Isaiah 38
Isaiah 38 consists of an account of King Hezekiah’s illness and recovery, and his singing of thanksgiving to God for the life he regained. This chapter highlights God’s mercy and God as the Lord of life through the king’s human weakness, his earnest prayers offered to God, and God’s response and miraculous healing events.
1verseIn those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’”
2verseThen Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,
3verseand said, “Remember now, LORD, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4verseThen the LORD’s word came to Isaiah, saying,
5verse“Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘The LORD, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
6verseI will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.
7verseThis shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has spoken.
8verseBehold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps.”’” So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down.
9verseThe writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness:
10verseI said, “In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years.”
11verseI said, “I won’t see the LORD, the LORD in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.
12verseMy dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
13verseI waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.
14verseI chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”
15verseWhat will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.
16verseLord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them. You restore me, and cause me to live.
17verseBehold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
18verseFor Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth.
19verseThe living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do today. The father shall make known your truth to the children.
20verseThe LORD will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the LORD’s house.
21verseNow Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”
22verseHezekiah also had said, “What is the sign that I will go up to the LORD’s house?”
Structure and Flow
| Division | Content |
|---|---|
| Verses 1-3: | Upon hearing God’s word that he will surely die from illness, Hezekiah prays with tears |
| Verses 4-8: | God listens to Hezekiah’s prayer through Isaiah, and shows a sign along with the promise to extend his life by 15 years |
| Verses 9-20: | After his recovery, Hezekiah confesses through song about the suffering he went through and God’s saving deliverance |
| Verses 21-22: | Isaiah makes a poultice from figs and asks that Hezekiah be allowed to go up to the temple |
Overall Meaning and Lessons
This chapter emphasizes human limitations, God’s absolute sovereignty, and God’s faithfulness in keeping the covenant. Hezekiah’s sincere prayer shows his personal fellowship with God, and God’s immediate response and sign reveal God’s power and love. In addition, Hezekiah’s attitude of responding to God even amid suffering, and his praise of God even after he is healed from illness, provide an example for how to live a life of faith.
Meditation Points
- In the moment of hardship, whom am I looking for, and how am I responding?
- When I come to God in prayer, what is the honesty and sincerity of my heart like?
- When God’s response comes immediately or in a way different from what I expected, how do I receive it?
- After experiencing recovery and God’s response, how am I giving thanks and praise to God?
Applying This to Me
- Let’s have the courage to pray to God honestly and earnestly in times of difficulty.
- When the answer to our prayers comes, and after we overcome our suffering, let’s share that grace with others and offer praise.
- Let’s remember that every moment of life is in God’s hands, and let’s live each day with a humble heart.
