THURSDAY December 31, 2020

Comfortless in Mourning

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Matthew 2:17-18

King Herod was greatly troubled when he heard the news of a new King born in the region of Judea. This is where he reigned! Secretly, he inquired of the wise men as to the time the star appeared. Then Herod asked the Magi to bring back word to him when they found the Child. Why? Supposedly, he wanted to worship the Child, but he blatantly lied about his motives (Matthew 2:3-8). King Herod would see to it that this young, rival king would be killed.

Herod had murder in his heart. His pretense of worship was only a cover for his hidden motives. All he wanted to do was destroy the young Child. God warned the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned to their own country another way (Matthew 2:12). The angel of the Lord warned Joseph in a dream to flee. He was to take Jesus and His mother Mary to Egypt until the death of Herod (Luke 2:13-15).

As the wise men did not return, Herod, in fury and anger, devised an evil plan to insure the destruction of the young Messiah. He would exterminate the One––named King of the Jews. He had determined the possible age of the Child from the wise men. So Herod ordered the merciless slaughter of all the male children, aged two years old and under, in Bethlehem and its surrounding districts (Matthew 2:16).

The Bible tells us that man’s heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We live in a world opposed to Christ. Even today, innocent people suffer horrible atrocities because of their love and allegiance to Christ. Only God can comfort those who have suffered the loss of a loved one.

I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; as a devote musing upon the subject of the Godhead.
~Charles Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!