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Why Bethlehem?(NOTE: For those of you who at Christmas are reminded of tragedy this devotion is dedicated to you.)In the region of Judea there are thousands of towns and villages. So why did God choose Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus? Some would say it was Providence that brought Joseph with his very expecting wife Mary to Bethlehem.Luke 2:4 - “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”Joseph being of the lineage of David had to go to Bethlehem the city of David to be counted and taxed.How did Bethlehem become the city of David?Remember from the book of Ruth the tragedy that struck the house of Naomi? First there was a famine to hit her land, which happens to be Bethlehem-Ephratah. She and her husband move to Moab, and there her husband dies. Their two sons marry Moabite women and then both of her sons die. The famine ends and Naomi returns back to Bethlehem. But she is not alone. One of her daughters-in-law named Ruth is with her, but so is the great sorrow of losing her husband and sons. But there is a kinsman-redeemer named Boaz, who not only redeems Naomi, but all that was with her, including Ruth!Boaz and Ruth marry and have a son (Ruth 4:13).Ruth 4:14, 17 - “And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel… There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”Through all Naomi’s tragedy hope was born! Through the marriage of Boaz and Ruth a little town named Bethlehem became known as the city of David, which later became known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ!Micah 5:2 - “But 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.”Who but God knew that when Boaz and Ruth were married the Kinsman-Redeemer of the world would be born? May the next time you hear the Christmas hymn “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” (Phillips Brooks, 1868) may it take on a newer and more precious meaning.“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.”