Wise Men Still Follow the Star
They were wise with worldly wisdom, yet sought greater wisdom
Jackson Snyder, December 19, 1993
Messianic Expectations
In the 300 years before Yahshua, fervent hope for a Messiah
One of the ways we know this is from the contemporary literature:
Son of Man, ruler of heaven, would come down
He would be YAH's son, and YAH's wisdom in flesh
Save humankind from the devil's dominion
Set up a Kingdom of YAH, which would last forever,
He would be the "King of the Jews" and the light of non-Jews
Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV) {1} Now when Yahshua was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, {2} Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
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Birth of
Yahshua Olive Wood Creche By Holy Land Gifts Carved in Bethlehem of genuine olive wood, nativity creche displays the Holy Family with star and tree accents. Approximately 6.75" tall; gift boxed. |
Who were the "Wise Men?"
The word: magoi: we get "Magi", "magic," -
"oriental scientists"
They knew the intimate workings of the heavens, courses of the
planets
Hierarchy /Angels, Secrets /medicine, Substance /prophecy
They were scholars: "Wise Men" appropriate
Where did they come from: "the east"
The university of the wise, now in ruins, 14 miles east of Jerusalem
Where many wise men & women engaged solely in charting the events of history leading up to the coming of divine Wisdom
They followed a star "in the east" or "at its rising"
The star = angel (terms interchangeable)
The lights of stars in the sky the glory of angels.
They were seeking the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy
...There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Seth
They were wise with worldly wisdom, yet sought greater wisdom
"Where is he who is born King of the Jews?"
They followed the angel-star to place where Wisdom was born
In order to worship the "Wisdom of YAH"
From the writings of such Wise Men, still existing from the period in which they lived, we know that they understood YAH's Wisdom to be not merely knowledge, prudence, insight
;Wisdom had come from the very mouth of YAH
And had hovered over the waters as an agent of creation
Wisdom was a spiritual entity, and a friend to humanity
Wisdom was identified as an emanation from YAH, coming from YAH Wisdom was to take the form of flesh, and come as a child
Wisdom, in the form of a man, was to make his home in Jerusalem
The similarity between the Wise Men's expectation of the coming of wisdom and the advent of Yahshua was more than mere coincidence!
Wisdom was to become a man of "the branch of Jesse," to rule
Luke tells us that the child Yahshua was "filled with wisdom"
Yahshua refers to himself as the Wisdom of YAH, and prophesies humanity's rejection of him
Like Wisdom, Yahshua proclaimed that he had "come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me."
In the pages of the Wise Men, Wisdom cried out,
Those who eat me will hunger for more, and those who drink me will thirst for more.
Yahshua cried out to the people who lacked the food of Wisdom:
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood will have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.
The wise writer of Colossians, in retrospect, identified Yahshua with all the wise men's prophetic attributes of Wisdom, saying:
Yahshua is the image of the invisible YAH, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.
In our worldly-wise country, do Wise Men yet cry out for heavenly wisdom from the very depths of their souls, "Where is he that is born the King of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising, and have come to worship him?
Shall we yet today follow the steps of the Wise Men of former times to the very place where Wisdom dwells? Do we still find godly Wisdom attractive?
Are we so desirous of the Wisdom of YAH personified in the Messiah child that we are ready and able to leave everything else behind to follow the angel-star to the place where Wisdom has come to dwell? Are we ready to leave behind the pagan customs of Xmas and the gods of this world in order to worship the King of the Jews in a way that is pleasing to him?
Like the crafty Wise Men of old, are we ready and willing to face persecution and even death if need be in order to gain the prize of re-creation in the image of Wisdom through Wisdom's resurrection power? Are we hungry for the flesh of Wisdom, and the blood of Wisdom?
Can we be considered wise men and women in our quest for Yahshua, the Wisdom of YAH, or are we like the foolish woman of Proverbs 9 who sat along the roadside awaiting somebody to take her to a place where she might receive something instantly gratifying but of no lasting value?
The wise men surely knew the popular proverb which still speaks clearly through the ages that says,
The beginning of wisdom is the most sincere desire for instruction, and concern for instruction is the love of Wisdom, and the love of Wisdom is keeping Wisdom's laws, and heeding Wisdom's laws is assurance of eternal life; so the desire of Wisdom leads to a kingdom.
So, in this sense, these wise men were kings indeed who, in finding the King of Kings, found assurance in Herod's temporal kingdom, and thrones in an eternal kingdom. And wise men may still follow His star to assurance in this life, and abundance in life eternal.
Friends of Wisdom, follow the angel-star to the place where Yahshua dwells - go there, and worship and adore him, and find wisdom. Let the Wisdom of YAH give you assurance, hope, and power to be wise kings over a violent kingdom. HalleluYAH.