Introduction: 1. Hezekiah and his people had to endure a strong assault of two propaganda speeches from Sennacherib’s propagandists a. This propaganda was typical of all propaganda – filled with half truths, distortion and intimidating speech b. The propaganda was very deceptive 2. The biased, twisted and perverted reporting and interpreting of events in the propaganda resembles some of the liberal news media 3. This propaganda is simply another illustration of evil resorting to clever and deceitful speech to promote it’s cause
I. Circumstances for the Speeches – vs 17-18 o There are 4 features of the circumstances we need to examine A. The Area 17b … they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which [is] in the highway of the fuller's field. 1. This propaganda was made outside the city of Jerusalem near the city wall 2. It was made by a channel that led to the upper pool 3. Fuller’s field was the place where ladies washed their clothes 4. These details indicate that this was on the northern side of Jerusalem 5. The other sides of Jerusalem had valleys, this was the only level place outside the city gates 6. Evil picks its places of attack very carefully
B. The Agents 17 And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah… 1. The agents of this propaganda were 3 high officers from Sennacharib’s military 2. These are not proper names, but titles of high offices in the king’s court and Assyrian army 3. The leading spokesman for the group was Rabshakeh a) He could speak Hebrew which made him and effective speaker to the Jews b) He was a talented speaker c) His speeches reveal that he was arrogant and had little concern for the truth 4. Men like this go down in history as despicable characters as Joseph Goebbels
C. The Army 17a And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem… 1. A large and impressive army accompanied this propaganda team 2. This would help give the propaganda more force 3. Evil likes to speak from a forceful position 4. Though large, this was not the entire Assyrian army, the rest were with Sennacharib at Lachish a) Lachish was a Judean city that Sennacharib did not capture quickly b) That Sennacharib could send a “great host” to Jerusalem while still fighting Lachish says something about the size and strength of the Assyrian army 5. It looked like an impossible situation if you leave God out of the equation a) Evil has great armies b) The devil’s forces and power are great c) We cannot take evil lightly d) The power of evil is no match for the power of God
D. The Agreement 18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. 1. Hezekiah had paid a huge sum of money to get Sennacharib to not attack 2. But here we see Sennacharib’s army coming anyway a) This meant that Sennacharib broke his agreement with Hezekiah b) See that he was a dishonorable, dishonest that certainly could not be trusted. c) He didn’t keep the deal 3. Hezekiah had been seduced by the promise of peace 4. Many today are seduced by the promises of sin 5. Hezekiah learned the hard way that you can’t trust Sennacharib 6. Don’t learn the hard way that sin does not deliver what it promises
II. Crown and the Speeches o The first propaganda speech was aimed at the crown (Hezekiah) o Once they arrived they sent word to Hezekiah – vs 18 o Hezekiah sent out 3 high officials to meet Rabshakeh o We will examine 5 matters about which Rabshekah spoke
A. Deficiency of Hezekiah’s Confidence – vs 19-20 1. Right at the beginning, Rabshakeh tries to shake the confidence of Hezekiah and the people 2. “Whatever you are trusting in – it won’t work” 3. “Your words of encouragement are “vain words” 4. Attacking one’s confidence is the logical place for propaganda to begin a) Confidence is vital if one is going to war successfully b) Shake the confidence of your opponent and you have greatly weakened your opponent 5. Satan began that same way in the Garden of Eden a) He attacked Eve’s confidence in God and His Word b) “Yea, hath God said…?” c) “Ye shall not surely die…” 6. Once confidence in God and His Word is destroyed a person will suffer spiritual defeat to sin
B. Denouncing of Hezekiah’s Alliance – vs 20b-21 o Denouncing Hezekiah’s alliance with Egypt was humiliating, helpful and hypocritical 1. Humiliating a) Rabshakeh’s speech combined some truth with the error b) This always helps to disguise the error c) It is true that Hezekiah had turned to Egypt for and alliance d) Isaiah warned against going to Egypt for help Isa 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help… 3 Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God… e) To be rebuked by a prophet or minister is humiliating enough, but to be rebuked of sin by the enemy ought to be even more humiliating. 2. Helpful 20b … Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? 21 Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, [even] upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so [is] Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. a) This speech by Rabshakeh should have helped Hezekiah realize the danger of trusting in Egypt b) Rabshakeh called Egypt a “bruised reed” – plenty of reeds grew in Egypt. c) You couldn’t make a walking stick out of one, it wouldn’t support you d) Men trust in evil politicians, superstitions, money, astrology and other vain things to help them e) Instead of trusting Christ as Savior, many trust in the bruised reeds of baptism, church membership, communion 3. Hypocritical a) These words of Rabshakeh were hypocritical since Assyria could not be trusted either b) They would only hurt a nation that made an alliance with them c) Money had been paid to Assyria, but it didn’t help
C. Displeasing of Hezekiah’s God 22 But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: [is] not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? o This part of Rabshakeh’s speech dealt with religion 1. The religious reformation which Hezekiah led is now used to blame him for the troubles in the land 2. “Pulling down the altars and high places displeased Jehovah in whom you are trusting for victory.” 3. Those who make changes will be blamed when things seem to go wrong 4. In reality, trusting God would please Him and this would encourage God to deliver Judah 5. It was Assyria who was causing the problems, not Hezekiah’s reformation 6. Criminals are the problem, not the police who arrest them
