Books Jesus Read

92

Books Jesus Read

Now, Judith knew about the danger to Israel from the surrounding army, and she understood the importance of Bethulia in guarding the way to the holy city and the temple. But when she heard about Uzziah’s decision to surrender the city after five days, she summoned him to her house and spoke to him as follows: “Listen to me, O ruler of Bethulia, what you have told the people is not right. For you have promised to surrender our city to the enemy unless the Lord turns and helps us within five days. But who are you to put God to the test, and to usurp God’s place over the sons of men? If you put the Lord Almighty to the test, you will never learn anything! You who cannot comprehend the depths of the human heart, how can you expect to search out the ways of God? He has power to protect us any time he pleases, or to destroy us before our enemies. Do not try to manipulate the Lord our God, for he will not be threatened or won over by pleading. Rather, while we wait for his deliverance, let us call on him for help and he will hear our voice if it pleases him. But do not provoke the Lord our God to anger. “Our ancestors were handed over to our enemies because they worshiped false gods. But this has not happened in our generation, for we know no other God but him. Therefore, let us hope that he will not despise us or our nation. For if Judea is captured and the sanctuary robbed, we will be held responsible for its desecration. And the slaughter and captivity of our families will make us a disgrace among those we will serve as slaves. Our slavery will not bring us favor, but the Lord our God will turn it to our dishonor. “I appeal to your brothers, let us be an example for our descendants since they will look to us. Now their very