Hymns of Hope: O Little Town of Bethlehem

The City of David was situated on a hill just a few miles south of Jerusalem. Weary travelers, brought in by the census, were packed in every available room in town. Yet, in the quietness of night, while the streets lay in sleepy silence, the stillness was broken by the cry of a baby. Into the darkness, Light had dawned, and the course of history was forever changed in that little town of Bethlehem.

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

That quiet night, the hopes and fears of every person for all time were met in the newborn King. His coming set into motion the fulfillment of the promise given to Adam and Even all those years ago in the garden (Genesis 3:15). His birth had been foretold by the prophets of old (Micah 5:2, Isaiah 7:14). The long-awaited Messiah had come. Hope was born and our fears were quenched in that little town of Bethlehem.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all the earth.

The silence was broken yet again when angels appeared, heralding the Christ-child’s birth to shepherds keeping watch over their sheep that night. Praise rang out, first by the angels as they filled the night skies and then by the shepherds as they left their watch to search for One who had come to save them. The gift of peace for all the earth was given that night in that little town of Bethlehem.

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

Heaven had come down to us, offering hope to a sin-cursed world dying to be rescued. Though at Christmastime, we remember Christ as a baby, as a man, He bled and died in our place. Just 33 years later, our sins would be laid upon Him—Jesus, the only One who could bear the full wrath of God. This baby in a manger had come to make all that is wrong with the world right again. Salvation was born in that little town of Bethlehem.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray,
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Immanuel!

Listen to the glad tidings of the angels. “Fear not!” Though the future may seem dim and forlorn, Christ’s first coming will be followed by His second. For those who have put their trust in the Lord, who have turned from their sin in repentance, the darkness of this world cannot overcome the Light that now lives in you. Where meek souls have received His wondrous gift of salvation, the dear Christ enters in to cast away our fears and drive out the darkness. Dear momma, when your grief feels like more than you can bear, set your heart upon the great joy that was proclaimed that night in the little town of Bethlehem.

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Ashlee is the Editorial Coordinator for Hope Mommies and author of I AM (Hope Mommies, 2017) and Identity (Hope Mommies, 2018). She and her husband, Jesse, live in Milwaukee with their children—five on earth and two in heaven.

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