2 Maccabees 11:27-33: a reflection

27And to the nation, the king’s letter was as follows: “King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greetings. 28If you are all well, it is as we desire. We ourselves also are in good health. 29Menelaus informed us that your desire was to return home and follow your own business. 30They therefore who depart home up to the thirtieth day of Xanthicus shall have our friendship, with full permission 31that the Jews use their own foods and observe their own laws, even as formerly. None of them shall be in any way molested for the things that have been done in ignorance. 32Moreover I have sent Menelaus also, that he may encourage you. 33Farewell. Written in the one hundred forty-eighth year, on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.”

In the midst of a time of great pressure on God's people, when their faith and freedom to worship were under attack, a letter arrives from the king granting them a reprieve: permission to return home, to use their own customs, and to observe their own laws, even as before. It is a diplomatic document, sent for the king's own reasons; and yet through it comes a real mercy to God's people, a breathing space, a restoration of the freedom to live and worship as they should. God is able to work even through the decrees of worldly rulers, who act from their own motives, to bring good to his people. The reprieve did not come from a friend of God but from a worldly authority; yet it served God's people for good. God's providence reaches even into the decisions of worldly powers, turning them, in his time, to the good of his own. What a ruler grants for his own reasons, God can use for his people's good.

Notice how good came to God's people here: through the decree of a worldly ruler, acting for his own reasons. The king's letter was no act of piety; it was a political calculation. Yet through it came a real reprieve for God's people, freedom to worship and live by their own laws restored. This shows that God's providence is not limited to working through the faithful; he can work even through the decrees of worldly authorities, who act from their own motives, to bring good to his people. The powers of the world are not outside God's reach; he can turn even their self-interested decisions to the good of his own. This is a comfort when God's people are at the mercy of worldly powers: those powers are not the final word, and God can work through them, even against their intent, for good. What the world's rulers decide for their own ends, God can bend to serve his people. God's hand is not tied by the motives of worldly authorities.

That is worth resting in, for God can work even through the decrees of worldly authorities for his people's good. When we are at the mercy of worldly powers that do not know or love God, we can feel our good depends entirely on their favor; but God brought a reprieve to his people through a king's self-interested decree, turning even a worldly authority to their good. God's providence reaches into the decisions of worldly powers; he can work through them, even against their intent, for the good of his own. When you feel at the mercy of worldly powers, remember that God can work even through them for your good. Rest in the truth that God can work even through the decrees of worldly authorities for his people's good, as he brought a reprieve to his people through a king's self-interested letter granting them freedom to keep their own laws; for the powers of the world are not outside God's reach, and he can turn even their self-interested decisions, made for their own reasons, to the good of his own, so that when we are at the mercy of worldly powers, they are not the final word, and God's providence can work through them for good.

Lord, in the midst of a time of great pressure on your people, when their faith and freedom to worship were under attack, a letter arrives from the king granting them a reprieve: permission to return home, to use their own customs, and to observe their own laws, even as before. It is a diplomatic document, sent for the king's own reasons; and yet through it comes a real mercy to your people, a breathing space, a restoration of the freedom to live and worship as they should. You are able to work even through the decrees of worldly rulers, who act from their own motives, to bring good to your people. The reprieve did not come from a friend of yours but from a worldly authority; yet it served your people for good. Show me how good came to your people here: through the decree of a worldly ruler, acting for his own reasons. The king's letter was no act of piety; it was a political calculation. Yet through it came a real reprieve for your people. This shows that your providence is not limited to working through the faithful; you can work even through the decrees of worldly authorities to bring good to your people. The powers of the world are not outside your reach; you can turn even their self-interested decisions to the good of your own. Let me rest in that, for you can work even through the decrees of worldly authorities for your people's good. When I am at the mercy of worldly powers that do not know or love you, I can feel my good depends entirely on their favor; but you brought a reprieve to your people through a king's self-interested decree. When I feel at the mercy of worldly powers, help me remember that you can work even through them for my good, Lord, for they are not the final word, and your providence can turn even their self-interested decisions to good.