Daily Devotional Wednesday 1st April 2020
by William MoodyActs 12:18–25
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
The Death of Herod
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain,1 they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from2 Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.
(ESV)
The Herod mentioned here is Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great who tried to kill Jesus when he was born, and the nephew of Herod Antipas who was involved in John the Baptist’s death and Jesus’ trial.
Herod Agrippa I had thought it was a good idea to persecute the apostles (v1-3). Sadly for him, the miraculous release of Peter from prison, did not teach him the lesson that he and his family needed to learn, which is that you can’t oppose God and win (v18-19).
Herod goes to Caesarea on the coast for peace talks with the people of Tyre and Sidon (v20). Herod is given praise from the people who likened him to God (v21-22). Herod loved this. He was a man who longed for the praise of his people. But while he was pleasing the people he was certainly not pleasing God and was struck dead instantly (v23).
In Isaiah 42 v8 God says, “I will not give my glory to another”. The Lord is jealous about His glory. As we examine our lives one question we need to ask is how much glory do we seek to bring to God day by day? “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
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