1 Maccabees 2:61-70: a reflection

61“Thus consider from generation to generation that no one who put their trust in him will lack for strength. 62Don’t be afraid of the words of a sinful man; for his glory will be dung and worms. 63Today he will be lifted up, and tomorrow he will in no way be found, because he has returned to dust, and his thought has perished. 64You, my children, be strong, and show yourselves men on behalf of the law; for in it you will obtain glory. 65Behold, Simon your brother, whom I know to be a man of counsel. Always listen to him. He shall be a father to you. 66Judas Maccabaeus has been strong and mighty from his youth. He shall be your captain and shall fight the battle of the people. 67Rally around all the doers of the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. 68Repay the Gentiles, and obey the commandments of the law.” 69He blessed them, and was gathered to his ancestors. 70He died in the one hundred forty sixth year, and his sons buried him in the tombs of his ancestors at Modin. All Israel made great lamentation for him.

In his dying charge, Mattathias assures his sons that no one who trusts in God will lack strength, and that they need not fear the boasting of the wicked, whose glory soon turns to dust. Consider from generation to generation, he says, that no one who put their trust in him will lack for strength. Don't be afraid of the words of a sinful man; for his glory will be dung and worms. Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he is not to be found. Mattathias, dying, encourages his sons with two truths: first, that those who trust in God will not lack strength, for God supplies strength to those who trust him; and second, that they need not fear the threats and boasting of the wicked, whose seeming glory is fleeting, lifted up today and gone tomorrow, returned to dust. This shows that those who trust God will not lack strength, and need not fear the fleeting glory of the wicked. Those who trust God will not lack strength. Do not fear the boasting of the wicked, whose glory soon turns to dust. The seeming glory of the wicked is fleeting; God's strength endures. Trust God, and do not be intimidated by the threats of the wicked.

Notice the two encouragements Mattathias gives his sons as he dies. First, he assures them from all history that no one who trusts in God will lack strength; God supplies strength to those who put their trust in him, generation after generation. Those who trust God are not left to their own inadequate resources, but find that God gives them strength for what they face. Second, he tells them not to fear the words, the threats and boasting, of the wicked; for the wicked man's seeming glory is fleeting: lifted up today, gone tomorrow, returned to dust, his thoughts perished. The wicked may seem imposing and threatening for a time, but their glory does not last. These two truths steady the heart against fear. When we face threats, opposition, or the boasting of those who do wrong, we can be intimidated, made afraid, feeling weak against them. But Mattathias's double encouragement holds: those who trust God will not lack strength, for God supplies it; and the seeming glory and menace of the wicked is fleeting, soon gone, not to be feared as though it were lasting. We need not be intimidated by the threats and boasting of the wicked, whose glory turns to dust, but can trust God, who gives strength to those who trust him. We do well to trust God, who gives strength to those who trust him, and not to fear the fleeting glory and threats of the wicked. Trust God, who gives strength to those who trust him. Do not fear the boasting of the wicked, whose glory soon turns to dust. The menace of the wicked is fleeting; God's strength endures. Be steadied against fear by God's strength and the wicked's passing glory.

That is worth taking to heart, for those who trust God will not lack strength, and we need not fear the fleeting glory of the wicked, as Mattathias charged his sons. We can be intimidated by the threats and boasting of the wicked; but Mattathias assured his sons that those who trust God will not lack strength, and the wicked's glory soon turns to dust. Trust God. When you face the threats or boasting of the wicked, do not be intimidated; trust God, who gives strength to those who trust him, and remember that the wicked's glory is fleeting. Trust God, who gives strength to those who trust him, and do not fear the threats and boasting of the wicked, whose seeming glory soon turns to dust, as in his dying charge Mattathias assured his sons that no one who trusts in God will lack strength and that they need not fear the words of a sinful man whose glory will be dung and worms, lifted up today and gone tomorrow, returned to dust; for Mattathias, dying, encouraged his sons with two truths, first that those who trust in God will not lack strength since God supplies strength to those who trust him generation after generation, and second that they need not fear the threats and boasting of the wicked whose seeming glory is fleeting, lifted up today and gone tomorrow, so that these two truths steady the heart against fear, since when we face threats, opposition, or the boasting of those who do wrong we can be intimidated and made afraid, feeling weak against them, but Mattathias's double encouragement holds, that those who trust God will not lack strength for God supplies it, and the seeming glory and menace of the wicked is fleeting and soon gone, not to be feared as though lasting, so that we need not be intimidated by the wicked whose glory turns to dust but can trust God who gives strength to those who trust him, and we do well to do so.

Lord, in his dying charge, Mattathias assures his sons that no one who trusts in you will lack strength, and that they need not fear the boasting of the wicked, whose glory soon turns to dust. Consider from generation to generation, he says, that no one who put their trust in him will lack for strength. Don't be afraid of the words of a sinful man; for his glory will be dung and worms. Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he is not to be found. Mattathias, dying, encourages his sons with two truths: first, that those who trust in you will not lack strength, for you supply strength to those who trust you; and second, that they need not fear the threats and boasting of the wicked, whose seeming glory is fleeting, lifted up today and gone tomorrow. Show me the two encouragements Mattathias gives his sons. First, he assures them that no one who trusts in you will lack strength; you supply strength to those who trust you, generation after generation. Those who trust you are not left to their own inadequate resources, but find that you give them strength for what they face. Second, he tells them not to fear the threats and boasting of the wicked; for the wicked man's seeming glory is fleeting: lifted up today, gone tomorrow, returned to dust. The wicked may seem imposing for a time, but their glory does not last. These two truths steady the heart against fear. When I face threats, opposition, or the boasting of those who do wrong, I can be intimidated, made afraid, feeling weak against them. But this double encouragement holds: those who trust you will not lack strength, for you supply it; and the seeming glory of the wicked is fleeting, soon gone. Take that to my heart. When I face the threats or boasting of the wicked, keep me from being intimidated; help me trust you, Lord, who give strength to those who trust you, and remember that the wicked's glory soon turns to dust, so that I am steadied against fear by your strength and their passing glory.