Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)
Listen to this simple piano version as you read, or watch the video complete with lyrics then read. Please make certain to enjoy the video log below.
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We continue our journey to Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Savior. This week we consider the ones who rather than hearing angels sing, saw the star which announced the birth of the King of kings. Their role in the story shows us that God welcomes all who pursue Him with humility. Let’s tune our hearts.
Sages, Wise Men, Magi, They Were
Of all the things that could be said to introduce these strangers from the east, they are introduced as wise men. The hymn calls them sages, and the other common term is Magi. This term indicates that they would have been famed for their wisdom, even venerated for the the possession of wisdom, judgment and experience. If men of this caliber make the decision to make a long and perilous journey, not to mention with expensive gifts. We should take note.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1-2 ESV
The hymn, ever an invitation to come and worship, encourages the wise men of the story, and all who will follow their lead, to leave their contemplations. This is no small task, for someone esteemed for wisdom achieves such notoreity through careful examination and diligent pursuit. To encourage people to leave behind the very thing by which they have attained their status could be seen as foolish.
Just consider, or learn?
But we must consider these wise men, and learn from their example.
They add weight to the plea offered to all who will come after them. We will examine the why of their indubitably thoughtful response below, but here just acknowledge the fact that they came. And in so doing had to leave something behind. For them it was contemplations, the kind at which they obviously excelled and had set them apart. It may be something less profound for you, but no less difficult.
What might you have to leave to be marked by a similar wisdom? What thing that marks your life, maybe even something you find great value in and enjoy being associated with, must you leave in order to worship the Christ of Christmas? Can you identify it today? If not, are you willing to consider the possibility that such a thing may exist? Something that is good, but may be holding you back from the best. Take a few moments and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if such a thing is present in your life.
Worshippers, They Became
So why would such men, venerated for their wisdom, leave those pursuits behind to become worshippers? What could compel them to a different endeavor? It would have to be something they deemed worthwhile, and because of there collective wisdom it should be assumed it was. But it was the culmination of their journey that demonstrated their willingness to respond to God’s invitation.
Saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2 ESV
They were still wise men, but they became worshippers.
When the star rose at His birth, they saw it. They recognized Him as a king, and even determined that they would worship Him. Why? Because from a distance they had seen a brighter more compelling vision than any they had previously discovered.
Did You Notice Their Response?
It was one thing to leave behind their lofty contemplations. It was another thing altogether to embrace humble worship.
The invitation rings to all those who have ears to hear and eyes to see that brighter vision. That life of surrender to the King that transforms every rebellious heart into a worshipping one. We know nothing of their worship prior to or after this encounter, except for their willingness to heed to warning of an angelic being, but this snapshot captures their response to the newborn Christ.
So what shall you learn from their example and the transformation it produced? Do you have a clear mental picture or vision of something brighter than your current experience? Is God inviting you into something grander, bigger, better? Will you humble yourself and pursue it? If you are not sure, why not take a few moments to ask Him what that might be, and what your response should be? You will never regret choosing to worship.
Almighty God, thank You for revealing Your invitation to worship to those wise men. Thank You for prompting them to follow, and giving them the courage to do so. Thank You for their example. Help me to be willing to emulate it in my life today. In Jesus name. Amen!
Wise Tuning!
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Video 54.3 Transcript, 12.3 REFRAMED
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.
From the lowly to the learned, the call continues. The wise men were invited to leave the contemplations that had led them to the star, and we likewise are welcomed to move past what we know in search of more. Is there anything, even good things, you may need to leave behind?
They had seen the star, but the call that came to them and comes to us is that there is more. How often we become content with less than all God wants to show us. Ask God to show you more of Himself in this season that your worship may be more complete?
The magi also represent all the non-Jewish or Gentile worshippers, which is good news for most of the world. Jesus is the fulfillment of desire of all nations, not just Israel, and we are encouraged to seek Him. Commit to seek Him this Christmas season.
Though a new star appearing was remarkable, the fact that it announced a baby’s birth set these scholars on an incredible journey. Some might say it ended when they bowed their knees to the child years later, but I believe it continued all their days. May the same be true of us.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
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Image Attributions
Sages – https://pixabay.com/photos/magi-christmas-night-shooting-star-3795282/
Wise Men – https://pixabay.com/vectors/wisemen-wise-men-jesus-birth-story-2948680/
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