The Woeful Actions
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Herod was no different from people today. He rebelled against God and thought he could beat God. That is where I pick up with our main passage today.
Illustration: "The worst industrial accident in history occurred almost 34 years ago on April 26, 1986, at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the town of Chernobyl in north central Ukraine of the former Soviet Union. It was caused by the management of the plant not following warnings that should have prevented the catastrophe.
Each time they encountered a signal that would warn, ’Stop! Dangerous! Go no further!’ Each time the warning was foolishly disregarded. The end result was a major explosion, thirty-one immediate deaths, untold eventual deaths, and the release of 100 million curies of radionuclides into the atmosphere that circulated worldwide. Four hundred times more radioactive material was released from Chernobyl than by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Only time will determine the full extent and destruction of the accident.
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Dr. Jerry Sutton, Southern Baptist pastor, historian, and writer said the following in his book “The Way Back Home”: Often, we — like those foolish engineers — fail to heed the warning given to us by the Holy Spirit: ’Stop! Dangerous! Go no further!’ As a result, there comes a point when our restlessness and refusal to listen to the Spirit’s warning leads us to cross the line from restlessness to rebellion."
The fact is, all SIN is REBELLION against God.
The fact is, all SIN is REBELLION against God.
Ever since the Garden of Eden, mankind has been in rebellion of God. It is in our nature to rebel.
It takes courage, discipline and the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives to be what God calls us to be.
Let’s consider Herod. He was jealous for his throne. He wanted nothing to challenge him, even God.
He has been know to outright murder anyone to threaten him, including some of his wives and children.
When Herod hear about the One born king of the Jews, he was greatly troubled.
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.
Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
In the preceding verses we learn that Joseph was warned in a dream to escape with Mary and the Child Jesus to Egypt.
In the preceding verses we learn that Joseph was warn in a dream to escape with Mary and the Child Jesus to Egypt.
Why do we not read from other sources (like Josephus) about the deaths of the two-year-olds and younger in Bethlehem? Many scholars believe due to the small population of Bethlehem, there may have only been many 20 or so children effected, and compared to other many, many atrocities committed by Herod, this was relatively insignificant.
But Herod is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
He is no different than many nations in the world today, and in practical terms, he is no different than many people today, who do not want God to rule over any part of their lives.
ALL rebel against God’s PLAN.
ALL rebel against God’s PLAN.
That brings us to .
Does this sound familiar? Our deacon read it this morning, as quoted by Peter and those gathered with him in that early church (). They quoted verses 1 and 2 from the Greek translation of the Psalm. This Psalm is quoted often in the NT. Peter and that early church knew God is in control. Armed with that fact, they spoke the word boldly.
Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
Knowing that God has the victory, we can be bold in our witness for Him.
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
In light of the NT, this Psalm speaks clearly about Jesus, and in these verses it speaks how Jesus is plotted against.
Psalm 2:1
"Take their stand" is a a military term in the Hebrew meaning to prepare for war.
The plot together, they take council with each other to overthrow God and “against His Anointed” - in the Hebrew the word is “masih” or “Messiah” and in the Greek it is “Christos” or “Christ.”
The wording here is quite clear, they are ready to go to war with God and His Anointed who is clearly Jesus.
Look at what they say:
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
Psalm 2:3
They are in essence saying, "We do not want God to RULE over us, or to have any PART of us."
They are in essence saying, "We do not want God to RULE over us, or to have any PART of us."
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And what is God’s reaction to this?
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
(NKJV) 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
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This is the only place in the Bible where we see God laugh, and its not a good laugh.
James Boice (Bible commentator) says this: What is God’s reaction to the haughty words of these pygmy human rulers? God does not tremble. He does not hide behind a vast celestial rampart, counting the enemy and calculating whether or not he has sufficient force to counter this new challenge to his kingdom. He does not even rise from where he is sitting. He simply “laughs” at these great imbeciles.
James Boice (Bible commentator) says this: What is God’s reaction to the haughty words of these pygmy human rulers? God does not tremble. He does not hide behind a vast celestial rampart, counting the enemy and calculating whether or not he has sufficient force to counter this new challenge to his kingdom. He does not even rise from where he is sitting. He simply “laughs” at these great imbeciles.
Unlike the rulers of nations today, God does not negotiate, not does He adjust Himself to suit the demands of the rebellious.
God reaffirms His plans, He firmly enforces His standards.
People have no concept of the complete knowledge of God and His unlimited power.
They think God will just roll over and play dead?
