The poor, starving people of Tyre and Sidon, under the assumption that flattery will get you anywhere, acclaim Herod as the best speaker they have ever heard—even better than God. Acts suggests two possible responses for subjugated, desperate people—submissive, blind adulation of the tyrant (the people of Tyre and Sidon) or subversive refusal to bow down before any other gods save the true God (Peter and the church). If people bow and scrape before the tyrant and flatter his speeches, it is not long before the tyrant starts to believe his own publicity releases. A king who takes upon himself airs of divinity—with his bright robes, pomp, and orations—begins believing that he is God. Oppressed, hungry people take note: Liberation comes in many different forms, among them forms of liberation which are but other forms of oppression. There is liberation (Herod’s brand) and then there is salvation. The response of God to such silly presumption on the part of kings is swift, ruthless, pitiless, ugly desecration. Herod becomes food for worms. God is not nice to those who try to be God. Hitler perishes huddled in a bunker in Berlin. Mussolini is hung upside down. Thus ever to tyrants. Next to this ugly scene of Herod being devoured by worms, Luke laconically remarks, “But the word of God grew and multiplied”. Herod has made his speech to the rapt approval of the starving people of Tyre and Sidon and is now silent. But [God]’s speech continues to explode into the world, multiplying, spreading, overtaking the world once held within the tight fist of the tyrant. As Mary warned in her Magnificat, the proud shall be humbled in this new kingdom which is breaking other kingdoms. God, not kings, will have the last word. --W. H. Willimon, Acts. Interpretation
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 02:47:50 +0000
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