"What are you trusting in that makes you so confident"

19 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?

Introduction

One of the most common questions I ask people almost daily is “Who are you anchored to?”

Example regarding anxiety

As in adults, anxiety disorders are the most common class of mental disorders, with a 12-month prevalence rate of 24.9%

As in adults, anxiety disorders are the most common class of mental disorders, with a 12-month prevalence rate of 24.9%

Lifetime prevalence is 33%

The median age of onset for anxiety disorders is 11 years.

The median age of onset for anxiety disorders is 11 years.

It was estimated that in 2004, anxiety disorders cost in excess of 41 billion Euros in the European Union.

It was estimated that in 2004, anxiety disorders cost in excess of 41 billion Euros (45 billion dollars) in the European Union.

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

19 The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah:

2 kings 18:19

19 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?

The New International Version.

The KJV: “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?”

NLT: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?

Historical Context

2 Kings Chapter 18 and 19, , as well as 2 Chron tell the story of Hezekiah, King of Judah and the threats posed to the children of Judah

Hezekiah was 25 years old when he began to reign in Judah. According to 2 kings 18:3-8, Hezekiah is recognized for his reverence to the one true GOD (JHVH).

Hezekiah in Chapter 18 and Josiah in Chapter 22 are singled out for aggressively ridding Israel of idolatry.

For the WORD OF GOD says “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD (v3),

He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to (v4) - There are things that God places before you that he never intended for you to worship. [Jesus - Worship the Lord your God and serve him only…quoting from ]

v 5 - “He trusted in the LORD GOD of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

v 6 - “For he clave (cling to, be stuck together, stick to, hold fast), and departed not (did not stop following) from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.

--------

Chapter 17 in verse 41 describes the surrounding spiritual environment at that time. Other nations had come to recognize JEHOVAH, but in typical polytheistic fashion they set HIM up alongside the other gods. However, nothing had substantially changed in the land of Israel (correlation to the church today). *Example “I am pagan.”

Irony - Whereas God delivered Israel with a mighty hand from Egypt and sustained Israel for centuries, yet Israel only worshipped him alongside other gods.

---

v9 describes that in Hezekiah’s 4th year of his reign, Assyria came against the children of God,

v10 completely capturing Samaria by the 6th year of Hezekiah’s reign.

v 11, 12 Assyria deported Israel to Assyria because of disobedience.

v 13,14 In Hezekiah's 14th year, Sennacherib, king of Assyria came against the fortified cities of Judah. - Assyrian annals record the utter defeat of Lachish, a city anyone wanting to to conquer Jerusalem would need to capture in order to besiege Jerusalem.