“Then the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh from Lachish, with a great army against Jerusalem, to King Hezekiah. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they had come up, they went and stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, which was on the highway to the Fuller’s Field. 18 And when they had called to the king, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them. 19 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: “What confidence is this in which you trust?” 2 Kings 18:17-19 NKJV
“Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and do not speak to us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.” 27 But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat and drink their own waste with you?” 28 Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out with a loud voice in Hebrew, and spoke, saying, “Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! 29 Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand; 30 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”” 2 Kings 18: 26-30 NKJV
“But the people held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.”” 2 Kings 18:36
Father God,
We know that there is power in the spoken word. When You speak, creation begins (Genesis 1:3,5,7,9), we know Jesus as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). You commune with Your creation and Your disciples (John 16:13). Your Word is miraculous.
Here Hezekiah is faced with Sennacherib’s mouthpiece Rabshakeh who stands at the aqueduct and speak to all the people of Judah watching from the walls of Jerusalem. He greets them using their own language. He uses words as weapons. Their own language used mockingly. Intentionally crude and offensive imagery about the defenders eating their own excrement and drinking their own urine (2 Kings 18:27). Trying to destroy morale and end a long siege. But Jerusalem stays silent and for once do as they are told. Because they trusted God they were defended. The angel of the Lord visited Sennacherib’s camp and 185,000 died overnight and they fled to back Nineveh (2 Kings 19:35-36).
There was no power in the enemies words. There was power in silence and trusting You God. Helps us to not argue with the enemy, the one who mocks, that old liar (John 8:44) but stay silent, speak to You and trust in Your Word.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 20th June 2026
I don’t like to give satan any attention but this is a great little song and God is all we need.
Satan is a liar
And he’s whispering like mad
Sin is always better
God is always bad
But Satan is a liar
And he’d crush you if you could
Sin is never better
God is always good
You will face temptation
But the truth will set you free
Pray that God would give you
Eyes of faith to see
Satan is a liar
And he’s heading for defeat
Sin is never better
God is all you need
Anger lust and bitterness
Greed and pride and hate
Sin and self or Jesus
That’s the choice we make
Be on your guard and ready
Because Satan will attack
Saying sin is always better
And God has turned his back
Let the word of God go deep
No matter what the test
Sin is never better
God is always best
Chorus.
Lyrics: Colin Buchanan