The Star

1 April 2014

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Star

There are scores of opinions regarding the star the wise men saw in the east. There are those that think it was a comet, and others who feel it was an unusual alignment of planets that created the image of one very bright star. While these kinds of events may have occurred around the first century, I think it would be best to rely on the details provided in the true word of God.

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. - Matthew 2:2

It is widely accepted that the wise men were from Persia or the area around it. They saw this star while they were in the east. This means they saw the star to the west of them because it was over Bethlehem. These men studied the stars as part of their religion, as we will study later, but this one was different enough that it signaled to them a momentous event. In fact, they identify this star as “his star.” This gives the idea that this particular star was new to them.

Some of the Jews themselves believe the Messiah will be announced by a star from their interpretation of Numbers 24:17:

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. - Numbers 24:17

Apparently this star disappeared and reappeared at least once.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. - Matthew 2:9-10

The star did not “lead” them directly to Jesus. Therefore, they went to the palace looking for the king because that is the natural place to find one! The wording of this verse indicates that the same star they saw in the east “showed up” in the night sky once again. Also, it says they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Why would they rejoice if the star had been there the whole time? For that matter, if the star never went away, could they not have followed it to Jesus skipping the meeting with Herod altogether?

These verses also show that this star moved. It “went before” them and “stood” over where Jesus was.

I am certainly not an astronomer, but these traits don’t fit the characteristics of any star I have seen. I am inclined to believe that this star was a star ”coming out of Jacob.” It was a celestial creation of God designed specifically to lead the wise men to Jesus.

Tags: harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, matthew, star, wisemen

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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