Womeninthechurch26

Women in the Bible

Lesson Twenty-six: by Turtle

To have power ought to be a sin, but it is only sin if use unwisely and not in obedience to God.
What amazes me most is how power can be used for destruction so readily and easily. Through
out history kings and leaders have made promises they should not keep and do keep. The king
in our next story makes a promise to a dancer to give her anything she ask for.

Matthew 14:1-5 KJV
(1) At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
(2) And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore
mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
(3) For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias'
sake, his brother Philip's wife.
(4) For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
(5) And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted
him as a prophet.

Something that is a bit odd is people seem to fear prophets. Especially if they speak the truth
without foreknowledge of a fact. What is worse is when a prophet speaks the truth about any
hierarchy in the land in which he lives especially if it is concerning sin. More then one prophet
had gone out in the world and spoke the truth about leaders and have lost their life or been
chased like the prophet Elijah. John the baptist was to be said to be Elijah. John baptist was
thought to be Elijah. He was the son of Zacharais and Elizabeth. He was the forerunner of
Christ.

Luke 1:17 KJV
(17) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the
fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord.

Elias is Greek for Elijah.

John 1:21-26 KJV
(21) And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that
prophet? And he answered, No.
(22) Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us.
What sayest thou of thyself?
(23) He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord,
as said the prophet Esaias.
(24) And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
(25) And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that
Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
(26) John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you,
whom ye know not;

John would go in the power of Elijah. Elijah was a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a
man called by God. John even in his mother womb was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:15 KJV
(15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong
drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

John technically was impossibility that was made possible. Zacharias was promised by God his
wife would conceive a child and he would name him John. Zacharias was a priest and Elizabeth
came from a priestly family. They were righteous people. People of faith. Yet Elizabeth was old
and passed child baring years. Yet God blessed them by enabling Elizabeth to become pregnant
in old age. The impossible becoming possible.

John would also announce who the Messiah is. He would tell those standing with him at the
baptism that Jesus was the Messiah. A dove landing on him was a sign of this and so was the
Father God in Heaven words coming down a testimony of who Jesus was.

John found himself in prison by what he said concerning the kings sexual relationship with his
brother’s wife. We must understand Herod was not a Jews king but a roman king. Israel at this
time was under Roman rule. Herod was a smart man no to kill John and just put him in prison
for John fame was will known throughout Israel. Yet this displeased Herodias.

Mark 6:17-20 KJV
(17) For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for
Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
(18) For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
(19) Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could
not:
(20) For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him;
and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Now we know several thing that the daughter of Herodias came and danced before Herod.
Herod was so please with Herodias daughter at the his birthday party, that he offer her anything
even up to half his kingdom.

Mark 6:21-23 KJV
(21) And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his
lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
(22) And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and
them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I
will give it thee.
(23) And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half
of my kingdom.

Kings making promise based on a passing fancy. The daughter not thinking for herself on such
matters went and asked her mother what she should ask for. Now Herodias was conniving and
was only after what would make her happy. So she told her daughter to ask for John the Baptist
head.

Mark 6:24-28 KJV
(24) And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head
of John the Baptist.
(25) And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou
give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
(26) And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat
with him, he would not reject her.
(27) And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought:
and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
(28) And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her
mother.

King Herod felt sorry for what he had done, but because he was king and his word stood, he
had the orders carried out.

Matthew 14:9-11 KJV
(9) And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at
meat, he commanded it to be given her.
(10) And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
(11) And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her
mother.

The moral of this story is be careful what you say and what you speak. Make sure it is the truth
and make sure it is something you can carry forth before speaking. Herodias daughter could of
had anything, yet her desire was to please her mother. Better to please God then to please man.
Minister must speak truth even when it hurts them to do so even unto death. Do not use power
God has given you for evil, but use it a good way.