Epiphany

Well, it's not quite Epiphany yet... but the Matthew story (2:1-11) is so often included in Christmas celebrations. Besides that, our youth group is studying Proverbs and this seemed to fit our Christmas devotion.

The NIV calls them 'Magi', but we know them better as the (KJV) 'wise men', or the 'three kings' of the carol. Scholars, learned men, influential and powerful, if not actual princes of their kingdoms.

They were from the east -- Babylon and/or Persia -- modern Iraq and Iran. These are the regions in which astrology was developed, the forerunner of astronomy. If they weren't 'scientists' in the modern sense, they nonetheless watched and interpreted the stars.

Because of successive conquests, beginning with Assyria conquering the northern kingdom of Israel and then Babylon taking Judah, Jewish thought and teaching was introduced to the scholars. So they were aware of the prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Taken together, these things caused them to organize a caravan and travel to find the Christ child, to worship Him with costly gifts.

A few years back, it was common to see bumper stickers reading "Wise men still seek Him". Perhaps that's trite now, but it's still true. Proverbs repeatedly reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. True wisdom will always lead us to God.

Sadly, in 21st century America, we seem to have developed a focus on knowledge rather than wisdom. We teach math and science, we teach language and history -- but we exclude the religious and moral framework for understanding these things. We learn facts, but not how to think about them. Religion aside, our children aren't even taught logic. Even that ancient discipline would show us the limitations of the 'facts' our children are being taught. That WE were taught.

Proverbs 9:9 -- 'Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.'

The first attribute of a wise person is that he understands the limitations of his knowledge and wisdom. He is open to learning. He wants to know more and to integrate it into his thinking about the world.

The second attribute of a wise person is righteousness: he has good moral standing before God. God is the foundation stone of his thinking, and all knowledge and wisdom lead back to Him.

Even those of us who are long out of the classroom still have the opportunity to learn, to become wiser, every day. Let's make some effort to think about what we learn in the context about what we know of God -- His existence, His loving and just nature. If we do, every new scrap of knowledge will bring us closer to Him and prompt us to worship... just like the Magi.