Context No. 3744 of 4322 · 1 Maccabees

1 Maccabees 2:61-70: in context

61“Thus consider from generation to generation that no one who put their trust in him will lack for strength. 62Don’t be afraid of the words of a sinful man; for his glory will be dung and worms. 63Today he will be lifted up, and tomorrow he will in no way be found, because he has returned to dust, and his thought has perished. 64You, my children, be strong, and show yourselves men on behalf of the law; for in it you will obtain glory. 65Behold, Simon your brother, whom I know to be a man of counsel. Always listen to him. He shall be a father to you. 66Judas Maccabaeus has been strong and mighty from his youth. He shall be your captain and shall fight the battle of the people. 67Rally around all the doers of the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. 68Repay the Gentiles, and obey the commandments of the law.” 69He blessed them, and was gathered to his ancestors. 70He died in the one hundred forty sixth year, and his sons buried him in the tombs of his ancestors at Modin. All Israel made great lamentation for him.

The dying Mattathias gathers his sons and gives them a charge rooted in the long memory of God's faithfulness: consider the generations, he says, and see that none who trust in God will lack strength. He urges them not to fear the threats of a proud and sinful man, whose glory today will be dung and worms tomorrow, but to be strong and courageous for God's law.

Two truths anchor his charge. God's faithfulness across the generations is a ground for present courage; those who have trusted him have never finally been put to shame, so his sons can trust him too. And the boasting of the wicked is short-lived; the proud man exalted today is gone tomorrow, returned to dust, while those who stand for God endure. When we are tempted to fear the threats of the ungodly, we can remember, as Mattathias urged, that God has never failed those who trust him, and that the pride of the wicked quickly passes.

When I am tempted to fear the threats of the proud and ungodly, do I remember that God has never failed those who trust him, and that the boasting of the wicked quickly comes to nothing?

Sources

1 Maccabees 2:61: "Consider from generation to generation that no one who put their trust in him will lack for strength."
1 Maccabees 2:62-63: "Don't be afraid of the words of a sinful man... Today he will be lifted up, and tomorrow he will in no way be found."
1 Maccabees 2:64: "You, my children, be strong, and show yourselves men on behalf of the law; for in it you will obtain glory."