Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18; Philemon; Hosea 11; Psalms 132-134
2 Kings 18:36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.
Hezekiah had commanded the people not to talk to the Rabshakeh when he made his threats and his promises in regards to Jerusalem. This officer of Assyria was standing outside the walls of Jerusalem and speaking in Hebrew to the men gathered on the walls.
2 Kings 18:25-26a Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
This Assyrian claimed that Jehovah had told him to besiege the land of Judah and to destroy Jerusalem. As he spoke to the men on the wall, he also tried to put doubt in their hearts toward their king, Hezekiah.
2 Kings 18:29-30 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
This is what the enemy does. He speaks in the name of God, but he speaks lies. He tries to destroy confidence in godly men and to place doubt in the followers of Christ. There is only one way to deal with someone like the Rabshakeh – don’t answer him a word. We must not listen to the lies of the enemy. His propaganda is designed to cause doubt and despair. He is good at it! He has been doing it for a long time. He started with a woman named Eve in a garden over some fruit.
When the doubts and deceit of the enemy come at you, what should you do? You should answer him not a word, but do what godly Hezekiah did.
2 Kings 19:15-16 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
Don’t talk to the enemy; talk to the Father.
In Christ,
Rody
