“Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, ‘How much longer are you going to go on grieving for Sha’ul, now that I have rejected him as king over Isra’el? Fill your horn with oil, and set out; I will send you to Yishai the Beit-Lachmi, because I have chosen myself a king from among his sons.'”-1 Samuel 16:1
So Samuel is commanded by the Lord to stop his grieving over Saul and venture out to the city of Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem in English) where God would reveal who He had chosen to be the next king of Israel.
Now let’s not overlook the significance of this location.
First of all, Bethlehem was located in the territory of Judah.
This alone signifies a big power shift was about to occur.
Remember, King Saul’s loyalty was to the northern tribes because they were the ones who elected him and ensured he came to power.
So if the next king hailed from Judah in the south, you had best believe the northern tribes (who were the majority population in Canaan) wouldn’t be too happy about it.
Next, let’s not overlook the significance of Bethlehem from a messianic prophetic perspective:
“But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat,
so small among the clans of Y’hudah,
out of you will come forth to me
the future ruler of Isra’el,
whose origins are far in the past,
back in ancient times.”
-Micah 5:1
So with the benefit of hindsight, we can see how this prophecy was in a sense fulfilled twice.
First, it was fulfilled when David was elected as king.
Second, it was fulfilled with the birth of Messiah who comes from the line of David.
So here’s the takeaway I’m getting for today.
There’s no such thing as randomness and insignificance regarding locations in Scripture.
Whether we’re talking about Israel’s land inheritance of Canaan (which includes Lebanon by the way), or the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, locations always carry deep spiritual significance and meaning in Scripture.
And I would also say outside of Scripture, including where YOU were born and raised.
Whether you’re from Asia, Europe, Africa, or North America, I believe there was a plan and purpose behind your birthplace and the culture you grew up in.
So don’t complain and moan that you weren’t born white, or Jewish, or aren’t a native English or Hebrew speaker or whatever.
Embrace with pride the heritage and culture you were born into and realize that we are all one in Messiah.
Ya feel me?
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“And he made from one man
every nation of mankind to live
on all the face of the earth,
having determined allotted periods
and the boundaries
of their dwelling place,”
-Acts 17:26
“There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free,
there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.”
-Galatians 3:28
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