Judith 14:6-10: a reflection

6And they called Achior out of the house of Ozias; but when he came, and saw the head of Holofernes in a man’s hand in the assembly of the people, he fell upon his face, and his spirit failed. 7But when they had recovered him, he fell at Judith’s feet, bowed down to her, and said, “Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every nation, those who hear your name will be troubled. 8Now tell me all the things that you have done in these days.” And Judith declared to him in the midst of the people all the things that she had done, from the day that she went out until the time that she spoke to them. 9But when she finished speaking, the people shouted with a loud voice, and made a joyful noise in their city. 10But when Achior saw all the things that the God of Israel had done, he believed in God exceedingly, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the house of Israel, to this day.

In the account of Judith, a man named Achior, who was not of Israel, sees with his own eyes what the God of Israel has done in delivering his people, and it brings him to faith. When Achior saw all the things that the God of Israel had done, the account says, he believed in God exceedingly, and was joined to the house of Israel. Achior had heard about the God of Israel; but when he saw what God had actually done, delivering his people, his belief became firm and wholehearted, and he joined himself to God's people. Seeing what God had done led Achior, an outsider, to real faith. This shows how witnessing what God has done can lead people to faith: Achior saw God's work and believed exceedingly. The evident acts of God, seen and recognized, can move even an outsider to wholehearted faith and to join himself to God's people. What God does, when it is seen and recognized, can bring people to believe in him. Seeing God's works can lead to faith; Achior saw and believed exceedingly.

Notice what brought Achior to faith: seeing what God had done. He was an outsider, not of Israel; but when he saw with his own eyes what the God of Israel had accomplished in delivering his people, he believed in God exceedingly, and joined himself to God's people. His faith was not a vague notion but a wholehearted conviction, born of seeing God's evident acts. This tells us something about how faith can come: through witnessing what God has done, seeing his works and recognizing them as his. Achior did not merely hear about God; he saw what God did, and it brought him to faith. The evident acts of God, when they are seen and recognized for what they are, can move people, even outsiders, to real and wholehearted faith. This encourages us to look for and recognize what God has done, and reminds us that others may be brought to faith by seeing God's work, whether in the world, in his people, or in our own lives. What God does, seen and recognized, can draw people to believe. Achior saw God's deeds and was brought to wholehearted faith. Seeing God's work can open the heart to believe.

That is worth taking to heart, for witnessing what God has done can lead people to faith, as it led Achior to believe exceedingly. We can suppose that faith comes only through argument or persuasion; but Achior, an outsider, was brought to wholehearted faith by seeing what the God of Israel had done. The evident acts of God, seen and recognized, can move people to real faith. This encourages us to recognize and give thanks for what God has done, and to trust that others may be drawn to faith by seeing his work. Do not suppose faith comes only through argument; witnessing what God has done can bring people to believe, as it brought Achior. Trust that witnessing what God has done can lead people to faith, as Achior, an outsider, seeing what the God of Israel had done, believed in God exceedingly and joined himself to God's people; for faith can come not only through argument or persuasion but through seeing and recognizing the evident acts of God, which can move even outsiders to real and wholehearted faith, so that we do well to recognize and give thanks for what God has done and to trust that others too may be drawn to believe by witnessing his work, whether in the world, in his people, or in our own lives.

Lord, in the account of Judith, a man named Achior, who was not of Israel, sees with his own eyes what you, the God of Israel, have done in delivering your people, and it brings him to faith. When Achior saw all the things that the God of Israel had done, the account says, he believed in God exceedingly, and was joined to the house of Israel. Achior had heard about you; but when he saw what you had actually done, delivering your people, his belief became firm and wholehearted, and he joined himself to your people. Seeing what you had done led Achior, an outsider, to real faith. Show me what brought Achior to faith: seeing what you had done. He was an outsider, not of Israel; but when he saw with his own eyes what you had accomplished in delivering your people, he believed in you exceedingly, and joined himself to your people. His faith was not a vague notion but a wholehearted conviction, born of seeing your evident acts. This tells me something about how faith can come: through witnessing what you have done, seeing your works and recognizing them as yours. The evident acts of you, when seen and recognized, can move people, even outsiders, to real and wholehearted faith. This encourages me to look for and recognize what you have done. Take that to my heart, for witnessing what you have done can lead people to faith, as it led Achior to believe exceedingly. I can suppose that faith comes only through argument or persuasion; but Achior, an outsider, was brought to wholehearted faith by seeing what you had done. The evident acts of you, seen and recognized, can move people to real faith. Keep me from supposing faith comes only through argument; help me recognize and give thanks for what you have done, Lord, and trust that others may be drawn to faith by seeing your work, as Achior saw what you had done and believed in you exceedingly.