1 Maccabees 7:39-42. This passage takes place after Nicanor went to seek Judas Maccabeus at the sanctuary on Mount Zion and, not finding him, derided the priests and promised to return to burn down the sanctuary unless Judas was delivered into his hands. Now Nicanor is encamped in Bethhoron with the Syrian army, and Judas is encamped at Adasa with only 3,000 men. Knowing that he must fight Nicanor, Judas appeals to God. He reminds God that He previously sent an angel to destroy 158,000 Assyrians when they had spoken blasphemy. He asks that God do the same now, crush Nicanor's army so that all learn that Nicanor spoke wickedly against the Lord's sanctuary "and judge him according to this wickedness."

Judas has seen God's justice before, and he is asking for it again in similar circumstances. He asks God to judge Nicanor according to his wickedness. God does answer Judas's prayer here, the Jewish army kills Nicanor on the very first day of battle and his army scatters, to be pursued and killed by the Jews. So Judas asks God for judgment against a wicked man, and Judas is the instrument of God's justice against him.

This shows the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. When Jesus came, he told us that he came for all people. So while Judas was fighting a clear enemy - a Syrian who threatened God's sanctuary and people - we, in our battles, are not fighting human enemies, since all people are now part of the family of God. So I don't think God would answer our prayers today the same way he answered Judas. We have to fight evil, yes, but not for judgment, for conversion. We are fighting the principalities and powers, not the person. Nicanor represents these principalities and powers - he is not a member of the chosen people - he is the enemy of God's children.

Jesus, in the fullness of time, came to tell us we are all God's children. The powers that are pulling any one of us away from our salvation are the true enemies. We must not pray to God for judgment against people, but for them to be rid of evil and wicked influences and tendencies and to join us as we follow Christ, our King, toward our heavenly home.