1 Maccabees 6:1-7: a reflection

1King Antiochus was traveling through the upper countries; and he heard that in Elymais in Persia there was a city renowned for riches, for silver and gold, 2and that the temple which was in it was exceedingly rich, and that in it were golden shields, breastplates, and weapons which Alexander, son of Philip, the Macedonian king, who reigned first among the Greeks, left behind there. 3So he came and tried to take the city and to pillage it; and he was not able, because his plan was known to them of the city, 4and they rose up against him in battle. He fled and returned to Babylon with great disappointment. 5Then someone came into Persia bringing him news that the armies which went against the land of Judah had been put to flight, 6and that Lysias went first with a strong army and was put to shame before them, and that they had grown strong because of weapons, power, and a supply of plunder which they took from the armies that they had cut off, 7and that they had pulled down the abomination which he had built upon the altar that was in Jerusalem, and that they had surrounded the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and also Bethsura, his city.

King Antiochus, who had plundered the temple in Jerusalem and persecuted God's people, tries to plunder another rich temple in Persia; but his plan is discovered, the people rise against him, and he flees in great disappointment. And then worse news reaches him: his armies against Judah have been defeated, the altar he had defiled has been torn down, and God's people have grown strong. The proud persecutor's schemes are unraveling, his plans thwarted, his triumphs undone.

Notice the unraveling of the persecutor's plans. Antiochus had set himself against God's people and God's temple, and had seemed to prosper. But now his schemes fail: he cannot plunder the temple he came for, he flees in disappointment, his armies are defeated, and the sacrilege he committed is undone. The one who had exalted himself against God finds his plans coming to nothing, his triumphs reversed. What he had built against God's people was being torn down.

That unraveling is worth remembering when those who set themselves against God and his people seem to prosper. For a time, the proud and the persecutors may seem to succeed, their schemes advancing, their power growing. But those who set themselves against God do not finally prosper; their schemes, like Antiochus's, come to nothing in the end, their triumphs reversed. When you see those who oppose God and his people seeming to prosper, do not be dismayed or envious; their success is not the end of the story. God is able to thwart the schemes of the proud and undo what they build against him, as he undid Antiochus's. What is built against God does not finally stand; trust that those who set themselves against him, however they seem to prosper now, will find their schemes, like Antiochus's, coming to nothing in the end.

Lord, King Antiochus, who had plundered your temple and persecuted your people, found his schemes unraveling: he failed to plunder another temple, fled in disappointment, his armies were defeated, and the altar he had defiled was torn down. Help me remember that unraveling when those who set themselves against you and your people seem to prosper. For a time, the proud and the persecutors may seem to succeed, their schemes advancing, their power growing. But those who set themselves against you do not finally prosper; their schemes, like Antiochus's, come to nothing in the end, their triumphs reversed. When I see those who oppose you and your people seeming to prosper, keep me from being dismayed or envious; their success is not the end of the story. You are able to thwart the schemes of the proud and undo what they build against you, as you undid Antiochus's. What is built against you does not finally stand; help me trust that those who set themselves against you, however they seem to prosper now, will find their schemes coming to nothing in the end. I trust you to overturn what is built against you, Lord.