The Coming Kingdom: Matthew 2.1-23 (6)
Pray Psalm 23.1, 2.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
Sing Psalm 23.1, 2.
(Gift of Love: Though I May Speak)
Because the LORD my Shepherd is I shall not want, for I am His!
He makes me lie in pastures green, He leads by waters cool, serene.
Read Matthew 2.1-23; meditate on verses 19-23.
How did God speak to Joseph? What are dreams?
Prepare.
1. How did Joseph respond to God’s Word?
2. Why did they go to Nazareth?
Meditate.
The death angel signaled to Moses and the people of Israel that the time for departing Egypt had come. In Jesus’ case, “an angel of the Lord” appeared to Joseph, commanding him to leave Egypt and return to “the land of Israel.” Herod was dead, and so the fear of violence against Jesus was lessened.
Lessened, but not altogether removed. Herod’s son, Archelaus, now ruled in his father’s place. Joseph feared him, and God appeared to him in another dream, directing him to continue northward to Nazareth in Galilee.
Matthew has been careful throughout these first two chapters to show us God’s intimate leading in the events of Jesus’ birth, flight to Egypt, and return to the land of Israel. He is setting a tone here. Every aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry will be equally guided and superintended by God and His angels, although we only get occasional glimpses of this throughout the rest of the gospel (cf. Matt. 4.11). God is always present with Jesus, and Jesus promises always to be present with us (Matt. 28.20). We do not always perceive His Presence, or the work of His angels on our behalf; but He is there, and they are watching over us, just as we see in these early chapters of Matthew’s gospel.
The rather cryptic reference to Jesus being a “Nazarene”, as fulfilling words “spoken by the prophets”, appears to be a double play on words. On the one hand, it may hark back to the office of a Nazirite, a man set apart and sanctified from birth for holy living, who by his example and work would “begin to deliver Israel” from his enemies (Num. 13.5). Just as plausibly, the words “Nazareth” and “Nazarene” appear to derive from the Hebrew word, נֵ֫צְר, netser, which means a sprout or shoot. Jesus is the sprout or shoot or offspring of David, and is celebrated in Psalm 132 and elsewhere as inheriting the eternal throne promised in God’s covenant. The “Branch” referenced in Isaiah 11.1 and 60.21 points first to Christ, then to the people of God who “branch” from Him and have eternal life in the new heavens and new earth. Jesus’ going to Nazareth as the “Branch” thus signals the inbreaking of the coming day when the “branch” of His people will live in His Light forever (cf. Matt. 4.12-16).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Joseph’s geographical status mattered not to the angel. Nor to God.
It never matters where we are—God is always there with us; and never has any trouble finding us.
The angel first spoke to Joseph somewhere other than Bethlehem.
Then he spoke to him in Bethlehem.
Then in Egypt.
Then back in Israel.
There wasn’t anywhere he could go that God couldn’t find him and talk with him (Ps. 139.7-12).
After all, God had known him since he was in his mother’s womb (Ps. 139.13).
And “God was always present with Jesus, and promises always to be with us.”
We can see with assurance that God was with Joseph and Mary and Jesus.
And we can know with assurance that He is also always with us.
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
the days fashioned for me,
when as yet there were none of them” (Ps. 139.16).
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13.5).
Mary obeyed every Word from God.
Joseph obeyed every Word from God.
Jesus, as God, obeyed every Word of God.
And we? Do we? Obey every Word of God?
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us what to do because God will never leave us nor forsake us.
There is a point to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus’ story. And to ours.
“Let your conduct be without covetousness;
be content with such things as you have.
For He Himself has said,
‘I will never leave your nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13.5).
Just give me Jesus. That is all we need.
God went to great lengths to prepare the way for us to be saved from our sins.
Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies and promises of the One to come to do just that.
All the people involved in this process, followed the plan perfectly. And how we thank them for doing so.
But we, too, have a part to play in this amazing story.
It is simple and can be done conclusively:
Obey God and follow His Law. Know Him. Love Him. Serve Him.
Live in His Kingdom as a dutiful servant.
And all will be well. God-Is-With-Us: Immanuel.
Reflect.
1. When do you most have the sense of God being with you?
2. Why is it important to cultivate that sense of the God—Jesus—being with us?
3. Whom will you encourage today to seek the Presence of the Lord?
Every Scripture attests that the Lord was to be holy. We can also speak in another way of what was written … in Hebrew in Isaiah: “A branch will blossom from the root of Jesse, a Nazarene from his root.” Jerome (347-420), Commentary on Matthew 1.2.23
Pray Psalm 23.3-6.
God is with us as surely as He was with Joseph and Jesus. Thank and praise our Good Shepherd. Call on Him to lead, strengthen, and encourage you in all your work today.
Sing Psalm 23.3-6.
(Gift of Love: Though I May Speak)
My soul He quickens and will bless; He leads in paths of righteousness.
Though I may walk in death’s dark vale, I shall not fear—He will not fail!
The LORD is ever by my side; His rod and staff with me abide.
A table rich for me He spreads; with oil my LORD anoints my head.
Goodness and mercy, full and free, shall ever after follow me,
and in the house of God, my LORD, shall I abide forevermore!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast pushes on through our readings from Joy to Your World!. Our Crosfigell teaching letter continues its brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. The ReVision column considers how to grow the divine economy. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
