Herod's End

Act 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Act 12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

James was the first apostle to be martyrd. This evil Herod also mocked Jesus and allowed him to be crucified.

Luk 23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Luk 23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

When we see a ruler who is evil and seeking his own glory, pray that he will find God. God will not allow evil pride to continue. Herod would reach the limit of the LORD's long suffering. Some read of the LORD in the Bible destroying a person or a nation and they may think that God is unjust. God is just and he puts up with a lot of sin, but there is a time of reckoning. Herod's time had come.

Act 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Act 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Act 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

He gave himself glory and made himself as a god. If there is one sin that causes many to be judged it is the sin of pride.

Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. .

Pride caused Lucifer to be cast down from heaven.

Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isa 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Lucifers pride will burn in the Lake of Fire. Be proud of Jesus and those who do his will. Humble yourself before the Almighty and he will lift you up. Be like Jesus, not like Herod. Lord help us to follow you closely, for you showed us how to live.