We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain.
Following yonder star.
O Star of wonder, star of night.
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding.
Guide us to thy Perfect Light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to rein
O Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Pray’r and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God most high.
O Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume,
Breathes of life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light,
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Earth to heav’n replies.
O Star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light .
These are words to We Three Kings of Orient Are, and they did bear gifts and traverse afar. Perhaps over moor and mountain. and even field but fountain, is that a waterfall, following the star of wonder, royal beauty bright. It guided them to perfect light, Jesus.
Frankincense offered to a deity most High. An incense, myrrh, a bitter perfume that spoke of bleeding and dying, the cold, sealed, tomb, even as He lay in a stone manger. King and God and Sacrifice. Alleluia!
And the gold, these gifts speak to His Kingship, and God made provision for their flight from Herod. What about the wise men, the magi? They were educated in the science of astrology. What Abraham taught was astronomy, Nimrod corrupted God’s way of displaying signs and seasons, into stargazing and fortune telling of sorts. The enemy attempts to copy God who does ues the heavens and numbers. Magi also has to do with Zoroasterism, but they were opposed to sorcery. Why we need wisdom.
The Bible suggests three wise men, tradition says they are Melichor, king of Persia, who reunited to celebrate with the other magi in 54, A.D. , already and old man with a long, white, beard, when he visited Jesus, he died at 116 on January 1st, 55 A.D. Caspar or Gaspar, which comes from the word gizbar, treasurer, he was believed to be an Indian scholar and stories vary as to whether he passed through the town of Taxila, known for silk or was actually King Gondophares, the other name may have been a title. He is depicted as young and beardless and brought the frankincense. He was martyred, and there are churches names for the Magi in India. Balthazar, a black man, with a beard, who brought the myrrh, that was a symbol of His death. He supposedly died at 112, four days after Melichor.
While I can’t say for sure, the exact circumstances, it was my understanding two were martyred, surely kings would have sought Him, and they were wise to avoid Herod on their return. The gifts were no coincidence either, God knew what and who He would send. There is a popular quote, that wise men still seek Him, and they do, and wise women too.
I have enjoyed celebrating Christmas in July and learned a lot, and there are still more carols I will eventually read. But for now, we are turning to Hebrew Studies in August, don’t worry, it’s not hard. God bless and be wise, so study.
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