1 Maccabees 13-16

In Jonathan's absence, his brother Simon assumes leadership of the Jewish people. Jonathan is ultimately killed while a captive of the treacherous Trypho. The years pass with more battles, alliances, betrayals, and victories. In the end, Simon and some of his sons are murdered by Ptolemy, governor of Jericho. John, son of Simon, learns of the murders, and is prepared when Ptolemy's men arrive to do him in. As this book closes, it is clear that John has become the new leader.

Although, as I previously noted, this is not my favorite book, there is a beautiful passage in this section worth pausing on. There is a hymn to the glory of Simon, and the time of peace and prosperity that he oversaw.  It reads, in part:

The land was at rest all the days of Simon, who sought the good of his nation. . . . The people cultivated their land in peace; the land yielded its produce and the trees of the field their fruit. Old men sat in the squares, all talking about the good times, while the young men wore the glorious apparel of war.

That image of the old men sitting in the square reminiscing about the good times is so poetic, so evocative. 

Finally, a note on the news of the day. James Gandolfini, the actor who portrayed Tony Soprano, passed away suddenly yesterday. The Sopranos was a guilty pleasure of mine. Yes, I know, it showed Italian-Americans, Catholics, and New Jersey in a bad light--all of them are things close to my heart. But the writing was brilliant. Tony Soprano was a captivating and charismatic anti-hero. He was callous, selfish, violent, evil. He was the opposite of King David in a sense--anything but faithful of heart. He honored himself first and always. But I, for one, couldn't look away. He remains one of the most complicated and compelling characters in the history of television.  May James Gandolfini, who brilliantly brought him to life, rest in peace.

Joshua 5-8

Two important rituals precede the Israelites first battle for the Promised Land. First, because no men were circumcised during the forty-year exile in the desert, all submit to the knife.  Then, they celebrate Passover. On that same day, the manna from heaven that had fed them during their long journey ceases. To demonstrate His presence and commitment to them, the Lord sends an angel with a sword to lead the Israelites into battle, who announces, "I am the captain of the host of the Lord and I have just arrived."  Why "just arrived", I wonder? Isn't God always there for us? Perhaps the angel chooses these words to remind us that while God is always present and available for us, He comes to us in a special way when we are in need. 

What follows is a great story of how the walls of Jericho come down as a result of the Israelites blowing ram's horns and shouting, as they had been instructed by the Lord through Joshua. And then they massacred the people of the city--every last one except the family of Rahab, the harlot, who had aided the scape of Joshua's spies. But despite all He had done for them, the Israelites--or at least one of their number--disobeyed the Lord's precise instructions about hauling off booty from the city. He withdraws his aid and the Israelites are (temporarily) rebuffed at Ai. The Lord insists to Joshua that he find and remove the disobedient person. A man named Achan, of the tribe of Judah, is found to be the plunderer, and he is taken to the Valley of Achor, where he is stoned to death by the Israelites. The Israelites then conquer Ai in a rousing battle scene, using an ambush per the Lord's instructions to secure the city. Joshua built an altar to the Lord, and in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote the law on to unhewn stones as God had instructed  Moses. Joshua then "read aloud all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, exactly as written in the book of the law. Every single word that Moses had commanded, Joshua read aloud to the entire community." 

As we have seen, time and time again, the Lord reminds the Israelites, by word, action, and ritual, that the law is and must be central to their lives--impacting every aspect of their existence. This is no less true for me personally. God's Word, His message through this Bible and through His Son, as intermediated through His (far from perfect) Church, must guide my life. It must not just be reflected or observed in my actions, but it must also penetrate to my soul.