Context No. 2857 of 4322 · 2 Maccabees

2 Maccabees 8:1-7: in context

1But Judas, who is also called Maccabaeus, and those who were with him, making their way secretly into the villages, called together their kindred. Enlisting those who had continued in the Jews’ religion, they gathered together about six thousand. 2They called upon the Lord to look at the people who were oppressed by all, and to have compassion on the sanctuary that had been profaned by the ungodly men, 3and to have pity on the city that was suffering ruin and ready to be leveled to the ground, and to listen to the blood that cried out to him, 4and to remember the lawless destruction of the innocent infants, and concerning the blasphemies that had been committed against his name, and to show his hatred of wickedness. 5When Maccabaeus had trained his men for service, the heathen at once found him irresistible, for the wrath of the Lord was turned into mercy. 6Coming without warning, he set fire to cities and villages. And in winning back the most important positions, putting to flight no small number of the enemies, 7he especially took advantage of the nights for such assaults. His courage was loudly talked of everywhere.

After the persecution, Judas Maccabeus moves secretly through the villages and gathers about six thousand who had stayed faithful. And before they lift a weapon, they pray. They call on the Lord to look on the people oppressed by all, to have pity on the sanctuary the ungodly had profaned, to hear the innocent blood crying out to him, and to show his hatred of wickedness.

The turning point is that prayer. Only after crying out for God to see the wrong done do they take up the fight, and the text credits the change to God's wrath turning into mercy toward his people. Their new strength is presented as an answer to prayer, not merely the fruit of good training or tactics. Whatever we make of the warfare of that age, the enduring note is a crushed and desperate people crying to God to see their affliction, and being heard.

When I am oppressed and overwhelmed, do I first cry out for God to see the wrong, before I rush to fix it by my own force?

Sources

2 Maccabees 8:2: "They called upon the Lord... to have compassion on the sanctuary that had been profaned by the ungodly men."
Psalm 9:12: "For he who avenges blood remembers them. He doesn't forget the cry of the afflicted."
Romans 12:19: "Don't seek revenge yourselves... but give place to God's wrath."