The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-12-13

BY Rev. D. N. 6tearns.
We choose the Christmas lesson In
stead Of the one In Malachi, but both
may well be considered together, for,
while Malachi tells Of the great King
whose name shall be great among all
nations, Matthew tells Of his lowly
birth according to lisa. z. IA; Mic. 8, 2
(lfal. I, IL, IA; Matt. II, I, ~. Weth-
or Il be In Malachi or Matthew their
treatment Of him Is the same. They
will not lny It to heart to give glory
to his name. but they dcsplse him and
call his service WEAKNESS and offer
him their poorest instead Of their best
(Nal. I, o. Z. 8. 10; ii, 1. 2. I'D. Yet
he begs Of them to return to him that
he may bless them and make them a
delirhtsome land (Mal. III. 7:12). He
speaks Of the great and dreadful day
Of the Lord which shall precede his
Kingdom and says that he will send
Elijah before that day (Mal. 3:1-3;
l.i-6). John the Baptist came In the
spirit and power Of Elijah, but they
would not receive him. 90 the real Ell.
1ah must yet come according to our
Lords own testimony Matt. II :11-1Si
Luke 1:1D.
John the Baptist was to the hrst
coming Of Christ what the real Elijah
viii be to his second coming In glory to
reign. Nal. 4:16. II. are most COM
forting words for all who think or
speak Of him. The years pass, men
come and 20, but he says. II am the
Lord; change not" (Aial. 500. Sew
sral hundred years intervene between
Malachi and Matthew. and then we
read Of Jesus Christ, the son Of Da-
vid, the son of Abraham, and Of his
birth Of q virgin a. f0retold In lisa.
TIA. and Of two Of his other names,
Jesus and Emmanuel Matt. 1 Il, 1929.
A Il 10 written In Gal. -. "When the
fullness of the time was come God sent
forth his con. made Of q woman. made
under the law. to redeem them that
were under the law" There II full
ness Of time for everything In the pur-
nose Of God, and he who was born In
Bethlehem according to Mic. 8 2. shall
yet rule Israel rs King Of the Jews
according to the same prophecy (Matt.
81, 2, 8, o.. See also lisa. o ct; Jer. q.
9. Q; Zeph. S:14. IS: Re. 81 90. "a. For
this the world and the warning nations
still wait unconsciously. for he who
was born In Bethlehem and rode into
Jerusalem on an ass colt Is the only
one who can speak peace to the ma
lions and make wars to cease Czech.
90. 10; Ps. 20: 9).
We do not know who these wise men
we're, nor how many there were. nor
what part of the east they came from.
but II would seem as II they knew
something Of the words Of the Lord
through Balaam, There shall come n
Star out OF Jacob. and a Scepter shall
rise out Of Israel" (Num. PAID. To
Israel and TO the world he will be the
Sun Of Righteousness. but to the
church. which must first be gathered.
he will be the morning star (Mal. 4 z !;
Rev. % :i8). For further Information
concerning these men We must walt pa
tiently, but II Is not 30 important to
know them as to know him whom they
came to seek. the King Of the Jews,
the Christ. the Governor to rule Israel
Matt. 90. 4. 81. The star which they
saw was no ordinary star, but a super
natural light from God. for when they
left Jerusalem the star which they saw
IN the east went before them till II
came and stood over where the young
child was (verse o.. II IL not the Gus
tom OF ordinary stars to lead anyone
directly to certain house and remain
over II.
We cannot think that the star led
them to Jerusalem and caused the
death of all those little children (verse
1o), but II may have been that Jeru-
salem and visit to Herod became
more real to them for time than the
wonderful heavenly light and led them
out Of the way. for when they saw the
star again they rejoiced with exceed
ing great Joy (verse 10). Any kind Of
an earthly glare may cause us to lose
sight of the heavenly light and make
trouble for ourselves and others. The
chief priests and scribes knew the
Micah prediction concerning their Mes
siah. but. like many today, were not
specially interested In II. These wise
men when tlry found the child and
his mother worshiped him (not the
mother) and. opening their treasures,
presented unto him (the child gold
and frnnkincense and myrrh.
We think OF the queen OF Sheba and
all the kings who brought gifts to the
king of Israel I'll Chron. OIL, %. 2D
and OF the coming time, which may be
near, when all the wealth Of the ma
dons shall be brought to Israel because
" the glory OF their King lisa. 60 Il. 3, 8,
II, margin). At this time OF giving and
receiving gifts what is your gift to
himf Notice the fu!flllings OF Scrip
ture and. the revelations OF God In
ireams In chapters I 20. %; 2:5, O, 10.
10, II, 10. %, %. II was after the visit OF
these men that Joseph and Mary were
ordered to Egypt, and no doubt their
gold paid expenses. II is the Lords
method 10 provide the wherewlthal for
al that he desires TO accomplish, and
when he PURPOSES anything we must
k.It.,r. fHaN IA KYbn nNNna tho silver