Dec. 14th - A Star - Matthew 2:2
"Where is He who has been born
King of the Jews?
For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship
Him."
Have you ever thought about
how the Wise Men knew about the star? Most Bible scholars believe these
men (traditionally three in number because of the three gifts mentioned in
Scripture) to have been of a certain group of priestly scholars or
"Magi". They most likely studied among other things both
astrology and ancient writings. Most scholars believe they were from the
royal courts of Babylonia and Persia.
In Matthew 2:5-6 the
Magi quote Micah 5:2 - "They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for
this is what has been written by the prophet:
‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND
OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”
Think about it...how would
these men have heard this prophecy from Isaiah 60:6 or Balaam's prophecy of a
star that would announce the birth of a special King meant to be worshiped?
(Numbers 24:17,1) God in His infinite plan
arranged it!
Remember Daniel and his
friends along with many other Jews who were taken to Babylon during Judah's
captivity? God's Word went with them in their hearts and also likely
in writings among the artifacts taken from the temple. And Daniel,
himself, prophesied about the coming Messiah when he lived there.
Remember the young Jewish
girl, Hadassah, who became Queen Esther of Persia? God used her influence
"for such a time as this" (Esther 4:4) to the point that
"many of the people of the land became Jews" (Esther 8:17) opening
the door for God's Scripture there!
In the same way, God
continues to use His Word to point people to Jesus the Christ, Savior of the
world. The Wise Men sought Him, and the star led them to The Way, The
Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6) God's Word by His Holy Spirit continues
to do the same today! If we seek God too, He promises to be found. (Jeremiah 29:13)
I think this question from
the Wise Men in our Bible verse above for this Christmas devotion can remind us
of three questions we can ask ourselves:
- Have we seen the star?
- Are we following the star & seeking Jesus?
- Are we pointing others to the star & the Savior?
This Christmas and on into
the New Year, every time we see a star, whether it's in God's night sky, on a
tree, or off a shoe...let's be reminded to see, follow & point to Jesus!
One, two, three!
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