2 Maccabees 13:9-17: a reflection

9Now the king, infuriated in spirit, was coming with intent to inflict on the Jews the very worst of the sufferings that had been done in his father’s time. 10But when Judas heard of these things, he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord day and night, if ever at any other time, so now to help those who were at the point of being deprived of the law, their country, and the holy temple, 11and not to allow the people who had just begun to be revived to fall into the hands of those profane heathen. 12So when they had all done the same thing together, begging the merciful Lord with weeping and fastings and prostration for three days without ceasing, Judas exhorted them and commanded they should join him. 13Having consulted privately with the elders, he resolved that before the king’s army entered into Judea and made themselves masters of the city, they should go out and decide the matter by the help of God. 14And committing the decision to the Lord of the world, and exhorting those who were with him to contend nobly even to death for laws, temple, city, country, and way of life, he pitched his camp by Modin. 15He gave out to his men the watchword, “VICTORY IS GOD’S”, with a chosen force of the bravest young men he attacked the king’s pavilion by night, and killed of his army as many as two thousand men, and brought down the leading elephant with him who was in the tower on him. 16At last they filled the army with terror and alarm, and departed with good success. 17This had been accomplished when the day was just dawning, because of the Lord’s protection that gave Judas help.

Facing a great enemy army bent on destroying them, Judas and his people prepare not first with weapons, but with prayer. Judas commands the people to call upon the Lord day and night; and for three days, without ceasing, they beg the merciful Lord with weeping, fasting, and prostration. Then, committing the decision to the Lord of the world, and giving his men the watchword Victory is God's, Judas goes out to battle, and God's protection gives them success.

Notice how they prepared for their great challenge: with earnest, sustained prayer, and by committing the outcome to God. Before they took up arms, they gave themselves to three days of unceasing prayer and fasting, crying out to God for help. And they went into battle with the outcome committed to the Lord, their watchword declaring that the victory was God's, not their own. Their trust was not first in their own strength, but in God, to whom they had committed the whole matter in prayer.

That is a pattern for facing our own great challenges. When we face something daunting, our instinct is to rely first on our own effort and planning; but Judas and his people prepared first with earnest prayer, and committed the outcome to God. Before you throw yourself into your great challenges, give yourself to earnest prayer, and commit the outcome to God, whose the victory is. Do not rely first on your own strength, but seek God earnestly, and entrust the matter to him. Then, having committed it to God, do your part, as Judas went into battle, trusting that the victory belongs to God. Prepare for your challenges with prayer, and commit their outcome to the Lord, in whose hand the victory lies.

Lord, facing a great enemy, Judas and his people prepared not first with weapons but with three days of unceasing prayer and fasting, and went into battle committing the outcome to you, their watchword declaring that the victory was yours. Give me that pattern for my own great challenges. When I face something daunting, my instinct is to rely first on my own effort and planning; but Judas and his people prepared first with earnest prayer, and committed the outcome to you. Before I throw myself into my great challenges, help me give myself to earnest prayer, and commit the outcome to you, whose the victory is. Keep me from relying first on my own strength; help me seek you earnestly, and entrust the matter to you. Then, having committed it to you, help me do my part, trusting that the victory belongs to you. Help me prepare for my challenges with prayer, and commit their outcome to you, in whose hand the victory lies. The victory is yours, Lord.