Keep Quiet!

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 18

But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, “Do not answer him.” (2 Kings 18.36)

Devotional Thought: Do you ever get in an argument with the Devil?  Don’t do it!  That’s what the king commanded the people in 2 Kings 18.  Well, it wasn’t actually the devil that was taunting the Israelites.  It was the Rabshakeh, an officer in the Assyrian army.  He was standing outside the walls of the city taunting the soldiers inside.  King Hezekiah commanded the men “Do not answer him.”  That is good advice for us today.

From the very beginning Satan has wanted to argue with us.  He confronted Eve with cunning words.  The conversation led from certainty to doubt to rebellion.  How much better off we would be if she had simply ignored that crafty serpent!

Too many people want to argue with our adversary.  It only leads to trouble.  Paul warned the Ephesians: “Give the enemy no foothold” (4.27).  We engage him in discussion only at grave peril.  After all, he is the father of lies and disguises himself as a messenger of light.  Just as the Rabshakeh did to the people of Jerusalem, he dresses the ugliness of sin in beautiful robes.

When Peter suggested that Jesus would never have to be crucified, it was Satan coming against Jesus in the words of Peter. Jesus didn’t argue with him; he simply said, “Get Behind me Satan!”  Even when Jesus faced temptations in the wilderness, he did not argue with the devil.  He quoted scripture!  When you have to answer temptations, do what Jesus did: turn the devil’s argument into a Bible study!

James wrote to the early church: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4.7-8).  Turn away from Satan and turn toward Jesus.  He will argue your case for you!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you are my advocate.  Not only do you speak for me to the Father, but you also speak for me to the enemy.  I don't have to!  Your Word is my truth and I stand on it.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 18.19-24

19 He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

20 The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.

23 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.

24 So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.