The Coming Kingdom: Matthew 2.1-23 (3)
Pray Psalm 132.8-10.
Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.
For Your servant David’s sake,
Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed.
Sing Psalm 132.8-10.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Arise, O LORD, come to Your resting place;
Your holy Presence meet with us in might.
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace,
and we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face,
but look upon us in Your holy light.
Read Matthew 2.1-23; meditate on verses 9-12.
In your mind’s eye, how do you envision this scene?
Prepare.
1. What was the attitude of the Magi? Why?
2. How did they respond to Jesus?
Meditate.
As the Magi left Herod, the star appeared again, directing them to Bethlehem, and to the house where Mary and Joseph were with Jesus. The star “went before them” and “stood still”—again, indicating that this was a special star, created and employed for a special purpose.
We note that the family is now abiding in a house. Mary and Joseph stayed in Bethlehem longer than those who had come to be counted for the census, since they presented Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem eight days after His birth (Lk. 2.21). Perhaps this was the home of a family member, or one they rented for a short time.
The Magi “fell down and worshiped Him.” They recognized His majesty and glory, even as He lay in His mother’s arms. Their gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—were expensive. Each is symbolic, of course, and points us again back to the Old Testament. The gold brings to mind the promise of Psalm 72.15 (cf. Is. 60.6, 7), while myrrh recalls Psalm 45.8. Both of these psalms celebrate the greatness of the coming King and the glory of His reign. Frankincense was used to sanctify offerings to the Lord (Lev. 2.1-3) and to enhance the bread offering which was always before the Lord in the tabernacle (Lev. 24.5-10).
God warned the Magi “in a dream” not to return to Herod, but to go to their native country by a different way than that by which they had come. We might be curious as to how Matthew knew this. It could be that the Magi mentioned it to Mary. More likely, the Holy Spirit simply impressed it on the disciple as an important detail to include here.
What has been a joyous and peaceable narrative thus far is about to take a violent and terrifying turn.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him” (Matt. 2.11). The Magi finally got something just right! They worshiped the King! Grown men bringing treasured gifts, lying prostrate before a Baby. Now they are an example for us to follow.
“…those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD” (Is. 60.6).
O worship the King all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In You do we trust, nor find you to fail;
Your mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!
O measureless Might! Ineffable Love!
While angels delight to hymn you above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall lisp to Your praise.
(Robert Grant, 1833)
Jesus’ birth brought the worship of angels:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, toward men of goodwill!” (Lk. 2.14)
Of shepherds:
“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger…Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” (Lk. 2.16, 20).
Of the Magi:
“Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matt. 2.2)
Of Simeon and Anna:
“For my eyes have seen Your salvation…the glory of Your people Israel” (Lk. 2.30, 32).
“She gave thanks to God…for redemption…” through this Baby (Lk. 2.38).
Of all those Who love His holy Name:
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” (Ps. 150.6).
“The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;
people shall worship Him, each one from his place…” (Zeph. 2.11).
“Because He is your LORD, worship Him” (Ps. 45.11).
The Right Response.Reflect.
1. How would you explain worship to a non-Christian friend?
2. What would you tell a new believer about what to seek in a service of worship? How?
3. How would you explain the place of Jesus in your own worship? Why must He have that place?
Is a soul busy, seeking after Christ? Would it worship him, and does it say, Alas! I am a foolish and poor creature, and have nothing to offer? Nothing! Hast thou not a heart, though unworthy of him, dark, hard, and foul? Give it to him as it is, and be willing that he use and dispose of it as it pleases him; he will take it, and will make it better, and thou shalt never repent having given it to him. He shall frame it to his own likeness, and will give thee himself, and be thine for ever. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 2.9-12
Pray Psalm 132.11-18.
Worship the Lord Jesus by an offering. What will you offer today to the Heir of David’s throne and Immanuel Who is with us always?
Sing Psalm 132.11-18.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Remember, LORD, the oath You swore to David;
do not turn back, do not deny Your Word:
“One of your sons, with your throne I will favor,
if he shall keep My cov’nant evermore,
and walk within My testimonies ever,
thus he shall ever rule as Israel’s LORD.”
God dwells among us, and He will forever,
to meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior—
Beloved, etenal light and resting place.
His foes are banished from His Presence ever,
but we shall reign with Him before His face.
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. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
