1 Maccabees 9:7-13: a reflection

7Judas saw that his army slipped away and that the battle pressed upon him, and he was very troubled in spirit, because he had no time to gather them together, and he became faint. 8He said to those who were left, “Let’s arise and go up against our adversaries, if perhaps we may be able to fight with them.” 9They tried to dissuade him, saying, “There is no way we are able; but let’s rather save our lives now. Let’s return again with our kindred, and fight against them; but we are too few.” 10Judas said, “Let it not be so that I should do this thing, to flee from them. If our time has come, let’s die in a manly way for our kindred’s sake, and not leave a cause of reproach against our honor.” 11The army marched out from the camp, and stood to encounter them. The cavalry was divided into two companies, and the slingers and the archers went before the army, and all the mighty men that fought in the front of the battle. 12Bacchides was in the right wing. The phalanx advanced on the two parts, and they blew with their trumpets. 13The men by Judas’ side sounded with their trumpets, and the earth shook with the shout of the armies, and the battle was joined, and continued from morning until evening.

Judas Maccabeus finds himself deserted by most of his army, badly outnumbered, facing a battle he can hardly win. Those who remain urge him to flee and save himself, to fight another day. But Judas refuses: Far be it from me to flee from them. If our time has come, let us die honorably for our kindred's sake, and not stain our honor. He chose to stand and face the battle, even at the cost of his life, rather than flee and abandon his duty out of fear.

Notice Judas's resolve: he would not flee, even to save his life, but stood firm, choosing honor and duty over self-preservation. Outnumbered and deserted, he had every human reason to flee; and his men urged it. But he would not abandon his duty or stain his honor by fleeing; he chose to stand, even facing death, for the sake of his people. His was a courage that valued honor and duty above his own safety, refusing to flee even when fleeing would have been the safer course.

That kind of courage, standing firm at cost rather than fleeing out of fear, is worth admiring, and, in its measure, imitating. There are times when duty, loyalty, or what is right calls us to stand firm at real cost, when fleeing or abandoning our post would be easier and safer. And we can be tempted, out of fear or self-interest, to flee, to abandon what we should stand for. But Judas stood firm, valuing his duty and honor above his own safety. When standing firm for what is right, or faithful to your duty, is costly, and fleeing would be easier and safer, do not abandon your post out of fear; stand firm, as Judas stood, valuing faithfulness above self-preservation. It is not always right to flee to safety; sometimes faithfulness requires standing firm at cost. Do not let fear or self-interest make you abandon what you should stand for; be willing, like Judas, to stand firm at cost, valuing faithfulness and duty above your own safety, rather than fleeing when you are called to stand.

Lord, Judas Maccabeus, deserted by most of his army and badly outnumbered, refused to flee, saying, far be it from me to flee from them; if our time has come, let us die honorably for our kindred's sake, and not stain our honor. Show me his resolve: he would not flee, even to save his life, but stood firm, choosing honor and duty over self-preservation. That kind of courage is worth admiring, and, in its measure, imitating. There are times when duty, loyalty, or what is right calls me to stand firm at real cost, when fleeing or abandoning my post would be easier and safer. And I can be tempted, out of fear or self-interest, to flee, to abandon what I should stand for. But Judas stood firm, valuing his duty and honor above his own safety. When standing firm for what is right, or faithful to my duty, is costly, and fleeing would be easier and safer, keep me from abandoning my post out of fear; help me stand firm, as Judas stood, valuing faithfulness above self-preservation. It is not always right to flee to safety; sometimes faithfulness requires standing firm at cost. Keep fear or self-interest from making me abandon what I should stand for; make me willing, like Judas, to stand firm at cost, Lord, valuing faithfulness and duty above my own safety.