The writer of the carol, Reverend Phillips Brooks, was a church minister in Philadelphia.
During his time of ministry, the US Civil War started and many men from his congregation were killed.
The biggest battle was at Gettysburg only 125 miles away.
Rev Brooks tried to encourage and lift the spirits of his congregation but it was draining his own spirit.
In April 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
When the president’s body was lying in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Rev Brooks gave a powerful eulogy and it was reprinted and widely circulated throughout the US.
Rev Brooks became famous but he was so burned out he was unable to rekindle his spiritual flame.
He asked for a leave of absence from his church and went to the Holy Land.
On Christmas Eve 1865 he rode a horse from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, arriving as the stars were beginning to shine.
In those days [160 years ago] Bethlehem was a small quiet village, very different to what it is today.
My daughter visited in 2019 and found Jesus’ place of birth to be big and bustling and very commercialised and aimed at tourists.
Rev Brooks’ visit was quiet, and the beauty and simplicity of that small place stayed with him.
In 1868 Rev Brooks wanted to write a new hymn for the Sunday school children to sing at the Christmas service.
With memories of the Bethlehem he saw in his mind, he wrote O Little Town of Bethlehem, and the church organist composed the tune.
Within this carol is one of God’s promises from the prophet Micah: “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times,” Micah 5:2 Good News Bible.
This carol shows the paradox of God’s salvation.
The Eternal God would bring salvation to the world through a baby boy born in a small village, an event that went largely unnoticed by everyone except for Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the rejoicing angels.
This was the long-awaited Messiah, but the world didn’t know it.
The simplicity and humility of Christ’s birth is that example of how God frequently works in our world through the simple, everyday ordinariness into what can be extraordinary because God’s presence is with us.
Many of us count ourselves insignificant because we don’t think we are important or accomplished enough to make a difference, but God knows we can if we try.
You don’t have to be a ‘somebody’ in the world’s eyes to contribute to God’s salvation of the world.
You and me just need to make Him known.
A very happy and blessed Christmas to all readers of On the Horizon.
Rosie Hunt
Kyabram Baptist Church
20°C