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They¡¡have¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡descending¡¡the¡¡Mount¡¡of¡¡Olives£»¡¡with¡¡Jerusalem¡¡in¡¡sight£»¡¡when£»¡¡lo£»¡¡the¡¡star¡¡that¡¡has¡¡guided¡¡them¡¡all¡¡the¡¡weary¡¡way¡¡rests¡¡above¡¡the¡¡temple£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡season¡¡fades¡¡from¡¡their¡¡view¡£¡¡With¡¡eager¡¡steps¡¡they¡¡press¡¡onward£»¡¡confidently¡¡expecting¡¡the¡¡Messiah's¡¡birth¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡joyful¡¡burden¡¡of¡¡every¡¡tongue¡£¡¡But¡¡their

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡61

inquiries¡¡are¡¡in¡¡vain¡£¡¡Entering¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡city£»¡¡they¡¡repair¡¡to¡¡the¡¡temple¡£¡¡To¡¡their¡¡amazement¡¡they¡¡find¡¡none¡¡who¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡newborn¡¡king¡£¡¡Their¡¡questions¡¡call¡¡forth¡¡no¡¡expressions¡¡of¡¡joy£»¡¡but¡¡rather¡¡of¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡fear£»¡¡not¡¡unmingled¡¡with¡¡contempt¡£

The¡¡priests¡¡are¡¡rehearsing¡¡traditions¡£¡¡They¡¡extol¡¡their¡¡religion¡¡and¡¡their¡¡own¡¡piety£»¡¡while¡¡they¡¡denounce¡¡the¡¡Greeks¡¡and¡¡Romans¡¡as¡¡heathen£»¡¡and¡¡sinners¡¡above¡¡others¡£¡¡The¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡are¡¡not¡¡idolaters£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡God¡¡they¡¡stand¡¡far¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡do¡¡these£»¡¡His¡¡professed¡¡worshipers£»¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡are¡¡looked¡¡upon¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡as¡¡heathen¡£¡¡Even¡¡among¡¡the¡¡appointed¡¡guardians¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Oracles¡¡their¡¡eager¡¡questionings¡¡touch¡¡no¡¡chord¡¡of¡¡sympathy¡£

The¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡was¡¡quickly¡¡noised¡¡throughout¡¡Jerusalem¡£¡¡Their¡¡strange¡¡errand¡¡created¡¡an¡¡excitement¡¡among¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡which¡¡penetrated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡of¡¡King¡¡Herod¡£¡¡The¡¡wily¡¡Edomite¡¡was¡¡aroused¡¡at¡¡the¡¡intimation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡possible¡¡rival¡£¡¡Countless¡¡murders¡¡had¡¡stained¡¡his¡¡pathway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡throne¡£¡¡Being¡¡of¡¡alien¡¡blood£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡hated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡people¡¡over¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡ruled¡£¡¡His¡¡only¡¡security¡¡was¡¡the¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡Rome¡£¡¡But¡¡this¡¡new¡¡Prince¡¡had¡¡a¡¡higher¡¡claim¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡born¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡£

Herod¡¡suspected¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡of¡¡plotting¡¡with¡¡the¡¡strangers¡¡to¡¡excite¡¡a¡¡popular¡¡tumult¡¡and¡¡unseat¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡throne¡£¡¡He¡¡concealed¡¡his¡¡mistrust£»¡¡however£»¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡thwart¡¡their¡¡schemes¡¡by¡¡superior¡¡cunning¡£¡¡Summoning¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡the¡¡scribes£»¡¡he¡¡questioned

62

them¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡teaching¡¡of¡¡their¡¡sacred¡¡books¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Messiah's¡¡birth¡£

This¡¡inquiry¡¡from¡¡the¡¡usurper¡¡of¡¡the¡¡throne£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡at¡¡the¡¡request¡¡of¡¡strangers£»¡¡stung¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡teachers¡£¡¡The¡¡indifference¡¡with¡¡which¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rolls¡¡of¡¡prophecy¡¡enraged¡¡the¡¡jealous¡¡tyrant¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡them¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡their¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡With¡¡an¡¡authority¡¡they¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡disregard£»¡¡he¡¡commanded¡¡them¡¡to¡¡make¡¡close¡¡search£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡declare¡¡the¡¡birthplace¡¡of¡¡their¡¡expected¡¡King¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡they¡¡said¡¡unto¡¡him£»¡¡In¡¡Bethlehem¡¡of¡¡Judea£º¡¡for¡¡thus¡¡it¡¡is¡¡written¡¡by¡¡the¡¡prophet£»

