Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hi there, special people.

It’s kind of gray out my window. I’ll venture out in a few minutes and see what it feels like. It’s warmer than normal…about 45 degrees F.

I talked with Becki this morning via phone. She’s still at the Airport Sheraton and is preparing for her engagement in the last day of the BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF OREGON conference. She’ll be back home this evening.

Lots of needs on my list for the day…even some objectives that are not high-urgency…like refurbishing an old Delta Unisaw (table saw). Besides being a great old machine, it has some nostalgic value as it belonged to my late uncle Andy, used in his cabinet shop. I estimate its vintage to be about 1942…just beyond my own vintage.

May your day be blessed.
Love, Dad/Ray

Herod sure didn’t see it this way, but for me he shows himself to be the picture of a hard-hearted Biblical FOOL. His personal worth seems to be defined by the power he is able to wield over people. This chapter sees him exhilarated by the popular applause he receives after having James executed, but then he turns frustrated and angry over the fact that he can’t repeat the same brutal treatment of Peter. He carries on to present a distorted discrepancy—although he seems to completely dismiss the possibility of The True God intervening in the mind-boggling escape of Peter (and had the guards executed for their incompetence), only a few days later he actually accepts the praises of people after his speech at Caesarea that “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” Good grief! How can that be intelligent? It doesn’t take long to prove that he isn’t even close to godhood—as he is absolutely powerless to prevent little teeny weenie worms from consuming his flesh. Little teeny weenie worms should be no problem for a real god. And even if he is a little bit god, he is shown, at best, to only be a teeny weenie wormy god! Furthermore, the historical record says that “the word of God (the true representative Voice of the Almighty) continued to increase and spread” (v. 24) and he couldn’t do a thing about it!

Like they do in the movie industry, maybe I’ll add a little fiction: So when Herod was reunited with his wife that night at Caesarea, she noticed that he appeared very discouraged and depressed. She said, “What’s eating you, honey?” He simply said, “Worms.” (Should I keep a tighter rein on my imagination?)

Our FOCUS VERSE says that “Herod did not give praise to God.” He obviously programmed himself to avoid that kind of thing. In so doing, he programmed himself to decline doing what he was actually created to do. I am convinced that the surest way to oppose God is to withhold the contrition and praise that is due Him—and the surest way to receive His grace and blessing is to render praise that is due Him. “It is fitting for the upright to praise him” (Psalm 33:1). All things considered, to NOT praise Him is simply NOT fitting.