Isaiah Chapter 38

From The Open Bible Project

38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.'"

  • (a) Soon after that the Assyrians were slain: so that God will have the exercise of his children continually, that they may learn only to depend on God and aspire to the heavens.

38:2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh,

  • (b) For his heart was touched with fear of God’s judgment, seeing he had appointed him to die so quickly after his deliverance from so great calamity, as one unworthy to remain in that estate, and also foreseeing the great change that would come in the Church, as he left no son to reign after him: for as yet Manasseh was not born, and when he reigned, we see what a tyrant he was.

38:3 and said, "Remember now, Yahweh, 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." Hezekiah wept bitterly.

38:4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying,

38:5 "Go, and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.

38:6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.

  • (c) He not only promises to prolong his life, but to give him rest and quietness from the Assyrians, who might have renewed their army to revenge their former defeat.

38:7 This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that he has spoken.

  • (d) For Hezekiah had asked for a sign for the confirmation of his faith, as in (Isaiah 38:22; 2 Kings 20:8), to which he was moved by the singular motion of God’s spirit.

38:8 Behold, 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."'"

38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness.

  • (f) He left this song of his lamentation and thanksgiving to all posterity, as a monument of his own infirmity and thankful heart for God’s benefits, as David did, (Psalms 51:1).

38:10 I said, "In the middle of my life I go into the gates of [18] Sheol [See Isaiah Footnotes 18]. I am deprived of the residue of my years."

  • (c) At which time it was told to me, that I would die.

38:11 I said, "I won't see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

  • (h) I will no more praise the Lord here in this temple among the faithful thus God permits his dearest children to want his consolation for a time that his grace afterward may appear when they feel their own weakness.

38:12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd's tent. I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me.

  • (i) By my sin I have provoked God to take my life from me.
  • (k) That is, in one day, or shortly.

38:13 I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me.

  • (l) Overnight I thought that I would live till morning, but my pangs in the night persuaded me the contrary: he shows the horror that the faithful have when they apprehend God’s judgment against their sin.

38:14 I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security."

  • (m) I was so oppressed with sorrow, that I was not able to utter my words, but only to groan and sigh.

38:15 What 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.

  • (o) God has declared by his prophet that I will die and therefore I will yield to him.
  • (p) I will have no release, but continual sorrows while I live.

38:16 Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them: you restore me, and cause me to live.

  • (q) They who will outlive the men that are now alive, and all they who are in these years will acknowledge this blessing.
  • (r) That after that you had condemned me to death you restored me to life.

38:17 Behold, 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.

  • (s) While I thought to have lived in rest and ease being delivered from my enemy, I had grief upon grief.
  • (t) He values more the remission of his sins, and God’s favour than a thousand lives.

38:18 For [19] Sheol [See Isaiah Footnotes 19] can't praise you. Death can't celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can't hope for your truth.

  • (u) For as much as God has placed man in this world to glorify him, the godly take it as a sign of his wrath, when their days were shortened, either because they seemed unworthy for their sins to live longer in his service, or for their zeal to God’s glory, seeing that there are so few in earth who regard it as in (Psalms 6:5, Psalms 115:17).

38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do this day. The father shall make known your truth to the children.

  • (x) All posterity will acknowledge and the fathers according to their duty toward their children will instruct them in your graces and mercies toward me.

38:20 Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh.

  • (y) He shows what is the use of the Congregation and Church, that is, to give the Lord thanks for his benefits.

38:21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover."

38:22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Yahweh?"

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