Acts 12

Acts 12:1 About that time King Herod cruelly attacked, afflicted, oppressed and tormented some who belonged to the church, 2 and he killed James, John's brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread... Then [Herod] went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed on there.20Now [Herod] cherished bitter animosity and hostility for the people of Tyre and Sidon; and [their deputies] came to him in a united body, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was nourished by and depended on the king's [country] for food. 21On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and addressed an oration to them. 22And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man! 23And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] continued to grow and spread.

***(Side comment, why does the ugly often rear its head during the days of the Feasts? I'm thinking the enemy gets awfully stirred up when it comes to the Holy Days on the calendar. Another bad & discouraging thing tied to the Passover...obviously, the enemy doesn't want us to remember what happened on the Passover when God changed the course of humanity's destiny during that 3-day weekend.)***

***(Another side comment, funny how Herod runs from Judea to Caesarea to stay there. He does this right after they can't find Believer Peter. He just viciously attacks the Believers in town and goes to a town which now has some fully functioning Gentile Believers...I wonder if he met up with any of them while he was there.)***

So, back to what spoke to me. When Herod saw that what he did gave pleasure to the Jews he continued in his cruel assault. He was pleased to please people. Next we see him giving royal audience to people he cherished bitter animosity and hostility for (the people of Tyre and Sidon). He was a hater, it seems. But why would he array himself, take up his throne and "address an oration" to them? He did not like them. However, they praised him and he received it. He took it in for himself. And he died.

Holy Father, help me not be so addicted to the verdicts of men and the praise of people that I live in response to their words and faces (emails and texts). Help me to array myself for You, the Royal and Majestic, Only King of the Universe. Let my words praise You and any words which come my way, may I turn them to You for Your Honor and Glory...not mine. My Creator, help me to not be insecure. You are God in Heaven and I am here on earth. Let my words be few. Thank You Sovereign God that Acts 12:24 happened. I praise Your powerful and all-wise Name that man's plans, schemes, pride, bondage, and lack of understanding cannot and will not stop the appointed spread of Your Name and Your message to the fame of Your Name.