Isaiah 36:19-22 - Do not answer him

36:19,20

The Assyrian commander then mentions a few of the gods, including the gods of Samaria, northern Israel. This latter example would strike most closely to hearts of the people, for Israel had split into two kingdoms. So why should the Lord be able to rescue Jerusalem? Samaria was a picture of true religion gone wrong. Often the enemy will point to parts of the church which have gone wrong. They may have gone wrong through liberal theology, they may have gone wrong through complacency, or through prosperity preaching, or in a thousand and one other ways. But it isn’t the church that saves us. We are saved by Christ, and are called to be a church that truly trusts in the Lord, just as Judah was called to be a nation that truly trusted in the Lord.

36:21,22

The king had given the people sound advice. They were not to respond to the taunts of the enemy. For us we are wise not to get into an argument with the devil, nor to get into a conversation with our fears and anxieties, it will generally do no good at all. The officials then went to the king to report on the current situation.