Psalm 12:3

 ³May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue

The supreme commander of Assyria flattered himself and shouted to the people of Jerusalem that the Lord cannot deliver them from his hands. He boasted that the god of other nations, have not rescued them from his hand. He bragged that all the gods of those countries were inferior to him. “So, how then can the Lord deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” he proudly ridiculed. The people of Jerusalem heard his self-flattering rhetorics but they remained silent and said nothing in reply, because King Hezekiah had commanded them not answer him.

King Hezekiah tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. The Lord sent Prophet Isaiah to encourage King Hezekiah and not be afraid of what they heard from the boastful supreme commander of Assyria. It narrated in 2 Kings 19:35-37, ³⁵That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! ³⁶So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. ³⁷One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.

We hope and pray that other nations won’t attack us, but envy of materialism may attack any time. Materialistic people may not intentionally plan to make anyone feel inferior when they publish in social media their accomplishment, and envious people may sense deprived inadequately. King Solomon declared in Ecclesiastes 4:4, ⁴And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Envy of other’s achievement may cause anyone to be bitter or to strive better.

Lord Jesus, help rely upon you in all situations.

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