Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/461

 another way  to  their  own  country. Thus was  the  wicked  king disappointed in  his  expectation  of  finding  out,  by  means  of  these strangers, the  place  where  the  Child  was.

The Omniscience  of  God. He  knew  exactly  the  thoughts  both  of Herod  and  of  the  wise  men. He knew  that  the  latter,  in  their  guilelessness, would  show  Herod  the  place  where  the  Child  lived,  and  He knew  that  Herod  was  resolved  on  the  death  of  the  Child. Therefore He bade  the  wise  men  return  home  another  way.

Faithfulness of  God.  He  caused  the  prophecy  uttered  by  Micheas to be  fulfilled,  and,  by  a wonderful  chain  of  circumstances,  carried  out His design  that  the  Redeemer  should  be  born  at  Bethlehem.

Jesus Christ  is  God  and  the  Redeemer  of  all  mankind, of  Jews  as well  as  Gentiles. He  proved  Himself  to  be  such  by  revealing  Himself after His  Birth,  first  to  the  Jewish  shepherds  by  means  of  His  angel, and then  to  the  Gentile  Magi  by  means  of  His  star. He manifested Himself as  the  Omnipotent  God,  and  the  Lord  of  hosts  (of  the  angels and  of  the  stars).

The properties  of  Faith.  It  is  impossible  not  to  admire  the  strong and living  faith  of  the  three  wise  men. They believed  in  the  prophecy, from which  they  knew  that  the  Redeemer  would  appear  in  Judaea,  and that His  advent  would  be  heralded  by  a star. As soon,  therefore,  as they  perceived  the  wonderful  star,  they  set  off  on  the  road  to  Judaea. Full of  a holy  desire  to  behold  and  worship  the  Saviour,  they  did  not shrink from  the  dangers  or  difficulties  of  the  long  journey. Nor did they despond  when  the  star  disappeared,  but  travelled  on  courageously, and sought  in  Jerusalem  further  information  as  to  the  place  where  the Saviour was  to  be  born. Here, however,  their  faith  was  severely  tried; for nobody  in  Jerusalem  knew  anything  about  the  Redeemer’s  Birth. It was  they  who  first  brought  the  tidings  of  it  to  the  city,  and  the tidings did  not  awaken  feelings  of  joy,  but  of  trouble. This might  easily have aroused  within  them  doubts  as  to  whether  the  sign  in  the  heavens had deceived  them;  but  they  gave  no  place  to  such  doubts,  remaining firm in  faith  and  unshaken  by  the  opinion  of  others. They believed the prophecy  of  Micheas  and  the  interpretation  of  it  given  by  the  chief priests and  scribes,  and,  while  it  was  still  night,  started  for  Bethlehem. No one  from  Jerusalem  accompanied  them;  they  travelled  all  alone to the  city  of  David. One might  have  thought  that  all  Jerusalem would have  flocked  with  them  to  seek  the  Messias;  but  no!  even  the priests, doubtful  or  sceptical,  remained  behind,  and  left  it  to  the  Gentile