1 Maccabees 7:33-38. Nicanor, one of Antiochus IV's princes and generals during the Maccabean revolt, is furious after a defeat by Judas Maccabee's forces in battle. Nicanor goes to the Temple where some of the priests greet him and show him the burnt offerings they have been offering for the king. Nicanor mocks them, derides them, defiles them, and speaks "arrogantly, and in anger" saying "Unless Judas and his army are delivered into my hands this time, then if I return safely I will burn up this house." The priests are very upset and they go weeping to the altar and pray, saying to God: You chose this house as the place for our worship and prayer, don't let it be destroyed. Take vengeance on Nicanor and "let him live no longer." (Nicanor is killed in the next battle he has with Judas.)

How can a faithful priest be subversive? By following God at all times. Here, there's a war going on, but the priests are continuing to do their duty - they are keeping the Temple worship and sacrifices going, including offering sacrifices for the reigning king - Antiochus IV, who is the enemy of the Jews and is trying to force them to worship the Greek gods. Because the priests are faithful and are doing their duty - not getting caught up in politics, war, and the ways of the world - their prayer is heard. They ask for Nicanor's death, but only because that is the only way they can see to prevent the destruction of the Temple. They had been trying to keep doing what was right, to follow their God first, while still obeying earthly powers. They had been praying for the evil king they were living under (pray for your enemies!), but now they see no recourse but to pray for Nicanor to live no longer. They cannot turn Judas over to Nicanor - Judas is the one fighting for their people and their freedom. So, if Nicanor lives, he will return and destroy the Temple. Right after this passage, their prayer is answered and Nicanor is killed in battle.

We can be faithful and doing everything right and still get caught up in the swirling storm of politics, like these priests. When that happens, we are to stick with God and his laws. The priests knew that it was their duty, and God's law, for them to offer sacrifices for the king. So they were doing it, even though this king was persecuting them. They knew that it is not the priest's place to question or change God's law when they don't agree with it. These priests remain faithful, so when Nicanor showed up at the Temple, they were able to truthfully show him that they had been offering sacrifices for Antiochus. This probably added to Nicanor's rage, and caused his ill-advised oath.

We often attribute our bad behavior to our enemies. Nicanor did not find a bunch of rebellious, hypocritical priests at the Temple, as he probably expected. He found faithful Jewish priests offering sacrifice for his king. He couldn't punish them for that, so instead he demanded they turn over Judas or he would destroy the Temple - he gave himself a reason to punish them, so he could be justified in what he wanted to do anyway. So the priests' faithful behavior in some ways caused Nicanor's oath, and his oath led to the priests' prayer, and their prayer led to Nicanor's death. The priests were effectively rebellious, and brought down a prince, by doing nothing more than their duty!

Following God's laws can be quite subversive. It angers people when they find that their judgmental image of hating, hypocritical, science-denying Christians is not true. When they encounter true, faithful Christians, and instead of hate find love and acceptance, but an unwavering devotion to the Truth, they often get enraged. I think that explains a lot of the behavior that we see in some of the angrier social justice warriors these days - they are so certain that Christians are filled with hate, they cannot even listen long enough to learn that the truth is the exact opposite!! ("They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand." Isaiah 44:18)

When we keep acting properly, and praying for our enemies, we may be increasing their anger, and we may suffer consequences, but God will use everything for his purposes. It is not for us to question whether or not we should pray for anyone, or treat them with love and kindness. We know, because we have been told, that we must love and pray for all. That is truly subversive!