The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-11

1. 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" Mat
thew gives US what is specially known
as the gospel Of the kingdom. Here
only do we find the expression king
dom Of heaven" At His birth Jesus is
called king Of the Jews" and at the
beginning and end Of this gospel other
rulers are troubled because of Him See
Herod and PLATE. 1t is suggestive Of
the time when He shall come in glory.
and the nations shall be angry, and all
kindreds Of the earth wall (Rev. XII. Is
I. y. He was called Jesus before He
was born (AIath 1. 2D. At least five
others are mentioned by name before
their birth. Ishmael. Isaac, Josiah. Cyrus
and John the Baptist. Note the lesson
I'm lisa. XVI. Q, 10: Eph. ii. 10. and apply
It believingly to yourself
2. Saying Where is He that is born
king OF the Jews? for we have seen His
star in the east and are come 10 wor-
ship Him We shall have 10 wait until
the morning to know all we would
like 10 about these wise men. who they
were. how many they were. what they
knew about the king of the Jews and
how, what land they came from, what
was the effect Of their tidings upon their
countrymen when they returned. etc.
But they make US think of Ps. lXXii, TO-
H. lisa. TX. 1-3; Zech. xiv. IS; Jer III, u.
when all nations shall have their repre-
sentatives I'm Jerusalem 10 worship the
King.
3. When Herod the king, had heard
these things. he was troubled and all Je-
rusalem with him. It is not strange that
the enemies OF God should be troubled
by the presnce Of Him aginst whom they
are in rebellion. Some day they shall be
so troubled that they will want rocks and
mountains 10 fall upon them and hide
them from His face CRev. vi BID.
4. And when He had gathered all the
chief priests and scribes Of the people to-
gether he demanded Of them where
Christ should be born" Literally It is
the Christ" the wise men asked for the
king Of the Jews, but HerOd asks for
Christ, which in Hebrew would be the
Messiah, and in English the Amounted
See how on the cross the chief priests
Knocked Him with the title Christ, the
king Of Israel CLARK XIV. S2). II looks
as If Herod had heard some talk OF
coming king of Israel. just as today
many hear of the possible return in an
unexpected hour OF this same Jesus.
.. And they said unto him. In Bethle-
hem Of Judea, for thus Il is written by
the prophet" They do not seem TO have
asked time TO look it up. as many teach
ers would need 10 do now If asked con-
corning the return of Christ. They seem
TO have been familiar with this prophecy
and to have ANSWERED promptly and yet
they were not personally interested: their
knowledge did not, draw them 10 Him.
6. And thou, Bbthlehem, I'm the land
Of Judea, art not tht least among the prin-
ces Of Judea, for ou' Of three shall come a
governor that shall rule my people
Israel" This is quoted from Mic. V. >
the last clause OF which says that His
goings forth have been from the days Of
eternity (margin). The ruler of Israel
was to be "a son born, child given"
but He was also the Mighty God" Gsa.
tx, 6, y. AS truly az He has fulfilled part
Of the prophecy. lie will fulfill the rest
and sit on David's throne at His second
coming.
Z. Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, inquired Of them
diligently what time the star appeared"
He Is getting Interested in the child, but
it is the interest Of satan to destroy, not
the interest Of the wise men who came
to worship
S. And he sent them to Bethlehem
and said. Go and search diligently for
the young child, ana when We have found
him bring me word again, that l may
come and worship Him also" We may
rejoice, the wise men might have said,
for we have gained a convert, but God
was reading Herod's heart. and perhaps
the wise men could read him too. Ever
since sin made Adam and Eve foolish
enough to try to hide from God behind
the trees, in the garden Gen. iii. -, man
has been plotting and planning and act
ing as If God could not see nor read
the heart, not knowing that all is open
to Him QIeb iV, 80.
g. when they had heard the king they
departed. And. ID. the star which they
saw in the East went before them till ii
came and stood over where the young
child was" Is 1t possible that they lost
the star when they turned aside to see
Herod and might have been guided by
the star only without any help from
Herod or the chief priests? 1t
looks that way, for as soon as they left
HerOd then 80, the star" once more
guides them When we trust God alone
to guide us 1t will be well, but turning
aside to man brings trouble.
10. when they saw the star they re-
joiced with exceeding great joy" 1t is
so restful and joyful to be led by God
only They had been evidently i'll at
ease in the presence of the king and dur
ing the probable long delay of His gath
ering the priests 10 get their answer, but
now they are once more dealing with
God only. and they doubtless felt like
saying, God, my exceeding joy ops.
xiii. ~. Many Christian workers are
much hindered by the wisdom of SEEM
ingly good men, but to step out and fol-
low Jesus only is joy indeed
IL. And when they were come into the
house they saw the young child with
Mary, his mother, and fell down and
worshiped Him, and when they had
opened their treasures they presented
unto Him gifts, gold and fran!incense
and myrrh." The star had guided them
TO the very house where the child was
verse 81. for God leaves nothing half
done, and now they are face TO face with
Him with whom they have journeyed
so far to see. According to the custom
Of our day, they should have made each
other a present about this time, but all
is given to the child Jesus. 1t will be a
good day for churches and Sunday
schools when the Christmas time sees
pastors and people. teachers and schol-
ars. vieing with each other in loving gifts
to Jesus TO hasten the time of His king
dom.
IL "And being warned of God in a
dream that they should not return to
Herod they departed into their own
country another way" God knew what
Herod's worship meant, and He knoweth
how to deliver He can guide us by His
word and spirit, or by dream, or a
star. or angel, and in some way He will
surely guide us if we will only let Him.
His word is generally sufficient, but If
aught else is needed it shall be given.
yet never In conflict with His word,
which is supreme, for His word is Him
self 1t is always safe to disobey Herod
in order to obey God