In yesterday’s blog article, we looked at the five “I will” statements spoken by the king of Babylon. These bold claims of self-will and independence from God’s direction describe not only that king, but also tyrants throughout history, including the devil himself.
- “I will ascend to heaven”
- “I will raise my throne above the stars of God”
- “I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon”
- “I will ascend to the tops of the clouds”
- “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14)
Tyrants can become so consumed by their own greatness that they forget there is a just God who judges fairly. Their end will be like the taunt spoken against the king of Babylon:
“But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the depths of the Pit.
Those who see you will stare at you
and ponder over you:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
who shook kingdoms?'” (Isaiah 14:15-16)
What happened to Herod in the days of the early church pictures what happens to tyrants from the king of Babylon to the present day. There is always a reckoning, whether it comes on earth or at the final judgment. No one who opposes God and harms others fares well.
Benefactors
The term often used for the ultra-rich today is oligarch. They have enormous wealth and power, and they use it to their advantage.
In the first century, the term for the ultra-wealthy was benefactor. Like oligarchs, they had great wealth and sometimes did good deeds to support their image and raise their status among others.
Benefactors supported festivals, games like the Olympics, and other events. For the poorest people, these festivals were often the only time they could eat meat.
Herod was a benefactor in the first century. He controlled the food people needed, so they sought his favor to obtain it.
“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 personal attendant, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.” (Acts 12:20)
The people of Tyre and Sidon most certainly hated Herod. Still, they needed the food he could provide, so they followed a common practice for those who depended on benefactors, who always want praise.
The “I wills” of tyrants need public applause to make them feel powerful and satisfied. Herod was no different from other rulers, and his subjects knew it.
“On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them. The people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a mortal!'” (Acts 12:21-22)
A Tyrant’s End
Whether it is the king of Babylon, Herod, or any other tyrant, their end never turns out well. King Herod was publicly humiliated before his subjects.
“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.” (Acts 12:23)
When Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah, he spoke boldly to God about justice:
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25)
Indeed, the Judge of all the earth does what is right, and every tyrant must face the truth that they will one day stand before the righteous Judge.
Prayer for Tyrants
I do not remember his name or the exact wording, but a Catholic Cardinal recently said that we should pray for the true conversion of leaders who act like tyrants.
Today’s world gives us many chances to see power used unfairly. It can be easy to feel angry or bitter toward those responsible. But Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for them. Let’s follow his guidance today.
We do not want anyone to end up like Herod. Instead, we pray they are changed, like Saul became Paul.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed Acts 12:20-25 on YouTube today.
