2Kings 18:26
¶ Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
Here we meet Eliakim for the first time. He is the trusted right-hand man of Hezekiah. He is outside the city walls talking to the chief officer (Rabshakeh) of the enemy Assyrian army.
To find out more about Eliakim we can journey to Isaiah 22:20-23, where Eliakim’s authority is established, and the key of the house of David (see Revelation 3:7) is given to him. In Isaiah, Eliakim is called “a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem…..”
How great is it to have trusted people around us in life!
I think we catch a glimpse of Eliakim’s father’s heart for the people of Jerusalem here in II Kings 18:26 as he asks the enemy to address their threats to him only. His concern is for the well-being of the people under his care, even when his own life is at risk.
Eliakim is interceding for the people of Jerusalem, he is the right-hand man of the King (Hezekiah), and has the Key of David on his life and Eliakim’s name means “whom God will raise up”.
I wonder if in this story Eliakim is a foreshadow of Jesus Christ the Messiah, who is interceding at the right hand of God for us today, and who has the keys to life and death, and whom God raised up from death.
Jesus will always be with us in the thick of the battles in life, his concern is always for us, that we flourish in life, and he has already gone before us and defeated our greatest enemy, death.
Having good people around us is essential for our wellness. Who is your right-hand person and who can you be a right-hand person for today?
Principle of Change 30 – intentionally building relationships with “well” people will raise our levels of wellness.
Strength – Relator –
R-ecognise patterns of success
E-ncourage others to make a difference
L-ook to go deeper
A-ssure others that you care
T-ake confidences seriously
O-ne-on-one time is crucial
R-einforce trust with others