On what do you rest this trust of yours?

The history of the world records the lives of many great people. Many of these have been great sinners. And we have the record of many of their sinful sayings.

One of these is Rabshakeh. His story is found in Isaiah 36. He is a trusted representative of Sennacharib, the fearsome king of the Assyrians. Rabshakeh skillfully advances arguments for the surrender of Jerusalem as the Assyrian army approaches. He is confident, bold, and loud. 

The opening question is important. He does not ask, “In whom do you trust?”, but rather, “On what do you rest this trust of yours?” That is, “I know you trust your God and your king, but what supports that trust?” Christians have at least two primary grounds undergirding our trust: God’s Word, including his “great and precious promises;” and our King, Jesus, who died for us, and was raised from the dead, and is now at the right hand of God.

But let’s take another step. In our Rabshakeh story, he turns his attention to the people’s regard for their king. As you can see, this story fits in to our summer series, “The Things Sinners Say,” and also ties in to a blog series, “Thinking in 3’s.” Among the arguments that Rabshakeh makes, is this 3-fold challenge to trust in Hezekiah, king of Judah: 

        “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you” (v. 14)

“Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord” (v.15)

“Do not listen to Hezekiah” (v.16)

Hezekiah, one of the good kings of Judah, is not our king. Jesus is our King. Yet Great Sinners today still seek to dissuade us from trusting King  Jesus, just as Rabshakeh did regarding Hezekiah. 

Now, having two primary grounds undergirding our faith in God - the written Word of God, and our living Lord - which of these is primary? Is one more important than the other?

I think the answer to this question is that both are absolutely necessary. Without the Word of God, we could not properly understand the person of Jesus, whose coming Scripture predicts, and then His life and death and resurrection is recorded as well. Without Christ, the written Word would have no focus, and contain no climax. They go together, and we need to cling to both as the Rabshakeh’s of the world do their thing. But we listen to God’s Word, and follow our King, Jesus. Both undergird our faith.