Trash Talk

II Chron. 32:9

And after this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servant to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem saying,..."

Sennacherib thought he could weaken Jerusalem and Hezekiah with trash talk. He began by asking the question, "On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem?" He goes on to say that Hezekiah is misleading them and that if they trust him, they will die of famine and thirst. But Hezekiah said, "The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the King of Assyria?"

Then Sennacherib pointed out that Hezekiah had taken away the high places and altars commanding them to worship and burn sacrifices only at one altar, as if that was a bad thing. He followed this with a series of questions: Do you know what my people have done to the people of other lands? Had any god delivered any of those other nations? Why would Judah think that Hezekiah's God would deliver them now? So consequently, you are being deceived by Hezekiah. Strong words! Would these cast doubts into the minds and hearts of the people? Would it make them fear even more? After all, Sennacherib was a formidable enemy.

As if this wasn't enough Sennacherib's servants said even more of the same, spreading the venom wherever they were. Then came a letter writing campaign for the purpose of casting contempt on God. What did these letters say? More of the same: The God of Hezekiah will not deliver you. Then they shouted these same words in the language of the Judeans to frighten and terrify those people who were on the wall. What powerful tactics to bring down the people, to sow the seeds of fear and distrust, and to belittle their God. If they would have stopped with bringing down the people and spreading fear, they might have succeeded, but they couldn't belittle God!

Hezekiah fell on his face before God and prayed. What to do?? The answer came quickly. God sent the angel of the Lord to cut off the warriors, commanders, and officers in their very camp. There was no battle. Sennacherib went home shamefaced and was killed by his own sons.

The moral of the story: God does not respond to trash talk! His name is not to be mocked or demeaned! As long as Hezekiah prayed and did not succumb to fear or believe the lies, God was his strength and deliverance. The world is proficient at trash talk, and sadly, many times believers are taken it by it. But I need never fear, God will be my strength and deliverer. He will protect His own name and His own children.

Father,

Help me to keep my eyes on You when the words of the world come in like fiery darts seeking to destroy my faith. Thank You for being my strength!

In Jesus name,

Amen