SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/5/2019
10:23 AM
My Worship Time Focus: “The Arrival
of the Magi”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew
2:1-2
Message of the
verses: “1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is He
who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have
come to worship Him.’”
I want first of all say that this
section “The Arrival of the Magi” is the first main section from John MacArthur’s
commentary from his 3rd chapter “Fools and Wise Men.” This first main section has three sub-sections
in it and the last sub-section is a very long one. We will first of all look at the introduction
to this main section and then go on to begin the sub-sections.
I cannot say for certainty how long
it was after the birth of Jesus that the Magi came to visit Joseph and Mary and
of course the baby Jesus, but one thing for sure was that they did not come to
the stable where Jesus was born. Why
would I say that as it probably kind of messes up some of the Christmas cards
you may send or receive this year. First
of all they were living in a house as seen in verse eleven. Jesus would have already been circumcised and
Mary would have completed her period of purification a seen in Luke
2:21-27. When Joseph and Mary came to
offer the sacrifices of a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons as seen in
Luke 2:24 we can surmise that the family was poor, and had not yet received the
gifts from the Magi. As stated I cannot say
for sure how much time had expired from the birth of Jesus until the Magi
arrived, but we do know that once Herod found out that the Magi would not come
back to see him he had all the male babies from two years old killed in an
attempt to have Jesus killed, so perhaps it could have been at least a year or
so after Jesus’ birth that the Magi came.
Bethlehem of Judea (first sub-section):
John MacArthur gives this brief description
of Bethlehem of Judea: “As it still is
today, ‘Bethlehem’ was then a small town five or six miles south of Jerusalem,
in the fertile hill country of ‘Judea’ (Judah).
It is cradled between two ridges and was located along the main ancient
highway from Jerusalem to Egypt. It was
once called Ephrath, or Ephrathah, and is referred to by that name several
times in the Old Testament (Gen. 35:16; Ruth 4:1; Ps 132:6; Mic. 5:2). The town came to be called ‘Bethlehem’ after
the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, its new name meaning ‘house of bread.”
Here are some more facts about Bethlehem: Jacob buried his wife Rachel there as seen in
Genesis 35:19, and this traditional site is still shown to the tourists today
when they visit Israel. Ruth met Boaz
there as seen in Ruth 1:22; 2:4 and also their grandson David, grew up there
and also tended sheep there as seen in 1 Sam. 17:12, 15. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem it has long
been called the city of David as seen in Luke 2:4, 11. We also know that the prophet Mica
specifically promised that the Messiah would come from this small town as seen
in Micah 5:2.
Lord willing we will look at the
second sub-section in our next SD.
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: It is so
very good to once again begin to read about the birth of Christ, and as for the
timing of this I have to believe that this is the book that God has led me to
study at this time. To be reminded of
the virgin birth and the importance of it along with the magi coming to see
Jesus with gifts, gifts that would be used to pay for their trip to Egypt shows
me once more that God is in complete control of the things that are going on in
human history.
My Steps of Faith for Today: To
understand that God is in control of my life and the things that I do again
causes me to learn more of humility.
Quotation from “Love
in Action” for today is David Jeremiah’s comments on Colossian 3:21.
“Another
translation says, ‘Don’t embitter your
children.’ The text seems to be
speaking of a father who governs his family by objection, a father who never
notices anything except what’s wrong.
One of the modern translations says, ‘Fathers, don’t hassle your kids.’ Words are powerful, capable of destroying
children. Used wrongly, words can become
weapons and tools for getting even—and can bring a child down in a way that nothing
else can. We must find our own positive
way to communicate our love to our children so that they cannot understand and
be encouraged.”
12/5/2019 11:05
AM
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