Herod the King - Doing What Earthly Kings Do

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church."

Acts 12:1 NKJ

"Now about that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the Church." Acts 12:1 ESV

Why would Herod the king "harass some from the church?" Because this is what earthly kings do. It is in them to harass God's people. They are men pleasers and power mongers. They are arrogant and violent. They view themselves as elite, as gods, and they desire to be worshiped and obeyed.

Does God generally approve of earthly kings? Is there really divine legitimacy for public civil government? How are earthly kings presented to us in God's word, the Bible? Are they generally paragons of virtue or the opposite, the epitome of impenitent evil? What general impression do we get of earthly kings when reading through specific books of the Bible, like the books of Kings for example?

Can you think of any righteous kings listed in the book of Kings? How about David? While he has gone down in Biblical history as a righteous king, he did many very evil and violently wicked deeds. Solomon started well, but before long he loved many foreign women and his wives turned his heart from the Lord. He also oppressed the people over whom he reigned with taxation (armed theft) and slavery. I repeat myself.

Rehoboam did evil in the sight of the Lord. Jeroboam made golden calves for the people to worship so they would not turn to the Lord. It is said of only very few that they did what was right in the sight of the Lord. And even these were or became tainted in some way by wickedness.

The first time God's people ask for a king is recorded in 1 Samuel 8. Samuel was angry with them for this. But even Samuel's sons, being made judges, took bribes and perverted justice. Though Samuel was angry about Israel (God's people) demanding an earthly king like the nations around them, God says to Samuel; "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them."

Think of this; desiring an earthly king is rejecting God as king. Isn't this the conclusion we come to from what God says here?

God then tells Samuel; "Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

Why say more? A solemn warning about the ways of earthly kings tells us enough, doesn't it, for us to know it isn't good?

So, how does this apply to us today? God's people are now called Christians. Do God's people still ask for earthly kings, and therefore in some way reject God as king over them? Yes, I believe so. Christians are probably the most numerous voters at the time of elections. What are Christians doing when they vote? Aren't they asking for kings to reign over them?

Just asking. Do you come to other conclusions?

DR

P.S. More about this in the next post.