1 Maccabees 14:1-15: a reflection

1In the one hundred seventy-second year, King Demetrius gathered his forces together, and went into Media to get help, that he might fight against Tryphon. 2When Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius had come into his borders, he sent one of his princes to take him alive. 3He went and struck the army of Demetrius, and seized him and brought him to Arsaces, who put him under guard. 4The land had rest all the days of Simon. He sought the good of his nation. His authority and his honor was pleasing to them all his days. 5Amid all his honors, he took Joppa for a harbor, and made it an entrance for the islands of the sea. 6He enlarged the borders of his nation and took possession of the country. 7He gathered together a great number of captives, and took control of Gazara, Bethsura, and the citadel, and he removed its uncleannesses from it. There was no one who resisted him. 8They tilled their land in peace, and the land gave her increase, and the trees of the plains gave their fruit. 9The old men sat in the streets; they all conversed together about good things. The young men put on glorious and warlike apparel. 10He provided food for the cities and furnished them with means of defense, until the glory of his name was known to the end of the earth. 11He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy. 12Each man sat under his vine and his fig tree, and there was no one to make them afraid. 13No one was left in the land who fought against them. The kings were defeated in those days. 14He strengthened all those of his people who were humble. He searched out the law, and every lawless and wicked person he took away. 15He glorified the sanctuary, and added to the vessels of the temple.

First Maccabees pauses to describe the era of peace under Simon, and it reads like a picture of shalom. The land had rest all his days; he sought the good of his nation; each person sat under his own vine and fig tree with no one to make them afraid; the old men sat in the streets talking of good things; the land yielded its fruit. After long years of war and oppression, there was peace, security, and flourishing, and the text ties it directly to a leader who sought the good of his people.

Notice the connection the passage draws. The peace and flourishing were not accidental; they flowed from leadership devoted to the genuine good of the nation rather than to its own aggrandizement. Simon strengthened the humble among his people, provided for the cities, upheld the law, and the fruit was a whole society at rest, unafraid, fruitful. Good leadership, aimed at others' good, blesses many.

There is both an encouragement and a challenge here. The encouragement: leadership devoted to others' good really does bear fruit, in peace and flourishing that many enjoy; it is worth giving yourself to. The challenge: wherever you have influence, over a family, a team, a community, the question is whether you are seeking your own advancement or the genuine good of those under your care. Simon sought the good of his nation, and many sat unafraid under their vines because of it. Lead, in whatever sphere is yours, by seeking the good of others, and let the fruit of it be peace and flourishing for many.

Lord, under Simon's leadership the people sat unafraid under their vines because he sought the good of his nation. Wherever I have influence, over a family, a team, a community, keep me from seeking my own advancement, and give me a heart to seek the genuine good of those in my care. Let the fruit of it be peace and flourishing for many.