The commander of the Gentile army planned a sneak attack but
Judas heard of it somehow and averted the disaster that would have befallen his
“army.” They, in turn, attacked the enemy
camp while the division was absent and then faced the army in faith. They were ill-equipped, lacking armor and
swords such as they desired but Judas reminded them of the events of the
Exodus, when the Lord delivered the people at the Red Sea against overwhelming
odds. This day, too, belonged to the Lord
and on this day the Israelites won three battles and routed the Gentile armies
and plundered their camp, just as their ancestors had plundered the Egyptians
on the day of their deliverance, after the plague of the firstborn.
A child, in the culture of Jesus’ time, was celebrated as a
gift from God, the sign of God’s favor on a marriage, but they were not
celebrated as we do today. A child’s place was to learn and grow, the least of
all the family in many ways. When Isaiah wrote that a little child would lead
them, it was an ironic idea since children didn’t know the law, they were
simply learning to become adults. Jesus chose a child to make the point of who
is greatest, it is one who knows he isn’t the greatest and can do nothing to
become great except to admit he has much to learn and humbly seek to know. Temptation
to sin, causing another to stumble, is teaching something other than the Law,
teaching to break the Law, doing the work the serpent did in the Garden. Leading
others astray is a serious matter to the Lord.
Sin is a serious matter to Him. Do we share His attitude towards sin?
The temple served a simple purpose, as a place where
sacrifices could be made to either atone for sin or to celebrate peace with
God. It was the place where God’s glory resided. In the new Jerusalem, there is no temple,
there is no need, God is everywhere and there is no sin, therefore there is no
need for reconciliation. The throne of
God, heretofore situated in heaven, will now be in the city itself. The light of the city is the glory of God and
it shines forth always, there is no night there, no darkness at all. The light of the world is Jesus. We are called to seek and to pray for the
kingdom of God always. Here is the
vision of the kingdom we need, the eternal presence of God in our midst and a
holy people serving and worshipping Him.
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