D. Disparaging of Hezekiah’s Ability 23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them. 24 How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants… 1. Propaganda always tries to belittle it’s opponent in some way 2. Mocking the Israelite army, Rabshakeh said he would supply 2000 horses if Judah could put riders on them 3. This implied that Hezekiah did not have enough men to provide riders for the horses 4. Then Rabshakeh said that Judah could not even defeat one of Sennacharib’s lowest captain 5. Rabshakeh would find out what God can do
E. Decree for Hezekiah’s Destruction 25 Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it. 1. Here Rabshakeh claims that the LORD sent him to attack 2. Propaganda often tries to cloak itself with religious garb 3. Sin likes to hid under the disguise of religion since it is a very effective disguise 4. Some politicians mention God in their speeches to sound religious and fool people
III. Citizens and the Speeches o The 2nd propaganda speech was made to the people of Judah o “to the men which sit on the wall” – vs 27 A. Prompting of the Speech 26 Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand [it]: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that [are] on the wall. 1. Hezekiah’s men requested that Rabshakeh speak in Syrian and not in Hebrew that the people could understand 2. They wanted to conceal the meaning of the speech from the people 3. Besides the sentinels at the wall, common people gathered around the top of the wall to see what was going on 4. The officers of Hezekiah rightly deemed that it was bad for those people to hear that propaganda a) Hezekiah could refute the propaganda b) The people could not 5. This request backfired and Rabshakeh spoke even louder so that the people could plainly hear the propaganda a) Eliakim should have invited the Assyrian delegation to a private place to meet and discuss the issues b) He should have cleared the walls of people
B. Purpose of the Speech 2Ch 32:18 Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that [were] on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. 28 Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria: 1. The purpose of this propaganda was to disturb the people so that they would surrender immediately a) Propaganda works on the spirits of the people b) This is sometimes more effective bullets and bombs 2. Satan still uses this tactic with the redeemed a) He works to trouble our minds and hearts so we lose effectiveness in the service of God b) If Satan can promote fear and worry in someone he can cripple their work for God 3. Php 4:6 Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
C. Particulars of the Speech o Notice the 4 main points of the speech 1. Deception of Hezekiah 29 Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand: a) Rabshakeh charges Hezekiah with deception b) This was a false charge since Hezekiah was deceiving no one c) Rabshakeh was doing the deceiving d) The evil often accuse the righteous of doing the very evil that they do e) The dishonest are often quick to accuse others of dishonesty f) The immoral of often quick to accuse others of immorality g) Unloving church members will often accuse the pastor and people of lack of love 2. Distrust of Jehovah 30 Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. a) We can see how two-faced Rabshakeh is here b) He already said that Jehovah had given Assyria a commission to destroy Judah c) He had said that Hezekiah had angered Jehovah by destroying the high places d) Now Rabshakeh changes his tune and says that Jehovah is nothing of any concern e) He cannot deliver you from us – Rabshakeh says f) There are many today who are out to weaken your trust in God g) They want to diminish your respect for God’s Word 3. Delights of Surrender – vs 31-32 a) No part of Rabshakeh’s speech was more deceptive than this part b) Surrender would bring peace (1) It would end the war and stop the attack (2) That sounds good but it meant that the Jews would come under the cruel govt of the Assyrians (3) Many today want peace at any cost, but it only brings problems c) Surrender would bring plenty (1) People could eat of their own vines and fig trees – vs 31 (2) They could be taken captive back to Assyria a land of corn and wine, bread and vineyards, olive oil and honey d) Surrender would bring pleasure (1) “Ye may live and not die” (2) What fair and fraudulent language (3) Surrender would make them captives of Assyria
IV. Conduct After the Speeches o Here we examine the conduct of the people after the propaganda speeches A. Refusing to Answer 36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. 1. Failure of Rabshakeh a) The people held their peace b) Rabshakeh did not get a surrender from the people c) The bait of his lying arguments did not catch any fish d) If Rabshakeh had hoped to stir up a mutiny among the people he was disappointed e) Those who do business in lies will one day experience great disappointment and great damnation 2. Faithfulness to Hezekiah 36 But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word:for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not. a) If a nation is going to have any chance at all to win a war, there must be loyalty b) The people displayed loyalty when they obeyed Hezekiah’s orders not to answer the propaganda minister c) In war time, the orders of the commander must be obeyed or chaos will result d) We should give absolute obedience to the commands of our Great Commander Jesus Christ e) The redeemed are in a battle on this earth and we must obey Christ’s commands if there is to be victory in our lives 3. Foresight of Hezekiah a) Hezekiah knew that the wisest response here was silence b) Sometimes we are wise to be silent c) Ec 3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; d) Keep silent instead of trying to work out a deal with sin
B. Rending of the Clothes – vs 37 1. The rending of the clothes here showed great distress and grief and shock 2. These tore their clothes probably because of the blasphemy they had heard from Rabshakeh 3. I wish that people today were shocked over the dishonoring of God
C. Reporting to Hezekiah 1. “told him the words of Rabshakeh” 2. This action was diplomatically correct 3. These three men had an obligation as diplomats to report to their leader 4. Let us be careful how we disburse information
