Sauron, devoted servant of Melkor?

[Hot, crispy nice hobbit]

I believe here's your quote:

Then men grew afraid. 'Behold the Eagles of the Lords of the West!' they cried. 'The Eagles of Manwe are come upon Numenor!' And they fell upon their faces.

Then some few would repent for a season, but others hardened their hearts, and they shook their fists at heaven, saying: 'The Lords of the West have plotted against us. They strike first. The next blow shall be ours!' These words the King himself spoke, but they were devised by Sauron.

Now the lightnings increased and slew men upon the hills, and in the fields, and in the streets of the city; and a fiery bolt smote the dome of the Temple and shore it asunder and it was wreathed in flame. But the Temple itself was unshaken, and Sauron stood there upon the pinnacle and defied the lightning and was unharmed; and in that hour men called him a god and did all that he would. When therefore the last cortent came they heeded it little. For the land shook under them, and a groaning as of thunder underground was mingled with the roaring of the sea, and smoke issued from the peak of the Meneltarma. But all the more did Ar-Pharazon press on with his armament

Whew... Sauron seemed to have devised a Faraday's cage and hid in it while everyone else stuck to a lightning rod... But the point of Valar attempting to kill Sauron seemed rather moot. Afterall, they relinquished their command with regard to the doings of Men. The Valar seemed to be planning to destroy Numenor and Sauron in one shot, while rescuing what could be left of the faithful.