Connect Isaiah 36:5 with Proverbs 3:5-6 on trusting God over human wisdom. Setting the Scene: Two Passages, One Call • Isaiah 36:5 records Assyria’s field commander taunting Judah: “You claim to have a strategy and strength for war — but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?” • Proverbs 3:5-6 counters with God’s timeless counsel: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Empty Words vs. Wholehearted Trust • Assyria mocked Judah’s faith, labeling it “empty words.” Human eyes saw a tiny kingdom resisting the world’s superpower. • God viewed those same words as covenant loyalty. When trust is anchored in Him, it is never empty. • Key takeaway: what the world dismisses as naïve faith, God receives as genuine dependence (Psalm 20:7). Enemies of Trust: Human Calculations • Political alliances (Isaiah 30:1-2) • Military numbers (2 Chronicles 32:7-8) • Personal “understanding” (Proverbs 28:26) All seem logical, yet each subtly shifts confidence from God to self. Promises of Trust: Divine Direction • “He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). For Hezekiah, that path included miraculous deliverance: “The angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians” (Isaiah 37:36). • God’s character guarantees guidance: “The counsel of the LORD stands forever” (Psalm 33:11). • Trusting Him is never blind; it rests on His proven record (Joshua 23:14). Living It Today • Filter every strategy through Scripture first. • Replace anxiety-driven planning with prayer-driven planning (Philippians 4:6-7). • Honor God publicly, even when culture scoffs; Hezekiah’s trust was voiced before his enemies. • Expect God to act in alignment with His Word, though not always with predictable methods (Ephesians 3:20). Scriptures that Echo the Call • Jeremiah 17:5-8 — contrast between cursed self-reliance and blessed trust. • 2 Chronicles 20:12 — “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” • 1 Corinthians 1:25 — divine “foolishness” wiser than human wisdom. Summary Snapshot Assyria’s taunt exposed a choice: trust calculated power or trust covenant faithfulness. Proverbs 3:5-6 answers decisively—lean on the Lord, not on limited understanding. God still honors that choice with guidance, protection, and vindication. |
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