A Rush Of Judgement
Good day to each of you reading this column on a very interesting subject and the profound lesson that God provides to us as we grow in our faith.
As you are aware, I have been reading the Apocrypha which some accept and some don’t, but I find reading the Apocrypha provides valuable insights and lessons in our daily life.
Let me paint the picture of the story of Susanna, a beautiful young lady married to Joakim, a very rich young man whose parents were upright and very distinguished in Babylon.
The distinguished family had a couple of elders or people that were appointed judges who would constantly come and visit Joakim’s house for cases to be decided.
But these two judges were not so pure for the Lord said, “Lawlessness came forth from Babylon, from elders who became judges, who were supposed to guide the people.”
These two cunning men would wait until the cases were settled by midday before they would watch Susanna go about into the beautiful garden and walk about.
As the days passed and the elders watched, they developed a passion for Susanna, a smitten passion, an intense jealousy and a great desire to have relations with her.
These two men devised a plan to find her alone, in the garden and by herself. This opportunity happened when one hot day Susanna decided to bathe in the garden where her two maids left and closed the doors to the garden while she was bathing.
Unknowingly, the two elders awaited their chance inside the garden and as they confronted Susanna, the two elders told her they were in love with her and wanted to lay with her. And if you don’t, we will testify against you that you had a young man with you and that is why you dismissed the maids.
What a dilemma for Susanna, what path to choose—Susanna screamed as loud as she could and their came the maids to which the elders told their story of the young man.
What I did not tell you was that Susanna had made the right choice of not having relations, fall into the elder’s hands, than commit sin in the Lord’s sight.
As the word spread throughout the town the next day, the elders, the people, Joakim the husband and a veiled Susanna along with her relatives came to decide her fate.
Now the lawbreakers ordered Susanna to unveil herself so they might have their fill of her beauty. Making matters worse, the two elders stood up in the midst of the weeping crowd and laid their hands on her head.
While Susanna wept and looked to heaven for her trust was in the Lord, the two elders told their story of seeing a young man who was hidden, came and lay with her during her bath.
The two elders said they were in a corner of the garden watching this wicked action, both men ran up to them to subdue the young man who was too strong and broke away. So, they held Susanna and asker the young man’s name and she would not tell us and that is the two elders’ testimony.
The rush to judgement begins with the assembly of people believing the two elders and condemning her to death.
Now Susanna looked upward and uttered a loud cry, and said, “Eternal God, you who know what is hidden, who knows all things before they happen, you know that what they have testified to against me is false, and here I am to die when I have done none of these things that have so wickedly charged me with.”
Folks, here is how great our Lord is for he heard her loud cry and as she was being led away to her death, God stirred the holy spirit of a young man and if you guessed his name was Daniel, the same one in the Lion’s den then you would be correct.
Daniel shouted before everyone, “I am clear of the blood of this woman.” The people turned to him and wanted to know what he meant by the statement.
David, through the holy spirit, condemned the people for not examining the two elders’ statements and making false witness against Susanna.
So, all the people returned back to the garden and as they gathered the elders’ told Daniel to sit and inform them for God has given you the right to do so.
David separated each elder so he could speak with him directly to which the following question arose, if you saw this woman, tell us, under which tree did you see them meet? The first elder answered under the mastic tree.
Daniel said, “You have told a fine lie against your own life, for already the angel of God has received the sentence from God, and he will cut you in two.”
The first elder was removed and the second elder met Daniel with Daniel asking the same question of under which tree did you see them meet? He said, under a live oak tree.
Daniel said, “You have told a fine lie against your own life, for already the angel of God has received the sentence from God, and he will cut you in two.”
In summary, a mere rush to judgement would have cost the life of an innocent and God-fearing woman and the blood of those who wanted her to be put to death.
God, knowing the heart of all men raised Daniel up to convict the two elders of false witness and treated them as they had wickedly planned to treat their neighbor.
The conclusion: And the whole company uttered a great shout and blessed God who saves those who hope in him.
May you bless God in all that you say and do!