2 Maccabees 9:19-29: a reflection

19“To the worthy Jewish citizens, Antiochus, king and general, wishes much joy and health and prosperity. 20May you and your children fare well, and may your affairs be as you wish. Having my hope in heaven, 21I remembered with affection your honor and good will. Returning out of the region of Persia, and being taken with an annoying sickness, I deemed it necessary to take thought for the common safety of all, 22not despairing of myself, but having great hope to escape from the sickness. 23But considering that my father also, at the time he led an army into the upper country, appointed his successor, 24to the end that, if anything fell out contrary to expectation, or if any unwelcome tidings were brought, the people in the country, knowing to whom the state had been left, might not be troubled, 25and, moreover, observing how the princes who are along the borders and neighbors to my kingdom watch for opportunities and look for the future event, I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, whom I often entrusted and commended to most of you when I was hurrying to the upper provinces. I have written to him what is written below. 26I therefore urge you and beg you, having in your remembrance the benefits done to you in common and severally, to preserve your present good will, each of you, toward me and my son. 27For I am persuaded that he in gentleness and kindness will follow my purpose and treat you with moderation and kindness. 28So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the most intense sufferings, even as he had dealt with other men, ended his life among the mountains by a most piteous fate in a strange land. 29Philip his foster brother took the body home and then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he withdrew himself to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.

This passage records the miserable end of Antiochus, a cruel and arrogant tyrant who had dealt savagely with others, and who now, struck down by a terrible sickness, dies wretchedly in a strange land. The account draws the connection plainly: the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the most intense sufferings, even as he had dealt with other men, ended his life by a most piteous fate. The one who had dealt cruelly with others came at last to suffer himself; his arrogance and cruelty reaped, in the end, their own harvest.

Notice the reckoning: the one who dealt cruelly with others was himself brought low, reaping what he had sown. Antiochus had been arrogant and cruel, dealing savagely with others, exalting himself; and in the end he was brought low, suffering as he had made others suffer, dying wretchedly. His cruelty and pride did not go on forever unanswered; they reaped, at last, their own harvest. The arrogant tyrant who had brought low so many was himself brought low; what he had sown in cruelty and pride, he reaped. The reckoning came.

That sober reckoning is worth taking to heart, as a warning against pride and cruelty. We may not be tyrants like Antiochus, but pride and cruelty in any measure sow a harvest we will reap. The arrogant heart that exalts itself, the cruelty that deals harshly with others, do not go unanswered forever; they reap, in time, their own harvest, as Antiochus reaped his. Do not sow pride and cruelty, exalting yourself and dealing harshly with others, as though there were no reckoning; what is sown is reaped, as the arrogant and cruel Antiochus was brought low and suffered as he had made others suffer. Guard your heart against pride and cruelty, sowing instead humility and kindness, mindful that pride and cruelty reap their own harvest, as the arrogant tyrant who had brought low so many came at last to a wretched end, reaping what he had sown.

Lord, this passage records the miserable end of Antiochus, a cruel and arrogant tyrant who had dealt savagely with others, and who now, struck down by a terrible sickness, dies wretchedly in a strange land. The account draws the connection plainly: the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the most intense sufferings, even as he had dealt with other men, ended his life by a most piteous fate. The one who had dealt cruelly with others came at last to suffer himself; his arrogance and cruelty reaped, in the end, their own harvest. Show me the reckoning: the one who dealt cruelly with others was himself brought low, reaping what he had sown. Antiochus had been arrogant and cruel, exalting himself; and in the end he was brought low, suffering as he had made others suffer. His cruelty and pride did not go on forever unanswered; they reaped, at last, their own harvest. Take that sober reckoning to my heart, as a warning against pride and cruelty. I may not be a tyrant like Antiochus, but pride and cruelty in any measure sow a harvest I will reap. The arrogant heart that exalts itself, the cruelty that deals harshly with others, do not go unanswered forever. Keep me from sowing pride and cruelty, exalting myself and dealing harshly with others, as though there were no reckoning; what is sown is reaped. Help me guard my heart against pride and cruelty, Lord, sowing instead humility and kindness, mindful that pride and cruelty reap their own harvest.