Painted-On Smiles
Prophet, Priest, and King
Copyright 2005.
Ok, it's a Christmas song, and borrows heavily from church tradition - the gifts of the magi.
Were there 3, were there 300, we don't know for sure. I couldn't tell you where the names Balthasar, Melchior,
and Gaspar came from.
And, scripture is clear that they came, not to a stable, but to a house. And that they had travelled a LONG time,
because Herod had children slain that were 2 years old and under, which may have been 'hedging his bets', but surely
Jesus was at least a year old before the Magi arrived.
The Magi probably were descendents of the wise men who hobknobbed with Daniel (or attempted to kill him, depending on
their mood) and they must have had some knowledge of the scriptures, and Daniel's writings also, which were in the
Torah by that point.)
The gifts they brought are interesting:
Gold - the currency of Kings. This demonstrates Jesus' right to be King.
Frankincense - the incense of a priest. It was unlawful to make it except for a priest.
Myrrh - a strong and pungent salve used to anoint the dead for burial, to drown out the smell of decay.
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Click here to download a TAB song sheet
Lyrics
Verse 1:
O Balthasar, I'm telling you
I've never seen a star
Like the one that's in the star tonight
You can see it from afar.
I'm sure that it marks the birth
Of some important king.
We should follow it and go to Him.
Here's a gift that I should bring.
Chorus:
Let me be the one to cast my crown at Jesus feet.
The King of kings I've waited
My whole life to meet.
I have a chest of finest gold
That I will want to bring
To show the world that Jesus
Is fit to be a king.
Verse 2:
Oh, Gaspar, I saw the star
That you are speaking of.
And friend, though I'm correcting you
I'm doing it in love.
That Hebrew king named David said
That He would be a priest
Who would make a full atonement for
The Greatest and the Least.
Chorus:
Let me be the one to cast my crown before the One
Who has been a Priest forever
Since before time had begun.
I have a flask of frankincense, and when we leave, it goes.
It will show the world that He's a priest
Acquainted with our woes.
Verse 3:
Oh, Melchior, I'm sorry,
but with you I disagree.
I read that He's a prophet
Who will die to set us free.
Isaiah said that He'd be bruised
And with His stripes, we're healed.
I also have a gift to bring
To the One the star revealed.
Chorus:
Let me be the one to cast my crown before the Lord
The Mighty God who made it all
With His own spoken Word
I have a cask of myrrh
That can be used to bury Him
It will show the world that He will die
To save us from our sin.
Verse 4:
Well, down through the years
From every nation, tribe, and tongue.
People have been coming
To bring gifts to God's Own Son
And one fine day in heaven,
We will all have crowns to bring
To cast before the feet of this one
Prophet, Priest, and King.
Chorus:
Let me be the one to cast my crown at Jesus' feet
On that day, not so far away,
When He and I will meet.
The only gift I have to bring
Is a life lived for Him
It will show the world that He is mine
And I belong to Him.
(repeat chorus)
©2006 Christopher M. Solaas - All Rights Reserved
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