The Rabshakeh, a title which meant chief of the princes, was
given to the royal cupbearer in Assyria, comes and speaks to the city of
Jerusalem in the Hebrew language. His
message is plain, there is no hope in the Lord, no matter what Hezekiah may
tell the people. No other nation,
including the northern kingdom of Samaria, has been able to stand before the
Assyrians. No god has been able to protect
his people against the might of the Assyrian army. They should simply surrender now rather than
making a last ditch appeal to their God for protection. This little speech reminds me of the
opposition to Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of the city at a much later date. The situation certainly seems hopeless from a
human perspective, the only hope is in some miraculous salvation by God. The people respond as instructed, in
silence. The king’s officials are in
abject fear as they come to make their report.
There is no faith remaining.
As Jesus finishes the sermon He gives a warning to some who
have done things in His Name, that knowing His Name and using it for their own
purposes, even if it seems religious, isn’t enough, they must be known by
Him. We see that in Acts with the sons
of Sceva who attempt to use the name of Jesus because they have seen the power
in it when the apostles healed in the Name.
If we have not built our lives on the foundation of faith in Him, we
will not be able to withstand the storms of life. If, however, we have built on the solid
foundation of faith, we will be able to stand the times of trial. These times will come, the only thing that
matters is whether we are prepared.
What is Paul on about here?
Why does he make such a big deal of having the right to make a living,
have a wife, and other things as an apostle and then say he doesn’t want any of
those things? He is illustrating the
principle of allowing God to circumscribe your freedom for His purposes. Paul could do these things but has chosen not
to in order that he not be a burden to the Corinthians. He chooses to remain single and to make his
own living because he loves the church more than he loves his freedom and
rights. His trust is in the Lord and he
will not make use of his rights as an apostle so that the church will never be
able to accuse him of simply taking the Name of Jesus in order to make
money.
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