Isaiah 36:4
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,bible, isaiah

Translations: 简体中文 繁體中文

## A Confident Basis

Isaiah 36:4
The field commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah, "`This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours?
In accordance with his warnings in the Law of Moses (Deut 28:15+) the Lord had assigned Sennacherib king of Assyria to bring judgment upon the Northern kingdom of Israel. However in defiance Sennacherib determined to attack the Southern kingdom of Judah as well. (Typical of authorities forces themselves on others outside of their legitimate realm of authority)
Like Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness so were the tauntings of this field commander to Judah and its king Hezekiah. Nonetheless they present questions to consider.What is implied in this first question is that the confidence Judah had was outstanding. So also we Christians should have such a hope and confidence that it would lead people to question us as well, as Peter writes, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1Peter 3:15 What would lead people to ask us such a question? Confidence is really revealed under duress such as the context in which Peter was writing and such as the situation we see here in Isaiah in which this small nation of Judah is under attack by a much larger and powerful nation. And thus Christians under persecution and tribulation have a natural avenue for evangelism by just holding on to their confidence, as the writer of Hebrews says, "Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."Heb 33-35 And "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." John 12:24
What is the basis of our confidence or our assurance of salvation? It is based firstly upon God's Word, that is his promise of salvation. But such a promise is not unconditional God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 2Tim 2:19 If we are His then we are secure. We become His through faith in Christ, through whom we have forgiveness of sins, but also through whom we have sanctification. He saved us from our sins and is saving us from our innate sinfulness. Thus the effect of salvation should be evident in our lives. "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands." 1John 2:3 And "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1John 3:10 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24 "and that rock was Christ." 1Cor 10:4 And "no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1Cor 3:11
We will see from the reaction of Hezekiah and his people that they were indeed putting their confidence in the Lord. In fact it's not so important to God all the troubles we go through, but rather how we react to them.

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources