Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"They held their peace"
Text: Isaiah 36:21
THE BOAST OF THE RABSHAKEH
The Rabshakeh was an excellent speaker and a military expert. He was highly skilled in oratory and caused Judah to become unsettled as Assyria besieged Jerusalem.
“‘Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim?
Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand?
Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand,
that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?’
But they held their peace and answered him not a word;
for the king’s commandment was, ‘Do not answer him.’
Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household,
Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder,
came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.”
Isaiah 36:19-22
1. Three cities cited.
a) Hamath, Arpad and Sepharvaim.
b) These were cities of Syria.
c) Each city had its own deities.
d) All these cities were conquered by the Assyrians.
2. The boast of the Rabshakeh.
a) That the deities of these lands were powerless against the Assyrians.
b) He boasted that the God of Judah, the LORD would not be able to withstand the might of Assyria.
c) No one could possibly overcome the Assyrians.
3. Reporting everything to King Hezekiah.
a) The three advisors represented King Hezekiah.
b) They had heard the intimidating words of the Rabshakeh.
i) They appeared before King Hezekiah with their clothes torn.
ii) This represented their state of distress and sorrow.
iii) They stood in fear of the threat of the Assyrians.
c) They were given wise and clear instructions.
i) They were not to engage the Rabshakeh in conversation.
ii) They were not to respond to all his taunts.
iii) Silence was the best response to the Rabshakeh.