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡thou¡¡Bethlehem£»¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Judah£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Art¡¡in¡¡nowise¡¡least¡¡among¡¡the¡¡princes¡¡of¡¡Judah£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡out¡¡of¡¡thee¡¡shall¡¡come¡¡forth¡¡a¡¡governor£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Which¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡shepherd¡¡of¡¡My¡¡people¡¡Israel¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡R¡£¡¡V¡£

Herod¡¡now¡¡invited¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡to¡¡a¡¡private¡¡interview¡£¡¡A¡¡tempest¡¡of¡¡wrath¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡was¡¡raging¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡preserved¡¡a¡¡calm¡¡exterior£»¡¡and¡¡received¡¡the¡¡strangers¡¡courteously¡£¡¡He¡¡inquired¡¡at¡¡what¡¡time¡¡the¡¡star¡¡had¡¡appeared£»¡¡and¡¡professed¡¡to¡¡hail¡¡with¡¡joy¡¡the¡¡intimation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡Christ¡£¡¡He¡¡bade¡¡his¡¡visitors£»¡¡¡¨Search¡¡diligently¡¡for¡¡the¡¡young¡¡child£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡ye¡¡have¡¡found¡¡Him£»¡¡bring¡¡me¡¡word¡¡again£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡come¡¡and¡¡worship¡¡Him¡¡also¡£¡¨¡¡So¡¡saying£»¡¡he¡¡dismissed¡¡them¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem¡£

The¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡elders¡¡of¡¡Jerusalem¡¡were¡¡not¡¡as¡¡ignorant¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡as¡¡they¡¡pretended¡£¡¡The¡¡report¡¡of¡¡the¡¡angels'¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shepherds¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡rabbis¡¡had¡¡treated¡¡it¡¡as¡¡unworthy¡¡of¡¡their¡¡notice¡£¡¡They¡¡themselves¡¡might¡¡have¡¡found¡¡Jesus£»¡¡and¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡to¡¡His¡¡birthplace£»¡¡but¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡came¡¡to¡¡call¡¡their¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Messiah¡£¡¡¡¨Where¡¡is¡¡He¡¡that¡¡is¡¡born¡¡King¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jews£¿¡¨¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡we¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡His¡¡star¡¡in¡¡the¡¡East£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡come¡¡to¡¡worship¡¡Him¡£¡¨

Now¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡envy¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡door¡¡against¡¡the¡¡light¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡reports¡¡brought¡¡by¡¡the¡¡shepherds¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡were¡¡credited£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡place¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis¡¡in¡¡a¡¡most¡¡unenviable¡¡position£»¡¡disproving¡¡their¡¡claim¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡exponents¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡These¡¡learned¡¡teachers¡¡would¡¡not¡¡stoop¡¡to¡¡be¡¡instructed¡¡by¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡termed¡¡heathen¡£¡¡It¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be£»¡¡they¡¡said£»¡¡that¡¡God¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡them¡¡by£»¡¡to¡¡communicate

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡63

with¡¡ignorant¡¡shepherds¡¡or¡¡uncircumcised¡¡Gentiles¡£¡¡They¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡show¡¡their¡¡contempt¡¡for¡¡the¡¡reports¡¡that¡¡were¡¡exciting¡¡King¡¡Herod¡¡and¡¡all¡¡Jerusalem¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡not¡¡even¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem¡¡to¡¡see¡¡whether¡¡these¡¡things¡¡were¡¡so¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡led¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡regard¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡Jesus¡¡as¡¡a¡¡fanatical¡¡excitement¡£¡¡Here¡¡began¡¡the¡¡rejection¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡by¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis¡£¡¡From¡¡this¡¡point¡¡their¡¡pride¡¡and¡¡stubbornness¡¡grew¡¡into¡¡a¡¡settled¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡£¡¡While¡¡God¡¡was¡¡opening¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Gentiles£»¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡leaders¡¡were¡¡closing¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡themselves¡£

The¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡departed¡¡alone¡¡from¡¡Jerusalem¡£¡¡The¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡night¡¡were¡¡falling¡¡as¡¡they¡¡left¡¡the¡¡gates£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡their¡¡great¡¡joy¡¡they¡¡again¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡star£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡directed¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡received¡¡no¡¡such¡¡intimation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lowly¡¡estate¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡as¡¡was¡¡given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shepherds¡£¡¡After¡¡the¡¡long¡¡journey¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡disappointed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡indifference¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡leaders£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡left¡¡Jerusalem¡¡less¡¡confident¡¡than¡¡when¡¡they¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡At¡¡Bethlehem¡¡they¡¡found¡¡no¡¡royal¡¡guard¡¡stationed¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡the¡¡newborn¡¡King¡£¡¡None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡honored¡¡men¡¡were¡¡in¡¡attendance¡£¡¡Jesus¡¡was¡¡cradled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡manger¡£¡¡His¡¡parents£»¡¡uneducated¡¡peasants£»¡¡were¡¡His¡¡only¡¡guardians¡£¡¡Could¡¡this¡¡be¡¡He¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡it¡¡was¡¡written£»¡¡that¡¡He¡¡should¡¡¡¨raise¡¡up¡¡the¡¡tribes¡¡of¡¡Jacob£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨restore¡¡the¡¡preserved¡¡of¡¡Israel£»¡¨¡¡that¡¡He¡¡should¡¡be¡¡¡¨a¡¡light¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Gentiles£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡for¡¡¡¨salvation¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¨£¿¡¡Isa¡£¡¡49£º6¡£

¡¨When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡come¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡young¡¡child¡¡with¡¡Mary¡¡His¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡worshiped¡¡Him¡£¡¨¡¡Beneath¡¡the¡¡lowly¡¡guise¡¡of¡¡Jesus£»¡¡they¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡Divinity¡£¡¡They¡¡gave¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡their¡¡Saviour£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡poured¡¡out¡¡their¡¡gifts£»¡¨gold£»¡¡and¡¡frankincense£»¡¡and¡¡myrrh¡£¡¨¡¡What¡¡a¡¡faith¡¡was¡¡theirs£¡

64

It¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡said¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡from¡¡the¡¡East£»¡¡as¡¡afterward¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡centurion£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡found¡¡so¡¡great¡¡faith£»¡¡no£»¡¡not¡¡in¡¡Israel¡£¡¨¡¡Matt¡£¡¡8£º10¡£

The¡¡wise¡¡men¡¡had¡¡not¡¡penetrated¡¡Herod's¡¡design¡¡toward¡¡Jesus¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡was¡¡accomplished£»¡¡they¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡acquaint¡¡him¡¡with¡¡their¡¡success¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dream¡¡they¡¡received¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡message¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡no¡¡further¡¡communication¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Avoiding¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡they¡¡set¡¡out¡¡for¡¡their¡¡own¡¡country¡¡by¡¡another¡¡route¡£

In¡¡like¡¡manner¡¡Joseph¡¡received¡¡warning¡¡to¡¡flee¡¡into¡¡Egypt¡¡with¡¡Mary¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡angel¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Be¡¡thou¡¡there¡¡until¡¡I¡¡bring¡¡thee¡¡word£º¡¡for¡¡Herod¡¡will¡¡seek¡¡the¡¡young¡¡child¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡Him¡£¡¨¡¡Joseph¡¡obeyed¡¡without¡¡delay£»¡¡setting¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡by¡¡night¡¡for¡¡greater¡¡security¡£

Through¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men£»¡¡God¡¡had¡¡called¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡nation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡birth¡¡of¡¡His¡¡Son¡£¡¡Their¡¡inquiries¡¡in¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡the¡¡popular¡¡interest¡¡excited£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡jealousy¡¡of¡¡Herod£»¡¡which¡¡compelled¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis£»¡¡directed¡¡minds¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prophecies¡¡concerning¡¡the¡¡Messiah£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡event¡¡that¡¡had¡¡just¡¡taken¡¡place¡£

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡65


Satan¡¡was¡¡bent¡¡on¡¡shutting¡¡out¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡light¡¡from¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡used¡¡his¡¡utmost¡¡cunning¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡£¡¡But¡¡He¡¡who¡¡never¡¡slumbers¡¡nor¡¡sleeps¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡over¡¡His¡¡beloved¡¡Son¡£¡¡He¡¡who¡¡had¡¡rained¡¡manna¡¡from¡¡heaven¡¡for¡¡Israel¡¡and¡¡had¡¡fed¡¡Elijah¡¡in¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡famine¡¡provided¡¡in¡¡a¡¡heathen¡¡land¡¡a¡¡refuge¡¡for¡¡Mary¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child¡¡Jesus¡£¡¡And¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gifts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡from¡¡a¡¡heathen¡¡country£»¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡supplied¡¡the¡¡means¡¡for¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡into¡¡Egypt¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sojourn¡¡in¡¡a¡¡land¡¡of¡¡strangers¡£

