WE THREE KINGS

By Tim Claubaugh

TEXT: Matthew 2: 1-11; John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1820-1891
MUSIC: John Hopkins, Jr., 1820-1891
TUNE: KINGS OF ORIENT
METER: 88 44 6 with refrain


Two wonderful writers of stories behind the hymns, Richard Niell Donovan and Austin C. Lovelace, have 2 very different, but good perspectives of this wonderful Epiphany Hymn.

Donovan’s article on the Lectionary.org web site is more intellectual and gives more of a perspective on the actual gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh:

“The giving of gifts is one of the most enduring traditions of Christmas. It has its origins in the story of the Wise Men who followed a star to the place where the baby Jesus lay in his manger. They presented him with gifts –– gold and frankincense and myrrh –– odd gifts for a baby but appropriate for the baby Jesus. Gold was a gift fit for a king, and Jesus was born king of the Jews. Frankincense was used in by the priests in worship, and Jesus would become our priest –– the one who enables us to come to God. Myrrh was used for anointing bodies for burial, and would be used to anoint Jesus' body after his death. So each of these gifts had a symbolic meaning for Jesus' life and death!

But I am convinced that these gifts also had a very practical and urgent purpose –– one that the Wise Men could not have imagined. Because Herod feared the baby born king of the Jews, he would soon send his soldiers to kill all the baby boys in Bethlehem. God warned Joseph to take his little family and flee to Egypt lest Jesus be killed. Joseph got up in the middle of the night, gathered his family and a few possessions, and fled. They stayed in Egypt until the danger had passed. How could Joseph, a simple carpenter, afford to make such a trip? How could he provide for his family in a foreign land? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were expensive, and could be easily sold. They were also compact and portable, which meant that Joseph could take them along on the journey. I believe that God inspired the giving of these particular gifts as a way of providing for Joseph and his family on their journey.

The hymn specifies that there were three kings. Matthew doesn't specify the number, but we have guessed that there were three because of the three gifts.

Speaking of gifts, Jesus was God's Christmas gift to us –– the greatest gift that God could give. The Wise Men brought the best gifts to Jesus that they could offer. The question is what we can bring to Jesus as a gift. Our time, talent, and money are three candidates, and they are all important. But the gift that Jesus really wants is the gift of our hearts. That is the best gift that we can offer Jesus at Christmas –– or anytime!”



In his book, “Hymn Notes for Church Bulletins,” Lovelace tells more of the author of this hymn, John Henry Hopkins:

“After a career as a reporter and tutor, Hopkins became an Episcopal minister with interests in music. His Epiphany hymn is based on the visit of the Wise Men (Matthew 2: 1-11) and is the first modern American Christmas carol. The hymn with its dialogue style with each of the Wise men singing a stanza has become an American classic in Christmas dramas.”


1. We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse a far
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to the perfect Light.


2. Born a babe on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold we bring to crown him again;
King forever,
Ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

(Refrain)


3. Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh,
Prayer and praising
Gladly raising,
Worshiping God on high

(Refrain)


4. Myrrh is mine: it’s bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

(Refrain)


5. Glorious now behold him rise,
King and God and sacrifice:
Heaven sings
“Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!” earth replies.

(Refrain)