Arrogance

Approved by Rome, Herod Antipas ruled Galilee, seeming to hold all the power. Reflecting his stature, representatives from Tyre and Sidon approached him, asking for peace. Treating him with reverence, they declared, “The voice of a god and not a man!” Did they mean it? Or were they just trying to gain his favor?

Herod welcomed this adulation. But God was not pleased with his display of pride. He was judged because he would not give God the glory.

Herod’s death is a historical fact. The historian Josephus reports that he died “after five days of suffering.” It was a death of discomfort, being eaten away from the inside. All his pride and worldly power couldn’t save him. And, while Herod’s reign ended, God’s Word continued to multiply.

It can be natural to welcome praise. But Herod’s excessive arrogance reveals how pride can poison our hearts and why we continually must humble ourselves before God and repent of any form of pride.

The Bible reminds us that kingdoms may come and go. Rulers will rise and fall. Men and women may be popular for a season but soon are forgotten. How can we keep things in perspective? Stay focused on God. Reject the kind of pride that destroyed Herod. Maintain the attitude of a servant. Cultivate a spirit of humility.

Humble yourself before God. Repent of any pride. And always remember to give Him all the glory.