Give Back those Rent(ed) Clothes

Ps. 42: 5 Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me?

When the Assyrian army came and camped outside the walls of Jerusalem, it was like a nightmare for the Jews. They had already destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel and all the surrounding nations. Strong and extremely cruel, the Assyrians usually slaughtered and tortured; and then deported the survivors to other countries far away from their own. Just to say, “The Assyrians are coming” would be enough to frighten any normal person.

The people of Judah were God’s chosen people. Under the leadership of good King Hezekiah, Judah had become strong and prosperous enough to attract the attention of covetous enemies, but they were no match for the mighty Assyrians. Rabshakeh, the Assyrian general, had the latest weapons of the time, the strongest army in the world and lots of successes behind him, but he began his attack by using one of his most effective weapons: discouragement.

In a loud voice, Rabshakeh spoke the words of discouragement to Hezekiah’s officers and the people of Judah. “Why do you even try to resist? You cannot win! We are strong. You are weak. Think of your neighbours. Where are they? We defeated them, scattered them, destroyed them. Their gods couldn’t save them. Your God can’t save you either. Give up!” The words struck like missiles. Cold with the officers rent (tore) their clothes as a sign of their extreme distress as they returned to Hezekiah.

In that moment they lost hope. They could only see defeat and death. They forgot that they were God’s chosen people, that God had won battles for them against great enemies in the past. They forgot His wonderful promises for protection. The enemy had taken away their cloak of security in God and given them rent(ed) garments of discouragements.

Are you discouraged? Do circumstances and situations leave you in tatters, fearful and discouraged, without hope? Give back those rent(ed) garments to the devil who sent them. They don’t fit you. Wrap yourself once again in the warm robes of God’s promises. There is no problem He cannot handle, no enemy He cannot defeat for you. Shake off Rabshakeh and enjoy a victorious day today as you put your trust in God.