Daily Devotion: We Three Kings

Bible Reading:  Matthew 2:1-8

Key Verse: Verse 1 – “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,”

Key Words: wise men from the east

“We three kings of orient are,

Bearing gifts we traverse afar;
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,

 Following yonder star.”

And then the refrain:

“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with

royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.”

 

The words were penned by John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891), an Episcopal Bishop, who was both a graduate of the University of Vermont and the General Theological Seminary, in 1850. Hopkins would go on to be a deacon, author, illustrator, and designer as well as a music teacher in his seminary. He also enjoyed working in stained glass.

 He composed “We Three Kings” in 1857, but it was not published until 1863, during the midst of the Civil War. Actually he composed the words to this his most famous hymn as a piece to be performed in a Christmas church pageant for his nephews and nieces at the Seminary.

The second, third and fourth verses of the song place the spotlight of history on the three kings, who may have been wise men and in some writings were magicians.  Whatever their actual calling was, they are now endemic to the Christmas story of the Bible. The final or fifth verse is a paean to the Christ Child with the sounds of Alleluia ringing across the plains.

To God be the glory!!

What to do: 
✞ We don’t worship kings, but the King of Kings.

 

Pastor’s Note:  We really don’t know if these wise men were kings, nor do we know there were three of them.  This is believed because of their gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Are you Saved? | Get These Devotions By Email