Sunday Notes: Herod and the Romans

• Intro: Peace
  • Daniel 2:20-22
  • Romans 13:1-7
  • 1 Peter 2:13-15
  • Titus 3:1-2
• Rise of Rome
  • Luke 2:1-6
  • Founded in 753 BC by Romulus and __________
    • The book of Daniel was written a couple hundred years after his around 530 BC
    • Around 27 BC the __________ place their first emperor
      • Caesar __________
      • Who ruled Rome at the birth of Christ
        • This comes in a time known as the Pax __________ roughly 27 BC to 14 AD
      • At the time of the death of Christ Tiberius Caesar Augustus was the emperor
    • __________ is appointed as governor
    • __________ the Great was in the local “king” position when Jesus was born.
  • The scene is set:
    • A Jewish baby born in __________
    • Under the kingship of a man named Herod who was an official of the __________ empire.
      • Why did it all happen this way?
• Daniel 2:27-45
  • Background: Daniel is an Israelite who has been taken to Babylon and put into a court of advisors for King Nebuchadnezzer – the most powerful man in the world.
    • This lines out the future of the rising and falling of nations beginning with Nebuchadnezzer’s Babylon
    • Followed by the Medo-Persian empire: Two arms of __________ – The Medes and The Persians
      • From whom the wise men came.
    • The third, of bronze: __________
    • Fourth, __________: Legs of iron
    • And there will be a fifth to come: These feet of clay and iron with ten toes will be the weakest of all.
    • There is more to come that has not been fulfilled in world history
  • Since the beginning and all the way to the end __________ has had a master plan for the world and __________ will see it through all world events.
    • Romans 8:28
• Matthew 2:1-23
  • This is __________ the Great – Ruled 37-4 B.C.
    • Herod the Great came from a well connected family
    • They were Jews by their religious heritage but certainly not by their righteous practice.
  • Herod was king of the client state under __________
    • Rome is more powerful than __________ so while there is some autonomous rule locally Rome is ultimately over them
    • Herod here is a __________ man
      • While his is in charge he can be removed also by Rome
    • His seat of power is not guaranteed
      • When these __________ king makers – the wisemen –  show up with some announcement about a new king being born… __________ is shaken
  • Micah 5:1-5 – written in 740ish BC
    • Nearly 200 years before Babylon takes Israel
    • And __________ is pulled into this throng of wisemen
  • • The wisemen had this book! They incorporated this prophecy into their wisdom.
  • __________ planned this whole thing
    • Every detail of it
    • And all of it to reveal __________ power and glory
      • Israel:  It is not your might that will save you
        • It is the __________
      • Israel: it is not you who will bring peace
        • It is the __________
    • (Mic 5:4 ESV) And __________ shall stand and shepherd __________ flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the __________ __________ __________. And they shall dwell secure, for now __________ shall be great to the ends of the earth.
    • (Mic 5:5 ESV) And __________ shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;
  • These wisemen certainly shook things up in Bethlehem
    • Herod was very concerned about the potential of a __________ coming to unseat him
    • We also know that Herod was ruthless otherwise
      • Killing his own __________ and children even to retain his power.
    • Remember Herod was raised in a Jewish tradition
      • That would mean attending worship in the temple, hearing the Scriptures read – even if that was only for show.
    • Yet, Herod is __________ to this whole event
      • Until this throng of Persians show up in town he has no idea
      • And even searching them out Herod is no more educated about who this __________ is or where He might be.
  • Prophecy for the glory of God
    • Matthew 2:15 – Hosea 11:1
    • Matthew 2:18 – Jeremiah 31:15
    • Matthew 2:23 – John 1:45-46 – Isaiah 49:7 – Isaiah 53:3-5
      • Nazareth was to __________ as __________ __________ is to America.
• The Herods were part of the plan of __________
  • As were the __________.
  • All of this over all time
    • All the things that happen in human history are tools of the Sovereign __________ of the Universe to enact His will and show His glory.
      • Herod Antipas
        • Ruled 4 B.C.-A.D. __________
        • Matthew 14:1-11
        • Luke 23:1-16
      • Herod Philip the Tetrarch
        • Ruled __________ B.C.-A.D. 34
      • Herod Agrippa I
        • Ruled A.D. 37-__________
        • Acts 12:1-7
        • Acts 12:20-25
      • Herod Agrippa II
        • Ruled A.D. __________ – A.D. 93
        • Acts 25:22-27
        • Acts 26:26-32

• We might ask why still
  • Why all the trouble, war, death, etc.
  • Why now do __________ things happen to good people?
  • Why is it that evil men seem to rise to powerful positions?
  • Why do tragedies strike __________ families?
• God’s will is always enacted
  • He either __________ things to be or He allows them to be according to __________ master plan that is far and beyond our ability to fully comprehend.
• When created Adam and Eve He was to be their __________
  • But those wanted sin more and He turned them over to it
• When God established His covenant with His chosen people He would be their God they would be His __________
  • But Israel did not want His Kingship they wanted a human king 
    • 1 Samuel 8
• There will be a restoration of the theocracy in which __________ will be the king and we will be His __________
• When His people humble themselves and pray to Him He will hear and heal them.

When will you do that?