I Judah

I Judah declare these things  to be true, I was there and witnessed it all.

Evil came when our people were unaware and we were nearly conquered; not with sword or club or chariot, but words and thoughts and culture.

They came with “change” and “unity”; a sense of brotherhood and inclulsion. We were told it was for the good of all, not just one nation, but all nations would benefit; all would be “blessed”

“Let go of your old ways, they are no longer relevant” they said ; “It doesn’t fit the mind of today, we need to become progressive if we are to be the best!”.

At first it was athletics with an emphasis on self improvement and health; clothing styles changed so all were the same; no distinction of the holy people anymore; modesty was old fashioned it separated and divided; entertainment and the arts, philosophy – the wisdom of man, music and the message that said tolerance.

They offered free education; but it made no room for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; then unclean foods became acceptable and finally religion that looked to other gods, but found no place for our own.

At this point assimilation demanded a response.  To a point many were willing to be silent and accept this new way, but now this was too much…

So protest arose and the refusal to go any further, “no thanks” we will home school”; we withdrew our memberships from the gymnasiums…but these choices were met with a response we did not expect.  Now, swords demanded allegiance to a “New Order”.  It wasn’t really a choice, it was do or die.

Many for fear or lack of faith fell away to apostasy.  They bowed to their requirements and compromised, foolishly  thinking God would understand; after all, if they thought of “Him” as they worshipped in the “new religion”, surely, He would count it…because He knew their hearts. But then there were those who would say “no, even if they slay me, I won’t betray my God”. 

I Judah the son of Mattathias the priest, like my father was not willing to apostasize; nor was I willing to go to my death passively.  With passion we believed our faith was worth   dying for, but even more, it was worth fighting for.

I and my brother Jonathan gathered the faithful who were willing to defend the truth; we put on His righteousness as a breastplate, and took up our faith as shields that protected us; we put on the Wisdom of God to guide us where we had never been before and He gave us the victory!

They called us the Maccabees, “Hammers”, for we pounded and smashed to pieces our enemies; we did not allow darkness to overtake us and put us to sleep in a spiritual stupor. 

Our God promised through the prophet Jeremiah “ Is not My word like as fire? says the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks  the rock in pieces? “  We searched the scrolls daily looking for direction and found Yahweh to be faithful.  After we took by the city, and the dust cleared we saw the devastation of God’s house. Filth within and the abomination that had been set up and worshipped; defilement was everywhere; we had to remove the unclean, take down the idols and cleanse the Temple. 

 

Our Lord was faithful to preserve a remnant that would not lay down and die or capitulate. Even when it came to re-lighting the lamp of God in the Temple, the oil was diminished and not enough to keep it going; but we recounted the many victories and the way our Savior God had lead us, so we refrained from despair and believed He would be faithful even now. 

By faith, we lit the Menorah with the oil we had…and turned to prepare more.  But it would require eight days till it was ready.  Each day for eight days we returned to the sanctuary to see the light brightly burning; on the eighth day there was now more oil prepared but the light of faith still burned bright.

I Judah, the Maccabee declare, as the prophet said, “what has been will be again”…  Will there come another day when all of this is long past, and the people forget?

Will they come with flatteries and ideologies, that seem to have wisdom; that promote fairness and equality.  That change the way the people of God will think and act and speak?  Will there come a day when they abandon the truth for another kingdom that promises peace and safety?  Will they fall into an everlasting sleep and let darkness conquer at last? I Judah ask, will there be faith in the earth in that day?

I pray they will yet believe…