David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 12:18-25

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.

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, 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 from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark.

They say it’s good to be king. Kings get to make all the rules. Kings tell others what to do. Kings live in castles. Kings have servants. Kings sit on royal thrones. Kings rule. They have power, prerogative, and privilege.

The problem with kings is that they serve at the pleasure of God. They are not all powerful. But in so many ways, they are led to believe that they do have all power. Because they do have all those perks they can be seduced into believing that they answer to no one. And there are plenty of people who extoll the king, and praise him.

But the king does not have the last word. And we see that here. Luke tells us that 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.

Maybe it’s not always good to be king. 

We don’t have a direct application to our lives today. But we are in danger of making ourselves little kings of our own petty realms. We control the thermostats. We change the channels. We order our food, prepared to our tastes. We have lots of control, and we’re being told again and again that we deserve the best cars, the finest clothes, the first choice, the respect of everyone. We can fall prey to believing our own PR.

Thankfully we’re not struck dead when we puff ourselves up with pride. But hopefully we will be brought down a notch or two when we venture too far into self-worship, self-righteousness, and self-aggrandizement. For “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)

I think of how this is played out so obviously in the Christmas event. The King of the Universe became a baby – humbling himself even to the point of death. Now he has the name that is above every name, and at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. I can’t think of one time Jesus honored himself. Maybe that’s a good lesson for us.