Whose Voice Do You Listen To?

King Hezekiah is one remarkable king of Judah, and 2nd Chronicles chapter 29 to 32 gives a detailed account of his life. He was obedient (2nd Chron 29:2), led the people of Judah to repentance (2nd Chron 29:3-36), restored temple worship to the God of Israel (2nd Chron 30), sought the Lord and worked wholeheartedly (2nd Chron 31:21).  Consequently, God prospered him.

At the height of Hezekiah's success as a King, the King of  Assyria- Sennacherib, laid a seige on Jerusalem (2nd Chron 32:1).  King Sennacherib had succeeded his father, Shalmanesar, who had attacked Samaria in 722 BC and taken it to exile.  In 700 BC (22 years later),Jerusalem was under siege of the most powerful kingdom in the then known world, against whom no nation had succeeded to rebel.  Also, Sennacherib and the armies of Assyria had a history of being extremely cruel and merciless; for example, they would skin people alive and nail their human skins to walls (www.biblehistory.com).  The threat against Judah was real and fierce!

In the attack against Jerusalem, King Sennacherib dominantly used one weapon against the people of Judah: Intimidation.  How did he do it: By writing & verbalising it.  For example:

• In 2nd Chron 32:9-16, scripture indicates that the King of Assyria sent his officers to Jerusalem with a threatening, intimidating and blasphemous message. The officers spoke this message aloud.
• 2nd Chron 32:17 states that Sennacherib also wrote letters insulting the Lord, the God of Israel.
• 2nd Chron 32:18 states, "Then they called out in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to terrify them and make them afraid in order to capture the city.

What you hear influences your thoughts.  Your thoughts influence your feelings, and your feelings influence your action/ behaviour.  Sennacherib understood this well and intentionally aimed at controlling the thoughts of the people of Judah, with an aim of instilling fear, hopelessness and despair.    Noteworthy is that despite the official Assyrian language being Aramaic (which the Jewish officials also understood) Sennacherib's officers spoke in Hebrew, the language that the common Jews understood, with a clear objective of disheartening the Jewish men on the walls who were watching over the city (2nd Kings 18:26).

Sennacherib's message was specifically coined to counter King Hezekiah's encouraging words to his people (2nd Chron 32:7): Be Strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.  With him is only the arm of the flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. King Hezekiah and the people of Judah had a choice to either guard the Word of God spoken concerning their circumstance, or to believe Sennacherib's message of doom and destruction.  Just like the people of Judah, you and I have a choice to make on whose voice we will listen to, in our circumstances.

Sennacherib's tactic was also used by Sanballat & Tobiah against Nehemiah and the children of Israel as they rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem after the exile (Nehemiah 4:1-3).  Just like Sennacherib, the two leaders mocked God and insulted His people.  Hezekiah and Nehemiah's responses to the negative voices that spoke contrary to God's Word are similar:

• 2nd Chron 32:20 states King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this.
• Nehemiah 4:9 states But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

What do you do when negative voices contrary to God's word speak regarding your situation?

• Pray- Silence those voices in Jesus' name!
• Maintain your position; do not retreat- Nehemiah posted posted a guard day and night, and stationed people at the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places (Nehemiah 4:9-13).
• Look things over & remember who God is- At first hearing, a message/ report may sound so valid & dreadful, but thinking of it in light of who God is, will reveal that you are an overcomer, because Christ has overcome for us (Nehemiah 4:14).  
• Meditate on God's Word and speak it to your circumstances- Take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word, and slay the enemies of fear and unbelief.

Sometimes, the voices around our lives are numerous and often dumb the voice of the Spirit.  Consequently, many of us struggle to hear God and wonder whether He still speaks in this day and age.  Undoubtedly, God does speak.  Many of us do not hear Him because our lives are crowded out by the cares of this world.  By maintaining the fundamental Christian disciplines of prayer, bible study, worship, fellowship and outreach to others, our spirit is kept alive to God's Spirit (Romans 8:10-16).

Thank God for men's counsel and opinions.  However, our utmost need in any circumstance, is God's Word- His Word preserves us (Ps 119:50).   "Talitha Koum" which means "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" was God's rhema Word to Jairus' daughter.  "Quiet, Be Still" was God's rhema Word to the storms that rocked the boat in which Jesus lay with His disciples.  "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk" was God's rhema Word to the invalid at the pool of Bethesda.  What is God's rhema Word for the circumstance or season in which you are?

Join me in making this prayer:

Lord forgive me for listening to false and deceptive voices, other than listening to You, the Shephard of my life.  Forgive me also for unbelief and disobedience to your Word.  I pray that I may know Your voice and follow It only.  Give me an ear to hear Your still small voice.  May my spirit be sensitive and alert to Your voice.  May Your Word be light and life to my circumstances, as I meditate upon it day and night.