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HEN they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (Matthew 2:9)
This hymn is found in an older Anglican Hymnal that does not bear a date of publication, but offers this selection as an appropriate Epiphany hymn which it definitely is. The hymn writer was a prolific author of studies in theology and writer of hymns and poetry – John Mason Neale (1818-1866) It is representative of the faithful follower guided by the Light of Christ. The most popular tune for this hymn is Dalehurst by Arthur Coffman (1874). Though the author, Neale, wrote many of the most beautiful hymns, unfortunately, he was an adherent of the Oxford Movement (along with John Henry Newman) that cast a shadow over much of his theological studies.
O Thou Who a Star Didst Guide
O Thou Who by a star didst guide
The wise men on their way,
Until it came and stood beside
The place where Jesus lay.
Although by stars Thou dost not lead
Thy servants now below,
Thy Holy Spirit, when they need,
Will show them how to go.
As yet we know Thee but in part;
But still we trust Thy Word,
That blessèd are the pure in heart,
For they shall see the Lord.
O Savior, give us then Thy grace
To make us pure in heart,
That we may see Thee face to face
Hereafter, as Thou art.
O Thou Who by a star didst guide The wise men on their way, Until it came and stood beside The place where Jesus lay. Why were the Magi particularly privileged to see the Star of Bethlehem. They were scholars of the studies of heavenly bodies, and they had also studied the Hebrew prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah heralded by the appearance of a Star. God opened the eyes of these earnest inquirers to truth that escaped the observation of the casual or disinterested parties. The Magi likely came from the high desert of Persia around Esfahan. To the west were the towering snow-capped Zagross Mountain range over which they must pass. The journey was a tiring, long and hazardous ordeal taking several months; but these persevering scholars never forsook the goal which they had undertaken. They had less light to guide them then than we have today. Should we not be at least as persevering as they in following the Light of Christ?
Although by stars Thou dost not lead Thy servants now below, Thy Holy Spirit, when they need, Will show them how to go. God chose the wise men for their ardent search for truth of His coming Son Though they lacked the depth of knowledge we have available to us through the fulness of the Gospel, they pursued what light was available – a brilliant Star of a darkened sky. We still follow the Star to Christ as He has become our very Daystar and Sun of Righteousness. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19) and But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2) Just as the Star pointed to Bethlehem and Christ, so does the Holy Ghost point us to Christ.
As yet we know Thee but in part; But still we trust Thy Word, That blessèd are the pure in heart, For they shall see the Lord. The Jewish Shepherds were first to visit the Christ Child, and then the Magi (gentiles – to the Jew first, and then to the Gentiles (see Romans 1:16, 2:10-11) These were men of humble hearts and able to bear the beauty of holiness. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) The Magi possessed a tiny bit of the truth, yet they staked their unfailing faith on that tine treasure of faith. Can we do less. If we lack faith, we may cry out to the Lord as the father of the boy tortured by demons – Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24)
O Savior, give us then Thy grace To make us pure in heart, That we may see Thee face to face Hereafter, as Thou art. We are graceless without the impartation of the grace of Christ usward. We then become vessels of grace to convey that Christian grace to others and also back to God. Vessels are merely transporters of the essence and not the owners of grace. His grace is sufficient, however, for all who seek him diligently and love His Word. Follow the light that we have been given – even if not stellar – for God will bear us to His Son if we forsake not that Light.
