12/16/15 Herod

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Thoughts:  Herod was supposed to be the mediator between Rome and the Jewish people, but he was always nervous about losing his throne.  Herod banished one wife, killed another, and ordered a son killed to keep his throne.  His son ordered John the Baptist beheaded upon a vow he made to his dancing daughter.  To the Herods life was cheap and power was precious.  While he rebuilt the Jewish Temple into one of the (brief) wonders of the world, he also built pagan temples too.  He professed the Jewish faith but did not live it nor did he value it.  So Herod the Great tried to kill the infant Jesus.  Perhaps the worst kind of terrorism is the killing babies.  Herod was less concerned for God as he was that he keep his throne.  In Revelation 12 Herod (and the Romans- the government) is depicted as a red dragon trying to kill the child Jesus and the mother.  We should ask ourselves , do we only want God to help us establish our kingdom, or do we live and give for His kingdom?

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to live for you and not for my own pride. 

Activity: Think of a politician you do not agree with and you think is doing bad things.  Pray for them. If you can send them a card telling them telling them you are praying for them. 

Herod's fortress near and viewable from Bethlehem