2 Maccabees 14:31-36: a reflection

31But the other, when he became aware that he had been bravely defeated by the strategy of Judas, came to the great and holy temple, while the priests were offering the usual sacrifices, and commanded them to hand over the man. 32When they declared with oaths that they had no knowledge where the man was whom he sought, 33he stretched out his right hand toward the sanctuary, and swore this oath: “If you won’t deliver up to me Judas as a prisoner, I will level this temple of God even with the ground, break down the altar, and I will erect here a temple to Dionysus for all to see. 34And having said this, he departed. But the priests, stretching forth their hands toward heaven, called upon him who always fights for our nation, in these words: 35“You, O Lord of the universe, who in yourself have need of nothing, were well pleased that a sanctuary of your habitation should be set among us. 36So now, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been recently cleansed.”

When an enemy threatens to destroy the temple unless the priests hand over Judas, the priests, unable to comply, turn to God in prayer, entrusting the threatened holy place to him who they trust will defend it. They stretched forth their hands toward heaven, the account says, and called upon him who always fights for our nation, praying, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been recently cleansed. Faced with a threat they could not avert by their own power, the priests did not despair or comply with a wrong demand; they turned to God, entrusting the threatened temple to his protection, trusting him to defend what was his. This shows entrusting to God in prayer what is precious and threatened, trusting him to defend it. When what is precious is threatened, entrust it to God in prayer. The priests turned the threatened temple over to God's protection. Entrust to God what you cannot defend by your own power. Turn to God when what is sacred and precious is threatened.

Notice what the priests did when faced with the threat. An enemy threatened to destroy the temple, the holy place, unless they betrayed Judas into his hands, a demand they could not rightly meet. They had no power to avert the threat themselves; they could not defend the temple against him. But they did not despair, nor did they comply with the wrong demand to save themselves. Instead, they turned to God in prayer, stretching out their hands to heaven, entrusting the threatened temple to God who they trusted would defend his own holy place. They committed what was precious and threatened into God's hands, trusting his protection. This is instructive for us when what is precious to us is threatened and we cannot defend it by our own power. We can despair, or we can compromise what is right to try to save it ourselves. But the priests show another way: to turn to God in prayer, entrusting the threatened precious thing to him, trusting him to defend and protect it. When we cannot protect what is precious by our own power, we can commit it into God's hands, trusting his care and protection. To entrust to God in prayer what we cannot defend ourselves is faith. Entrust to God what is precious and threatened, trusting his protection. When you cannot defend what is precious, turn to God in prayer. Commit into God's hands what you cannot protect by your own power. Do not despair or compromise; entrust the threatened thing to God.

That is worth taking to heart, for when what is precious to us is threatened and beyond our power to defend, we can entrust it to God in prayer, trusting his protection, as the priests entrusted the threatened temple to God. We can despair when what is precious is threatened, or compromise what is right to try to save it ourselves; but the priests turned to God, committing the threatened temple into his hands, trusting him who fights for his people. Entrust what you cannot defend to God. When what is precious to you is threatened and beyond your power, do not despair or compromise; turn to God in prayer, entrusting it to his protection. When what is precious to you is threatened and beyond your power to defend, entrust it to God in prayer, trusting his protection, as the priests, when an enemy threatened to destroy the temple unless they handed over Judas, a demand they could not rightly meet, did not despair or comply but stretched out their hands to heaven and called upon God who always fights for his people, praying that he would keep undefiled the holy house; for faced with a threat they could not avert by their own power, they turned to God and committed the threatened temple into his hands, trusting him to defend what was his, which is instructive for us when what is precious to us is threatened and we cannot defend it ourselves, since we can despair or compromise what is right to try to save it, but the priests show another way, to turn to God in prayer and entrust the threatened precious thing to him, trusting his protection, so that when we cannot protect what is precious by our own power we can commit it into God's hands, trusting his care.

Lord, when an enemy threatens to destroy the temple unless the priests hand over Judas, the priests, unable to comply, turn to you in prayer, entrusting the threatened holy place to you who they trust will defend it. They stretched forth their hands toward heaven, the account says, and called upon you who always fight for your people, praying, O holy Lord of all holiness, keep undefiled forever this house that has been recently cleansed. Faced with a threat they could not avert by their own power, the priests did not despair or comply with a wrong demand; they turned to you, entrusting the threatened temple to your protection, trusting you to defend what was yours. This shows entrusting to you in prayer what is precious and threatened. Show me what the priests did when faced with the threat. An enemy threatened to destroy the holy place unless they betrayed Judas, a demand they could not rightly meet. They had no power to avert the threat themselves. But they did not despair, nor did they comply with the wrong demand to save themselves. Instead, they turned to you in prayer, entrusting the threatened temple to you who they trusted would defend your own holy place. They committed what was precious and threatened into your hands. This is instructive for me when what is precious to me is threatened and I cannot defend it by my own power. I can despair, or I can compromise what is right to try to save it myself. But the priests show another way: to turn to you in prayer, entrusting the threatened precious thing to you, trusting you to defend it. Take that to my heart, for when what is precious to me is threatened and beyond my power, I can entrust it to you in prayer. When what is precious to me is threatened and beyond my power to defend, keep me from despairing or compromising; help me turn to you in prayer, Lord, entrusting it to your protection, committing into your hands what I cannot protect by my own power, trusting your care.