The Pilgrim Path---Acts 12: 20 – 25

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, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 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.

But the word of God increased and multiplied.

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

“…HE DID NOT GIVE GOD GLORY…BUT THE WORD OF GOD INCREASED…”

The King Went: Herod Agrippa the First, has been the “Bad Boy” of Dr. Luke’s narrative so far in the Book of Acts. But finally---The LORD God Almighty has had enough! When you recall the Ten Commandments---Number One tells us that the God of Glory is a “jealous” God (Exodus 20: 5; Deuteronomy 5: 9). At its heart, the parent noun in Hebrew conveys the idea that the LORD expects man to return His love. Love is not simply an emotion. It is as the Theological Word Book of the Old Testament declares, “A structured relationship. To love God is to obey Him. So, the word is used to denote a passionate, consuming zeal focused on God that results in the doing of His will and the maintaining of His honor in the face of the ungodly acts of men and nations.” Well, Ole Herod had been around the teaching of the Law of God long enough to know “better” than to “act” like God---or to receive the honor that “only” belongs to God. His time was up! Plus---he had dealt murderously with the lives of the LORD’S own. Herod’s days were numbered. Herod was so rotten---he got a special angel to seal his death warrant---and the worms could hardly wait to join him! Horrible you say? When you are in league with hell---you should not expect an angel parade at your departure…

The Word of God Kept Working: Herod was finished---But the Holy Scriptures were just beginning to do their life-changing work within hearers. Faith cometh by hearing---and hearing by the Word of God. Herod tried to stop the advance of the Gospel---but his attempts were futile. The attempts of tyrants and dictators will seem to be significant for a time against the Church of Jesus Christ---but even the gates of hell---cannot thwart its advance!

The Workers of the LORD: Just continued their ministry---they even brought another along with them (Mark). Every generation brings forth a “new crop” of servants for the Savior. Thanks be to God! We are always looking for someone else to “bring along” in Gospel endeavors. There is always more to do for the Master. Keep praying for new workers for the fields---for they truly are white unto harvest!

From Josephus Antiquities 19.8.2 [345] (LCL): Straightway his flatterers raised their voices from various directions---though hardly for his own good---addressing him as a god. “May you be propitious to us,” they added, “and if we have hitherto feared you as a man, yet henceforth we agree that you are more than a mortal in your being.” The king (Herod) did not rebuke them nor did he reject their flattery as impious…

From James Montgomery Boice: Most of us will never be in a position to take such glory to ourselves, and I trust that no such judgment is ever going to come upon us. Nevertheless, we do have a tendency to take praise to ourselves when it should go to God. People will say, “Aren’t you wonderful!” When that happens there is always a tendency to smile in a half-prideful, half-humble way, thinking, Well, yes, I am; thank you for noticing it. We are on dangerous ground when we do this. What we must learn to do is to give glory to God. We have no talent that God has not given. We can do no good of which God is not the source. We need to acknowledge that source, as the Bible teaches we should.

From John Stott: At the beginning of the chapter Herod is on the rampage---arresting and persecuting church leaders; at the end he is himself struck down and dies. The chapter opens with James dead, Peter in prison, and Herod triumphing; it closes with Herod dead, Peter free and the Word of God triumphing…

From Richard Sibbes: Others must be loved and feared, but God chiefly. We should love nothing in the world, fear nothing, trust nothing, or joy in nothing before God! Whatsoever we give the supremacy of the inward man to; whatsoever we love most, whatsoever we trust most, whatsoever we fear most, delight in most, and obey most---that is our god!

THE PSALTER

All that I am I owe to thee; thy wisdom, LORD, has fashioned me.

I give my Maker thankful praise, whose wondrous works my soul amaze.

Ere into being I was brought, thine eye did see, and in thy thought

My life in all its perfect plan was ordered ere my days began.

Search me, O God, my heart discern; try me, my inmost thought to learn;

And lead me, if in sin I stray, to choose the everlasting way.

Psalm 139: 14 – 24, The Psalter 1924

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason