Context No. 3527 of 4322 · 1 Maccabees

1 Maccabees 15:22-31: in context

22He wrote the same things to King Demetrius, to Attalus, to Arathes, to Arsaces, 23to all the countries, to Sampsames, to the Spartans, to Delos, to Myndos, to Sicyon, to Caria, to Samos, to Pamphylia, to Lycia, to Halicarnassus, to Rhodes, to Phaselis, to Cos, to Side, to Aradus, Gortyna, Cnidus, Cyprus, and Cyrene. 24They also wrote this copy to Simon the high priest. 25But King Antiochus encamped against Dor the second day, bringing his forces up to it continually, and making engines of war; and he shut up Tryphon from going in or out. 26Simon sent him two thousand chosen men to fight on his side, with silver, gold, and instruments of war in abundance. 27He would not receive them, but nullified all the covenants which he had made with him before, and was estranged from him. 28He sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to confer with him, saying, “You hold possession of Joppa, Gazara, and the citadel that is in Jerusalem, cities of my kingdom. 29You have devastated their territory, and done great harm in the land, and control many places in my kingdom. 30Now therefore hand over the cities which you have taken, and the tributes of the places which you have taken control of outside of the borders of Judea; 31or else give me for them five hundred talents of silver; and for the harm that you have done, and the tributes of the cities, another five hundred talents. Otherwise we will come and subdue you.”

Simon the high priest has won recognition and goodwill from many nations, with letters written on his behalf. But then King Antiochus, once an ally, turns against him and makes harsh demands: hand over the cities and tribute, or pay an enormous sum, and he threatens war. When Simon generously sends help, the king refuses it and breaks all the agreements he had made before.

It is a bitter lesson in the fickleness of political alliances and worldly favor. Yesterday's ally becomes today's threat; agreements are broken the moment they turn inconvenient; even generous help is spurned when ambition and greed take over. Those who build their security on the shifting favor of those in power will find it can turn overnight. There is wisdom in not trusting too deeply in worldly alliances and the goodwill of the great, which can reverse without warning, but in anchoring our security instead in God, whose faithfulness does not change and cannot be revoked.

Where am I tempted to rest my security on the shifting favor of the powers of this world, and do I anchor my trust instead in God, whose faithfulness does not turn overnight?

Sources

1 Maccabees 15:27: "He would not receive them, but nullified all the covenants which he had made with him before, and was estranged from him."
1 Maccabees 15:29: "You have devastated their territory, and done great harm in the land, and control many places in my kingdom."
Psalm 146:3: "Don't put your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no help."