubine out the door. By the next morning, she has been raped and left for dead at the door of the host.

In fact, she is dead, so the Levite bundles her up and takes her back to their home, where he proceeds to cut her into twelve sections to send out to the twelve tribes, as a call to arms and revenge. (Who in their right mind would record this horrific event?) Yet, the writer of Judges has a point and inspired by the Spirit of God offers us a mirror into the depravity of a people and a nation without a king.

War breaks out among the tribes. After high casualties on both sides, the war comes to an end. The conquering tribes vow to never allow their women to marry a Benjamite. With the war over, their foolishness continues. In making the oath, they jeopardize the longevity of the tribe of Benjamin. They go through some convoluted reasoning to provide wives for the Benjamites, just so they don’t break their foolish oath. (You have to read it to believe it.)

The final commentary of the chronicler of Judges summarizes their demise (and seems fairly contemporary, if we were willing to look into our own mirror):
 

In those days Israel had no king,
so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
(Judges 21: 25 NLT)

 
Little hope surfaces in this dark passage of Israel’s history. God promised that kings would reign in Jacob’s future nation. And later Israel does ask for a king and a kingdom is established, but all this is just the backdrop of a better kingdom and the best King!

Don’t lose heart, there will be a light in the darkness. Tomorrow we will revisit one of the best loved stories in the Old Testament, which just happens to be set in our little town of Bethlehem.

Posted on by kelrohlf 2

Bethlehem: The Burial Place of Rachel

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

Before heading off to a new destination, it can be interesting  and inspiring to pour over the guide books. To check out the attractions offered, to find out any historical significance about the place and to look at a map to survey the layout of the town, all this information can help prepare the way before your arrival.

Each day this week, let’s look at some information about the little town of Bethlehem.
 
 

Bethlehem still exists today, situated southwest of Jerusalem about five miles. It is known for being a fertile area that produces corn, figs, and olives, as well as  boasting fruitful vineyards.
It is first mentioned in Scripture at a crossroads in Jacob’s life. He and his family are returning to his homeland. On the way he encounters God at Bethel, where God reminds him that He plans to bless Jacob with the land and inherited promise of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. The promise reaffirms that Jacob’s descendants would increase and from his lineage would come kings. (Genesis 35:11-15)

On the way back home, his wife Rachel  gives birth to Benjamin:

Then they moved on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty. And as she was having great difficulty in childbirth, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you have another son.” As she breathed her last — for she was dying — she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin. 

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb.  (Genesis 35: 16-20 NIV)

A death and a birth introduce this little town. And later a birth darkened by the death of “Rachel’s children” will accompany the introduction of our Savior. This little town will be marked by both tragedy and majesty.
Rachel prophetically names her son, Ben-Oni, “son of my sorrow,” foreshadowing the Man of Sorrows. Jacob renames him, Benjamin, “son of my right hand,” which also prefigures a role of Christ, as the triumphant Son of God, who now sits at His right hand.

This tragic association appears to offer little hope. Yet Benjamin will be a solace to Jacob in the days ahead, just as Jesus’ presence comforts us in our broken worlds.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
for the help of His presence.
(Psalm 42:5 NASB)
Posted on by kelrohlf 4

Hope: To Cherish a Desire with Anticipation

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

Welcome to the Advent{ure}! We are on our way to Bethlehem, the house of bread, the little town where our Savior was born. Each week as we draw closer to our destination, I want to highlight the word of the week associated with Advent. This week we will feast on HOPE.
 
 
Here is a Scripture morsel to get us started. Yours to savor.



We wait in hope for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love rest upon us,
O Lord,
even as we put our hope in You.
Psalm 33:20-21 NIV
 
 
 


 Linking with:

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Despair: To Lose All Hope or Confidence

My God, My God,
why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?
Psalm 22:1 (NKJV)

Doubt and despair. How could I have fallen from such great heights of wonder and delight in two days?

The common cold has descended upon my head and throat and chest. Weighing me down; tempting me to despair. You may laugh at me or you may hurl curses at me depending on how deep your struggle with doubt and despair.

I used to find comfort and challenge in the quote from Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables, “To despair is to turn your back on God.” But I’m not so sure about it anymore. Often the root of my despair rests in a sense that God has abandoned me to this germ-infested, pain-ridden world, full of brokenness and irreparable damage. Death and dying trumps life and living so many times that it’s simply impossible not to lose hope.

Even Jesus, anguished over the where are you God question:

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34 NKJV)

Jesus died on the cross. He surrendered to death and joy did come in the morning, but the hours in between still were marked with grief, doubt and despair.
 
Am I willing to w[rest]le with the despair long enough for it to bring new life?

I am not encouraging anyone to have an affair with despair, but at least let hopelessness do its work, let it bring you to your knees. Let the dark envelop you so that the light shining in the darkness means something–really truly gets into your heart, soul and mind.

And then once we’ve honestly poured out our wailings day and night, the gentle spirit will whisper a simple thought: Hope. Hope again.

 
 
O Holy Night (John Sullivan Dwight)
 
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need,
to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!
 
 

 
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