Have you ever had an enemy or someone who taunted you? One thing that is prevalent in our school systems today is bullying. However, bullying isn’t reserved for the schoolyard or the playground. Sadly, it is something that some adults engage in as well. When someone comes against us to provoke us or unfairly accuse us, how are to respond? One of Judah’s greatest kings, Hezekiah, gives us the example that we need to learn to follow.
The kings of Assyria had been threatening Judah for some years. They had already taken the northern kingdom of Israel captive. The king of Assyria sent a letter to Hezekiah. Essentially the letter said, don’t think this is over, and don’t think your God will protect you. No other god has protected the other nations we have destroyed. Instead of being scared or retaliating, look at what Hezekiah did. It is found in 2 Kings 19:14, “And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.” Hezekiah went and prayed to the Lord about the letter and about the situation. In so doing, Hezekiah has given us a good example of how to handle it when someone comes against us or unfairly accuses us.
- Pray about it. In a day and age of instant reaction on social media, pause a moment, and pray about it. I have learned through my years on this earth, that my first reaction and emotion is seldom the right reaction of emotion. Take a moment, take a breath, get silent, and pray.
- Don’t attend every fight you are invited to. Again, I think many in our nation could stand to learn this lesson. Just because someone says something about you or against you, doesn’t mean you have to respond. Bullies rule by fear and intimidation. They want to create emotions in you, and cause you to react. As long as you react, they win. However, when you choose not to respond and instead commit yourself to the Lord, you take away any supposed power they think they have over you. It reminds me of what Paul wrote in Romans. He was talking about this same issue, and he says that when we choose not to retaliate, and instead choose to speak and act the way that honors God, we heap burning coals on their head.
- Trust in the Lord. I know it is hard not to say anything, and to not defend yourself when you are attacked, especially when it is unfair and lies being said about you. We feel that we need to respond, to set the record straight. However, I have learned that you won’t change people’s perceptions about you by responding or defending yourself. If anything, you will only further ingrain their perception about you. Instead of trying to take things into your own hands, trust in the Lord to protect you and to defend you.
It may not be easy to stay silent when you want to speak up. It certainly isn’t fun to be falsely accused of things. But when you trust the Lord to defend you, and to work the situation out; you end up having a lot less to go back and confess and seek forgiveness for. So, stay silent in front of people, but pour your heart out before the Lord, and trust Him to work for His glory and your good.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin