Judith 4:1-8: a reflection

1The children of Israel who lived in Judea heard all that Holofernes the chief captain of Nebuchadnezzar king of the Assyrians had done to the nations, and how he had plundered all their temples and destroyed them utterly. 2They were exceedingly afraid at his approach, and were troubled for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God; 3because they had newly come up from the captivity, and all the people of Judea were recently gathered together; and the vessels, the altar, and the house were sanctified after being profaned. 4And they sent into every coast of Samaria, to Konae, to Beth-horon, Belmaim, Jericho, to Choba, Aesora, and to the valley of Salem; 5and they occupied beforehand all the tops of the high mountains, fortified the villages that were in them, and stored supplies for the provision of war, for their fields were newly reaped. 6Joakim the high priest, who was in those days at Jerusalem, wrote to those who lived in Bethulia and Betomesthaim, which is opposite Esdraelon toward the plain that is near to Dothaim, 7charging them to seize upon the ascents of the hill country; because by them was the entrance into Judea, and it was easy to stop them from approaching, inasmuch as the approach was narrow, with space for two men at the most. 8And the children of Israel did as Joakim the high priest had commanded them, as did the senate of all the people of Israel, which was in session at Jerusalem.

News of a devastating army reaches Judea, and the people are gripped with fear, especially for Jerusalem and the newly restored temple. They had only recently returned from exile and reconsecrated the sanctuary; now it all seems threatened again. Their response is twofold and instructive. They take practical steps, seizing the mountain passes and fortifying the villages, and at the same time they turn to God in urgent prayer.

Notice that they do not choose between action and prayer; they do both. They guard the narrow approaches through which an enemy would have to come, doing what human wisdom requires, and they cry out to the Lord for the temple and the people, knowing that no fortification will save them without him. Faith here is not passive. It works with its hands while it prays with its heart.

This is a healthy pattern for facing your own threats. When trouble approaches, it is not more spiritual to sit still and only pray, nor wiser to scramble into action while forgetting God. Do both, as these people did: take the sensible steps in front of you, and lay the whole matter before the Lord in prayer. Guard the passes and cry out to God, trusting that your true defense is not the strength of your walls but the God you are calling on.

Lord, when threats approach, teach me to do as your people did, to take the sensible steps before me and at the same time to cry out to you. Keep me from a passivity that only waits and a busyness that forgets to pray. Let me work with my hands and trust with my heart, knowing that my real defense is not my walls but you. Amen.