But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word
“But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not” (2 Kings 18:36).
In Ephesians 4:11-14, we have God’s plan whereby His children can reach maturity. God gives five-fold gifts to the Church viz. apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Through their five-fold ministry souls are born again and brought to the full stature of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we start following God’s plan to build the Church according to His Word, immediately the enemy also begins his work of the opposition. We have experienced how, whenever people begin to obey God fully by taking full share in the House of God, in baptism, worship, prayer and Bible study, the enemy brings opposition for many sides. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 129:2, he tries to weaken our hands by false propaganda and does many other things to hinder the work of God. But if we really trust in God and take no notice of their words or activities, the Lord will work on our behalf and confused them. It is difficult to believe that people can tell lies and disobey His commands, and thus hinder Gods work. But we have only to trust God and not to take any notice of their words or activities. Many times, some people come up against you and speak against you and try to harm you. At such times you should not take any notice of their words or try to take revenge on them in any way. It would help us to remember that those who try to spit at the moon get the spittle on themselves. Our enemies can do anything to harm us, but the evil which they have devised will only go back to them. There is a promise for us in Psalm 129:5, “Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.” They themselves will come under reproach and condemnation. If you begin to worry about their opposition you will lose your sleep, appetite and peace. Instead, you should leave them to themselves and enjoy God’s favour.
The enemy hate Zion, the House of God. If you want to be in the House of God according to His plan, then he will raise people to hate you and hinder you from obeying fully God’s revealed truth. When you desire to obey God’s Word fully and follow His heavenly plan and do His will, you will be ridiculed, hated and despised. But you can enjoy His promise in Psalm 129:6. “Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it grows up.” It would be a waste of time and energy for anyone to climb up to clear the housetop. The Lord says that our enemies also will wither away in like manner. We need not be worried about them or try to resist them. If we are patient we can see the Lord Himself dealing with them.
