Context No. 3459 of 4322 · 2 Maccabees

2 Maccabees 14:31-36: in context

31But the other, when he became aware that he had been bravely defeated by the strategy of Judas, came to the great and holy temple, while the priests were offering the usual sacrifices, and commanded them to hand over the man. 32When they declared with oaths that they had no knowledge where the man was whom he sought, 33he stretched out his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this oath: “If you won’t deliver up to me Judas as a prisoner, I will level this temple of God even with the ground, break down the altar, and I will erect here a temple to Dionysus for all to see. 34And having said this, he departed. But the priests, stretching forth their hands toward heaven, called upon him who always fights for our nation, in these words: 35“You, O Lord of the universe, who in yourself have need of nothing, were well pleased that a sanctuary of your habitation should be set among us. 36So now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been recently cleansed.”

The enemy commander Nicanor, thwarted in his pursuit of Judas, comes to the temple and issues a blasphemous threat: hand over Judas, or I will level this house of God to the ground and build here a temple to a pagan god for all to see. Faced with a threat to their holy place they cannot meet with force, the priests do the one thing they can.

They pray. Stretching out their hands to heaven, they call on the God who has always fought for their nation: O Lord of all, who need nothing, keep undefiled forever this house that has just been cleansed. What is striking is that against a threat beyond their power to resist, the priests turn straight to prayer, appealing to God to defend his own house and his own honor. When we face threats we cannot meet with our own strength, especially against what is sacred, the recourse of faith is to bring it to God, who is well able to defend his own name and his own people, and who invites us to call on him.

When I face threats I cannot meet with my own strength, do I turn, like the priests, to prayer, appealing to God to defend what is his?

Sources

2 Maccabees 14:34: "The priests, stretching forth their hands toward heaven, called upon him who always fights for our nation."
2 Maccabees 14:36: "So now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been recently cleansed."
Psalm 74:22: "Arise, God! Plead your own cause."