Here we see the danger of disregarding God's message, and allowing the smallest sin entrance into your life. When God speaks through His servants, regard it as it is in truth, God's voice, and obey in godly fear.

Herodias was a wicked, vile woman. Josephus tells us that Herod was married to a princess of Arabia. Herodias agreed to live with Herod, on condition that he divorces his wife. The consequences of his sin followed him already in this life. Aretas, the king of Arabia, came with a strong army and destroyed Herod's army permanently. Herod lost all because of his sin, even his royal authority.

In Lev 20:21 we read what an abomination it is to have any immoral affair with your brother's wife. It is not to be done.

This Herodias even instructed her daughter in wickedness. She taught her to dance in a provocative manner, and instructed her to murder this great man of God. She influenced her daughter for hell. O, mothers, what influence do you have on your daughters? Does it not shake you to the core when your daughters go into the world, or are you vile too? Train your children in God's ways. Many men of God became such because of the godly instruction from their mothers.

John the Baptist, on the other hand, was a noble, faithful man of God. He rebuked the king fearlessly about his sin. He had godly integrity, and did not keep silent in the face of evil. The Bible instructs you to correct those that sin, warn the wicked, lest he die, and his blood be required of your hand.

John was a strong man, filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb, whereas Herod was weak. Herod had a position and honour, but he was driven by his lusts, ruled by a woman, feared the opinions of men, and had no backbone to stand for what is right. He wanted to kill John, but could not, because he feared the people. Paul says in Gal 1:10, "... if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ". Herod's murderous thought eventually became a deed. Watch your thoughts and root out the slightest trace of sin. Pluck out the seed of sin, roots and all.

Here we see the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It made John the Baptist, upright, noble and strong in spirit. Pray that God would fill your thoughts, ears, eyes, tongue, feet, hands, yes your whole body, with His Spirit. Pray with all your heart that God would be glorified through your life.

Herod and Herodias' disobedience and disregard for God's Word led them to destruction and a bloody murder of a righteous man of God. They never imagined that their disregard for John's rebuke would ever end up in these evil crimes. This is how sin progresses, and destroys a person. Its end is shame for all eternity.