Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 18:17-25.
“Then the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah with a large army to Jerusalem. So they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they went up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway of the fuller’s field. When they called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came out to them.
Then Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What is this confidence that you have? You say (but they are only empty words), ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me? Now behold, you rely on the staff of this crushed reed, even on Egypt; on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him. But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem’? Now therefore, come, make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. How then can you repulse one official of the least of my master’s servants, and rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? Have I now come up without the LORD’S approval against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’”’” 2 Kings 18:17-25.
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Today’s Scripture teaches us lessons on how to guard against the words of our enemies even though they may seem very persuasive. Rather than trusting our enemies, we should seek the LORD and trust Him.
Most generally, the representatives of the king of Assyria whom Judah knew had besieged Israel and carried Israel into exile were now trying to convince Judah to peacefully surrender without a fight. That fact alone should be sufficient to not trust their words.
Likewise, most generally, we need to be very guarded against whatever our enemies tell us and not trust them just because they seem to make persuasive arguments.
We will look at two of their specific persuasive arguments highlighted by bold italic font.
Regarding verse 21, it is true that the LORD warned Judah about seeking help from Egypt in Isaiah 30:2-3 and 7. But, that does not necessarily mean that Judah should now surrender to Assyria. The devil quoted Scripture in trying to tempt Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11. Likewise, we should not do what our enemies tell us to do only because they quote Scripture.
Regarding verse 25, the LORD may have told or led Assyria to attack Israel in order to punish Israel, but that does not necessarily mean that the LORD told or led Assyria now to attack Judah in order to punish Judah.
We will read in later Scripture that Hezekiah king of Judah wisely sent his servants to Isaiah.
“Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’” 2 Kings 19:6-7.
In summary, rather than listening to our enemies and trusting them, we should seek and listen to the LORD, and trust Him.
“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8.
“4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.”
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.” Psalm 34:4-7.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 