HEROD’S PRIDE

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.  Mark 6:26

REFERENCE
Mark 6:17-29

The late French historian and philosopher, Voltaire, said, “We are rarely proud when we are alone.” This statement rings true considering King Herod’s action in today’s text. On realizing that he had made a brash and thoughtless promise to his step daughter, one would expect that the logical thing for him to do was to repent and retrace his steps. However, He proceeded to add evil upon evil by ordering the death of an innocent man just to fulfill a bad promise.

Herod was exceedingly sorry on seeing the fruit of his bad decision. Yet, why would he, being sorry, still commit another sin? It doesn’t make sense. It’s ‘PRIDE.’ He did it because of his oaths and because of those who sat with him. In those days, kings were held as incapable of error. Herod believed he would appear as a weak king and his ‘rating before his officials would drop if he changed his mind; for he must be seen as a lord.

I shamefully remember when I was an impulsive 21-year old man (without the Lord), a female friend did something I didn’t like, but could have overlooked. I slapped her (my first and last time) and I immediately felt bad about it. However, some of my ‘wild’ male friends and others were there. So, instead of apologizing to her and appearing weak, I warned her loudly not to ever try that again. I felt bad and later apologized to her one on one. However, the deed was done; I humiliated her in public, but pride and peer pressure made me add sin upon sin. Years later we met again during our National Youth Service; I was then born again, and I apologized to her again.

How often do we know the right thing to do, but because of peer pressure and people’s opinion, pride takes us over? We often are too proud to apologize when we are wrong, too proud to go back on a bad decision, too proud to tell our children we were wrong and they were right. Pride goes before a fall, and pride will often lead you to making bad and regrettable decisions…yes, many homes and marriages are broken today, because pride showed up.

Will you today call someone and apologize to them? Can you call your staff and change a draconian law you passed in the heat of anger? Will you go to your spouse and apologize for raising your voice at them and for manipulating that situation? Don’t be like Herod and add sin upon sin; say no to pride, be humble and do right.

SCRIPTURE PHOTO

ADDITIONAL STUDY
Proverbs 18:12, 16:18, Philippians 2:3, & James 4:6, 10

PRAYER
Father, help me to do the right that I know to do at all times. May I not be pressured by people’s opinion or popular opinion to conduct my affairs arrogantly. I humble myself before You and come against any operation of pride in my life in Jesus’ name.