In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. 3 And there came out to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.
4 And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 5 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord our God,” is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, “You shall worship before this altar”? 8 Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.9 How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 Moreover, is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.”’” 11 Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 12 But the Rabshakeh said, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?” 13 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lordwill surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lordwill deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’” 21 But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.” 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh. Meditation Do you struggle with despair and doubt? Today’s passage details the enemy’s strategy to drive you to this destination. When difficulties of life press in we must deepen our trust in the Lord. The Assyrian army had captured the Northern Kingdom, conquered most other countries, ravaged most of Judah, and surrounded Jerusalem. The leaders were not surrendering so the enemy developed a ploy to speak to the people, to discourage them. Barry Webb says, “This speech is a classic study in the Satanic art of sowing doubt and unbelief through subtly twisting the truth.” The Assyrian speech details Satan’s strategy to discourage you: -Questioning the place of our trust. Can we REALLY trust the Lord? (4) -Twisting the truth through mis-representing reality and lying about what God has said (10). -Using our heart language to question the heart of God (13, 18). -Claiming the authority of God is deceiving you (14-15). -Inviting false peace, even using language of God’s covenant promises (16-17). -Placing the Lord among other empty powers of the world (19-20). If you struggle with despair or doubt then you probably have believed the enemy’s taunting. God is faithful, worthy of our trust. God’s Word is true and the true heart language of believers. God is not deceiving you. God is with you and He is in control. You will find peace when you go to Him, trusting Him with all your heart. Our God is King of Kings and Lord of Lords- There is no one like our God! Richly Dwelling -Do you struggle with despair and doubt? What is your trust level in the Lord? -Which of the details of the Devil’s map to lead God’s people to despair and doubt hit closest to home for you? -Doubt your doubts. That is, place the truth of God in the place of the enemies questioning and taunting. Preach hope to yourself! Do not respond to the enemy but drink of Divine presence and promises found in Christ alone. Key Verse 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’” Comments are closed.
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AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa & together they have four adventurous children. |