Bethlehem Star in The First Noel

December 25, 2006 Bible, Christmas No Comments

Last year I shared how I better understood “O Come All Ye Faithful” after singing it on Christmas Eve. This year, God reminded me of His Omnipotence as I sang “The First Noel”. If you are studying the Star of Bethlehem like our family, you will recognize many of these lines from Matthew 2.

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the norhtwest,
O’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
He moved the star to stand still over Bethlehem.

The First Noel, verses 3-4

I’ve sung this carol for many years, but didn’t recognize the Scripture included in these two verses. I’ve read and re-read Matthew 2 this past week and saw ideas I’ve thought about recently.

The Three Wise Men knew they were seeking the King of Jews. Herod knew this, too. The star would direct them to the King so they could worship Him.

The Wise Men move from east to west as they go to worship the King. When men move toward God, they move from east to west. Remember Abraham moved from Ur to Palestine (east to west) as he followed God’s call to be the father of a great nation.

The star did a magnificent thing…it stopped!! It stood still over Jesus home in Bethlehem.

The next time you sing Christmas carols, I hope God reminds you of His story from Scripture. It is awesome!

Kerry