2 Kings 18b Commentary
“…until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death!”
You would think these words come from the LORD God. No. These words come from the enemy! See how these words compare with the promises of the LORD!
Israel is here, in the Promised Land, because of God’s promise of a great life in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Of course, because Israel has half believed, her enjoyment of the blessing is only proportionate to the level of her faith.
Yes, Assyria won’t do it. But eventually, Babylon will do it. For now, as we shall learn later, Jerusalem is saved. But neither Assyria nor Babylon is the main voice during this time. Everything here is exactly as God’s word determined! Never mind the talk of the characters involved!
Can you appease the devil? Look at Hezekiah’s initial reaction to Assyria’s threat, and know the answer is always no. He “plundered” the temple of the Creator God to appease Assyria to zero results. Assyria still attacked!
The New Testament saint knows better. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. When your treasure is gone, your flesh is the next target! At this point, you probably realize, as Hezekiah did, God is your only option there always was, is, and will always be.
Of course, Hezekiah gets the message straight. Assyria is after Hezekiah’s God. He despises the Creator God. He thinks lowly of Israel’s God. But we shall see what happens tomorrow.
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