an Epiphany Hymn Devotion for 7 January 2025 Anno Domini,
the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide.
2 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Jud aea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (St Matthew 2:1-2; all scripture cited is from the King James Bible)
The author of this hymn, Godfrey Thring (1823 – 1903) Anglican cleric, is also the author of Crown Him with Many Crowns. The present hymn was composed in 1873. I believe the Rev. Thring had a good grasp of the Middle Eastern geography in his beautiful allusion to the eastern mountains as well as to the humble home of the baby Jesus. Jesus was no longer quartered in a stable, but rather a permanent dwelling (House, as Matthew says).
Click here to listen on you tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlN4sllGBgM
FROM THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS (1873)
1 From the eastern mountains
pressing on they come,
wise men in their wisdom,
to his humble home;
stirred by deep devotion,
hasting from afar,
ever journeying onward,
guided by a star.
2 There their Lord and Saviour
meek and lowly lay,
wondrous light that led them
onward on their way,
ever now to lighten
nations from afar,
as they journey homeward
by that guiding star.
3 Thou who in a manger
once hast lowly lain,
who dost now in glory
o’er all kingdoms reign,
gather in the peoples,
who in lands afar
ne’er have seen the brightness
of thy guiding star.
4 Onward through the darkness
of the lonely night,
shining still before them
with thy kindly light,
guide them, Jew and Gentile,
homeward from afar,
young and old together,
by thy guiding star.
5 Until every nation,
whether bond or free,
‘neath thy star-lit banner,
Jesu, follow thee
o’er the distant mountains
to that heavenly home,
where nor sin nor sorrow
evermore shall come.
1From the eastern mountains. pressing on they come, wise men in their wisdom, to his humble home; stirred by deep devotion, hasting from afar, ever journeying onward, guided by a star. Having lived on the high desert of Iran at a place called Esfahan for many years, my bay window opened to the Zagross range of mountains to the west – snow-capped year around despite the heat at our lower elevation in summer. The Zagross range of mountains is the first mountain range due east of Israel. Moreover, the Wise Men were called Magi which is the title for Zoroastrian priests who lived in the valley of the Zayanderud (Giver of Life) River on the western slopes of the Zagross. If our calculation is correct, that the Wise Men came from Esfahan, the journey to Bethlehem would have presented great challenge in traveling. The lapse of time between their visit, the inquiry of Herod as to the exact moment of sighting of the Star, seems to suggest this is the best possibility of the origin. Moreover, the Magi of the Zoroastrian faith were men of scholarly of the celestial bodies in the pristine skies above the high desert region. The knew of the Hebrew prophecies of the coming of Christ being heralded by a unique Star, and they recognized that Star at its very first appearance on the eastern horizon.
2 There their Lord and Saviour meek and lowly lay, wondrous light that led them onward on their way, ever now to lighten nations from afar, as they journey homeward by that guiding star. They followed the Star until they crossed the Jordan River. To this point they had relied upon the sign of the Star in leading them. As they neared Jerusalem, however, they began to trust in their own understanding and presumed that the Christ Child would, of necessity, be born in the King’s palace in Jerusalem. The did not continue to follow to Jerusalem. But, once they left the manmade lights of the City of Jerusalem, they once again saw the Star and followed it to Bethlehem. Christ had first appeared to the poor Jewish shepherds on the hills overlooking Bethlehem, and now we see the men from the gentile east coming to Christ is honor and adoration. That is a blessing of the Epiphany Season. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile)” and also “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11)
3 Thou who in a manger once hast lowly lain, who dost now in glory o’er all kingdoms reign, gather in the peoples, who in lands afar ne’er have seen the brightness of thy guiding star. Not all of Israel were privileged as were the shepherds in receiving an Angelic message. Nor did all the Gentile nations see the Star and understood it’s meaning. The mystery of faith is beyond our understanding, but God sends his angelic emissaries according to His own incomprehensible volition. Christ came as a baby in a wooden manger – a trough for the feeding of the beast of the field – and was crucified on a like wooden instrument of torture (the cross), but now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and shell return with great power and much flourish.
4 Onward through the darkness of the lonely night, shining still before them with thy kindly light,
guide them, Jew and Gentile, homeward from afar, young and old together, by thy guiding star. Behold, the Light! Lead Kindly Light as another hymn goes. The shepherds of Bethlehem were likely to have been a mix of the very young as well as the elderly men. The labor of the shepherd was considered least esteemed in Israel. Only those who could gain no other work found acceptance in the shepherds’ fields. On the other hand, the Magi were seasoned scholars, very different from the shepherds; yet, it was this mix of humanity to which was given the first news of the birth of our Lord.
5 Until every nation, whether bond or free, ‘neath thy star-lit banner, Jesu, follow thee o’er the distant mountains to that heavenly home, where nor sin nor sorrow evermore shall come. That star-lit banner is the same Banner of Love that sheltered the Shulamite maiden of Solomon. (Song of Solomon 2:4-6). The magi were diligent to continually search the heavens for the sign of the coming of Christ while to the shepherds, the light came upon them unexpectantly. God’s approach in bringing His chosen elect differs in process but not purpose. That Star still leads those who earnestly seek Him. Coming to Christ is like unto coming to a banquet of Love; yet, there may be many trials and obstacles over which we must travel in seeking Him. The problem is not the dimness of the Light, but the murkiness of our vision. He is right beside those who seek Him. We only need open our eyes to know Him.
