December 20, 2022 … That Blessed Star …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 354 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Cece Winans singing  … Christmas Star … poignantly singing of the star which shone to lead the wise kings from the east and the shepherds to the birth of the King of kings in that manger in Bethlehem.

Following His Light ... 

==============        

Highlight Passage: … Numbers 24:17 [NLT] …  

17 I see Him, but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the future.  A star will rise from Jacob, a scepter will emerge from Israel.  It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls or the people of Sheth.    

… God uses Balaam to prophesy of a star coming out of Jacob to crush those who oppose Israel’s Messiah.                                                                            

Highlight Passage (Context): … Numbers 24:10-17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet Balaam blessed God’s people with the vision to the Moabite King, Balak, of a star rising out of Jacob leading the people to the Messiah.                                                             

===============                                                                     .                                                                                       

Reference Passage: … Micah 5:2 [NLT] … 

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.  Yet a ruler of Israel, Whose origins are in the distant past, will come out from you on My behalf. 

…  God promises, thru the Prophet Midah, of the coming of the King of kings out of Bethlehem.       

Reference Passage: … Matthew 2:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  Matthew tells of the wise men coming from the eastern lands to King Herod, seeking to follow the star foretold in prophesy so that these kings could worship the prophesied King of kings (see Micah 5:2).           

Reference Passage: … Luke 2:8-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke’s account of The Messiah born in Bethlehem to be the King of kings and Lord of lords.                                                                       

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson … AT THIS LINK …   makes reference to a book written by Barry Kraft, an actor, who shows how William Shakespeare used insults in such clever ways in his writings to show characters insulting one another.       

And these clever cursing reminded the ODB author of how the Prophet Balaam, (see <b><u>Numbers 24</b></u> above), showed a Moabite king, Balak, who had desired for Balaam to curse Israel, that Yahweh would ultimately bless the Israelites with a Messiah, the King of kings, who would rise out of Bethlehem as prophesied.  

And now, … how we turn to those ancient prophesies in celebrating our King of kings, our Lord and Messiah, … King Jesus, … born in that manger to Mary at the time that God’s star foretold His coming.  And those of us who believe on the truth of King Jesus’ coming, find all our true joy in believing and following that star which led mankind to that Child born in that Bethlehem manger, … the One Who was - AND IS - our King of kings and Lord of lords.         

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading me to Your light which has led me out of my darkness forever. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to celebrate Your coming, Lord, … which leads us out of the darkness of our sin by Your glorious light.   Amen

=============

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.