Bits for Sunday, December 9, 2007

Herod and the Chief Priests: The Light of God’s Plan Prevailing.

Matthew 2:1-18

Another day. Another list of political duties to attend to. A banquet to prepare for – just to showcase his wealth and power…and to waste taxpayer dollars on a round of drinks. A line of people who wanted to see him – to plead their cases – and he enjoyed the sob stories almost as much as he enjoyed saying no at the end of them. All in a day’s work for Herod.

Another message for him – something urgent, no doubt. Wasn’t everything? Magi from the East have arrived and requested an audience with you, King Herod. Magi? Well they might be good for a gift or a compliment on the fine workings of the kingdom. Show them in.
The men stood before King Herod, richly dressed and obviously on a mission. “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” (Matthew 2:2)

Herod’s blood boiled within his veins. How dare these men stand in his own palace and insinuate the presence of another king? And that they desire to worship Him! Before causing himself political embarrassment, he dismissed the men and called an emergency meeting of his staff. He demanded answers, and when Herod demanded, Herod got. Though they trembled at the thought of bearing bad news to the temperamental king, they spoke up in hopes that because they spoke the truth, he might spare their positions – and their lives. The Christ was to be born in Bethlehem to fulfill an old prophecy.

Donning his most serene countenance, Herod met alone with the Magi. Feigning great interest, he directed them toward Bethlehem only if they promised to return with a report of the baby’s exact location so that he too, could offer his worship and gifts.

While attending to his normal kingly duties throughout the following days, Herod often withdrew to himself, offering only the explanation that he had an important project. He devised scheme after scheme to rid himself and the world of any King of the Jews. He alone ruled, and he intended to keep it that way. He restlessly awaited the return of the Magi…day after day…after day.

Too much time had passed. They weren’t coming back. In a rage like his staff had never seen, Herod called together his army and sent them out on a killing spree. His targets? Not thieves. Not late taxpayers. Babies. Any boy two and under…kill them. Don’t ask questions. Don’t research. Just destroy. He sent the soldiers away and leaned back. That should do it. The world would be rid of this Baby.

Herod did not know that the most carefully devised schemes and the acts of irrational rage are no match for the Plan of all Plans. By the time the army left his presence, God’s Word had already saved the life of His Son: “Get up, 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 and kill him.” Herod may have outwitted his kingdom, but he could not outwit the King of Kings. His plan prevailed above all.