Sermon Notes 20231203

Judith 14:1–19 NABRE

Then Judith said to them: “Listen to me, my brothers and sisters. Take this head and hang it on the parapet of your wall. At daybreak, when the sun rises on the earth, each of you seize your weapons, and let all the able-bodied men rush out of the city under command of a captain, as if about to go down into the valley against the Assyrian patrol, but without going down. The Assyrians will seize their weapons and hurry to their camp to awaken the generals of the army. When they run to the tent of Holofernes and do not find him, panic will seize them, and they will flee before you. Then you and all the other inhabitants of the whole territory of Israel will pursue them and strike them down in their tracks. But before doing this, summon for me Achior the Ammonite, that he may see and recognize the one who despised the house of Israel and sent him here to meet his death.” So they called Achior from the house of Uzziah. When he came and saw the head of Holofernes in the hand of one of the men in the assembly of the people, he collapsed in a faint. Then, after they lifted him up, he threw himself at the feet of Judith in homage, saying: “Blessed are you in every tent of Judah! In every nation, all who hear your name will be struck with terror. But now, tell me all that you did during these days.” So Judith told him, in the midst of the people, all that she had done, from the day she left until the time she began speaking to them. When she had finished her account, the people cheered loudly, so that the city resounded with shouts of joy. Now Achior, seeing all that the God of Israel had done, believed firmly in God. He circumcised the flesh of his foreskin and he has been united with the house of Israel to the present day. At daybreak they hung the head of Holofernes on the wall. Then all the Israelite men took up their weapons and went out by groups to the mountain passes. When the Assyrians saw them, they notified their commanders, who, in turn, went to their generals, their division leaders, and all their other leaders. They came to the tent of Holofernes and said to the one in charge of all his things, “Awaken our lord, for the slaves have dared come down against us in battle, to their utter destruction.” So Bagoas went in and knocked at the entry of the tent, presuming that Holofernes was sleeping with Judith. When no one answered, he parted the curtains, entered the bedchamber, and found him thrown on the floor dead, with his head gone! He cried out loudly, weeping, groaning, and howling, and tore his garments. Then he entered the tent where Judith had her quarters; and, not finding her, he rushed out to the troops and cried: “The slaves have duped us! One Hebrew woman has brought shame on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look! Holofernes on the ground—without a head!” When the leaders of the Assyrian forces heard these words, they tore their tunics and were overcome with great distress. Their loud cries and shouts were heard throughout the camp.

Sermon Notes  20231203 Judith 14:1-19

Do You Know Why YHWH Protects You?

Revelation From God

Author

The author of Judith is unknown.

Date

The exact date the book was written is unknown, however several scholars believe it was written around 100 BCE.

History

Its historical range is extraordinary. Within the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (1:1; 2:1), it telescopes five centuries of historical and geographical information with imaginary details. There are references to Nineveh, the Assyrian capital destroyed in 612 B.C., to Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler not of Assyria but of Babylon (605/604–562), and to the second Temple, built around 515. The postexilic period is presumed (e.g., governance by the High Priest). The Persian period is represented by two characters, Holofernes and Bagoas, who appear together in the military campaigns of Artaxerxes III Ochus (358–338); there seem to be allusions to the second-century Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Several mysteries remain: Judith herself, Arphaxad, and others are otherwise unknown. The geographical details, such as the narrow defile into Bethulia (an unidentified town which gives access to the heart of the land), are fanciful. The simple conclusion from these and other details is that the work is historical fiction, written to exalt God as Israel’s deliverer from foreign might, not by an army, but by means of a simple widow.11 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jdt.

Theology

This a an inclusive story of a women that saves Israel, much like the story of Deborah in Judges 4:1-24, Judges 5:1-31. This is a fictional story of the Judge Judith, as she could not have lived 500 years. It is designed to show that all people are important in YHWH’s Kingdom, and that YHWH values all, or that Theophilus reigns supreme, Deut 10:18-19, Deut 11:1-32, Deut 13:3, 1 Sa 18:1-5, 2 Sam 9:1-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, 1 Jn 3:11-14, 1 Jn 4:1-21, 1 Jn 5:3!!!!

Inner-biblical references are noteworthy: as God acted through Moses’ hand (Ex 10:21–22; 14:27–30), so God delivers “by the hand of a female,” Judith. Like Jael, who drove a tent peg through the head of Sisera (Jgs 4), Judith kills an enemy general. Like Deborah (Jgs 4–5), Judith “judges” Israel in the time of military crisis. Like Sarah, the mother of Israel’s future (Gn 17:6), Judith’s beauty deceives foreigners, with the result that blessings redound to Israel (Gn 12:11–20). Her Hebrew name means “Jewish woman.” Her exploits captured the imagination of liturgists, artists, and writers through the centuries. The book is filled with double entendres and ironic situations, e.g., Judith’s conversation with Holofernes in 11:5–8, 19, where “my lord” is ambiguous, and her declaration to Holofernes that she will lead him through Judea to Jerusalem (his head goes on such a journey). 11 New American Bible, Revised Edition. (Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011), Jdt.

Structure

This is a fictional historical writing.

