Comfort in the Ruins: From Suffering to Restoration

Josiah and Other Worthies The memory of Josi′ah is like a blending of incense prepared by the art of the perfumer; it is sweet as honey to every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine. He was led aright in converting the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity. He set his heart upon the Lord; in the days of wicked men he strengthened godliness. Except David and Hezeki′ah and Josi′ah they all sinned greatly, for they forsook the law of the Most High; the kings of Judah came to an end; for they gave their power to others, and their glory to a foreign nation, who set fire to the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made her streets desolate, according to the word of Jeremiah. For they had afflicted him; yet he had been consecrated in the womb as prophet, to pluck up and afflict and destroy, and likewise to build and to plant. It was Ezekiel who saw the vision of glory which God showed him above the chariot of the cherubim. For God remembered his enemies with storm, and did good to those who directed their ways aright. May the bones of the twelve prophets revive from where they lie, for they comforted the people of Jacob and delivered them with confident hope. How shall we magnify Zerub′babel? He was like a signet on the right hand, and so was Jeshua the son of Jo′zadak; in their days they built the house and raised a temple holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory. The memory of Nehemi′ah also is lasting; he raised for us the walls that had fallen, and set up the gates and bars and rebuilt our ruined houses. Retrospect No one like Enoch has been created on earth, for he was taken up from the earth. And no man like Joseph has been born, and his bones are cared for. Shem and Seth were honored among men, and Adam above every living being in the creation.

Sirach 49 is a sweeping memorial: Josiah the reformer, Jeremiah the prophet consecrated in the womb, the twelve unnamed prophets whose bones still comfort, Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest rebuilding the temple, and Nehemiah raising the walls. The chapter binds together judgment (the burning of the chosen city) and restoration (everlasting glory prepared for the temple).