In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.
And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken;
Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?
Isaiah 38 presents a powerful narrative of King Hezekiah's illness, his fervent prayer, God's miraculous intervention, and Hezekiah's subsequent song of thanksgiving. Understanding the chronological context of this chapter within the broader scope of Isaiah (specifically chapters 36-39) is crucial. It's likely that the events of Isaiah 38, particularly Hezekiah's sickness, occurred before the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem described in chapters 36-37. This is supported by Isaiah 38:6, which promises deliverance from the King of Assyria. Further, the visit of the Babylonian envoys (Isaiah 39:1) likely preceded the siege, as entering a besieged Jerusalem would have been nearly impossible.
A King Facing Mortality (Isaiah 38:1-8)
The chapter opens with a stark pronouncement: the prophet Isaiah delivers God's message that Hezekiah is terminally ill and will not recover (Isaiah 38:1). This news plunges the king into deep distress. Hezekiah turns to God in heartfelt prayer, pleading for remembrance of his faithful service and righteous living (Isaiah 38:2-3). The text emphasizes the intensity of his supplication: he "wept bitterly."
God, in His compassion, hears Hezekiah's prayer and grants him fifteen more years of life (Isaiah 38:5). This divine response highlights God's mercy and willingness to answer sincere prayers. Some scholars suggest that this situation may have been a test of Hezekiah's faith, knowing God's intention to heal him all along. Whatever the case, Hezekiah's response demonstrated genuine faith and yielded an extraordinary blessing.
Beyond extending his life, God promises to deliver Hezekiah and Jerusalem from the Assyrian king (Isaiah 38:6), solidifying the timeline placing this event prior to the siege. To confirm His promise, God provides a miraculous sign: the shadow on the sundial will move back ten steps (Isaiah 38:7-8). This visible and undeniable miracle serves as a tangible assurance of God's faithfulness.
Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving (Isaiah 38:9-20)
Following his recovery, King Hezekiah composes a psalm, a song of thanksgiving, to express his gratitude to God for His healing and answered prayer (Isaiah 38:9). This section offers a deeply personal glimpse into Hezekiah's emotional state during his illness. He honestly reveals his anguish at the prospect of premature death, lamenting that he must descend to "the gates of Sheol" in the prime of his life (Isaiah 38:10). "Sheol" refers to the realm of the dead.
Hezekiah's words resonate with raw human emotion. He expresses the universal fear of death and the desire to live, especially when feeling cheated of years yet to come (Isaiah 38:11-15).
However, the psalm doesn't remain in despair. It transitions into praise and acknowledgment of God's mercy and love (Isaiah 38:16-20). Hezekiah recognizes God as the source of his healing and deliverance, reaffirming his trust in God's goodness. His song becomes a testament to the transformative power of faith and the hope found in God's unwavering love.
The Prescription and the Sign (Isaiah 38:21-22)
The concluding verses provide details about Isaiah's instructions for Hezekiah's healing. The prophet prescribed a poultice of pressed figs to be applied to the king's boil (Isaiah 38:21). This simple remedy, while seemingly ordinary, highlights the importance of obedience and acting on faith. It was a practical step taken in conjunction with prayer and divine intervention.
Furthermore, these verses reiterate Hezekiah's request for a sign confirming his healing and his ability to return to the temple to worship (Isaiah 38:22). This underscores Hezekiah's desire not only for physical healing but also for spiritual restoration and continued fellowship with God. This is a significant detail, as it showcases Hezekiah's heart for God and his desire to worship Him in the temple. This simple act of faith highlights the connection between physical healing and spiritual well-being.
Isaiah 38 offers a profound lesson in faith, prayer, and God's boundless mercy. It demonstrates that even in the face of death, sincere prayer can move God to act. Hezekiah's story encourages us to approach God with honesty and vulnerability, trusting in His power to heal and deliver. His song of thanksgiving serves as a reminder to always give God the glory for His blessings and to maintain a heart of gratitude for His unwavering love.
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord,
And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.
And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken;
Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.
