Waiting on the Wall
One Year Bible (July 1)
2 Kings 18:13-19:37
Waiting On the Wall
Have you ever felt like your body was frozen in place? You could hear the bad news being spoken around you but it seemed surreal and hopeless?
In 2 Kings 18:27, we catch a glimpse of the people of Judah facing terror with no place to turn. Assyria is coming to take over their country with a spokesman named Rabshakeh (A good name for this guy as I am pretty sure they were a “shakeh” in their boots about now!)
The "Rab-Shaker" says to them, “Has my master sent me only to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who “sit on the wall”?
You see, Ol' Rab, the shaker, wants all the people to hear the FAKE NEWS, “When we put this city under siege, they will suffer along with you. They will be so hungry and thirsty that they will eat their own dung and drink their own urine.” (Oh poop, this can’t be good! This dude is causing intestinal distress!)
Every person, Waiting on the Wall, has their eyes directly fixed on one man, Hezekiah.
The story of Hezekiah (The 13th King of Judah) also unfolds in 2 Chronicles 28:27-32:33, and Isaiah 36:1-39:8. It is a powerful read to look back on Hezekiah’s beginnings.
This man is a “Rose Between Two Thorns”.
His father was “Awful Ahaz” and his son was “Monster Monassah”. Ahaz was Awful, and Monassah was Abhorrent! While Ahaz and Monassah built, promoted, and advanced Idol worship throughout Judah, King Hezekiah enlisted the people to destroy all idols, and return fully to worship God. He reopened and repaired the temple and called God’s people to recommit themselves to the covenant.
“Because of Hezekiah’s faithfulness, the LORD was with him; wherever he went he prospered. The Lord gave Judah victory over their enemies. Hezekiah rebelled against… Assyria.”
( 2 Kings 18: 7-12)
Hezekiah had been paying money to Assyria to protect them from being captured. The enemy has already conquered the Nation of Israel and now it had come to take the nation of Judah. He didn't want to "pay up" anymore, so now they are getting the "shakedown"!
Listen to some of the lies that the King’s field commander, "Rab-shake-em-up", delivers to the people. Ask yourself if any of “this stuff” sounds familiar to you...
First, he warns them that Egypt was a weak ally that would turn on them.
Then, he turns his intimidation on Hezekiah’s leadership saying that he had taken away their spiritual strength by destroying “The High Places” (idol altars).
Next, he then attacked Judah’s lack of military strength and skill and warned them not to listen to Hezekiah and his promises that the Lord would deliver them.
Here’s where it gets interesting… He promised them to make their peace with him and deny their leader, Hezekiah. After all, he can give them, “a land of grain and new wine… bread and vineyards… olive trees, and honey.” (v. 32)
Meanwhile, Hezekiah had ordered the people, “Do not answer him.” (18:36)
Is it just me here, or can you hear the voice of Satan tempting Jesus in the desert in this little rant and rave? “I can feed you. I can catch you. I can give you a new kingdom if you will just bow down to idols. Your God can’t save you!”
The whole encounter is just “slithery”!
What does Hezekiah do in the face of capture and devastation?
“He tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the hours of the Lord.” (19:1) The ancient practice of “tearing clothes and sackcloth” shows grief, anger, and mourning in the face of death.
What is Hezekiah’s plan to deal with his enemy?
Sennacherib’s messengers had communicated the Assyrian king’s taunt in the form of a letter. Hezekiah read the letter, then walked to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.
Then he prayed to “The God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim.”(19:14-19). This is the God who dwells in the “Holy of Holies”... On “The Mercy Seat”.
Next, he sought out the prophet, Isaiah.
Hezekiah IMMEDIATELY REACHED UP for God…
And God IMMEDIATELY REACHED DOWN to LIFT HEZEKIAH UP!!
Here are the words of the Lord that Isaiah tells Hezekiah, “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.” (19:6-7)
The evil King, Sennacherib of Assyria was killed by his sons while worshiping a false god.
Then, “The angel of the LORD"’ went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians!
As for the "Fake News”, the people were promised food by the slithery-voiced messenger, Mr. Rab-shake-em-up. However, they were actually given food from God that “grew itself” without them growing it for two years. After that, they were again able to sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat the fruit.” (19:29)
You see when Hezekiah destroyed all of the idols and restored worship for the people he “Took on the Enemy”.
So, “The Enemy came to Take on Hezekiah”.
Unfortunately, Hezekiah tried to take on the enemy by thwarting them on his own at first. That didn’t work!
Fortunately, for Hezekiah, the enemy had to go through God to get to him! The King of Assyria seriously underestimated his foe… He meant to take on a man, but he took on his GOD!
As in Hezekiah’s situation, the enemy comes to lie to us in the very same manner… “Do you think your God can take care of you, REALLY?? He doesn’t seem to be doing a very good job of it.”
What lessons can we learn today from Mr. Rab-shake-em-up?
How about, "Liar! Liar! Pants on FIRE!"?
"Don't be afraid because of the WORDS you have heard?" ( 2 Kings 19:6)
Whose voice are you hearing in your ear right now?
Time to Reach up, and shake that "Fake News Off".
As for the people still “Waiting on the Wall” today...Will they see God in you and me?
