“In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army… And there came out to him Eliakim… and Shebna the secretary, and Joah.., the recorder.
“The Rabshakeh said, ‘Say to Hezekiah, “Thus says the great king… of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?… 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’?… 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…’”’
“Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice… ‘Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!.. Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 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… his own fig tree, and each… will drink the water of his own cistern, 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. Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.”'” Isaiah 36:1-5,7,10,13-18a
The Rabshekah from Assyria made bold claims against God, and for his own pompous power. This conniving high ranking military officer did all he could to undermine Hezekiah and Israel’s trust in the Lord. Not understanding the power of the invisible, living God left him sauntering and positioning himself as the only victor. Hezekiah knew better. He trusted not in empty or threatening words, but the true Word of his Lord. It was Him he sought and trusted for deliverance. (Isaiah 37:1-20)
Many voices turn our heads, confuse convictions, and vie for our allegiance. When we face difficulties and temptation, seasons of pressure, challenge, or trial, where do we turn for clarity and victory? Are we swayed by emotions triggered by mere words, or the suggestions of men? Or do we measure these messages against the Word?
How will we know better and stand more firmly on God’s truth when taunted? What daily practices can we implement to establish ourselves against attempted enemy deception? The Lord alone is sure and true.
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” ~R. Keen (1787)
Lord, give me wisdom to discern truth and boldness to stand for it.
As the rain and snow 