What is the meaning of Isaiah 36:4? The Rabshakeh said to them • The Rabshakeh, Assyria’s field commander, speaks as the mouthpiece of a pagan empire bent on conquest (2 Kings 18:17–28). • His presence at Jerusalem’s wall is an open challenge—like Goliath taunting Israel (1 Samuel 17:8–10), or the beast blaspheming God’s dwelling (Revelation 13:6). • Scripture records this encounter not as legend but literal history, showing how real enemies confront God’s people. Tell Hezekiah • The message targets Judah’s godly king by name, aiming to single him out and undermine his leadership (2 Chronicles 32:18). • Spiritual opposition often personalizes the attack—“the kings of the earth rise up…against the LORD and against His Anointed” (Psalm 2:2). • Behind the human speaker lies a deeper conflict: “our struggle is…against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: • Assyria calls its monarch “the great king,” flaunting earthly power (Isaiah 10:8–13). • The boast recalls Nebuchadnezzar’s prideful claim, “Is this not Babylon that I have built?” (Daniel 4:30). • In stark contrast, “The LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). Hezekiah will soon pray, “You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth” (Isaiah 37:16). • Earthly rulers may exalt themselves, yet Acts 4:26 affirms that even their rebellion falls within God’s sovereign plan. What is the basis of this confidence of yours? • The heart of the taunt questions Judah’s faith. Assyria assumes Judah’s confidence is misplaced—perhaps in Egypt, walls, or military numbers (Isaiah 30:1–3). • Hezekiah had already urged the people: “Be strong and courageous…with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:7–8). • God’s Word repeatedly draws the same contrast: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). • True confidence rests not in visible resources but in God Himself—“faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1); “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). summary Isaiah 36:4 records Assyria’s field commander challenging Judah with arrogant titles and a piercing question: “What is the basis of this confidence of yours?” Each phrase exposes the clash between human pride and faith in the living God. The Rabshakeh’s intimidation, the personal assault on Hezekiah, and the boast of a “great king” all serve one purpose—undermining trust in the LORD. Yet Scripture consistently testifies that genuine confidence is grounded in God’s character and promises, not in earthly strength. The scene invites every believer to stand where Hezekiah stood, resting in the unshakable truth that the LORD is the true King who defends His people. |
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