07/11/2021
Today at Ebenezer UMC and Summerhill EUMC our Scripture readings were from 2 Samuel 6, Psalm 24, Ephesians 1, and Mark 6. In 2 Samuel King David dances - in Mark King Herod is tricked by his wife's daughter. The following is the message...
Did it ever happen to you that you were pretty convicted in a decision or belief and then something or someone causes your mind to be swayed? It has happened to all of us. And after we have reacted in a way that we were not happy with, we are full of regret.
It is written in our Gospel today that “Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.” Herod may have even been on a road towards redemption. What other reason would there be for him to fear John if it was that he didn’t believe a word he said?
And then our Scripture says that Herod believed John to be a holy man – a prophet. Well, sadly, it was not uncommon for Prophets to be killed, especially when they delivered Divine messages that primarily the leaders of the people did not want to hear. I suppose they believed that if the messenger was gone, then so was the message.
I don’t believe that Herod wanted John killed at all – Scripture also says that he enjoyed hearing John preach. But all of that ended when the sultry dance of a young girl please Herod enough to foolishly offer her anything she wanted up to half of his kingdom.
Herodias, Herod’s wife, despised John because he called her and Herod out on their sin against Herod’s brother Phillip. Why was she so angry? – because she knew John was right. If she did away with the John then the message would be gone also. No, it was not gone even though she had her daughter ask for John’s head in payment for her dance.
Backed into a corner, with dignitaries all about, Herod had to oblige. And as the story continues, you can just feel the regret that Herod must have felt.
We have all been there… allowing ourselves to me moved in a direction we were not happy with or making a decision we didn’t agree with or like. It may have been something as simple as agreeing to another pet in the house even though you didn’t want another, or something a bit darker like joining in on some gossip when you know it is wrong. And even though we may come to love the new extra pet, we are still a little annoyed that we didn’t stand our ground – we lost the battle and no one likes to lose! And after that gossip circle disperses, we feel small and we know we were wrong to join in the effort – we can’t take back the words we said once they are offered and out there for the world to hear.
Herod knew he was in a corner and didn’t like it one bit. We can learn from him and his poor judgement.
Worldly decision – those that we make through bad or the ill-advised influence of others almost never turn out well. We know what God expects from us. He has written it on our hearts. When we adhere to His will, we dance like David and we don’t care about the worldly Micah’s who disapprove of us loving and serving and worshiping our God. When we follow His will, we have the strength and determination to follow Him and say ‘No’ to the tempting bits of gossip we might hear. That is the blessing of freedom that we received when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior.
When you tell someone about this freedom, they scratch their heads. How can you have freedom when you are a prisoner to rules and laws? Those rules and laws keep us safe and if everyone followed them, we would all, then, know this freedom. But not everyone does. So, our freedom lies in our ability to live our lives not concerned about what others think about our ‘good behavior’, our praying in restaurants before our meals, our acts of kindness, loving our neighbors. In the book of Micah (no relations to David’s wife) it is written that we are to ‘act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.’ That is all the freedom we need.
Herod was a prisoner of this world – David danced freely and joyfully. Who are you?
THE SENDING FORTH
Hear the words of the Psalmist (24: 3-6)
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
