1 Maccabees 8:1-16: a reflection

1Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are valiant men, and have pleasure in all who join themselves to them, and make friends with all who come to them, 2and that they are valiant men. They told him of their wars and exploits which they do among the Gauls, and how they conquered them, and forced them to pay tribute; 3and what things they did in the land of Spain, that they might take control of the silver and gold mines which were there; 4and how by their policy and persistence they conquered all the place (and the place was exceedingly far from them), and the kings who came against them from the uttermost part of the earth, until they had defeated them, and struck them severely; and how the rest give them tribute year by year. 5Philip, and Perseus, king of Chittim, and those who lifted up themselves against them, they defeated in battle, and conquered them. 6Antiochus also, the great king of Asia, came against them to battle, having one hundred twenty elephants, with cavalry, chariots, and an exceedingly great army, and he was defeated by them. 7They took him alive, and decreed that both he and those who reigned after him should give them a great tribute, and should give hostages, and a parcel of land from the best of their provinces: 8the countries of India, Media, and Lydia. They took them from him, and gave them to King Eumenes. 9Judas heard how the Greeks planned to come and destroy them, 10but this became known to them, and they sent against them a general who fought against them, and many of them fell down wounded to death, and they made captive their wives and their children, and plundered them, and conquered their land, and pulled down their strongholds, and plundered them, and brought them into bondage to this day. 11The remaining kingdoms and islands, as many as rose up against them at any time, they destroyed and made them to be their servants; 12but with their friends and those who relied on them they stayed friends. They conquered the kingdoms that were near and those that were far off, and all that heard of their fame were afraid of them. 13Moreover, whoever they desired to help and to make kings, these they make kings; and whoever they desired, they depose. They are exalted exceedingly. 14For all this, none of them ever put on a crown, neither did they clothe themselves with purple, as a display of grandeur. 15Judas heard how they had made for themselves a senate house, and day by day, three hundred twenty men sat in council, consulting always for the people, to the end they might be well governed, 16and how they commit their government to one man year by year, that he should rule over them, and control all their country, and all are obedient to that one, and there is neither envy nor emulation among them.

Judas hears reports of the Romans and is impressed. He learns of their conquests, their wealth, their disciplined governance, how they subdue kingdom after kingdom, exact tribute from the nations, and make and unmake kings at will. The account dwells on their power and success, their far-reaching dominion, their orderly senate that rules for the good of the people. To Judas, seeking allies against a stronger enemy, Rome looked like the picture of formidable, admirable strength.

The passage records this admiration without necessarily endorsing it, and readers who know the longer story feel a certain irony. The empire Judas admired for its power would, in time, become an oppressor of the very people he led. The glittering success of a worldly power, its conquests and dominion, is easy to admire from a distance, but such power is neither as benevolent nor as permanent as it appears. Empires that dazzle with strength today can crush tomorrow, and all of them eventually pass.

There is a caution here about being dazzled by worldly power and success. It is natural to admire the strong, the wealthy, the dominant, and to want them on our side. But the kingdoms of this world, however grand, are not where lasting hope lies, and their strength can turn against us. Do not let your heart be captivated by the glittering success of worldly power. Set your admiration and your trust instead on the kingdom of God, whose King rules in righteousness and whose reign will never pass away.

Lord, it is easy to be dazzled by worldly power and success, to admire the strong and want them on my side. But the kingdoms of this world are not where lasting hope lies, and their strength can turn to oppression. Keep my heart from being captivated by glittering power. Let my trust and admiration rest on you and your kingdom, whose King rules in righteousness and whose reign will never pass. Amen.