ESOCS Devotional 21 February 2024 – The Return of the King
MEMORY VERSE: “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.” Matthew 2:19
TEXT: MATTHEW 2:19-22
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
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From Matthew 2:16-18, we learn of Herod’s massacre of the innocents. Infanticide happened. This was intentional, a pre-meditated, carefully investigated and well thought out slaughter (Matt 2:6); all part and parcel of Herod’s political power play. Herod felt threatened by baby Jesus. Specifically, he knew that his position as “King of the Jews”, a position conferred on him by the Roman powers of the day was threatened.
The historian Josephus’ records corroborate this account. The historical Herod was a deeply insecure man who killed his wife and son for political expediency. Only when we get to heaven, we will find the full detailed list of innocent children that were killed because of the King Herod selfishness.
But in Matthew 2:19a, we learn that Herod dies. Herod, the human king who is a foil to Jesus the true king, dies. The vast sum of his life’s work, all that scheming, etc – is stopped by the universal human experience of death; purse and ponder! The almighty Herod finally gave way, Herod why! No wonder the wise king says, “No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it” (Eccl. 8:8).
Matthew is reminding us here of the difference between human kingship and true kingship. The most powerful of us cannot outmanoeuvre the effects of sin. All will face death. This is something to bear in mind, as we think about Herod in contrast with the True King. There is an underlying problem in Matthew 2:19b-20. The True King was not in His kingdom – He was in Egypt! So, the angel, who is an example of divine intervention, tells Joseph to bring his child back. May we always be obedient to our ministering divine helper, today and always.
Let’s examine ourselves. Is the King in our life or in the temple. Remember, He is no longer in Egypt, the King has returned.
- If Jesus lived outside you, have you opened the door of your heart to let Him? Has He returned to live in you? If not, when will you let Him into your heart. Remember this: The King of kings does not live in dirty hearts!
- Holy Spirit, please teach me to live for Christ, I pray you, in Jesus name.
Further Reading: Jeremiah 14:7-9; Joel 2:12-17; 2 Corinthians 2:2-10
ESOCS Devotional 21 February 2024
