Words of Reflection
Some years ago, a group of mathematicians set out to determine the statistical probability of a single human being fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. What were the chances that one person’s birth and life could match the specificity with which many of the prophecies predict who the Messiah would be, where the Messiah would be born, and what the Messiah would do?
For the purposes of their experiment*, they chose eight of the major Old Testament Messianic prophecies, and in doing the math they determined that the chance that a single human being would fulfill just those eight was one in 10 to the 17th power. Let’s write that number out and sit with it for a moment:
1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000
And that’s the probability of fulfilling just eight prophecies. Jesus actually fulfilled many more than that. In fact, depending on your theological perspective and interpretation, he fulfilled anywhere from 60 to over 400 Old Testament prophecies. It’s a mind-boggling number, and it’s one of the strongest pieces of evidence we have that Jesus was more than an ordinary human being but was, in fact, God’s Messiah.
One of the striking prophecies we encounter this time of year (and it was one of the eight factored into the experiment so many years ago) comes to us from Micah chapter 5:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”—Micah 5:2 (NKJV
Here we have the prophet Micah, writing centuries before Jesus’ birth, detailing where the Messiah would be born. What a glorious reminder to us that in the birth of Christ God was fulfilling his plan of salvation, down to the location of his nativity.
In this prophecy we also have a powerful reminder that God does not work according to human standards, but chooses “the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27) Bethlehem was a backwater town, a place of seeming little significance in the grand sweep of human history. But in this humble location the most history-shattering event imaginable took place, and the world was never the same.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” is such a familiar carol that it’s one we can sing without really thinking about the words. This year, let’s take time to really dwell with the lyrics of this song and be reminded that it’s a testimony of God’s faithfulness to keep his promises, and it’s an encouragement to us to remember that even in the smallest, most humble of things…God is doing a deep work.
(*you can read about the statistical experiment here)
Scripture for Meditation:
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”—Matthew 2:1-6 (NIV)
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem (lyrics here)
This song is sung to different tunes depending on where you find yourself on the globe. Both traditional tunes are included here, along with a contemporary version by Chris Tomlin.
TUNE: ST. LOUIS (used primarily in the USA)
TUNE: Forest Green (used in the UK and elsewhere)
CONTEMPORARY VERSION (by Chris Tomlin)
Questions for Contemplation:
Occasionally during this Advent Devotional, you will be invited to simply read through the lyrics of a familiar carol or song in a prayerful posture. Read through the words slowly, and read them more than once. As you read, ask God to allow the truth of the song to resonate with you in a new and deeper way.
Ask yourself: what words or phrases from the song stand out to you? Why do they resonate with you? What invitation might be found in that word or phrase that can guide you in your Advent journey and prayer this year?