1 Maccabees 5:9-13: a reflection

9The Gentiles who were in Gilead gathered themselves together against the Israelites who were on their borders, to destroy them. They fled to the stronghold of Dathema, 10and sent letters to Judas and his kindred, saying, “The Gentiles who are around us are gathered together against us to destroy us. 11They are preparing to come and get possession of the stronghold where we fled for refuge, and Timotheus is the leader of their army. 12Now therefore come and deliver us from their hand, for many of us have fallen. 13All our kindred who were in the land of Tubias have been put to death. They have carried their wives, their children, and their stuff into captivity. They destroyed about a thousand men there.”

In this account, the people of God living in Gilead are surrounded and hard pressed by hostile forces determined to destroy them. Many of their kindred have already been killed. In their distress, they do the right thing: they send an urgent plea for help to Judas and their brethren, Come and deliver us from their hand, for many of us have fallen. They do not try to face the danger alone; they call on their brethren for help.

Notice two things in this plea. First, that those in danger were right to ask for help; they did not let pride or self-reliance keep them from calling on their brethren when they were overwhelmed. And second, that the plea was a call to their brethren to come to their aid, to leave their own concerns and go to rescue those in distress. The situation called both for the humility to ask for help, and for the readiness of others to answer the call.

Both are worth taking to heart. When we are overwhelmed, in danger or distress beyond our own strength, there is no shame in calling for help; the humility to ask others to come to our aid is right, not weak. And when others call on us for help, we are to be ready to answer, to bear one another's burdens, to come to the aid of those in distress. Do not let pride keep you from asking for help when you are overwhelmed; and do not turn a deaf ear when others call on you for aid. God means his people to help one another, both by asking and by answering. When you are hard pressed, call for help; and when others are, go to their aid. Bear one another's burdens, both in the asking and in the answering.

Lord, when your people in Gilead were surrounded and hard pressed, they sent an urgent plea to their brethren, come and deliver us, for many of us have fallen; they did not try to face the danger alone, but called for help. Teach me from both sides of that plea. When I am overwhelmed, in danger or distress beyond my own strength, help me see that there is no shame in calling for help; the humility to ask others to come to my aid is right, not weak. And when others call on me for help, help me be ready to answer, to bear their burdens, to come to the aid of those in distress. Keep pride from stopping me from asking for help when I am overwhelmed; and keep me from turning a deaf ear when others call on me. You mean your people to help one another, both by asking and by answering. When I am hard pressed, help me call for help; and when others are, help me go to their aid. Let me bear others' burdens, both in the asking and in the answering.