Slices
Prepare
In Luke 6, Jesus said that listening to and obeying his words is like digging a deep, strong foundation for your life. When trials come, what helps you stand firm?
Bible passage
Sennacherib threatens Jerusalem
17 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer and his field commander with a large army, from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. 18 They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.
19 The field commander said to them, ‘Tell Hezekiah:
‘“This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: on what are you basing this confidence of yours? 20 You say you have the counsel and the might for war – but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? 21 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. 22 But if you say to me, ‘We are depending on the Lord our God’– isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?
23 ‘“Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses – if you can put riders on them! 24 How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master’s officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 25 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord? The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.”’
26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebna and Joah said to the field commander, ‘Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.’
27 But the commander replied, ‘Was it only to your master and you that my master sent me to say these things, and not to the people sitting on the wall – who, like you, will have to eat their own excrement and drink their own urine?’
28 Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, ‘Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 This is what the king says: do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you from my hand. 30 Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”
31 ‘Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig-tree and drink water from your own cistern, 32 until I come and take you to a land like your own – a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!
‘Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, “The Lord will deliver us.” 33 Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 34 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria from my hand? 35 Who of all the gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me? How then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’
36 But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, ‘Do not answer him.’
37 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went to Hezekiah, with their clothes torn, and told him what the field commander had said.
Explore
The king of Assyria is a classic example of how our enemy lies, taunts us and twists the truth when he is trying to shake our faith in God. Notice how his tactics mirror those of the serpent in Eden.
First, he questions whether our faith is in something trustworthy (vs 20,21). Then he tells half-truths (v 22) – Hezekiah did tell the people they must worship at the Jerusalem Temple, but the high places he removed were those for worshipping false gods.
Then he tries to bargain, offering gifts that denote wealth and power (v 23). In verses 31 and 32 he offers things similar to what God has already promised them. Remember how in the Garden of Eden the serpent promised Adam and Eve that they would be ‘like God’ (Genesis 3:5) – when they had already been made like him, created in his image (Genesis 1:27)!
He also claims to be offering life (v 32), as the serpent did (Genesis 3:4). God’s followers need to hold fast to the knowledge that he alone gives life, and he gives it to those who serve him (see Deuteronomy 30:15–20).
Respond
‘Heavenly Father, the enemy’s lies can be so persuasive. Yet his tactics are the same today as they were in Eden, and were to your Son in the wilderness. Help me to know the truth and choose life in you, as Jesus did. Amen.'
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 9,10; Psalm 90
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for the Faith Guide and Mission Partner training programmes that Jenni Whymark (Central Region Mission Enabler) has put together. Pray that people will attend the sessions and leave better equipped and inspired to put things into practice in their ministry. Pray for Jenni as she juggles this and her day-to-day work.
Because a strong start begins with smart preparation
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