Herod is the king appointed by the Roman government over Palestine. King Herod is an Edomite and a descendent of Esau. In the Old Testament, Esau and Jacob had been in rivalry and the hatred between them built up over generations. The Edomites and the Israelites hated each other and do not get along. For this reason, the Roman government deliberately put King Herod over the Israelites, to rule over the Israelites. The Bible refers to several Herod. Herod the Great was king during the time Jesus was born. When the Magi from the east told him that Jesus was born, he ordered that all children below two years of age be killed. After his death, King Herod was succeeded by his son, Archelaus. The reason King Herod died was because he did not give God the glory that was due to Him, even considering himself to be God. As such, an angel of the Lord immediately killed him.
The early church often witnessed an immediate punishment of people's wrongdoings. As in the case of Ananias in Acts Chapter 5, God's purpose is to use this to serve as warning. Those who follow God need to understand that God is not to be mocked. They must be led by the Holy Spirit, and act in accordance with God's will. We really need to thank God, that he no longer does that today. However, we still need to be careful, and not steal the glory of God.
How do we give God the glory that is due to Him? The easiest way is through praising God. The book of Psalms teaches us to praise God seven times a day. Of course, the important part is not the actual number of times. The number seven represents perfection. In other words, we should praise God every moment. Open your mouth to praise Him! Praise Him first thing in the morning, because when you start the day by praising God your day will be filled with victory and joy! When our mouths are filled with praises of God, it brings much life and energy to our lives.
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