2 Maccabees 4:30-38: a reflection

30Now while this was the state of things, it came to pass that the people of Tarsus and Mallus revolted because they were to be given as a present to Antiochis, the king’s concubine. 31The king therefore quickly came to settle matters, leaving for his deputy Andronicus, a man of high rank. 32Then Menelaus, supposing that he had gotten a favorable opportunity, presented to Andronicus certain vessels of gold belonging to the temple, which he had stolen. He had already sold others into Tyre and the neighboring cities. 33When Onias had sure knowledge of this, he sharply reproved him, having withdrawn himself into a sanctuary at Daphne, that lies by Antioch. 34Therefore Menelaus, taking Andronicus aside, asked him to kill Onias. Coming to Onias, and being persuaded to use treachery, and being received as a friend, Andronicus gave him his right hand with oaths and, though he was suspicious, persuaded him to come out of the sanctuary. Then, with no regard for justice, he immediately put him to death. 35For this reason not only Jews, but many also of the other nations, had indignation and displeasure at the unjust murder of the man. 36And when the king had come back from the places in Cilicia, the Jews who were in the city appealed to him against Andronicus (the Greeks also joining with them in hatred of the wickedness), urging that Onias had been wrongfully slain. 37Antiochus therefore was heartily sorry, and was moved to pity, and wept, because of the sober and well ordered life of him who was dead. 38Being inflamed with anger, he immediately stripped off Andronicus’s purple robe, and tore off his under garments, and when he had led him round through the whole city to that very place where he had committed the outrage against Onias, there he put the murderer out of the way, the Lord rendering to him the punishment he had deserved.

The good high priest Onias, having exposed the theft of the temple's sacred vessels, is treacherously murdered. Andronicus lures him out of his place of refuge with false oaths and a show of friendship, and then, with no regard for justice, immediately puts him to death. It was a wicked betrayal of a good man. Yet the account does not end there: the murderer is brought to justice, the Lord rendering to him the punishment he had deserved. Even the treachery that seemed to succeed did not escape God's justice; the murderer was repaid in his time.

Notice that the treacherous murder did not escape God's justice. Andronicus had betrayed and killed a good man, and for a time it seemed the wickedness had succeeded, that the murderer had gotten away with it. But God's justice was not absent; in his time, the murderer was brought to account and repaid for his crime. The wrong that seemed to escape was not overlooked by God; the Lord rendered to the murderer the punishment he deserved. God's justice may not be immediate, and wickedness may seem for a time to succeed; but it does not finally escape him, and he repays wrong in his time. The treachery that seemed to triumph was answered by God's justice.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's justice repays wrong in his time, even wrong that seems to escape. We can see wickedness that seems to succeed, treachery and injustice that appear to go unpunished, and can wonder whether wrong will ever be answered; but the murderer of Onias, who seemed to escape, was repaid by God's justice in his time. God's justice is not always immediate, but it is not absent; wrong does not finally escape him. When you see wickedness that seems to succeed, do not conclude that it has escaped justice; God repays wrong in his time, even what seems to escape. Trust that God's justice repays wrong in his time, even the treachery and injustice that seem for a while to succeed, as the murderer of Onias was brought to account and given the punishment he deserved; for wrong does not finally escape God, and though his justice may not be immediate, he repays in his time what seemed to go unpunished.

Lord, the good high priest Onias, having exposed the theft of the temple's sacred vessels, is treacherously murdered. Andronicus lures him out of his place of refuge with false oaths and a show of friendship, and then, with no regard for justice, immediately puts him to death. It was a wicked betrayal of a good man. Yet the account does not end there: the murderer is brought to justice, the Lord rendering to him the punishment he had deserved. Even the treachery that seemed to succeed did not escape your justice. Show me that the treacherous murder did not escape your justice. Andronicus had betrayed and killed a good man, and for a time it seemed the wickedness had succeeded. But your justice was not absent; in your time, the murderer was brought to account and repaid for his crime. The wrong that seemed to escape was not overlooked by you. Your justice may not be immediate, and wickedness may seem for a time to succeed; but it does not finally escape you. Take that to my heart, for your justice repays wrong in your time, even wrong that seems to escape. I can see wickedness that seems to succeed, treachery and injustice that appear to go unpunished, and can wonder whether wrong will ever be answered; but the murderer of Onias, who seemed to escape, was repaid by your justice in your time. When I see wickedness that seems to succeed, keep me from concluding that it has escaped justice; you repay wrong in your time, Lord, even what seems to escape. Help me trust that your justice repays wrong in your time, even the treachery and injustice that seem for a while to succeed.