Herod – God Delivers Us!
The Characters of Christmas
By Greg Johnson
December 10, 2006
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Matthew 2:1-18
The devil will do everything that he can to try to destroy you, but God will deliver you as you trust His Word. In the story of Jesus’ birth, we see this at work. The devil does everything he can to try to destroy the new born King, but God delivers Jesus from the schemes of the devil.
Beloved, hold on to God with everything you have. He will deliver you!
God’s Word tells us the story of Jesus’ birth and God’s delivering power. (Matthew 2:1-18 NIV) "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." {3} When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. {4} When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. {5} "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: {6} "’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’" {7} Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. {8} He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." {9} After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. {10} When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. {11} On 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 and of incense and of myrrh. {12} And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. {13} When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." {14} So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, {15} where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." {16} When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. {17} Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: {18} "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.""
A DISTURBED KING.
Observe some characteristics with me about king Herod:
Herod was disturbed. (Matthew 2:3 NIV) "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." History tells us that Herod was mentally unstable. As a lot of people that are appointed power, Herod was insecure to the point of being paranoid concerning his place of position. Up to this point, he had already had three of his own sons killed because he was concerned they may take his place of leadership from him. The whole city of Jerusalem was disturbed also because they did not know how this unstable king would react to the news of an individual being born a king. Herod was appointed king. Jesus was born a king.
Herod did not know the Word of God and had to depend on other’s knowledge of the Word. (Matthew 2:4 NIV) "When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born." He did not know that the Word of God declared that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He did not know God’s Word. No wonder this king was disturbed and unstable.
Herod was deceitful and manipulative. (Matthew 2:7-8 NIV) "Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. {8} He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."" Herod had no intention of worshiping this One that was born king. He wanted to kill this new threat to his throne.
Herod was furious enough to kill. (Matthew 2:16 NIV) "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi." Satan did everything he could to try to destroy Jesus. He used this king who did not know God’s Word.
Beloved, Satan will do everything he can to try to destroy you, but the One that was born King will deliver you. Jesus said (John 10:10 NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
GOD DELIVERS US FROM EVIL.
God warns the Magi and gives them specific instructions to avoid harm. (Matthew 2:12 NIV) "And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route."
God warns Joseph and gives him specific instructions to avoid harm (Matthew 2:13 NIV) "When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.""
While Satan tries to destroy, God is delivering. God delivers His children from evil. Beloved, Satan desires to have you and sift you as wheat, but God will increase your faith through His Word. He has specific instructions for you in His Word and will empower you by the Holy Spirit to successfully get through anything that comes your way.
God’s Word says (Psalms 121 NIV) "I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? {2} My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. {3} He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; {4} indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. {5} The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; {6} the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. {7} The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; {8} the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."
Beloved, Trust the Word!
Lean not unto your own understanding!
God is working a way where there seems to be no way!
God is protecting you!
God is providing for you!
God is fighting the battle for you!
God is watching over you!
God is delivering you!
