When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
It appears that Herod had so disguised his intentions, that the wise men had no consciousness of it. So is it in common life. But the Lord readeth the heart. What a wonderful ministry was this star! Evidently it must have had a particular motion, and different from the ordinary course of the stars. For the star which had been first seen by them in the East, now appeared to them in those Western heavens. And it was not confined to the ministry of the night, for now it appeared by day. And very low it must have shone, for it even pointed to an house; for it went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was! Reader! do not fail to observe the grace of GOD in this providence. He who hung out this star, did not hang it out in vain. The same God who led Israel by the cloud, led those wise men by a star. And while hanging a light without, gave the proper apprehension of the meaning within. And the effect was, as might be supposed, when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy! And is it not so with his people, whom he guides to JESUS now? The day dawn, and the day star, when first shining in the heart, and pointing to CHRIST, calls forth the anxious enquiry after CHRIST. And when darkness at any time intervenes, how blessed is it again after such obscurity, and doubt, and misgiving, to have new discoveries of Christ; and in so clear and open-a manner, leading to CHRIST, which, like this star, points to his very person, to shew where he is!