Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

PRESENTED WITH GIFTS

This entry was posted on 12-24-2009 and is filed under MESSIANIC PROPHECY.

Star #13 in "Stars of Hope in the Old Testament Sky."

The prophets declared that gifts would be presented to Messiah when He came to earth. "May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings bow down before him, all nations serve him!" (Psalm 72:10, 11 ESV). Josh McDowell says that the historic application of this passage is to Solomon, but the Messianic application is amplified in verses 12-15. So let us look at them. "For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!"

McDowell also points out that the inhabitants of Seba and Sheba, the Sabeans, lived in Arabia. The wise men came from the east. Arabia is called the land of the east in Genesis 25:6 and Arabians are called men of the east (Judges 6:3). But there is more. Consider Isaiah's Messianic prophecy. "A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD" (Isa. 60:6). Now notice the remarkable fulfillment in Matthew's gospel. "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the day of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem . . . And going into the house [in Bethlehem - V.K.] they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh" (Matt. 2:1, 11).

Hymn: "We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, Gold I bring to grown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign. Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, all men raising, Worship Him, God on high. Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume, Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia! Peals through the earth and skies."