His Star…
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him (Matthew 2:1-2.)
His star. The nations of Jesus’ day and earlier commonly referred to rising kings as stars. The priestly caste of the kings made their living gazing at stars and making predictions. Much of it was fraud on a grand scale. Kings were generally dominated by fear of losing their thrones and losing their heads, so the magician/priest caste was a common source of soothing for kings. Along with the hype, there was a widespread belief that somehow the stars had great influence on the success or failure of kingdoms. Do we not refer to our movie idols and athletes as “stars” today? It is engrained in us.
Joseph was enabled by the Lord, in his dreams, to predict the future in terms of the sun, moon, and stars: And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me (Genesis 37:9).
These eleven stars were his brothers. Did it take place? Of course, it did! They bowed before him in Egypt when they came to buy grain from Pharaoh’s storehouse. Joseph, their “little brother,” was in charge next to Pharaoh. We should remember that only God knows the future and only God can design and control the future. God’s bus is the only bus to get on. But a warning goes along with God’s genuine use of the stars to communicate.
God warned the Jews during the last month of the life of Moses: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven (Deuteronomy 4:19).
The prophet Balaam, as evil as he was, got it right when he prophesied: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel… (Numbers 24:17). The fulfillment of this was in David, who foreshadowed the one who was to follow him and sit upon his throne in Jerusalem. The Magi were 100% convinced that they had seen not just any star, but His Star.
Herod was convinced that the Magi had a real “star connection.” Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared (Matthew 2:7).
The Magi went on their way, …and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was (Matthew 2:9). Notice how they personally reacted to seeing the star again: When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (Matthew 2:10)
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The Apostle Peter writes: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2Peter 1:19)
We do not know how these men knew what they knew, but they were not wild star gazers. They had a firm connection with the Lord. Peter says we should take heed until “the day star arise in your hearts.” He expected that to happen to the people he was writing to.
How will you know when the day star has risen in your heart? You’ll know. How do you know when the sun is up? The day star in your heart is as self-evident as the sun outside. Ω
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
●This article is an edited reprint of “Good Morning December 13, 2007”
Read Through the Bible in a Year
DECEMBER 7, 2017 - THURSDAY
A.M. Daniel 9-10 P.M 2John 1
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Good Verses to Memorize:
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
Song for Today:
Hark the Herald Angel Sing- Acapella (2:46) (S.E. Samonte)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml3BrteGug4
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