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)