How does 2 Kings 18:34 connect with Psalm 20:7 about trusting in God? Text in Focus 2 Kings 18:34: “Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Indeed, did they save Samaria from my hand?” Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Historical Setting of 2 Kings 18:34 • King Hezekiah has rebelled against the Assyrian empire. • Sennacherib’s field commander (Rabshakeh) taunts Jerusalem, boasting that no local deity has ever stopped Assyria. • The verse lists conquered cities and their powerless gods, underscoring the claim that Yahweh will be no different. • Hezekiah responds by turning wholly to the LORD (2 Kings 19:14-19), and God literally destroys the Assyrian army overnight (2 Kings 19:35-37). Historical Setting of Psalm 20:7 • A royal psalm, likely composed by David, sung before battle. • Chariots and horses represent the best military technology of the day (cf. Deuteronomy 20:1). • The worshipers declare that true victory rests in “the name of the LORD,” not in human strength. Shared Theme: What We Rely On • 2 Kings 18:34 contrasts dead idols with the living God. • Psalm 20:7 contrasts military power with the name of the LORD. • Both passages drive one point: every alternative object of trust fails; only God saves. Key Connections • False gods vs. real God – 2 Kings 18:34: pagan idols cannot deliver. – Psalm 20:7: human resources cannot deliver. • Public boasts vs. humble faith – Rabshakeh boasts in Assyria’s record. – Psalm 20 community boasts only in Yahweh’s name. • Historical proof of God’s superiority – The literal destruction of 185,000 Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35) validates Hezekiah’s trust. – Israel’s battlefield victories under David validate Psalm 20:7’s confession (2 Samuel 8:1-14). Supporting Scriptures • 2 Chronicles 32:8 — “With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” • Isaiah 31:1 — “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel.” • Proverbs 21:31 — “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.” • Jeremiah 17:5-8 — Cursed is the man who trusts in man… blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD. Living It Out Today • Identify modern “chariots and horses” (finances, technology, political influence) that quietly claim our trust. • Recognize that idols can be anything—status, security, success—just as powerless as Hamath’s gods. • Intentionally shift confidence to God’s character and promises (Psalm 9:10; Hebrews 13:5-6). • Celebrate past deliverances as tangible reminders that the LORD still intervenes (Psalm 77:11-14). Summary Takeaways • Both texts call for exclusive confidence in the LORD. • Historical events verify that such trust is never misplaced. • Every rival object of dependence—whether idol or instrument—ultimately crumbles before the living God. |
    |