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1 Maccabees 11:34 "To all those who offer sacrifice in Jerusalem, we have granted release from the royal taxes which the king formerly received from them each year, from the crops of the land and the fruit of the trees."

 

In the midst of the "game of thrones" that is going on in Maccabees, the two main rivals of the moment, Alexander and Ptolemy have both just died, and Demetrius has become king (1 Maccabees 11:13-19). Jonathan, the leader of the Jewish resistance, is trying to regain control of Jerusalem at that time. Unfortunately, some of his own people go to the new king and give a report of Jonathan's siege of the citadel of Jerusalem, angering Demetrius against Jonathan. So Jonathan goes to the king with gifts, pays him homage, and wins his favor. (1 Maccabees 11:20-26). Having done so, Jonathan asks for Judea and three districts of Samaria to be freed from tribute on the payment of 300 talents, and the king agrees, writing a letter exempting these areas from taxation. (1 Maccabees 11:28-36).

 

Yesterday I wrote about how God will vindicate His servants, and that we cannot do it ourselves. Today we have a lesson on how we remain His servants in order to win that vindication, and how it is not always complete vindication all once. We do have to keep fighting in order to be vindicated, and we do have to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, even if it means leaving the battle we're in to turn our attention to something else God is asking of us.

 

Exemption from taxation is certainly not the ultimate victory Jonathan and the Jews are fighting for. But it is a definite step in the right direction, and it helps Jonathan, and God's people for whom he is fighting, tremendously. God wanted to give this gift to His people, even as they continued fighting for their freedom, and he used Jonathan as His instrument to do so. Jonathan, for his part, was busy trying to free Jerusalem, but when he was bad-mouthed to the new king, he saw a different opportunity. He left others in charge of the siege and went to meet the new king, an encounter that went so well that he gained this relief from taxation. Jonathan didn't set out to vindicate himself or his people, but he ended up doing so over his own countrymen's "complaints against him".

 

Our vindication often comes in smaller ways that we don't expect. It is not always, or even usually, an all-at-once victory over everything we are fighting against. It is often smaller but very decisive victories that don't end the battle, but make it easier. These smaller vindications are possible when we continue to do God's will, listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and allow ourselves to leave the larger battle to others when we are called to turn our attention to a different front.

 

If Jonathan had not been spoken of badly to Demetrius, he may not have taken the time to meet with the king, and this victory would not have been won. But God wanted to vindicate Jonathan, and in doing so vindicate His people, even as the larger battle continued, so He called Jonathan elsewhere. Because Jonathan did God's will, he had great success, and a not insubstantial amount of vindication, as well.