1 Maccabees 4:42-51: a reflection

42He chose blameless priests who were devoted to the law; 43and they cleansed the holy place and carried the defiled stones out to an unclean place. 44They deliberated what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which had been profaned. 45A good plan came into their mind, that they should pull it down, lest it would be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it. So they pulled down the altar 46and laid up the stones on the temple hill in a convenient place, until a prophet would come to give an answer concerning them. 47They took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar like the former. 48They built the holy place and the inner parts of the house; and they consecrated the courts. 49They made new holy vessels, and they brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. 50They burned incense on the altar, and they lit the lamps that were upon the lampstand, and they gave light in the temple. 51They set loaves upon the table, hung up the curtains, and finished all the work which they had done.

After the temple has been desecrated, Judas and his companions set about restoring it. They choose faithful priests, cleanse the holy place, and carry out the defiled stones. Facing the altar that had been profaned, they wisely decide to tear it down and store its stones until a prophet should come to say what to do with them, and they build a new altar in its place. Then they rebuild the sanctuary, make new holy vessels, and, at last, relight the lamps, so that light shines once more in the temple.

There is care and reverence in this restoration. They do not rush or cut corners; they cleanse thoroughly, deal wisely with what had been defiled, and rebuild according to God's law. And the climax is the relighting of the lamps, light returning to a place that had gone dark. What had been profaned and desolate is made holy and bright again, worship restored, God's house alive with light once more.

There is a picture here of what God does with what has been defiled, and of the work of restoration he calls us to. When something sacred in your life has been profaned or gone dark, your worship, your devotion, a relationship, a purpose, it can be cleansed and restored. It takes care and reverence, dealing honestly with what was defiled and rebuilding faithfully. And the goal is light restored, God's presence and worship alive again. Do not leave the defiled places dark. Give yourself to the holy work of cleansing and rededication, until the lamps are lit once more.

Lord, when your temple had been defiled and gone dark, your people cleansed it, rebuilt it, and relit the lamps until light shone again. Where something sacred in my life has been profaned or gone dark, give me the care and reverence to cleanse and restore it. Rebuild what has fallen, and relight the lamps, until your presence and worship are alive in me once more. Amen.