July 10: Lies and Scare Tactics

2 Kings 18, 19, 20:1-11, Isaiah 36, 37, 38, 39, 2 Chron. 32

2 Chronicles 32:1-23

Amplified Bible (AMP)

32 After these things and this loyalty, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, invaded Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to take them.

2 When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem,

3 He decided with his officers and his mighty men to stop up the waters of the fountains which were outside the city [by enclosing them with masonry and concealing them], and they helped him.

4 So many people gathered, and they stopped up all the springs and the brook which flowed through the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?

5 Also Hezekiah took courage and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised towers upon it, and he built another wall outside and strengthened the Millo in the City of David and made weapons and shields in abundance.

6 And he set captains of war over the people and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,

7 Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there is Another with us greater than [all those] with him.

8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 And this Sennacherib king of Assyria, while he himself with all his forces was before Lachish, sent his servants to Jerusalem, to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying,

10 Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: On what do you trust, that you remain in the strongholds in Jerusalem?

11 Is not Hezekiah leading you on in order to let you die by famine and thirst, saying, The Lord our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

12 Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, You shall worship before one altar and burn incense upon it?

13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands in any way able to deliver their lands out of my hand?

14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed was able to deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?

15 So now, do not let Hezekiah deceive or mislead you in this way, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!

16 And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against His servant Hezekiah.

17 The Assyrian king also wrote letters insulting the Lord, the God of Israel, and speaking against Him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver His people out of my hand.

18 And they shouted it loudly in the Jewish language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, that they might take the city.

19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of the hands of men.

20 For this cause Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed and cried to heaven.

21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the Assyrian king returned with shamed face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, they who were his own offspring slew him there with the sword.

22 Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and He guided them on every side.

23 And many brought gifts to Jerusalem to the Lord and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah; so from then on he was magnified in the sight of all nations.

This reminds me of satan's scare tactics. He tries to scare us into surrendering. He tries to overwhelm us with part facts, part lies. Did you know there's a bit of truth in every lie? That's why the lie seems so real. Sometimes he comes against us through our thoughts, and sometimes he uses people. He can even use people close to us who love us. I know, because I, even I, have been used by him. I used to talk a LOT. Too much. I didn't like lulls in conversation. So I would spill all my guts all the time. There's a term for this. It's called oversharing. Many times, I have been hurtful to those I love the most with my wagging tongue. But I'm glad I can say God has transformed my thinking. I'm not that person anymore, with His help. 

I have also been on the receiving end of a hurtful tongue. Angry words have pierced my heart like a knife. Ouch! 

In this account, the king of Assyria tried to scare the people of Jerusalem into surrendering. His boastful talk sounded very convincing! Thankfully they had a strong king who sought out Isaiah and cried out to God. And God delivered the people!

Romans 3:4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified and shown to be upright in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].

God is pretty much the ONLY one we can trust. I hope this doesn't come as too much of a shock to anyone. We ALL disappoint others at times. But God NEVER disappoints. He is incredibly trustworthy. He NEVER badmouths us to our face OR behind our back.

"Dear God, thank You that we can trust You. The devil spouts off lies to us constantly, just as the king of Assyria did to the people in the cities of Judah. He uses scare tactics, but they're all lies. Sometimes he even tries to scare us or discourage us through friends or family. We only need to run everything by You. You are our Counselor. You are our Deliverer. You are our Savior. We run to You. We praise You right now because we know You love us with a perfect love. You are Truth. You cannot lie to us. Thank You, precious Jesus for Your true Love. And protection. And deliverance from our enemies. Yours is the glory forever and ever. AMEN."