(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Kings 18:1-37)

Hezekiah king of Judah did right in the sight of the Lord, doing what the other kings in Judah were unwilling to do. In today’s Scripture, we read,

4 He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.

Hezekiah did not just do what was right in the sight of the Lord, but he restored worship in Jerusalem. He was known as one that trusted in the Lord, so much so that it is recorded “that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.”

However, Hezekiah also faced his challenges with the king of Assyria. Initially Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him, however when the king of Assyria came up against Judah, Hezekiah said to him, “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear.”

Yes, even though Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, he still struggled with this trust when coming face to face with the real danger and threat that Assyria presented. Hezekiah gave the king of Assyria what he asked for, but we read later that the king of Assyria still sent an entourage to intimidate Judah.

The Assyrian representatives spoke in the language of Judah so that all people could hear their words, hoping to intimidate them in an imposing way. They delivered a message from the king of Assyria saying,

29 “Thus says the king, ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you from my hand; 30 nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”

The people responded with silence, however, just as Hezekiah commanded them, “Do not answer him.”

Yes, we may be faithful servants of the Lord, give our lives completely over to Him, but yet when we come face to face with the reality of life, we too may back down and not be able confidently proclaim the Lord’s Name it the midst of challenges.

In those times, however, rather than trying to fight the world head on, maybe sometimes we too need to just be silent and “do not answer” until we have direction and strength from the Lord.

In times where our faith is tested, let us also learn at times to first be silent, do not answer, and come to the Lord. Let us not let the world intimidate us to respond or react with our own strength.

Let us learn to be silent for a time, come to the Lord in the Spirit and by the grace of Jesus Christ, because it is the Lord that will give us the words to speak, and the courage to act.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Kings 18