In today’s devotional (free registration required), Greg Laurie talks about King Herod, and how disturbed he was by what he heard from the wise men of the East.
The word “troubled” used in Matthew 2:3 means, “agitated, stirred up, shaken up.” Herod was shaken. Whenever Herod was stressed out, everyone was stressed out, because when Herod sensed there was a rival to his throne, he would start having people killed. By bitter experience, people knew that if Herod suspected a threat to his power, heads would roll. Literally. Herod viewed the dignitaries’ announcement as a threat to his kingdom. So he sent word to have this so-called King of the Jews killed.
There are a lot of people like Herod today. They will not allow anyone or anything to interfere with their career, their lifestyle, or their plans. They see Jesus as a threat to all of that. They don’t mind celebrating the birth of Jesus, as long as He stays in the manger as a baby. There are OK with God, as long as He stays out their lives. But like Herod, they miss what they have been searching for all along.