Isaiah 38 - Meaning, Themes & Application

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:1 means God warns King Hezekiah that his life is almost over and he must “set his house in order.” It shows that life …

" Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, "

Isaiah 38:2 shows King Hezekiah turning his face to the wall to pray, shutting out distractions and focusing completely on God when he was told …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:3 shows King Hezekiah begging God to remember his sincere, faithful life as he faces a deadly sickness. It means we can honestly pour …

" Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, "

Isaiah 38:4 shows God personally responding to Hezekiah’s desperate prayer through the prophet Isaiah. It means God hears sincere cries for help and can change …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:5 means God heard King Hezekiah’s desperate prayer and chose to extend his life by fifteen years. It shows that God sees our tears …

" And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city. "

Isaiah 38:6 means God personally promises to protect Hezekiah and Jerusalem from a powerful enemy. It shows that God sees real danger and steps in …

" And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken; "

Isaiah 38:7 means God gave Hezekiah a clear sign to prove He would keep His promise to heal him and extend his life. It shows …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:8 shows God giving King Hezekiah a miraculous sign by making the sun’s shadow move backward. It means God controls time and nature and …

" The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: "

Isaiah 38:9 introduces King Hezekiah’s personal prayer after God healed him from a serious illness. It shows that he took time to write down what …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:10 shows Hezekiah feeling his life was ending too soon, as if death had cut him off before his time. He’s honest about fear, …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:11 shows Hezekiah’s fear that death would cut him off from God’s presence and from people he loved. He feels life ending too soon. …

" 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 "

Isaiah 38:12 shows Hezekiah feeling his life is suddenly ending, like a tent taken down or a cloth cut off the loom. He feels fragile, …

" 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 "

Isaiah 38:13 shows Hezekiah feeling crushed by suffering, like God is a lion breaking his bones and his life could end at any moment. It …

" 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 "

Isaiah 38:14 shows Hezekiah crying out to God in weakness and fear, like a small, helpless bird. He feels worn out from praying and asks …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:15 shows Hezekiah responding humbly after God warned him of death and then granted him more years. He admits God is in control of …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:16 means Hezekiah recognizes that God’s discipline and mercy are what truly keep him alive and give his spirit strength. He trusts God to …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:17 means that God can turn our deepest pain into peace and rescue. Hezekiah was near death and felt bitter, but God lovingly saved …

" For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. "

Isaiah 38:18 means that once a person dies, they can no longer choose to praise God or trust His promises. Hezekiah is thankful for more …

" The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. "

Isaiah 38:19 means that people who are alive and rescued by God should openly thank Him and pass His truth to the next generation. It …

" 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. "

Isaiah 38:20 means Hezekiah recognizes God saved his life and responds with lifelong worship and gratitude. For us, when God carries us through sickness, depression, …

" For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover. "

Isaiah 38:21 shows that God used a simple medical treatment—figs on Hezekiah’s boil—to bring healing. It means God often works through ordinary remedies, doctors, and …

" Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD? "

Isaiah 38:22 shows Hezekiah asking God for a sign that he will be healed enough to worship at the temple again. It means he’s looking …