To God be the glory
Acts 12:20-25
20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, 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 on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. 22 The people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!’ 23 And immediately, because he had not given the glory 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 advance and gain adherents. 25 Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.
This passage feels oddly out of place, but it completes the story of the showdown between Herod (or any human power who decides to confront God) and God.
The people of Tyre and Sidon, trying to get on Herod’s good side, hailed him as a god following his speech. Herod took this praise as belonging to him personally, and an angel of the Lord “struck him down.” Herod did not acknowledge that he was only a human being. This failure is in marked contrast to Peter’s actions in Acts 10:25, 26, where Cornelius bowed down and began worshipping Peter and Peter replied, “Don’t do that, I am only a mortal.” Herod did not turn the glory back to God. All of our gifts and abilities, all of our status and position are gifts from God. When we are praised for our gifts and abilities, honoured for our status and position, that praise and honour is to go back to God. The first question of the Shorter Catechism says, “The primary purpose (chief end) of human beings is to glorify God and enjoy God forever.” Herod’s failure to do glorify God had tragic consequences.
Second, all human powers will eventually be no more. They will all end up “in the dustbin of history.” That truth does not diminish the seeming power of human authorities in the moment, but it does offer hope that no human authority has ultimate and final power. Luke makes this very clear in vs. 24 – Herod who tried to stop the spread of the word of God is dead, but the good news of Jesus is still being preached and people are choosing to follow the Jesus way. Herod could not stop the Word being preached, no one can stop the good news of Jesus being proclaimed.
PRAYER:
O Lord, to you and to you alone belong all glory and honour and praise. Apart from you and your gifts in our lives, we are nothing. Keep us humble that we might give you the glory, now and forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.