Seven hundred and fifty years before the advent of the Lord, the prophet
Micah foretold the place of His birth, saying: "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" (5: 2). This prophecy was well known to all
who were familiar with the ancient Scriptures. The simple shepherds to whom
the angels appeared on the night the Lord was born may not have been aware of
it; but when they "made known abroad the saying, which was told them
concerning this child" - "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" - many who heard it must surely
have remembered the prophecy, and have wondered if this were not indeed the
promised Messiah. The wise men from the east knew about the star from a much
earlier prophetic saying; but because they did not possess the Jewish
Scriptures they had probably never heard of Micah. However ' when they asked
King Herod, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?" the chief
priests and scribes, quoting the words of that prophet, indicated that they
should seek the child in Bethlehem.
It is wonderful to realize that even before the dawn of history it was
ordained, of providence, that the Lord, when He came, should be born in
Bethlehem of Judea. It seems strange that this should be so, for Bethlehem was
an obscure and tiny village, one of the least "among the thousands of Judah."
It is so old that no one knows when it was first inhabited. It is not
connected with any momentous events of national importance, and we find
surprisingly few references to it in the Sacred Scripture; yet what is there
said, when viewed in retrospect, forms a perfect chain of circumstances running
through the entire story of the Jewish nation, and leading unmistakably to the
crowning event of the Lord's birth. In this fact there lies a hidden meaning
of profound spiritual import that could not be revealed before the Lord had
made His second coming.
The writings tell us that "Bethlehem" represents the "spiritual of the
celestial." By this is meant the truth we perceive when the mind is inspired
by the heavenly love, that is, by love to the Lord and charity toward neighbor.
What is then seen is the truth concerning God; and especially this, that God
is Man. To establish that truth eternally in the minds of men was the supreme
purpose for which the Lord was born into the world.
How can it be said that the Lord came into the world to proclaim the truth
that God is Man? Surely this idea of God, like the little town of Bethlehem,
is old beyond remembrance. The first created men so thought of Him when the
angel of Jehovah appeared to them in vision. Moreover, the idea of God as
human is the very first idea of all to be impressed upon the wakening mind of
every infant; impressed by the loving care of a mother, who seems to the child
as one who has all power, who knows all things, and who is everywhere present
at all times, an unfailing guardian and merciful provider. Out of this
impression the whole concept of God arises in every human mind, a concept which
is later strengthened and confirmed by the teaching of the Word, which
everywhere presents the idea of God as a Heavenly Father.
This explains why everyone as it were instinctively thinks of God as Man,
and why this has always been so. As we read in the Heavenly Doctrine: "Thus
did the ancients before Abraham, and after him, see God; thus do the nations in
countries outside the church see God, from an interior perception [even though
they know not who He is] . . . thus do all little children and youths, and
simple and well-disposed adults see God. . . . [In fact] the whole heaven and
every one there has no other idea of God than as Man; nor can he have any other
idea, since the whole heaven is a man in the largest form, and the Divine that
proceeds from the Lord is what makes heaven; consequently, to think of God
otherwise than according to that Divine form, which is the human form, is
impossible to angels . . . [and] this idea of God flows in from heaven with all
in the world, and resides in their spirit. . . . This is said in order that it
might be known that it is intuitive in man's spirit to see God as Man" (AE
955).
Concerning Bethlehem, we are told that it was originally called "Ephrath"
or "Ephratah," a name meaning "fertility"; but after the land had been
conquered by the Israelites, under Joshua, the name was translated into the
Hebrew tongue and became "Bethlehem," which means "the house of bread." Here
Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, was born; and, later, David, the youngest
son of Jesse, was also born here. Here, too, by Divine command, Samuel
anointed David to become the king of Israel; and for this reason Bethlehem was
called the "city of David." Moreover, the Lord promised David, saying: "Thy
seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations"
(Psalm 89: 4); a prophecy which could not be fulfilled literally unless it
referred to the Messiah, of whom it was foretold that He was to come from the
house of David (Isaiah 11: 1; Jeremiah 33: 15-18). This is why the angel, at
the annunciation, said to Mary: "Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and
bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the
throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever;
and of His kingdom there shall be no end" (Luke 1: 31-33).
The significance of this may in some measure be seen when it is known that
the idea of God as Man is the primary and most essential truth of all religion.
