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Context No. 1784 of 4322 · 1 Maccabees

Context · Reflection

1 Maccabees 11:20-29: in context

20In those days Jonathan gathered together the Judeans to take the citadel that was at Jerusalem. He made many engines of war to use against it. 21Some lawless men who hated their own nation went to the king and reported to him that Jonathan was besieging the citadel. 22He heard, and was angry, but when he heard it, he set out immediately, and came to Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan, that he should not besiege it, and that he should meet him and speak with him at Ptolemais with all speed. 23But when Jonathan heard this, he gave orders to continue the siege. He chose some of the elders of Israel and of the priests, and put himself in peril 24by taking silver, gold, clothing, and various other presents, and went to Ptolemais to the king. Then he found favor in his sight. 25Some lawless men of those who were of the nation made complaints against him, 26and the king did to him even as his predecessors had done to him, and exalted him in the sight of all his friends, 27and confirmed to him the high priesthood, and all the other honors that he had before, and gave him preeminence among his chief friends. 28And Jonathan requested of the king that he would make Judea free from tribute, along with the three provinces and the country of Samaria, and promised him three hundred talents. 29The king consented, and wrote letters to Jonathan concerning all these things as follows:

Jonathan is besieging the enemy citadel in Jerusalem when lawless men, opponents from among his own nation, go to the king to accuse him. The king, angered, summons Jonathan to answer for himself. Rather than abandon his work or flee, Jonathan keeps the siege going, gathers elders and priests, and goes directly to the king at great personal risk, bearing gifts. He finds favor in the king's sight; and though more accusers of his own people rise against him, the king honors him and confirms him in his office.

What stands out in Jonathan's response is his willingness to face the danger directly. Accused before the king by opponents from his own nation, and summoned to answer, he does not run, and he does not cower; he puts himself at risk and goes straight to the king to face the matter head-on. He walks into the very place of danger, into the presence of the angered ruler, to answer the accusation directly rather than avoiding it. And he finds favor. There is a lesson here about facing our fears and dangers directly rather than fleeing or hiding from them. When we are accused, opposed, or summoned to answer for ourselves, the instinct is often to avoid, to flee, to hide, to hope the threat passes. Jonathan did the opposite: he went straight to the source, faced the ruler he had reason to fear, and dealt with the matter directly. Often that is the wiser course. The threat we avoid does not go away; the accusation we hide from festers; the danger we flee pursues us. To face it directly, with courage, is frequently the way through. And Jonathan did not go merely in his own strength; he took counsel, took the risk deliberately, and, the text implies, trusted God with the outcome, and God granted him favor. When a man's ways please the LORD, the proverb says, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. This is not recklessness, but courage: to walk toward the danger we might be tempted to flee, to face the accusation or the threat directly, trusting God to grant favor and to bring us through, rather than hiding from what we must eventually face.

When I am accused, opposed, or summoned to face something I fear, do I flee, avoid, and hide, hoping the threat will pass, or can I do as Jonathan did, facing the danger directly and with courage, trusting God to grant favor and bring me through what I might be tempted to run from?

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