Throughout the Bible, there is warning after warning about a coming day of judgment. God’s wrath will be displayed. God has revealed Himself to all.
His POWER and GREATNESS cannot be missed and people foolishly think they can OPPOSE God.
His POWER and GREATNESS cannot be missed and people foolishly think they can OPPOSE God.
(NKJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
In an action to take place sometime in the future, God will established His Anointed, His Messiah, His Christ, as King – verse 6:
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
Jesus will rule from the Temple mount in Jerusalem.
This will be after the conclusion of the Great tribulation period we read about in Revelation and other future prophecies in the Bible.
In the next three verses, God’s Anointed (who is Jesus) speaks:
“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’ ”
(NKJV) 7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
In OT times, verse 7 was used in the coronation of Kings, and by calling the king the son of God, it was interpreted as God as installing the king.
In OT times, verse 7 was used in the coronation of Kings, and by calling the king the son of God, it was interpreted as God as installing the king. In light of the NT, where we see God saying this very thing at the Baptism of Jesus and at the transfiguration of Jesus, this passage is very clearly meant for Jesus.
In light of the NT, where we see God saying this very thing at the BAPTISM of Jesus and at the TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus, this passage is very clearly meant for Jesus.
In light of the NT, where we see God saying this very thing at the BAPTISM of Jesus and at the TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus, this passage is very clearly meant for Jesus.
In OT times, verse 7 was used in the coronation of Kings, and by calling the king the son of God, it was interpreted as God as installing the king. In light of the NT, where we see God saying this very thing at the Baptism of Jesus and at the transfiguration of Jesus, this passage is very clearly meant for Jesus.
The victory has been guaranteed. All the world will belong to Jesus and will be under His rule. Right now, it is under sway of the wicked one.
If you doubt that Satan rules this world now, you haven’t read your newspaper lately. But Jesus will rule at some point in the future.
How will Jesus rule? Verse 9:
‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’ ”
In the Greek translation of the OT, this verse reads that He will “RULE" with a ROD of IRON”.
In the Greek translation of the OT, this verse reads that He will “RULE" with a ROD of IRON”.
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father;
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(NKJV) 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;
To rule with an iron rod or scepter speaks of the unbreakable rule.
The rule of Jesus will be just, yet very firm.
In ancient times, more notably in Egypt, Kings, as they prepare for war, would write the names of their enemies on clay pottery, then smash the pottery with their scepters. If there is any opposition to His rule, they will be smashed to pieces like so much pottery.
It is this fact alone that enforces our missionary call. Our call is to make His name know and revered. One day every knee will bow:
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(NKJV) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The key is WHO will bow the knee NOW?
The key is WHO will bow the knee NOW?
The key is who will bow the knee now?
Now comes one of my favorite words in the Bible, the word that draws a conclusion to what has just been said. That Word is “Therefore.” Here is the conclusion to the whole matter:
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
Be wise. You cannot beat the Lord. Judgment is coming. the call is to come and serve Him. "Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling." We need to serve, rejoice, in fear and trembling. This is the response of the righteous in worship. Every time we see someone encounter the very holiness of Almighty God, they fall down in worship in fear and trembling. Do we fear and tremble knowing the holiness of God?
Be wise. You cannot beat the Lord. Judgment is coming. the call is to come and serve Him.
"Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling." We need to serve, rejoice, in fear and trembling. This is the response of the righteous in worship. Every time we see someone encounter the very holiness of Almighty God, they fall down in worship in fear and trembling. Do we fear and tremble knowing the holiness of God?
“Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, And you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled."
We are to submit to him, surrender all to Him. For an angry God is something to be greatly afraid of. Herein is the bottom line to those nations that rage: “Submit or perish.”
“How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” Only those who are in the Son are protected from the wrath of God.
Why did Herod act so woefully? Why do the nations rage?
The more appropriate question is: “Why do WE act so WOEFULLY?”
The more appropriate question is: “Why do WE act so WOEFULLY?”
Why do they and people in general rage and rebel against God?
God cannot be beaten. And God will not negotiate.
Yet God has provided a way to escape His wrath.
He sent Jesus. He was born, laid in a manger in the humblest of circumstances. He came the first time as Savior.
He is coming again. But this time when He comes, He is coming as King and Judge, and God’s wrath will be upon all who are not found in the Son.
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“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
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(NKJV) “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Are you to be found taking refuge in Him? Is He speaking to your heart now?
As we come to this time of invitation, it is important to evaluate our position with God, whether we are in the Son or in rebellion.