2 Maccabees 10:24-28: a reflection

24Now Timotheus, who had been defeated by the Jews before, having gathered together foreign forces in great multitudes, and having collected the cavalry which belonged to Asia, not a few, came as though he would take Judea by force of weapons. 25But as he drew near, Maccabaeus and his men sprinkled dirt on their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God, 26and falling down upon the step in front of the altar, implored him to become gracious to them, and be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares. 27Rising from their prayer they took up their weapons, and advanced some distance from the city. When they had come near to their enemies, they halted. 28When the dawn was now breaking, the two armies joined in battle, the one part having this, beside virtue, for a pledge of success and victory, that they had fled to the Lord for refuge, the others making their passion their leader in the fight.

As a large enemy force advances to take Judea by force of arms, Judas Maccabeus and his men do something before they take up their weapons: they sprinkle dirt on their heads, put on sackcloth, and fall down before the altar in prayer, imploring God to be their help. Only then, having first fled to God for refuge, do they rise, take up their weapons, and go out to battle. And the account notes the difference between the two armies: the one had fled to the Lord for refuge; the other made their own fury their leader in the fight.

Notice what Judas and his men did before the battle: they fled to God for refuge in prayer. Faced with a formidable enemy, they did not simply rush to arms, trusting their own strength; they first sought God, humbling themselves before him, imploring his help, fleeing to him for refuge. Only then did they take up their weapons and go out. Their confidence was not in their own fury, as the enemy's was, but in the God to whom they had fled for refuge. They faced the battle having first sought God, and that made the difference.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too face struggles, and the difference lies in whether we first flee to God for refuge. When we face a struggle, a difficulty, a battle of our own, we can rush at it in our own strength, trusting our own resources or fury; or we can first flee to God for refuge, seeking his help before we act. Judas and his men fled to God first, and faced the battle in his strength. When you face a struggle, do not simply rush at it in your own strength; first flee to God for refuge, seeking his help in prayer, as Judas and his men fell before the altar before taking up their weapons. Face your battles having first sought God for refuge, rather than trusting your own strength or fury, as Judas and his men fled to the Lord before the fight, and their confidence rested in him rather than in themselves.

Lord, as a large enemy force advances to take Judea by force of arms, Judas Maccabeus and his men do something before they take up their weapons: they sprinkle dirt on their heads, put on sackcloth, and fall down before the altar in prayer, imploring you to be their help. Only then, having first fled to you for refuge, do they rise, take up their weapons, and go out to battle. And the account notes the difference between the two armies: the one had fled to you for refuge; the other made their own fury their leader in the fight. Show me what Judas and his men did before the battle: they fled to you for refuge in prayer. Faced with a formidable enemy, they did not simply rush to arms, trusting their own strength; they first sought you, imploring your help. Only then did they go out. Their confidence was not in their own fury, but in you. They faced the battle having first sought you, and that made the difference. Take that to my heart, for I too face struggles, and the difference lies in whether I first flee to you for refuge. When I face a struggle, I can rush at it in my own strength, trusting my own resources or fury; or I can first flee to you for refuge, seeking your help before I act. When I face a struggle, keep me from simply rushing at it in my own strength; help me first flee to you for refuge, seeking your help in prayer, Lord, as Judas and his men fell before the altar before taking up their weapons. Help me face my battles having first sought you.