1 Maccabees 4:52-61: a reflection

52They rose up early in the morning, on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month Chislev, in the one hundred forty eighth year, 53and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of burnt offerings which they had made. 54At the time and day the Gentiles had profaned it, even then it was dedicated with songs, harps, lutes, and with cymbals. 55All the people fell on their faces, worshiped, and gave praise toward heaven, which had given them good success. 56They celebrated the dedication of the altar eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 57They decorated the front of the temple with crowns of gold and small shields. They dedicated the gates and the priests’ chambers, and made doors for them. 58There was exceedingly great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. 59Judas and his kindred and the whole congregation of Israel ordained that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their seasons from year to year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev, with gladness and joy. 60At that time, they fortified mount Zion with high walls and strong towers around it, lest perhaps the Gentiles might come and trample them down, as they had done before. 61Judas stationed a garrison to guard it. They fortified Bethsura to keep it, that the people might have a stronghold near Idumaea.

After the temple and its altar had been profaned by their enemies, and then reclaimed and cleansed, God's people celebrated the rededication of the altar with overflowing joy. They offered sacrifice on the new altar, and dedicated it with songs, harps, lutes, and cymbals; all the people fell on their faces and worshiped and gave praise; and they kept the dedication for eight days with gladness and joy, offering sacrifices of deliverance and praise. There was exceedingly great gladness among the people. What had been defiled was restored, and the restoration was met not with grim relief but with exuberant joy, songs and worship and celebration. The rededication of what had been profaned to its holy purpose was a cause of great gladness. When God restores what has been defiled, when worship is renewed after a time of loss, it is fitting to celebrate with joy, songs, and thanksgiving. Restoration and rededication to God are causes of great gladness.

Notice how the people responded to the restoration: with exuberant joy and celebration. The altar that had been profaned was cleansed and rededicated, and the people did not mark this with mere solemn relief; they celebrated with songs and instruments, worship and praise, gladness and joy, for eight days. The restoration of what had been defiled, the renewal of worship after a time of loss, was a cause of great and exuberant gladness. This is fitting: when God restores what has been lost or defiled, when worship is renewed, it is a cause for joy and celebration, not merely quiet relief. There is a gladness proper to restoration, a joy in seeing what was profaned made holy again, what was lost renewed. To celebrate the restoration of God's things with joy and thanksgiving is right and good. When God brings renewal after a time of defilement or loss, gladness and praise are the fitting response. Restoration is worth celebrating with joy.

That is worth taking to heart, for the restoration and rededication of God's things, after a time of defilement or loss, is a cause of great joy and celebration. We can mark the renewal of what has been lost or defiled with mere quiet relief; but the people celebrated the rededication of the altar with exuberant joy, songs, worship, and gladness for eight days. When God restores what has been profaned, when worship is renewed after a time of loss, it is fitting to celebrate with joy and thanksgiving. Do not mark God's restorations with mere solemn relief; celebrate them with joy and praise, as the people celebrated the rededication of the altar. Celebrate the restoration and rededication of God's things with joy, songs, and thanksgiving rather than mere quiet relief, as God's people kept the dedication of the cleansed altar for eight days with exceedingly great gladness, offering sacrifices of deliverance and praise; for when God restores what has been defiled or lost, when worship is renewed after a time of loss, it is a cause of great and fitting joy, and there is a gladness proper to restoration, a joy in seeing what was profaned made holy again, that rightly overflows into songs and praise and thanksgiving to God.

Lord, after the temple and its altar had been profaned by their enemies, and then reclaimed and cleansed, your people celebrated the rededication of the altar with overflowing joy. They offered sacrifice on the new altar, and dedicated it with songs, harps, lutes, and cymbals; all the people fell on their faces and worshiped and gave praise; and they kept the dedication for eight days with gladness and joy. There was exceedingly great gladness among the people. What had been defiled was restored, and the restoration was met not with grim relief but with exuberant joy, songs and worship and celebration. Show me how the people responded to the restoration: with exuberant joy and celebration. The altar that had been profaned was cleansed and rededicated, and the people did not mark this with mere solemn relief; they celebrated with songs and instruments, worship and praise, for eight days. The restoration of what had been defiled, the renewal of worship after a time of loss, was a cause of great and exuberant gladness. This is fitting: when you restore what has been lost or defiled, it is a cause for joy and celebration, not merely quiet relief. There is a gladness proper to restoration, a joy in seeing what was profaned made holy again. Take that to my heart, for the restoration and rededication of your things, after a time of defilement or loss, is a cause of great joy and celebration. I can mark the renewal of what has been lost or defiled with mere quiet relief; but the people celebrated the rededication of the altar with exuberant joy. Keep me from marking your restorations with mere solemn relief; help me celebrate them with joy and praise, Lord, as the people celebrated the rededication of the altar with exceedingly great gladness, offering sacrifices of deliverance and praise.