Trash Talk
This morning after my prayer connection at Everyday Joes, I conducted the devotional time at Morning Star. It was good to have Harry Weimar and my sister-in-law Sue Schmidt join me. After the devotional time, I left for a trip to the western slope. I am visiting my sister at her new home in Grand Junction and then will attend an oil and gas symposium in Rifle, the next two days. I think this is the longest distance I have driven since my illness.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…Ā āTell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: āWhat are you relying on? You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. What are you now relying on so that you have rebelled against me?Ā Look, you are now trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will enter and pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it…āDonāt let your God, whom you trust, deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.Ā Look, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries: they completely destroyed them. Will you be rescued?“ 2 Kings 18:19-21; 19:10-11 HCSB
In sports “trash talk” refers to the barbs and words of intimidation that one opponent speaks to another. This technique to gain an upper hand through words before the conflict begins is as old as warfare. We see it in the words that Goliath spoke to the armies of Israel and even David as the shepherd boy approached the mighty warrior.
Assyria was gaining power and was expanding its territory and conquering nations. They had overthrown the kingdom of Israel and now the King of Assyria set his sights on Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah. The intimidation and threatening words were extensive, creating fear and panic.
We see some responses that are instructive for us when facing opposition in our lives. The first thing we see is control over a response in kind. “But the people kept silent; they didnāt say anything, for the kingās command was, āDonāt answer him.ā (2 Kings 18:36 HCSB) More often than not you lose when lower yourself to the level of the one who is speaking works of condemnation and confrontation. Although I do like response of the King of Israel on one occasion to King Ben-hadad. “The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.'” (1 Kings 20:11 NIV)
Next we see King Hezekiah turning to the Lord. He realized the challenge before him and instead of turning to human strategies and resources he came to the Lord in prayer. “Then Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: Lord God of Israel who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are GodāYou aloneāof all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.Ā Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, Lord, and see….Now, Lord our God, please save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord GodāYou alone.” (2 Kings 19:15-19 HCSB)
Hezekiah recognize that this was a battle beyond the abilities of his armies. He needed the Lord’s divine intervention. As the Lord answered through the prophet Isaiah we see the Lord’s response (His own “trash talk”), “I know your sitting down, your going out and your coming in, and your raging against Me. Because your raging against Me and your arrogance have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will make you go back the way you came.” (2 Kings 19:27-28 HCSB)
The Lord’s words are not to intimidate but to warn. He is the One who does what He says and is able to put actions to His words. When you confront the Lord God, you are going to lose. This is what happened, “That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morningāthere were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and left. He returned home and lived in Nineveh. One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons…struck him down with the sword and escaped to the land of Ararat.” (2 Kings 19:35-37 HCSB)
When we trust in the Lord, when we turn to Him for help, He will be our refuge, defender and the One who brings victory into our life. Perhaps that “trash talk” in your ears is not from human words that create intimidation, but the fear that comes from illness, or disease or past sins or failures. Perhaps it is words of condemnation from the enemy of our souls. Be encouraged that the Lord is on your side. As Paul said, “But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 GWT)