1 Maccabees 10:46-50: a reflection

46Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no credence to them, and didn’t accept them, because they remembered the great evil which he had done in Israel, and that he had afflicted them very severely. 47They were well pleased with Alexander, because he was the first who spoke words of peace to them, and they were allies with him always. 48King Alexander gathered together great forces and encamped near Demetrius. 49The two kings joined battle, and the army of Alexander fled; and Demetrius followed after him, and prevailed against them. 50He strengthened the battle exceedingly until the sun went down; and Demetrius fell that day.

In the rivalry between two kings for the loyalty of God's people, one of them, Demetrius, sends words of peace and generous promises, hoping to win them over. But the people do not believe him or accept his offers, and the reason is telling: they remembered the great evil he had done in Israel, and how severely he had afflicted them. His pleasant words now could not erase the memory of his harmful deeds then; they judged him by his track record, not by his present promises.

Notice how the people weighed the matter: by deeds, not by words. Demetrius offered fine promises, but the people remembered what he had actually done, the harm he had inflicted, and they were not swayed by his present flattery. They understood that a person's track record, their consistent pattern of actions over time, is a truer guide than their words in the moment, especially when those words serve the speaker's own advantage.

That is a wise principle for weighing whom to trust. Words are easy, and promises are cheap, especially from those who want something from us; but a person's actual track record, what they have consistently done over time, reveals more than their present assurances. This is not cynicism, but discernment: to weigh people by their deeds, not only their words, and to remember that trust is earned by consistent action over time, not bought by flattering promises in the moment. When someone's words and their track record do not match, do not let smooth promises override what their deeds have shown. Weigh people by their consistent actions, as the people weighed Demetrius, and let trust be earned by deeds over time rather than won by words alone.

Lord, when Demetrius sent words of peace and generous promises to win over your people, they were not swayed, for they remembered the great evil he had actually done to them; they judged him by his deeds, not his present words. Give me that wisdom in weighing whom to trust. Words are easy, and promises are cheap, especially from those who want something from me; but a person's actual track record, what they have consistently done over time, reveals more than their present assurances. Keep me from cynicism, but give me discernment: to weigh people by their deeds, not only their words, and to remember that trust is earned by consistent action over time, not bought by flattering promises in the moment. When someone's words and their track record do not match, keep me from letting smooth promises override what their deeds have shown. Help me weigh people wisely, letting trust be earned by deeds over time rather than won by words alone.