Eat Your Own Poop: Crappy Bible Stories, Part 5

Why is it that people who do the right thing often seem to face the greatest challenges? Chapter 18 of the Second Book of Kings introduces King Hezekiah, a king so good that no one was like him before or after. However, during his reign, an ominous shadow loomed over Jerusalem. The powerful Assyrian army, commanded by King Sennacherib, had marched relentlessly towards the city walls. Fear gripped the hearts of the Israelites as the enemy drew nearer, their vast numbers and brutal reputation preceding them. The Assyrians, confident in their might, began to taunt the Israelites, mocking their faith and challenging their resilience.

Surrounded by the imposing enemy forces, the Israelites find themselves in a precarious position. The Assyrians launch a volley of psychological warfare, attempting to weaken their resolve and sow seeds of doubt. The soldiers parade before the walls, proclaiming their conquests and warning of the impending doom that awaits Jerusalem. The people tremble as they hear the threats and witness the overwhelming might of the Assyrian army.

The Rabshakeh, chief officer of the Assyrian army, appears before the city walls and begins taunting the Israelites. He mocks their trust in God, urging them to surrender and promising a life of prosperity under Assyrian rule. Speaking in Hebrew, he tries to demoralize the people and undermine their confidence.

'Resistance is futile,' he says. 'You're crazy if you think you'll come out of this alive. No one else has been able to stand against our army. You might as well give in and become a vassal state of the king of Assyria.' Hezekiah and his officials are dismayed, but they plead with the Rabshakeh to speak to them in Aramaic, rather than Hebrew. They don't want the rest of the people to know how grim the threat is.

Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you and not to the people sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to drink their own urine?

But the Rabshakeh pushes against this weak spot. 'I'm here to speak to the common people as well!' he says. 'Can you hear me? If you stand with Hezekiah, you'll only face more and more hardships, and will end up having to eat your own poop and drink your own pee.' He wants to break the people's spirit and lead them to despair. If he can stir up enough negativity in Jerusalem, the people might even revolt against Hezekiah, making an Assyrian conquest even more simple.

His promises of security and prosperity echo through the city walls, enticing the Israelites to consider surrendering their ideals and faith in exchange for temporary comfort. The Rabshakeh plays upon their fears and vulnerabilities, exploiting their desire for stability and material well-being. He is trying to lure them away from their reliance on God and to persuade them to compromise their principles. In this moment of crisis, the Israelites face a profound choice: to succumb to the allure of immediate gratification or to remain steadfast in their trust in God, even in the face of uncertainty and hardship.

The prospect of having to 'eat your own poop' is a demoralizing one, but the deeper problem is an even more toxic food: the temptation to despair. Surrendering to negativity will only breed further suffering and erode their faith. Remarkably, they choose to reject the poisonous rhetoric and embrace a mindset of hope.

Perhaps the first few years of Hezekiah's reign and his religious revival have been about more than nationalism and wishful thinking. Perhaps the people are actually beginning to understand what it means to trust God. There is no mention of anyone giving in to despair. The king had actually ordered everyone to react in silence, and not to give the Rabshakeh the satisfaction of a response. They recognize that his taunts are not actually a fair assessment of their worth or identity.

What do we do when we face insults and our most deeply-held values are called into question? When we're told the cancer is inoperable, or that twenty percent of new businesses fail in the first year? There's a lot to be said for being realistic, but living with that kind of crushing negativity can be just as disgusting a future as having to eat your own poop. The key to following the Israelites' example is in refusing to internalize the insults and taunts. Negativity only holds power if we let it. Instead of dwelling on the demeaning words, the Israelites reframe the narrative by focusing on their divine calling and the promises of their faithful God.

In the face of overwhelming adversity, the people focus on resilience and hope. They hold onto an unwavering trust in God's faithfulness, recognizing that their ultimate deliverance does not hinge upon the Rabshakeh's taunts, but upon the unwavering power of their Divine Protector. King Hezekiah seeks counsel from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah, the voice of God, assures the king that the Lord is with them and will not forsake the people. He encourages Hezekiah to trust in God's deliverance and not be swayed by the intimidating words of the enemy.

The tension within the city grows as the siege continues. The people, caught between their faith in God and the terrifying presence of the Assyrians, grapple with uncertainty. The king, guided by Isaiah's words and his own unwavering belief, strives to maintain hope amidst the encroaching darkness.

But in the darkest hour, the power of God is put on display in a resounding victory. That very night, an angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, decimating their forces. The morning dawns upon a scene of awe-inspiring destruction, as the once-mighty army lies lifeless on the battlefield.

The King James Version puts it a bit awkwardly: 'when they [the Israelites] arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.' Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, retreats in disgrace, returning to his own land where he is eventually assassinated by his own sons.

The city is saved, and the people rejoice in the triumph of their God. The story of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem becomes a testament to the faithfulness and power of the Lord, but it is not just a story of a chosen people being protected from their enemies. It is more than just a story of how those who put their trust in the Lord will never be forsaken. It is a story of how hope and trust triumph over fear and despair, as a better path through adversity. They inspire resilience, foster belief in a better future, and empower us to face challenges with courage. With hope and trust, we find strength to endure and embrace the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. No matter how bad it gets, the fear of having to eat our own poop should never be the prime motivation in our decisions.