Judith (Jdt 6): The Israelites keep invoking God’s help

by Tannia Ortiz-Lopés | Home, PatchWords

© Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopes

Introduction:

Holofernes rebuked Achior for prophesying the downfall of the Assyrian army and King Nebuchadnezzar. He declared the God of  Israel as unworthy and powerless to protect His people. He then ordered that Achior be put to death along with the Israelites. Holofernes’ servant took him to Bethulia, bound him, and left him at the foot of the mountain. After carrying out their duties, they returned to Holofernes.

Chapter Themes:

(1) Holofernes arrogance and zeal to accomplish King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders, while refusing to acknowledge the mighty deeds of the God of Israel.

(2) The Israelites continue to invoke God’s help upon hearing Achier’s report.

Lessons Learned:

(1) Arrogance and boasting threats against the Lord’s servants encouraged them to deeper worship and more earnest prayers for mercy, protection, and justice.

(2) In times of distress, humble yourself to the Lord your God.

(3) Ignoring the counsel of wise people often leads to painful learning curves.

Introspection:

Who do you call and trust in times of distress?  I have several trustworthy counselors. First, I invoke God’s help. Second, I reach out to my best friend and my brother, both of whom can offer immediate guidance while I await God’s deliverance.

Is your zealousness leading you to victory or destruction? In the past, it led me to the path of perdition. After several years of wandering in the desert, I learned to reflect more carefully on whether I was heading toward victory or destruction. It was a painful, but important, learning curve.

Where does your strength come from? My strength comes from the Lord.

How about you? I would be glad to read your reflections.

Judith (Jdt 5): The Israelites and Holofernes

by Tannia Ortiz-Lopés | Home, PatchWords

Introduction:

The Israelites ready themselves for battle. They blocked the mountain passes, fortified the summit of all the higher peaks, and placed roadblocks across the plains. When Holofernes, the commander of the opposing forces, heard about the Israelites’ defensive preparations, he became furious. He then summoned all the Moabite rulers, all the Ammonite generals, and all the governors of the region along the Mediterranean coast. He sought detailed information about the Israelites, wanting to understand his adversary. (Jdt 5:11)

Chapter’s Theme: Understanding my Opponent

Achior, the leader of all the Ammonites, provided Holofernes with crucial insights about the unique relationship between God and the Israelites. He explained that when the Israelites followed God’s laws, He protected and defended them in battle. However, when they were disobedient, God allowed harsh consequences upon them.

Achior strongly advised Holofernes only to consider an attack if the Israelites were guilty of wrongdoing. But if they were innocent, their God would shield them. Moreover, he warned Holofernes to be wise and keep his distance.

Holofernes ignored Achior’s counsel, and instance was pleased with the response of his army: “We are not afraid of the Israelites, for they are a powerless people, incapable of a strong defense. Let us, therefore, attack them; your great army, Lord Holofernes, will swallow them up.”(Jdt 5: 23-24)

 Lessons learned:

(1)  Listen to the counsel of wise individuals to avoid misery.

(2)  The Lord, my God, will always defend His servants in times of need.

(3)  The Lord treats you according to your deed.

(4)  Arrogance leads to mistaken decisions and unforeseeable outcomes.

Introspection:

• Do you trust the Lord’s justice?  Since our concept of time and God’s are different, at times could be frustrating and challenging to wait for His perfect timing. Yet, trusting His Divine Mercy brings peace to my aching soul.
• How do you avoid unnecessary calamities? I avoid such situations by listening to the advice of wise and experienced individuals who genuinely care about my well-being.
• How do you distinguish between foolishness and success when planning your strategy?  Hmm, a tough one for me.  If I could live with the consequences of my worst-case scenario, I know it is the right decision.  If not, then I need to tame my ego to avoid making foolish choices.

Judith ((Jdt 4): Faith and Deliverance in Times of Trial

by Tannia Ortiz-Lopés | Home, PatchWords

© Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopés

Introduction:

King Nebuchadnezzar sought to have every nation worship and revere him as a god. During this time, the Israelites were deeply fearful of Holofernes, one of Nebuchadnezzar’s generals. Despite their dread, they prepared to defend their cities and the temple of God, which had been purified from profanation. They fortified their villages, stored up provisions, and turned to fasting and penance, fervently seeking God’s protection.

