THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S out of Bethlehem (Micah 5 :2). But she who was chosen to he mother of Jesus did not live in Bethlehem but far away Nazareth. Men who were utterly unconscious of God’s purposes and prophecies, by many decrees and ways so . worked together that Mary was brought to Bethlehem at the time of our Lord’s birth and thus God’s Word was fulfilled and His eternal plan car ried out.— Torrey. Prophecy is inten tionally obscure that Satan and wicked men may not be able to understand it and thwart the purposes of God.—- Farr. v. 7. Called the wise men. It great ly agitated Herod. The fact of the question did so, “Where is the King?” This' inquiry at once put him on one side. The form of it did so still more. “ Where is He that is BORN to be King?” This was to reproach him as a usurper.—Horn. Com. t . 8. Go and search. Herod a type of enemies of Christ. He is a crafty fox, waiting for its prey. He befriends the wise men who are seeking Christ so far as it may serve his own ends.—- Dickson. That I may come. It was something like the kiss of Judas.— Gualther. v. 9. Lo, the star. How came these magi to know so much about Christ? How came they on seeing His star (v. 2) to such full conviction that His birth had occurred in Judea? By the signs and constellations of the primeval as tronomy, interpreted according to their knowledge of Old Testament Scripture, these men knew by the conjunction of planets and this special star, that 'the particular time had come in which the worshipful One was to make His ad vent. Such portentous conjunctions as are known to have then occurred, along with-the new star in Coma and the vir gin herself on the meridian at the same time, would seal the whole matter. v. 10. Exceeding great joy. Com pare “ joy unspeakable” (1 Pet. 1 :8).— Sel. v. 11. They saw the child. Those who seek Christ in truth-shall find Him at length. Those who believe that the Scriptures speak of Christ will see Him. Worshipped Him. Never does con- consecration take a nobler form than when one prostrates himself before the feet of his Saviour and offers to him in his prime, all he has and the fulness of all his powers.— Butler.
961 v. 12. Warned of God. Gne of twenty-one unsuccessful attempts at the life of Jesus. Fourteen recorded in John.— K. B. v. 13. Herod wül seek the child. Satan might have been taken by sur prise at the first advent. Be tnat as it may, he lost no time in seeking the destruction of the new-born babe, ‘but God is never taken by surprise.-—Farr. His crafty counsel was absurd. If the child were not the Messiah he need not have been alarmed, i If it were, his efforts were fruitless. But he does not see this and so plots and works under ground in the approved fashion of king craft.— Maclaren. To destroy Him. Thé sword of Herod only serves to re veal the living Christ. There .is a life which has its root in death. We know it at last— the Christ of prophecy has become the Christ of all the world.— Holland. Be there until I bring thee word. The child Saviour was con cealed, yet well known, hated and feared, yet longed for and loved. Sig nally despised, yet marvelously hon ored, beset by extreme dangers, yet kept in perfect safety.— Lange. v. 15. That it might be fulfilled. Words quoted are in Hos. 11:1 and the passage illustrates the truth that pro phetic utterances often have a latent and deeper meaning than at first ap pears. Israel was nationally a “ son” (Ex. 4:22) but Christ was a greater “ Son.”— Scofield. The Wise Men visit the Child Jesus. Matt. 2:1-12. Memory Verse: “ We saw His star in the East, and are come to worship Him.” Matt. 2:2. Approach: How many of you boys and girls ever went on a journey? Charles did you walk or ride? You rode on a train and at night the porter came in and made BEGINNERS, down a nice bed for AND PRIMARY you to sleep in. Mabel L. Merrill Mary rode in an au tomobile. H e l e n rode both in a train and in an auto mobile. Now I am going to tell you a story about some men who took a very long journey and they did not have as comfortable a way to travel as we have
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