Unquenchable Praise
The Roman senate had entitled Herod the Great, who was ruling over Judea, “king of the Jews.” But he was just a puppet of the Roman Empire having no rightful claim to the throne of David. Like most rulers of his day, Herod was paranoid and superstitious. So when eastern astrologers claimed that a star led them to a Child born “King of the Jews,” Herod could not have felt more threatened. The Child had to die. He called the Jewish people’s own “wise men” (the chief priests and scribes) and demanded of them where Christ (the Chosen One) was to be born.
What’s fascinating is the fact that these Jewish “wise men” actually knew exactly where Jesus would be born. Yet we don’t see any of them seeking Him out, much less worshipping. One would think that the Jewish leadership would seek the Jewish Messiah, but the religious establishment was not interested. Instead, it is a band of astrologers from a Pagan land who seek, affirm and worship the “King of the Jews.”
Years later, when Jesus made His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem, the people praised God in loud voices and recognised Jesus as Messiah. The jealous Pharisees demanded that Jesus rebuke the disciples for their outburst, but Jesus said, “If they keep silent, the stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). It seems that the Father will not allow His Son to go un-praised. If the Jewish “wise men” won’t praise Him, pagan wise men will. If people won’t praise Him, inanimate objects will.
I have been struck by this thought during this Christmas season: one way or another, God will get His glory. One would think that given all the darkness in the world, any redemptive Christmas message would have been lost long ago: silenced by secular culture, emasculated by political correctness, ridiculed by humanism and drowned with materialism (especially this time of year). Yet, somehow the praises of the King keep slipping through. From among the hurried bustle of ravenous shoppers, I hear a familiar melody floating through the air, carrying the most pristine doctrine. To most it goes totally unnoticed, but I stop and listen, awed by the power of the words:
"Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord Christ is the Lord, oh,
Praise His name forever
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!"
I have often heard Christians protest celebrating the birth of Christ during a holiday that was originally taken from the pagans, but this seems to fit the narrative of Christ’s birth quite appropriately. God is using the most unlikely things and people to give glory to His Son. On Christmas day, even among the most secular, the most heathen, the most godless in our society, everyone will pause. They may try to ignore it or change it or tell themselves it’s about something else. But in their heart of hearts, everyone knows why the world is standing still on this day. It’s because a King has been born!