Chapter (14) Whose sum is (5) The Broken, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, The Fallen, Gen 1:4-5, Rev 12:4-9, The Lost, Mat 18:10-14, Joh 10:27-30, The Sinner, Gen 6:16, 1 Ti 1:8-9, The Unbelieving, Luk 15:1-32, John 3:18 !!!! (14) is the product of (2) YHWH the Son, YHWH Bane, Christ Jesus, YHWH Yeshua, Gen 1:3, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 53:5, John 1:1-5 times (7) the perfect completion of creation, Gen 2:2-3, Rev 22:1-21, Christ Jesus in you,1 Cor 12:1-31, Eph 2:1-22!!!! There is (1) Pericope, (Theological Idea) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Gen 1:1, Exo 3:14-17, Ex 20:1-11, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15 !!!! It has (19) verses whose sum is (10) whose sum is (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH, Ge 1:1, Rev 22:13,  and is the embodiment of the perfect fulfillment of the Law Mat 5:17-20, Rom 13:8-10, Christ Jesus in You 2 Co 5:17-21, Eph 4:1-32.  (19) is the product of (2) YHWH the Son, YHWH Bane, Christ Jesus, YHWH Yeshua, Joh 1:14, Joh 1:29, Joh 4:1-15, Joh 8:12, Joh 10:30-34, Joh 14:10-14, Joh 17:20-26, Rev 22:1-5 times (9) {(3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach Gen1:2. Rev 22:17, times (3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach, Joh 14:15-31, Joh 16:4-15}, plus (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Deut 4:32-40, Deut 5:6-15, Deut 6:4-8, Deut 10:14-17, Deut 32:39-40 !!!!

Purpose 

The purpose of Judith is to shown all, that YHWH includes all in His design and plans and no one is excluded, John 3:16, Matt 19:12!!!!

The Purpose of Chapter (14) is to show all that YHWH Protects, 1 Pe 5:10, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, The Body of YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 17:20-26, that all are brought back Luke 15:1-32, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, Rev 12:4-9, to the body of Christ, 1 Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-21, 1 John 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that all are redeemed, purchased back by the blood of Christ John 1:29, Col 1:13-14, Eph 1:17, Heb 13:20-21!!!!

Exegesis / Hermeneutical

Redeemed Judith 14:1-19 :

Pericope, (Theological Idea) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Gen 1:1, Exo 3:14-17, Ex 20:1-11, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15 !!!! It has (19) verses whose sum is (10) whose sum is (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH, Ge 1:1, Rev 22:13,  and is the embodiment of the perfect fulfillment of the Law Mat 5:17-20, Rom 13:8-10, Christ Jesus in You 2 Co 5:17-21, Eph 4:1-32.  (19) is the product of (2) YHWH the Son, YHWH Bane, Christ Jesus, YHWH Yeshua, Joh 1:14, Joh 1:29, Joh 4:1-15, Joh 8:12, Joh 10:30-34, Joh 14:10-14, Joh 17:20-26, Rev 22:1-5 times (9) {(3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach Gen1:2. Rev 22:17, times (3) YHWH, the Holy Spirit, Ruach, Joh 14:15-31, Joh 16:4-15}, plus (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Deut 4:32-40, Deut 5:6-15, Deut 6:4-8, Deut 10:14-17, Deut 32:39-40 !!!!

Judith 14:10 : For me there is no way to miss that Achior is brought back Luke 15:1-32, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, Rev 12:4-9, to the body of Christ, 1 Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-21, 1 John 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that he is redeemed, purchased back by the blood of Christ John 1:29, Col 1:13-14, Eph 1:17, Heb 13:20-21!!!! And that He is United with the House of Israel to this present day, meaning that Achior is (1) in the body of, YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Gen 1:4-5, Gen 1:27-31, Gen 3:22, Exo 34:9, Exo 36:18, Lev 26:42-46, Lev 27:1-34, Deut 18:2, Deut 33:26-29, Enoch 35:1, Enoch 36:1–4, Enoch 38:2, Enoch 38:4,Enoch 39:1–14, Enoch 40:1–10, Enoch 48:1, Enoch 70:1–4, Enoch 71:1–17, Enoch 83:10–11, Enoch 92:1–5, Enoch 105:1–2, Enoch 106:1–5, Enoch 108:1–15, Tobit 13:10-11, Tobit 13:16-17, Jos 13:1-33, 1 Sa18:1-5, 1 Ch 28:1-2, 2 Ch 3:1-17, 1 Ch 4:1-22, 2 Ch 5:1-14, 2 Ch 6:1-11, 2 Ch 30:6-9, 2 Ch 36:22-23, Ezr 1:1-3, Neh 1:9-11, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 10:30-38, Joh 14:1-31. Joh 15:1-27, Joh 17:20-26, Rom 8:9-10, Rom 12:1-8, 1 Co 3:16, 1 Co 6:12-20, 1Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 3:14-21, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26-28, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-24, 1 Jn 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21!!!!

Conclusion

Chapter (14) teaches all that YHWH Protects, 1 Pe 5:10, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, The Body of YHWH Ab, YHWH Bane, YHWH Ruach, YHWH Qahal, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49, Joh 17:20-26, that all are brought back Luke 15:1-32, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, Rev 12:4-9, to the body of Christ, 1 Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-21, 1 John 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that all are redeemed, purchased back by the blood of Christ John 1:29, Col 1:13-14, Eph 1:17, Heb 13:20-21!!!!

Do You Know Why YHWH Protects You?

So that You may lead all back Luke 15:1-32, Rom 3:23, Rev 2:5, Rev 12:4-9, to the body of Christ, 1 Co 12:1-31, 2 Co 5:17-21, 2 Co 6:14-18, Col 1:15-19, Eph 2:1-22, Eph 4:1-32, Gal 3:26, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 John 3:11-21, 1 John 4:7-21, Rev 22:1-21, that all are redeemed, purchased back by the blood of Christ John 1:29, Col 1:13-14, Eph 1:17, Heb 13:20-21!!!!