He Reigns

Acts 12:18-24 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
 
HEROD Agrippa I seemed to have a firm grip on the area of Israel that Rome allowed him to govern. Friend of the ruling Jews and also a man of Jewish heritage, Agrippa became a deadly enemy to the apostles. At his word men lived or died. He also determined the food policy for Sidon and Tyre, cities outside of Israel. As all tyrants believe they are invincible, Herod was just in his own eyes, and his rule seemed strong and unchangeable. Emperors, kings and other rulers often believe they are as the gods whose words cause great change in their domain.
   Agrippa, though, neglected to learn from the Jews’ law regarding the LORD’s supremacy: Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. God’s justice will bless those who worship him and curse those who reject his Sovereign reign.
   Agrippa should have learned from King David’s prayer: Psalms 36:11 May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. David knew pride’s destruction. He watched it destroy King Saul’s relationship with God and with his people. David felt pride’s scourge against his integrity in the deep sins of adultery and murder. Pride destroyed some of David’s sons as they pursued their own lusts and revenge. Pride causes us to believe that in some way we are as a god who is invincible. How true is God’s law: Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Herod’s life and death perfectly illustrates this truth.
   How good to know the LORD’s authority overcomes persecution, and he will advance and spread the gospel. Barnabas and Saul had come from Antioch to Jerusalem to deliver the famine relief fund to the church. They return to Antioch, taking John Mark, who we saw at Peter’s release from jail. He is Barnabas’ cousin (Colossians 4:10), a fact that will have some influence on his future.
   Sovereign over kings, sovereign over disciples and ruler of his church, the LORD your God is God of gods.