CENTRAL THOUGHT
The believer should tenaciously/wholeheartedly trust in the Lord in times like these.
TEXT: ISAIAH 37:1-20 (ISAIAH 36)
INTRODUCTION:
A proper observation of the events of our society today will reveal that Satan our archenemy is mounting pressure on people to lower the standards of morality and holy living. The church of today is under severe pressure as never before, to compromise our heritage of salvation. The devil knows very well that time is running out on him and that the second coming of Christ is closer now than ever before. Consequently, there is a multiplied effort to attack Christians with all forms of distractions resulting in all forms of ungodliness, falsehood, hypocrisy, threat to life, weakness, errors, persecutions and corruption of hearts and minds, especially casting doubts in people’s minds not to trust or rely on God, the Almighty Father.
We are in crisis times, already indicated in the Scriptures when men’s hearts are failing them, due to the lack of trust in God. There is lack of confidence in God among families, friends and even nations in this end time, hence the need for this study on the place of trust in the Lord.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, we shall be able to:
- Explain what it means to trust in the Lord.
- Identify the challenges we do encounter and how to handle the situations, using the life of King Hezekiah.
- List and explain the reasons why believers should trust in the Lord.
- Itemize and discuss the benefits of trusting in the Lord.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST IN THE LORD?
To trust in the Lord simply means to place confidence in or reliance on God concerning anything presently or in the future. No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God’s calling in his or her own strength. Our trust should not be self-confidence but confidence in the sufficiency of God who empowers life and ministry in the reality of the new covenant.
To overcome the stress or pressure of our time and remain Christ witnesses, we need the character and strength that only God gives. Recognize that the ability and power to minister comes from Him alone; so, trust in Him for your daily victory.
QUESTION 2A) WHAT CHALLENGE DID HEZEKIAH FACE? ISAIAH 36
The historical setting of this chapter is the ill-fated invasion of Jerusalem by Sennacherib in 701 BC. Judah, under King Ahaz had made an alliance with and paid tribute to Assyria, Because of fear of invasion by Assyria, Hezekiah alongside with leaders of other nations had wrongly made an alliance with Egypt. Sennacherib invaded to put down the rebellion. Rabshakeh (an Aramic word denoting a title meaning “Cupbearer” or “field marshal” or “Chief of staff”) deridingly suggested that Hezekiah had destroyed Yahweh’s places of worship. He further argued that Yahweh told him to destroy Judah because of the destruction of His places of worship.
Another challenge he had was that his people faced starvation since the city was under siege resulting in no going out and no coming in of the fenced cities. Rabshakeh made his threats in Hebrew language rather than the Aramaic, the diplomatic language, in order to intimidate the soldiers on the wall. He cast doubts on Hezekiah’s integrity and recalls Assyria’s seemingly endless military
victories. He tried to use threats, ridicule, demoralization, campaign and blasphemy to subdue Judah.
In the same way, Satan tries to confuse or deceive us about what God wants. To avoid Satan’s deceit, study God’s word carefully and regularly and when you know what God says, you will not fail for Satan’s lies.
QUESTION 2B) HOW DID HE HANDLE THE SITUATION? ISAIAH 37:1-20; EPH.6:10-18 (REF. ALSO TO DAN. 2:4-23; 1KG.17:17-24)
Prophet Isaiah gives us a picture of king Hezekiah’s faith-response to the intimidation, accusation, and threats that came from the enemies of God’s people. Judah is compared to a woman trying to give birth to a child but who is too weak to deliver. When the situation seemed hopeless, Hezekiah didn’t give up, instead, he asked the prophet Isaiah to pray that God would help His people. Hezekiah did exactly what prophet Isaiah had been calling the people to do (Chapter 1-35). He turned to God and watched him come to Judah’s aid. Hezekiah went to the house of the Lord and inquired of the Lord. He is an excellent example of what a believer should do when threatened by an enemy. He did not react to the threats of Sennacherib, but cried out to God for help. Upon receiving the letter from Sennacherib, Hezekiah took it and spread it out before the Lord in prayer.
In Hezekiah’s case, a physical act of trust, that is, spreading his case (letter) before the Lord, established a foundation faith upon which Hezekiah prayed. We too face attacks and like Hezekiah should seek the Lord and put our faith and trust in Him. Look to Him for protection, direction, strategy and comfort in times of threat/attack. Take your concern to the Lord in prayers. Speak truth and worship God to align yourself, your mind and emotions with what God says is truth and right. Place your faith in God’s ability to defend and deliver. Learn from Hezekiah’s response to slander. He did not return evil for evil but humbled himself and went directly to the Lord. Recognize that the enemy will try to intimidate and undermine your faith in God. Don’t allow yourself to believe him. Reject Satanic lies always. Daniel and his three Hebrew brothers confidently believed that God would tell them all the king wanted to know, even when faced with the challenge of death from Nebuchadnezzar’s decree on all the wise men.
QUESTION 3) WHY SHOULD THE BELIEVER TRUST IN THE LORD? PSALMS 18:30-31; 62:11-13; ISAIAH 26:4; 1KING 17:2-7.
God is indeed a shield and buckler to protect all those who trust in Him in times of trouble. He strengthens, protects and guides all who put their trust in Him. The power and mercy needed to sail through the harsh wind/current of this world, belong to God and they are available to those who trust Him.
Elijah trusted God at all times and God made all provisions available for Him even in times of draught. Similarly, the three Hebrew children in Babylon (Dan.3:16-27) also trusted God for deliverance from the fiery burning fire and God gave them a miraculous deliverance. Nothing shall be impossible for those who put their absolute trust in God.
QUESTION 4) WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TRUSTING IN THE LORD? PSALMS 31:19
God has laid up His rewards for those who fear and trust Him. The following are a few of the benefits of trusting in the Lord:
(a) None of those who trust in the Lord shall be condemned or desolate (Psalm 34:22).
(b) In Psalm 37:40, the Lord will help, deliver those who trust in Him.
(c) God is a help and shield to those that fear and trust Him.
(d) Commit your ways unto the Lord, trust also in Him and he shall bring your desire according to His will to pass (Ps.115:11).
(e) They that trust in the Lord shall be delivered and saved from the wicked (Ps.37:3,5). (f) When we are devoted to (trust) God, our whole attitude will be steady and stable for continuous relationship with the Godhead.
(g) Real trust in God brings consistency of character (Psalm 125:1).
(h) God will always keep those whose minds are stayed on Him in perfect peace by all means (Is.26:3).
(i) Trusting God spares us much griefs in times like this in the world of uncertainty.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Are you willing to trust God to guide you through and through in the affairs of life and to our eternal destination? Uphold your trust in the Lord. The secret of consistency is to trust in God because He never changes. He is completely reliable and will keep us steady. The believers in Christ should guard their absolute trust in the Lord more tenaciously in times like this. Lack of trust in God leads to avoidable stress; failure to trust in God brings overwhelming problems. Trust God at all times. Remember to keep worry out of your life as it affects our trust in God. Lack of trust keeps us from receiving God’s best for us.
MEMORY VERSE:
ISAIAH 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Mon: Retain your confidence in God: Heb.10:35-39. Tue: Benefits of trusting in the Lord: Psalms 31:19; Isaiah 26:3
Wed: Lack of trust keeps from receiving God’s best for us: Heb.3:15-19.
Thu: Trusting God for provisions in times of draught:
1 Kings 17:1-7.
Fri: Handling a threat of life by trusting in the Lord: Is.37:14-20.
Sat: Trust in the Lord and not man: Psalm 118:8-9.