Without it there can be no love or worship of God. It is the gate of entrance
that opens the mind to the perception of all spiritual truth. It is that,
therefore, which makes the mind spiritually fertile, and feeds the soul with
the bread of heaven. It is that alone which enables man to combat and overcome
the sensual appearances which threaten to destroy all faith in God. Benjamin
was born when "there was but a little way to come to Ephrath," because
he represents the "medium" or the "intermediate" between truth and love,
between what we learn by means of our senses and what we inwardly perceive from
affection or love. As the mind acquires an increasing store of knowledges by
way of experience, every one naturally begins to think in terms of time and
space and the physical properties of material things. So thinking, he is
tempted to deny that God is Man, for God must be infinite. He must be
everywhere present throughout the unfathomable reaches of the universe; while
man, as we know him, is a tiny creature, extremely finite, limited both in mind
and body. God must possess all knowledge, while man in an entire lifetime can
become acquainted with only a small fragment of the vast store of wonders the
world has to offer. God must be the acme of perfection, while man manifests
passions which can by no means be ascribed to Divinity.
At first, during childhood and youth, this contradiction is not fully
realized, and the idea of God as Man persists in spite of it; but the time
comes when the issue must be squarely faced. There appear to be but two
possibilities: either God is not infinite, or He is not Man. Many cling to the
idea that God is Man, yet ascribe to Him finite qualities and human
imperfections. This is unavoidable with children; and many, throughout life,
innocently continue to think of God in this way. But if man confirms the idea
that God is not infinite he falls into idolatry. On the other hand, those who
confirm the idea that God, being infinite, cannot be human, can think of Him
only as a formless mechanical force at the center of the universe, an
implacable fate. This idea destroys every possibility of love and worship. It
makes a mockery of religion, rejects the efficacy of prayer, and plunges the
mind into materialism.
There is, however, a "medium," an "intermediate" that delivers man from
both these alternatives. It is this that was represented by Benjamin, and
later by David, who overcame the enemies of Israel and made possible the peace
and prosperity which were enjoyed in the days of Solomon. And
the victories of David foreshadowed the triumph of the Lord over the hells, and
the redemption of the race to be accomplished by Him at His coming.
Bethlehem represents the intuitive perception that God is Man, a
perception that is mercifully implanted in the mind of every human being from
earliest infancy. Everything recorded in the Word concerning that city depicts
the way in which the Lord, in His providence, preserves that perception, both
in the race and in the individual. He preserves it because only in this city
can the Lord be born; only out of this idea can a true vision of God arise.
The Lord Himself is the only medium through whom the apparent contradiction
may be reconciled. Only by God taking upon Himself a finite body by birth into
the world, and by the gradual process of glorification removing from it every
finite limitation that He might rise from the grave leaving nothing in the sepulchre; only by showing Himself to His disciples after His resurrection, a
perfect Man over whom death had no power; only by revealing His glorified Human
in the truth of the Heavenly Doctrine wherein He may be seen as infinite love
and infinite wisdom in human form, could He demonstrate that He is Man: not
because of the body, but because of the love and the wisdom that together
create the body and form the spirit of man within it. Only thus could He lead
man to think of Him with rational insight, not from space and time and the
properties of matter, but as Divine love in Human form, and thus from the very
essence that makes man to be man. In this idea of Him there is no limitation,
but infinite humanity in all perfection - a Heavenly Father to be loved and
worshiped as the source and author of all power and all mercy, our Creator and
our Savior to eternity.
Bethlehem, the intuitive perception that God is Man, is the only source
from which this spiritual understanding, the rational vision of God, can arise.
Here alone can the Lord be born for us. The heaven-sent ideas of infancy and
childhood are the manger in which He must be cradled. But the Heavenly
Doctrine, given at His second advent, is the only medium whereby these childish
ideas may be lifted up above the binding appearances of the senses, that the
Lord may be seen as He truly is in His glorified Divine Human, fully united
with the Father, the infinite Soul of all the universe. The possibility of
that vision was assured to all who would be willing to hearken to His Word when
He came by birth into the world. This was why the angels rejoiced and sang for
joy. It is why that joy will fill the heart of everyone today, and in all time
to come, who sees in the Heavenly Doctrine the fulfillment of the promise
given: "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Amen.
LESSONS:
Psalm 89: 1-4, 15-21, 34-37-
1. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth
will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. 2. For I have said,
Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the
very heavens. 3. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David
my servant, 4. Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to
all generations. ? 15. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they
shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. 16. In thy name shall they
rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17. For
thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be
exalted. 18. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our
king. 19. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid
help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20.
I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21.
With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. ?
34. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my
lips. 35. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto
David. 36. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun
before me. 37. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a
faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
***
Luke 2:8-18
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9. And, lo, the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they
were sore afraid. 10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13. And suddenly there was with the angel
a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14. Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15. And it came to pass,
as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to
another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to
pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16. And they came with haste, and
found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17. And when they had
seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this
child. 18. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told
them by the shepherds.
