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Chapter 2
1, 2. Attention Focused on Birth of Jesus
—The Lord moved
upon the wise men to go in search of Jesus, and He directed their
course by a star. This star, leaving them when near Jerusalem, led
them to make inquiries in Judah; for they thought it was not possible
for the chief priests and scribes to be ignorant of this great event.
The coming of the wise men made the whole nation acquainted
with the object of their journey, and directed their attention to the
important events which were transpiring (
The Spirit of Prophecy
2:26
).
16-18. Faithfulness Would Have Rendered Wrath Harm-
less
—All this terrible calamity was suffered of God, to humble
the pride of the Jewish nation. Their crimes and wickedness had
been so great that the Lord permitted the wicked Herod to thus pun-
ish them. Had they been less boastful and ambitious, their lives
pure, their habits simple and sincere, God would have preserved
them from being thus humiliated and afflicted by their enemies. God
would, in a signal manner, have made the wrath of the king harmless
to His people, had they been faithful and perfect before Him. But He
could not especially work for them, for their works were abhorred
by Him (
The Spirit of Prophecy 2:28
).
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