Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 8; Psalm 91; Isaiah 36; Revelation 6
And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. (Isaiah 36:10)
These words were spoken by the Rabshakeh of King Sennacherib when he was sent to Jerusalem to besiege the city. As he stood without the city walls, he addressed the people that were on the wall and told them that there was no hope of fighting against the mighty Assyrian army. Everyone he had come up against he had conquered. He was on orders from his king to offer terms of surrender to the Jews living in Jerusalem. He spoke in perfect Hebrew and all the people heard him say that their God – Jehovah had sent him!
Was this true? Had he really heard the one true God tell him to go up against the city that God had chosen out of all the cities on the planet for his name to be worshipped?
No, the Rabshakeh had not heard the word of God. He was confused and misinformed. He had heard of the revival that had taken place during the reign of Hezekiah and thought Hezekiah had departed from the true worship of Jehovah.
But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar? (Isaiah 36:7)
Hezekiah had broken down altars to false gods and restored the true worship centered around the temple in Jerusalem. The Rabshakeh was trying to get the people not to trust Hezekiah and to fear him enough to surrender to him. However, he did not understand who Jehovah was. This reminds me of Muslims in our day. They look at Roman Catholic idolatry and think that is Christianity. They are confused because they have not had a good look at the true church.
What do you do when your enemy comes in the name of your God? It happens every day. In the name of Jesus some defend abortion. In the name of Jesus some say God made homosexuals that way. In the name of Jesus some say all roads lead to heaven.
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:1-2)
We must weigh every word spoken in the name of God by the Word of God. If a prophet does not speak according to the Word of God it is because there is no light in him!
In Christ,
Rody