Chapter’s Theme:

All the Israelites wore sackcloth, covered their heads with ashes, and prostrated themselves in front of the temple building. The Lord heard their cry and took notice of their distress because the people observed a fast for many days throughout Judea and Jerusalem. (Jdt 4:13)

Lessons learned:

(1) Humble yourself before the Lord. Engage in fasting and prayers while bringing your petition to the Almighty, trusting that He will answer it.

(2) God’s merciful heart and concern for His servants always yield justice and victory.

(3) The power of prayer is mighty with God’s blessings.

Introspection:

• How do you deal with fear?
• Who is your confidant?
• How do you prepare for disasters?

Judith (Jdt 2-3): King Nebuchadnezzar’s Campaign

by Tannia Ortiz-Lopés | Home, PatchWords

Introduction:

After achieving victory over King Arphaxad in the mountains of Ragae, King Nebuchadnezzar led his army back home, Nineveh, where they celebrated their success for 120 days. Following this long period of relaxing and rejoicing, King Nebuchadnezzar declared war against the nations of the West.

Chapter’s Themes:

(1) Revenge and destruction of the West and all nations that refused to join him in battle against King Arphaxadr. (Jdt 1:5, 15-16)

(2) Self-proclaimed god: “To devastate those nations, cut down their sacred groves, and destroy all the gods of the earth, so that every nation might worship Nebuchadnezzar alone, and every people and tribe invoke him as a god.”  (Jdt 3:8)

(3) Self-proclaimed mighty power: “For as I live, and by the strength of my kingdom, what I have spoken I will accomplish by my power.” (Jdt 2:12)

To ensure his orders were carried out without delay, King Nebuchadnezzar dispatched Holofernes, his general in chief and second in command, to execute his commands.

Lessons learned:

(1) The reigns of self-proclaimed mighty, powerful human-god’s endure only as long as God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, allows them to continue.

(2) A true servant of God remains faithful to the Creator and obeys the 3rd Commandment: “You shall not have other gods besides me.”

Furthermore, such servants reject other idols like money, selfishness, ambition, power-hunger, etc.

(3) It is important not to let your ego grow out of proportion and become the center of one’s universe. While a healthy ego can be beneficial, it must remain under control to avoid falling into self-centeredness and oblivion.

As a believer, it is essential to remain vigilant and alert to prevent falling into the snares of the devil. This can be achieved by strengthening myself with the Word of the Lord, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and avoiding situations that may lead to temptations and sin.

Introspection:

• What are some idols in your life?
• Do you have your ego under control?
• Do your adviser and circle of trust reflect your values and your management style?

Judith (Judith 1: 1-16): Divine Providence and Lessons

by Tannia Ortiz-Lopés | Home, PatchWords

Welcome to my new series of journaling meditations, “Walking a Mile with Judith.” For the next 16 weeks, we will accompany Judith through her trials and tribulations leading to victory.

Copyright: Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopés

Introduction

The Book of Judith recounts how God’s divine providence is manifested to His chosen people during times of distress, working through a pious, Hebrew widow named Judith. Her name translates to “Jewess,” (Jew, Hebrew, Israelite). A “Jewess” represents a person who belongs to the descendants of Jacob or those who are converted, unified by cultural or religious bonds.

The story unfolds during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, and it’s dated between the end of the second or the beginning of the first century B.C. Although the author remains unknown, St. Jerome later translated the Book of Judith into Latin, ensuring its preservation through history.

Lessons learned

• God’s mercy is delivered according to the circumstances, through His chosen servant. For example, just as God liberated the Israelites from captivity and slavery through Moses, He now uses a bold woman, Judith, to bring justice to them.
• King Nebuchadnezzar’s, arrogance serves as a warning, demonstrating that pride can lead to many unexpected twists and turns.
• It is important to never let your ego guide your decisions, as doing so inevitably leads to ruin.

Preview

Next week, we will meditate on Chapters 2 and 3.

(Scripture quotations: The New American Bible)