The¡¡magi¡¡had¡¡been¡¡among¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡welcome¡¡the¡¡Redeemer¡£¡¡Their¡¡gift¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡that¡¡was¡¡laid¡¡at¡¡His¡¡feet¡£¡¡And¡¡through¡¡that¡¡gift£»¡¡what¡¡privilege¡¡of¡¡ministry¡¡was¡¡theirs£¡¡¡The¡¡offering¡¡from¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡that¡¡loves£»¡¡God¡¡delights¡¡to¡¡honor£»¡¡giving¡¡it¡¡highest¡¡efficiency¡¡in¡¡service¡¡for¡¡Him¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡have¡¡given¡¡our¡¡hearts¡¡to¡¡Jesus£»¡¡we¡¡also¡¡shall¡¡bring¡¡our¡¡gifts¡¡to¡¡Him¡£¡¡Our¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡silver£»¡¡our¡¡most¡¡precious¡¡earthly¡¡possessions£»¡¡our¡¡highest¡¡mental¡¡and¡¡spiritual¡¡endowments£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡freely¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡who¡¡loved¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡Himself¡¡for¡¡us¡£

Herod¡¡in¡¡Jerusalem¡¡impatiently¡¡awaited¡¡the¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wise¡¡men¡£¡¡As¡¡time¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡appear£»¡¡his¡¡suspicions¡¡were¡¡roused¡£¡¡The¡¡unwillingness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rabbis¡¡to¡¡point¡¡out¡¡the¡¡Messiah's¡¡birthplace¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡indicate¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡penetrated¡¡his¡¡design£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡magi¡¡had¡¡purposely¡¡avoided¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡maddened¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡£¡¡Craft¡¡had¡¡failed£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡left¡¡the¡¡resort¡¡to¡¡force¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡make¡¡an¡¡example¡¡of¡¡this¡¡child¡­king¡£¡¡Those¡¡haughty¡¡Jews¡¡should¡¡see¡¡what¡¡they¡¡might¡¡expect¡¡in¡¡their¡¡attempts¡¡to¡¡place¡¡a¡¡monarch¡¡on¡¡the¡¡throne¡£

Soldiers¡¡were¡¡at¡¡once¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Bethlehem£»¡¡with¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death¡¡all¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡two¡¡years¡¡and¡¡under¡£¡¡The¡¡quiet¡¡homes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡David¡¡witnessed¡¡those¡¡scenes¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡that£»¡¡six¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡before£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡the¡¡prophet¡£¡¡¡¨In¡¡Ramah¡¡was¡¡there¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡heard£»¡¡lamentation£»¡¡and¡¡weeping£»¡¡and¡¡great¡¡mourning£»¡¡Rachel¡¡weeping¡¡for¡¡her¡¡children£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡comforted£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡£¡¨

This¡¡calamity¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡upon¡¡themselves¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡walking¡¡in¡¡faithfulness¡¡and¡¡humility¡¡before¡¡God£»¡¡He¡¡would¡¡in¡¡a¡¡signal¡¡manner¡¡have¡¡made¡¡the¡¡wrath¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡harmless¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡had¡¡separated¡¡themselves¡¡from¡¡God¡¡by¡¡their¡¡sins£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡rejected¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡their¡¡only¡¡shield¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡not¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡Scriptures¡¡with¡¡a¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡conform¡¡to¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡searched¡¡for¡¡prophecies¡¡which¡¡could¡¡be¡¡interpreted¡¡to¡¡exalt¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡show¡¡how¡¡God¡¡despised¡¡all¡¡other¡¡nations¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡their¡¡proud¡¡boast¡¡that¡¡the

66

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This¡¡act¡¡of¡¡cruelty¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡last¡¡that¡¡darkened¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Herod¡£¡¡Soon¡¡after¡¡the¡¡slaughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡innocents£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡himself¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡yield¡¡to¡¡that¡¡doom¡¡which¡¡none¡¡can¡¡turn¡¡aside¡£¡¡He¡¡died¡¡a¡¡fearful¡¡death¡£

Joseph£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡still¡¡in¡¡Egypt£»¡¡was¡¡now¡¡bidden¡¡by¡¡an¡¡angel¡¡of¡¡God¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Israel¡£¡¡Regarding¡¡Jesus¡¡as¡¡the¡¡heir¡¡of¡¡David's¡¡throne£»¡¡

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