The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:
I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me.
What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.
The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.
Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?
Isaiah 38 presents a powerful narrative of King Hezekiah's illness, his fervent prayer, God's miraculous intervention, and Hezekiah's subsequent song of thanksgiving. Understanding the chronological context of this chapter within the broader scope of Isaiah (specifically chapters 36-39) is crucial. It's likely that the events of Isaiah 38, particularly Hezekiah's sickness, occurred before the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem described in chapters 36-37. This is supported by Isaiah 38:6, which promises deliverance from the King of Assyria. Further, the visit of the Babylonian envoys (Isaiah 39:1) likely preceded the siege, as entering a besieged Jerusalem would have been nearly impossible.
A King Facing Mortality (Isaiah 38:1-8)
The chapter opens with a stark pronouncement: the prophet Isaiah delivers God's message that Hezekiah is terminally ill and will not recover (Isaiah 38:1). This news plunges the king into deep distress. Hezekiah turns to God in heartfelt prayer, pleading for remembrance of his faithful service and righteous living (Isaiah 38:2-3). The text emphasizes the intensity of his supplication: he "wept bitterly."
God, in His compassion, hears Hezekiah's prayer and grants him fifteen more years of life (Isaiah 38:5). This divine response highlights God's mercy and willingness to answer sincere prayers. Some scholars suggest that this situation may have been a test of Hezekiah's faith, knowing God's intention to heal him all along. Whatever the case, Hezekiah's response demonstrated genuine faith and yielded an extraordinary blessing.
Beyond extending his life, God promises to deliver Hezekiah and Jerusalem from the Assyrian king (Isaiah 38:6), solidifying the timeline placing this event prior to the siege. To confirm His promise, God provides a miraculous sign: the shadow on the sundial will move back ten steps (Isaiah 38:7-8). This visible and undeniable miracle serves as a tangible assurance of God's faithfulness.
Hezekiah's Song of Thanksgiving (Isaiah 38:9-20)
Following his recovery, King Hezekiah composes a psalm, a song of thanksgiving, to express his gratitude to God for His healing and answered prayer (Isaiah 38:9). This section offers a deeply personal glimpse into Hezekiah's emotional state during his illness. He honestly reveals his anguish at the prospect of premature death, lamenting that he must descend to "the gates of Sheol" in the prime of his life (Isaiah 38:10). "Sheol" refers to the realm of the dead.
Hezekiah's words resonate with raw human emotion. He expresses the universal fear of death and the desire to live, especially when feeling cheated of years yet to come (Isaiah 38:11-15).
However, the psalm doesn't remain in despair. It transitions into praise and acknowledgment of God's mercy and love (Isaiah 38:16-20). Hezekiah recognizes God as the source of his healing and deliverance, reaffirming his trust in God's goodness. His song becomes a testament to the transformative power of faith and the hope found in God's unwavering love.
The Prescription and the Sign (Isaiah 38:21-22)
The concluding verses provide details about Isaiah's instructions for Hezekiah's healing. The prophet prescribed a poultice of pressed figs to be applied to the king's boil (Isaiah 38:21). This simple remedy, while seemingly ordinary, highlights the importance of obedience and acting on faith. It was a practical step taken in conjunction with prayer and divine intervention.
Furthermore, these verses reiterate Hezekiah's request for a sign confirming his healing and his ability to return to the temple to worship (Isaiah 38:22). This underscores Hezekiah's desire not only for physical healing but also for spiritual restoration and continued fellowship with God. This is a significant detail, as it showcases Hezekiah's heart for God and his desire to worship Him in the temple. This simple act of faith highlights the connection between physical healing and spiritual well-being.
Isaiah 38 offers a profound lesson in faith, prayer, and God's boundless mercy. It demonstrates that even in the face of death, sincere prayer can move God to act. Hezekiah's story encourages us to approach God with honesty and vulnerability, trusting in His power to heal and deliver. His song of thanksgiving serves as a reminder to always give God the glory for His blessings and to maintain a heart of gratitude for His unwavering love.