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Who is Susanna?
March 18, 2024
Susanna [1–9,15–29,34–40],41-62 | John 8:1–11 or John 8:12–20 | Psalm 23
Not being a Biblical scholar nor an avid reader of the Apocrypha, I was curious about the Old Testament reading. While the background of Susanna’s story and where or even whether it is placed in the Bible is fascinating, it is the story itself which captured my attention. The other more familiar passages from John share the same themes of justice, honesty, retribution and perhaps the more modern focus on privilege, yet Susanna could have been a headline in today’s papers and news feeds.
Briefly (and I encourage you to read the whole story) Susanna is the beautiful and educated wife of a rich and prominent man. Their house is frequented by two elders who were appointed as judges and often heard cases there. The elders are obsessed with Susanna and one day hide in the garden where Susanna is preparing to bathe. When her maid leaves to get oil for the bath, the elders accost Susanna and demand that she lie with them. They tell her that if she refuses, they will accuse her of adultery, which holds a punishment of death. She refuses. “I choose not to do it; I will fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of the Lord.” Whereupon she is accused and sentenced to die. She appeals to God who knows she has been wronged. God responds by waking he spirit of Daniel. Enter Daniel to the rescue: “I want no part in shedding this woman’s blood…Are you such fools, O Israelites, as to condemn a daughter of Israel without examination and without learning the facts?” Daniel is then invited to sit with the other elders and tells them to separate the accusers so that he might examine them. Separately, he asks the same question of both men, and their answers do not agree. They are thus exposed and sentenced to death according to the law.
How relevant this story is today! It and related stories of false entitlement are far too common. But it is the cry of Daniel that seems to be the focus of the lesson. We condemn without examination and without learning the facts as we watch those with power and privilege do the same? For that matter, we are challenged to examine the facts themselves in this age of AI, fake news and alternative facts. We have advanced technology which provides instant access, yet we are still challenged to examine what we hear.
I’d be lying if I said I was not deeply troubled by all of this. But then I remember that history seems to run in cycles. We tilt pretty far in one direction before we circle around to find a balance which then leads to a tilt in another direction. (I do wish, however, that we did not have to reach the extremes before we tilt.) And I also remember that there are still Daniels in the world who will call us out. And I remember that there are people who follow what Jesus asks us to be, not what desire for power and self aggrandizement tempt us to be.
When the news is too overwhelming, I’ll remember Susanna, who refused to abandon her faith and the core of her being. I’ll remember Daniel who had the courage to call out the elders. I’ll remember Jesus who challenged those lusting for punishment to examine themselves before casting a stone.
Or maybe I’ll just stop watching the news.
Sally House
