Bethlehem's
Caves
& Jesus' Birth
©2003 Gene Brooks
NOTE:
1- THE PRESENCE, 2- THE PROVISION, 3- THE PLEDGE
Bethlehem -
"House of Bread (lit. "meat") connotation: Provision
1-
Genesis 38:6-30:
• THE PRESENCE: Judah while living in
Adullam near Bethlehem . . .
• THE PROVISION: did not provide
a husband for Tamar (probably a Canaanite), so she tricked him and had
Perez and Zarah.
• THE PLEDGE: Tamar got signet ring,
staff, bracelets as a pledge.
2-
Ruth 4:
• THE PRESENCE: While in Bethlehem
•
THE PROVISION: Boaz
their descendant stepped up to provide for Ruth, a Moabite.
•
THE PLEDGE: Boaz spread
the "wings" of Boaz garment over Ruth as a pledge (Ruth 2:12; 3:9.)
3-
2 Samuel 23:13-17; 1 Chronicles 11:15-19:
• THE PRESENCE: David's HQ in caves of
Adullam near Bethlehem.
•
THE PROVISION:
David provides for relatives, friends, those in need.
•
THE PLEDGE: Water from
well in Bethlehem was a pledge.
4-
Luke 2:
• THE PRESENCE: Jesus is born in a
cave near Bethlehem . . .
•
THE PROVISION: to
provide for the sin of the whole World.
•
THE PLEDGE: We receive
the Holy Spirit as authority (Tamar), as protection (Ruth), as living
water (David) as a pledge.
Page created July 17, 2003.
Image above:
http://www.asianchristianart.org/gallery/nativity/nat-gall/nat4.html