Joseph Goes to Bethlehem - Luke 2:4

Luke the physician wrote how, “ there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city”, and in chapter two and verse four of his book Luke shares how,“Joseph also went … unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem” where we read:

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:)

The verse reads, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;” Luke began with the words, “and Joseph” or “and Joseph whose name means let him add and was the husband of Mary who was Jesus' mother” “also went up” which means “even so and indeed ascended” “from Galilee” which means “circuit” “which was the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan”, “out of the city of Nazareth” which means “from the abode or town of Nazareth which means the guarded one and was the ordinary residence and home town of Christ”, “into Judaea” which means “he shall be praised” and “in a narrower sense to the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea and Idumaea”, “unto the city” which means “to the dwelling place, abode and habitation” “of David” or “of King David whose name means blessed”, “which is called Bethlehem” which means “that is named and known as Bethlehem which means house of bread and was a village about six miles (10 km) south of Jerusalem”. Luke shared how “Joseph”, who was Mary's husband, left where he was living in “Nazareth” to go to the area of “Judaea” where the city of “Bethlehem” was located.

The verse continues, “(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” Luke added the words, “because” which means “since and on account that” “he was of the house and lineage” or “Joseph was a descendant from the home, dwelling place and residence” “of David” which refers to “belonging to King David whose name means blessed”. Luke referred to the reason Joseph went to “Bethlehem” was because King David was his ancestor whose familial city was “Bethlehem”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Joseph was from the ancestral line of King David, and because the city of “Bethlehem” was known to be “the city of David”, Joseph went there to be “enrolled” in the “record for taxation”. God's plan was coming together perfectly, and even as these things appeared to be the workings of “man”, they were actually used by God to bring the parents of His Son Jesus to “Bethlehem” where He was to be born. (See Micah 5:2) God loves people, and because He wanted a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, every detail of His birth was to be met as He directed. Those who are wise will consider all these details concerning the birth of the Messiah, and they shall discover more than ample reason to “believe and trust” in Him.

Next time Luke shares how Joseph went, “to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".