“That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod’s arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died.” (Acts 12:23, The Message)
The Message is particularly eloquent when it comes to the death of Herod Agrippa, son of Herod the Great. Herod had imprisoned Peter, planning on putting him to death, but Peter had miraculously escaped. Josephus says that he was in the ampitheatre at Caesarea, speaking to a delegation from Tyre and Sidon. The morning sun shone on his garments, which were streaked with silver, and he shone brightly in all his finery, a perfect metaphor of earthly glory. While he was still speaking, he was struck with stomach pains. He suffered greatly for five days and died. Sic transit gloria mundi - So passes the glory of the world. Herod was "great" in this life; his greatness died with him. He went to stand before God in all his pomposity and pride; or, as The Message puts it: Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died.
All of Herod's wealth, power, and position did nothing when he was struck with an illness by God.
May we be wise to see the temporal nature of life and not be sucked in by passing pleasures of sin and our pride. It will all pass, and quickly.
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