Warriors Arise: May 22, 2023
Matthew 2:1-8 (NKJV) 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, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
Wait a minute! I have read this passage countless times and my mind never grabbed ahold of the last part of verse 3, "and all Jerusalem with him." All of Jerusalem was troubled by the news the wisemen were telling. All Jerusalem was troubled by the questions the wisemen were asking. Somehow in my mind, I thought the wisemen went to Herod when they arrived in Jerusalem. I totally missed the last part of the verse. I am not sure what to think. All of Jerusalem was troubled. Were all of the people trouble in the same way as Herod? Was this new king coming to overthrow Herod? Had Herod killed him already? Were they afraid what Herod would do when he heard what the wisemen were saying? Did anyone try to quiet the wisemen? Is this when the zealots began to gather?
When Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes to know where the king of the Jew would be born, did it spark hope in them? Why is it that a non-follower of God is in pursuit of the Word of God rather than God's very own chief priests? We have to wait a minute and check our own hearts. There are prophecies in the Bible we should be anticipating, being alert, and looking for them to be fulfilled. Are we? There are promised from God, are we looking for them to be kept? Are we like Herod, looking for the fulfillment of Scripture in his time or are we like the chief priests and scribes who know the accuracy of the Word of God but not the application of it?
All of Jerusalem was troubled? Did anyone precede Herod's army to see if the king of the Jews had been born in Bethlehem? If they Jews were troubled, why didn't they go check it out? The chief priests knew the Scriptures, but they were not looking for them to be fulfilled.
Am I caught up in my own life and all the happenings that when a non-believer asks about my God, His whereabouts or His activity, I do not have an answer; because I haven't seen Him? I am completely undone by this. Paul tells Timothy he is to have an answer in season and out of season. He was empowering Timothy to not only have a message in the pulpit, when with his people, when out doing ministry, but he was to have an answer in the market place, at the fishing docks, when traveling through the countryside, and as he was going to and fro. Were the chief priests and scribes caught off guard? Did they not believe what they were telling Herod? Did they not hear why the people of Jerusalem where troubled? I want to be bold like Paul is encouraging Timothy to be, but I get caught off guard, in my own little world, overcome with timidity; because I don't want to ruffle feathers when sharing God's point of view. Many times I have returned to my van and asked God to forgive me. Again, I didn't enter into the conversation. Again I wasn't ready. Again I allowed what people might think of me prevent me from sharing God's amazing love. I repent and replay the event. This time I ask God to show me what I could have said, how to say it and when to say it. If I don't, I won't be ready the next time. I want to be ready. I want to have an answer, directed by the Lord. I want to be able to give something of value to the conversation. When people are troubled, Jesus is the answer. What am I so afraid of? I am ready, I have the Spirit of God, He will give me what needs to be said. I just have to open my mouth and speak. People are dying and going to hell because of my silence. That is the reality.
The chief priests did not even believe what they were telling Herod, or what he wisemen where saying. They didn't do anything and every baby boy of the age two and under was murdered. If the army was ruthless, they didn't even check to see if they baby was a boy. I am guessing there were probably some baby girls murdered as well. I don't know what they could have done but you would think when the prophecy of the king of the Jews being born in Bethlehem and the fulfilled of the prophecy of Jeremiah of a cry coming out of Ramah, they would have gotten a clue.
I don't want to b so hard on them when I have to look at my own life. Do I see the signs of God as the wisemen? Am I looking as intently as Herod for the coming king? Do I know the Scriptures, but don't act upon them like the chief priests? I have to take a minute and allow the Holy Spirit to work, so I have an urgency to be alert to the movement of God, look for and anticipate the presence of God, and be ready to be a part of what He is doing.
Father, I am undone but You. This phrase, this troubling in all of Jerusalem, this troubling in our world today. People are lost and they need a Savior. God give me courage to share You. give me boldness to speak. Help me to remember facts and Scriptures. I do not want to just know your Word, I want to pursue You and what You are doing now. i do not want to be troubled that my schedule is interrupted or afraid fo the conflict coming because of Your presence. I want to be watchful, alert, and ready to be about what You are doing. I want to be where You are. I want to look for You in my going and in my coming. I want to be ready to give a word, in season and out. Open my heart to see You, recognize You are near, and to join You in reaching the people I speak to and encounter each day in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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