Page 24 - October 2026 - Truth & Tidings

supernova are unconvincing. It seems about Israel’s future king, when Gentile
best to interpret it as a supernatural tribute would be brought into the city of
occurrence. If God can guide His people the Lord (Isa 60:3,6ff.).
in the wilderness for years with a pillar of The wise men show us the proper
cloud, could He not also have guided these response to the One who is truly King –
seekers with something supernatural? It worship. And as Spurgeon said, “Those
seems they were not only guided by the who look for Jesus will see Him: those
star but also by the Scriptures. If they
were from Persia or Babylon, those lands who truly see Him will worship Him:
were populated by Jews who had been those who worship Him will consecrate
taken there into captivity. The wise men their substance to Him.” Christ is wor-
may have, therefore, been familiar with thy of our best. He is worthy of our all.
some of the Jewish Scriptures. Might they After their gifts had been offered, the
have known about Balaam’s Messianic wise men were ready to return to Herod
prophecy? “I shall see him, but not now: I with their news of where the Christ could
shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall be found. But “being warned of God
come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre in a dream that they should not return
shall rise out of Israel” (Num 24:17). Did to Herod, they departed into their own
they know something about the prophecy country another way” (Mat 2:12). God in-
of the seventy weeks in Daniel 9? Did they tervened with a dream for a second time in
do the math and have some expectation the infancy narrative (1:20ff.), sparing His
about the Messiah’s impending arrival? Son from Herod’s wrath while at the same
We are not told. Whatever the case, God time guiding the wise men to go home
guided them to His beloved Son. They a different way. After meeting Christ,
followed the light they were given until
it led them at last to the feet of the Savior. everyone goes a different way. When we
Second, we should notice their gifts . see Him for who He is and ourselves for
7
“And when they were come into the house, who we are, we cannot help but worship
Him. And the road ahead is far different
they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshipped once we have met the Savior. The path
him: and when they had opened their of sin, pleasure and self-indulgence has
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; been replaced by one of devotion to the
gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mat Lord, sacrifice and holiness. Indeed, it is,
2:11). Some have attempted to see separate in the words of the Lord Jesus, the “nar-
significance in each gift, but in any case, row” way “which leadeth unto life, and
they are all gifts fit for a king (see Psa 45:8; few there be that find it” (7:14). Have you
72:15; Song 3:6; Isa 60:6). Their journey found it? Have you found Christ, the one
and gifts of gold and spices remind us of born King? How have you responded to
the homage paid to another son of David Him – with indifference or hostility, or
by the Queen of Sheba (1Ki 10:2). They with worship? The indifferent are no safer
also remind us what the prophets foresaw from God’s judgment than the hostile.
Salvation is only for those who embrace
7 Their gifts would also meet a very practical
need, providing financial help for Joseph and and worship this Child who was born and
Mary. died to save us from our sins.

312 TRUTH kTidings October 2026