“But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 2 Kings 18:36
***********************************************************************************
We are introduced to King Hezekiah, king of Judah, earlier in the chapter, in verse 3.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[b])
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. ” 2 Kings 18:3-6
Things start to go bad. Israel is captured. Assyria is coming on strong. Hezekiah gives him Judah’s treasures. (After all, it’s just “stuff”, right?). But that doesn’t seem to be enough. The king of Assyria sends commanders to taunt the king and his people. The commanders try to tempt the people, saying that if they surrender their lives will be full of creature comforts, instead of the misery they will endure if they don’t. They point to what is happening and say their God has no power. After all, it surely is starting to look that way. Things look pretty hopeless.
So what do the people do? Do they lash out in return? Do they sling insults back at them? Do they get all puffed up about what their God has already done for them in the past?
No.
“But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.” 2 Kings 18:36
Must have been hard for people of great faith that felt deep down in their soul that they were truly God’s chosen people.
Reminds me of Jesus on crucifixion day, as he was lead to the cross.
Sometimes, many more times than we’d like, we just need to stay silent when insults are slung at us by people that are not going to listen to us anyway.
This chapter spoke to me today. I have been so fed up with all the mud slinging I hear these days, on the news, and among people that are staunch supporters of their particular political party. I cringe when Christians enter the fray and sling the mud back, just as vehemently. It makes me sad. It just doesn’t seem right. After our study at church on Love I am reminded that it certainly is not loving. I find myself really cheering for Hezehiah’s people. They are doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and putting their trust in Him.
Lord, give me the strength to stay silent when I need to. When I do speak, when the time is right, let it be words of love.
Sue
PS – sorry for the late post today!
Sixty-six books in a year 