God’s prescription (4): Quietness and Trust

When we walk with the lord
In the light of his word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging,God wants us to trust Him as our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.

With this introduction,I want to welcome us to the last phase of the series I started few days ago.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it”-Isa 30:15(NIV)

“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not”(KJV)

Just like some English Bible translators use ‘repentance’ in place of ‘returning’,in the same way, some use ‘trust’ in place of ‘confidence’.However,what is the Hebrew word used by Isaiah?

/Biţchâh/: Its English translation has two meanings,either confidence or trust.

Let’s go back to Isaiah Chapter 30 to see the context in which these two words are used:

“For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade”-Isa 30:2

Hezekiah nearly fell into the same errors with his predecessors when the Assyrians threatened Judah!He also wanted to consult another ‘doctor’! With that,God said Judah was now under the shadow of Egypt!

“Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!”(NKJV)

As far as God is concerned,trust follows the principle of ‘all or none’ law.It is either you trust in His shadow or the shadow of Egypt.There is no standing in between.

It is either:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”-Psalm 91:1

Or:

“Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame,and trust in the shadow of Egypt shall be your humiliation“-Isa 30:3

“Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more”-Psalm 16:4(NIV)

“Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.”(NLT)

God saw Hezekiah’s moves and knew he was going in the direction of Egypt to seek help,therefore He spoke through Isaiah(His prophet) to stop him.

Let’s apply this to our lives by asking some sincere questions:

1)Where is your heart now? Is it still trusting on God or other gods? Granted people know you as a Christian but is your confidence in God? You call on His name with your mouth like Hezekiah but is your heart already in Egypt?

2)Have you consulted God to know His views about your predicament? Many people knew what God would say if they asked,so they didn’t bother to ask! Many knew He would ask them to first return to Him and they were not willing!

3)What are the things that represent seeking help from Egypt in your life? Anything/anybody that you give the attention and worship meant for God to! Idolatry is beyond worshipping the god of thunder or Amadioha!Your stomach could be your god!

“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.Their mind is set on earthly things“-Philipians 3:18-19

How? In Part 1,it was seen how two Kings of Judah gave out the treasures of God’s Temple to appease their enemies,in the same way,you put your trust in other gods when:

a)You sacrifice your peace,anointing,grace of God for your sensual appetites!In other words,you are willing to let go godly virtues in other to gain the ephemerals! Such people derive satisfaction on earthly things,and do not relish the things which are spiritual and heavenly.Rather,they set their hearts and affections on earthly things and have confidence in them.

“For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites…”-Romans 16:18

b)A man puts his trust in other gods(flesh) when he thinks he can overcome the flesh by his flesh! Whenever you think fleshly lusts,sinful habits and addictions can be overcome by your strength,you behave like Judah! Assyrians,Syrians and Egypt didn’t give a lasting help to Judah,in fact they ended up being their enemies.In the same way,the flesh won’t help you either! Rather put your trust in God and His Spirit will offer an effective and lasting solution to you.

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing…”John 6:63

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing…”NLT

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry“-Col 3:5

Lastly, let’s see what happened when Hezekiah put his trust in God:

“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God”-2Kings 19:14-16

How did God answer this prayer? He sent His angels(Spirit beings):

“That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!” 2Kings 19:35

What the flesh could not accomplish,the Spirit did when Hezekiah trusted in God.

Brethren,I don’t care the situation you are in!These four pills (Returning to God,Resting on Him,Quietness of your mind and Trusting in Him) are what you need for your salvation and strength.The ‘drugs’ worked for Judah,I have used them,they worked and still working.They can work for you too if you are willing!

Shalom.