Bethlehem, the City of David

2024-03-18

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:) (Luke 2:4)

Previously, we saw how the City of David was Zion or Jerusalem. Then we get here to Luke 2:4. How is it this other city is called the City of David?

This is because it is David’s ancestral home. “If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family” (1 Samuel 20:6).

As David is a type of Christ, we see that their humble beginnings started in this city of Bethlehem. The prophet Micah announced the birth of Jesus Christ (Micah 5:2), and it was fulfilled here in the title verse.

However, the parallel does not stop there. The destiny for both would be reigning from Jerusalem. David did so about 3,000 years ago. We wait now for our Lord to one day reign from Jerusalem.