On what do you rest this trust of yours?

On What Do You Rest this Trust of Yours?

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

Not to resurrect an unpleasant topic, but one huge lesson I’m trusting for in these days following Election 2020 is that God’s people do not need to be powerful culturally or in power politically to be obedient to him and to accomplish his purposes in the world. All we need to join the great sweep of redemptive history is to be faithful to the One who has called us by his own name. Old Testament military stories demonstrate the truth of this from “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,” through Gideon’s selective service program, and now, in our reading, into the waning of Israel’s days as a distinct and independent nation.

In this week’s reading, we meet Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and a continual threat to Judah, for it was his goal to gobble them up and add them to his own kingdom. Chapter 36 recounts the tale of Sennacherib’s royal heckler, sent to sow panic among God’s people and to undermine their confidence in the one true God:

On what do you rest this trust of yours?”

Isaiah 36:4

He provided an impressive resume of pagan deities proven to be too weak to stand against the armies of Assyria, but King Hezekiah reached deep into his well of trust and encouraged God’s people to be strong and brave. A parallel passage in 2 Chronicles quotes him: “We have more on our side than he has. He has human strength; but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

The prophet Isaiah played a role in encouraging King Hezekiah, joining with him on the spiritual battlefield of prayer. In this narrative section that includes military smack talk and a stunning victory for the people of God involving the angel of the LORD and 185,000 dead Assyrians, Isaiah 36-39 offered a welcome change in genre and an encouraging reminder that God is still fighting for his people–even in the midst of their waywardness. Sennacherib was assassinated in his own home town, and Isaiah plants seeds of hope that even though Israel will endure God’s chastening, “the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward” (37:31).

Who or what is your Sennacherib today? Perhaps you are hearing the same question addressed to King Hezekiah: “On what do you rest this trust of yours?” If you are facing fear, sorrow, rejection, or loss, are you handing it over to God? Impossible human relationships, fatigue, and time pressure are daunting enemies and there’s not a one of us who hasn’t wondered whether, just maybe, our duties may be beyond our strength or ability. Like Sennacherib, your obstacles may seem to taunt you with the idea that the Lord cannot deliver you.

The God of the universe still hears and answers the prayers of those who put their trust in him. You can face your enemies with a strength that is not your own!

Be encouraged!

The God of the universe still hears and answers the prayers of those who put their trust in him. You can face your enemies with a strength that is not your own!

It’s not too late to join us in our journey through Isaiah. Download the reading schedule here, and be saturated in truth from Isaiah’s pen during this Advent season!

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a teacher, blogger, reader, and gardener who finds joy in sitting at a table surrounded by women with open Bibles. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty years, and together they have four sons, two daughters-in-love, three grandchildren, and one lazy St. Bernard. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

42 thoughts on “On What Do You Rest this Trust of Yours?”

  3. “You can face your enemies with a strength that is not your own!” AMEN, Michele! We may be facing challenging times ahead, a time to test our faith. But how does that saying go? Whatever God brings us to, He will bring us through. Thank you for this timely dose of encouragement!

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  4. I love this verse you’ve highlighted from Isaiah! What a great question to ask ourselves! This is a very timely post for those of us who celebrate Hanukkah! You have captured the essence of Hanukkah perfectly in this post! It is a reminder to us that we can and must continue to obey God’s commands regardless of the current ruling regime’s opinion of Him, and that He always comes through to save His faithful remnant. We see it over and over in Scripture as you pointed out in your post, and our family has loved having an 8-day holiday every year to meditate on and celebrate these truths (plus Purim in February which celebrates the same theme!)

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    1. Oh, thank you for adding these thoughts! I hadn’t thought about the collision of holidays adding to the significance of this theme of obedience, but you are so right, and this insight is so helpful!

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  9. At the risk of sounding somewhat political, my thoughts along these lines have been similar to yours. We should not look to one man or political body for us to work at building God’s kingdom here on earth. It is up to each one of us! We do have God to help us fight our battles.

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  11. This is so important for us in these times! No matter what is going on around us, we still have to be faithful and obedient, and trust our God. In Him we do have victory – even if it doesn’t look the way we expect!

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  13. Your lesson is one we all need to be reminded of, Michele. Our allegiance is first and always to be to God above all else. May we place our trust in him alone. I know I need his strength to face my enemies because I’m too weak on my own

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  14. I feel this crush in my life in one particular area and am encouraging myself in the Lord just like King Hezekiah. I know my God will come through for me too! Thanks for this encouragement, Michele! And Merry Christmas, my friend!

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  15. Thanks so much for linking up with me at the #FaithAndWorshipChristianWeekend 13, open until December 14 at 12:05 am. Shared on social media.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Michelle,
    Lovely post..I always say that what will be, will be..Meaning that i trust in God’s plan for me and for my family and friends…I have a saying..Kiss it up to God! Also meaning…Trust in him and place it in his hands…Thanks for visiting! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  17. What a good reminder for this season! My trust is in Him in this upside down season! Thank you for this encouragement! Shalom, Michelle! ~ Maryleigh

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  20. ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

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  22. Beautiful and inspiring post as always, Michele! I went to college with a guy who would always give us a reminder when we were misbehaving, as college students will. He would shake his head in dismay at our antics and boldly state, “Y’all need some church.” I am remembering his phrase as you drew this parallel to politicians. And now I want to say that our White House really might need some church! Thanks for linking with me. I hope you Christmas is filled much joy and many blessings!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    Liked by 1 person

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