Today’s Bible reading is 2 Kings 18 and Acts 23.
“On what do you rest this trust of yours?” (2 Kings 18:19)
It came from the trash-talking spokesman of a pagan king, but it was a good question. “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours?'”
Trust that “rests on” someone or something… that’s an image worth chewing on today.
In Hezekiah’s day, to trust in Egypt could be compared to resting your hand and putting your weight on a broken reed–it “will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it” (2 Kings 18:21). While that’s an image that makes most of us cringe, we can readily understand the point: some things shouldn’t be leaned upon. Most things, in fact, were never intended to bear the weight we humans frequently place upon them.
Which means, “On what do you rest this trust of yours?” continues to be a great question.
Money was never intended to bear the weight of your fulfillment. Notice: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim 6:10). Rest your trust on money and it will pierce you.
Work was never intended to bear the weight of your identity. Rest your identity on your career and it will pierce you.
Marriage was never intended to bear the weight of your salvation. Rest your greatest needs on your spouse and you’ll both get hurt.
Children were never intended to bear the weight of your future. Resting your hopes and dreams on your kids is a recipe for disaster.
You were never intended to bear the weight of the world, but if you act like it revolves around you, it will crush you.
The church was never intended to rest on you as its cornerstone…
You get the idea.
So, “on what do you rest this trust of yours?” Great question. No thing is sufficient. Only One is.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psa 18:2)
In a world of good things that will pierce anyone who puts too much weight on them, Jesus allowed himself to be pierced so that we could build and rest the full weight of our lives on solid rock.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. (Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887)
Trust him. Lean on him today. He alone can bear your weight.