The Jackson herald., 1906-01-11

VS.. I. 2. /. There came" arrived in
Palestine. II must have been after the
presentation in the Temple. for the
family left Bethlehem Immediately af-
ter the visit of the wise men. and be-
fore April, for Herod died April /. II
was probably In February. Wise men
from the east" Mngi sages. They
are men of rank and wealth and
learning, representing the best in the
old civilizations. the men who were
looking and hoping for more light and
better times.
Tradition describes them as three
in number, from the number of their
gifts, and represents them as kings
three kings of the Orient" and named
them Melchior Balthazar and Caspar.
From the east" East here is plural,
designating the eastern regions, prob
ably Persia. ITO Jerusalem" the cap
ital of the country. these strangers
would naturally come to find the Ring
OF the country in the royal palace.
2. Saying, Where Is he that is born
King of the Jews?" Where is the
newly.born King"
The Source of the Expectation of a
King Without doubt one Of the chief
sources was the Jews. who were scat
tered everywhere, with their Scrip
lures and their hopes. since the Baby
lonish captivity. Daniel himself was
prince, and chief among this very
class of wise men. His prophecies
were made known TO them; and the
calculations by which he pointed to
the very time when Christ should be
born became, through the Book of
Daniel, a part of their ancient litcra-
ture.
Nearly all ancient religions, with
their sacrifices and worship, are ex-
pressions of need and longing for
God
For we have seen his star in the
east" Seen by them in the Eastern
countries, or seen in the eastern sky,
or both. And are come to worship
him." To acknowledge his worthship;
to do homage to him.
Why should the star lead them to
think of the Messiah? Such appear
ances were continually regarded by
the sages of those days as signs OF
some great event. The astronomer,
especially the religious astronomer,
sees many things to which unframed
eyes and hearts are blind. The
general expectation of the Great King
at this time would cause the wise men
to think of him when they saw the
wonderful star. especially IL they con,
nected 1t with the promised star out
of Jacob" (Num. PAID, or thought of
the morning star that heralds the
| dawn.
The Star in the East. This must
have been a supernatural star. some
light set in the heavens by God. or
| some natural phenomenon controlled
by God to guide the wise men.
II. The Interview with King Herod
VS.. 3-S. 3. when Herod the king
| had heard these things Eager tc
| find the object of their search. they
would go through the streets asking
Where is He?" at the same time
! telling the story of the star. 1T Is
| a simple question, but the quiet voice
| gathers velocity and volume until II
sweeps over Jerusalem like a cyclone
or a rushing wind of Pentecost." He
was troubled" agitated, disturbed, les
he should lose his throne and hi:
power. He was old. and feeble, ant
wicked His life had been full o
crimes. He knew he was hated by hi!
subjects. The least disturbance woulC
| :, T.. hi,
fears. He dreaded rival. And al
Jerusalem with him" A new KIM
might involve the nation in a confiic
with Rome 1t might interfere will
their luxuries, their tyrannies, thei
schemes of greedy gain. The cure o
her sin might be too costly.
4. Gathered all the chief priest
and scribes." The authoritative teach
ers and students of the law. He de
mandcd" (rather "inquired'D "of then
where Christ" in the original, "th
Christ" not the proper name, but IN,
Messiah. the official title of the prom
ised Deleverer, should be born.
What do your Scriptures say? Wha
is your belief?
s. at is written" (Mic. 5:2).
6. And thou Bethlehem" This
quoted freely from the Septuagint 9TH
Greek version of the Old Testament
Just as such quotations were popular
" made at that time. for there wer
no Bibles in circulation, and quote
tons must be made chiefly as remen
bered from hearing them read. "Betf
| lohau In tho land Of linda " DiSti
gushing it from Bethlehem in Zeb'
lon. THAT shall rule" or, more col
rectly, shall be the shepherd Of" II
| Guiding the whole work of the sheI
herd, guiding, feeding, defending, fol'
ing. ruling; a perfect picture of wha
a good ruler should be to his pee
pie.
7. Then Herod ,privily (pr
vately) called the wise men, Pr
81