NOTES for Ma1 3:19-21

The words of Judas called Maccabeus on the strength of God, which helps those who are at war for the cause of God, are easier to understand in the context of the war begun by him against the Syrians. It was a holy war, such saw it not only Judas himself, but also his partisans, the main slogans of the war, along with the patriotic, were religious slogans, and it was completely natural to those who fought to think that God not only can, but also has to intervene on their side. This war was unexpected even for the very participants, it began spontaneously; the last one before the Maccabees holy war ended in the ancient times, in the time of King David (it was the war with the Philistines). And what then: does God really like war? He is ready to support His at all costs, and the war for Him is an acceptable way to solve the problems? Such questions appear not only upon the reading of the Books of Maccabees, but also upon the reading of the Book of Joshua, the Book of Judges, and the Book of Samuel.

The war begun by Judas called Maccabeus, can be again considered fair: he fought against those who deprived his people of the right to live such as these people found necessary and right, according to the law of God, Whom his people worshiped. But what to say then about the conquest of Palestine? How has to seem to us a God giving to His people an already occupied land, populated with peoples, whom it would be necessary either to exterminate, or to drive out from this land, on which they lived centuries? And the most important: is the war still necessary for God? One could of course attribute everything to human sinfulness: people cannot without war, and God allows the war because otherwise those to whom He addressed would not simply understand Him. The pacifism was not at honor in those days for the people participating in the biblical history.

But the probleme is not only in it. The probleme is again in the fact that God is in a position, where He has to choose between His people, with whom He has a union, and other peoples, with whom He has not such union. Besides, this situation is conditioned exceptionally by the position of the other peoples in relation to Him. War in the fallen world is an unavoidable evil. The question is not to know if the people of God will participate in it (it is inevitable for them), but if they will overcome their enemies. If they win, their history will continue, if not - it will end. And God helps His people to win. Helps because He has His plans for their history, which is still too early to end.