이사야 Chapter 38

Translation: ESV

1

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.'

Key Message

Every human situation is under God's sovereignty; both death and life are determined by God.

▸After the Assyrian crisis, Hezekiah falls ill.

After the Assyrian crisis, Hezekiah falls ill. Isaiah comes and delivers God's word: 'You shall die.' This is a new crisis given to Hezekiah.

Related Verses

Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'
2

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD.

Key Message

True prayer is turning one's face away from the world and toward God alone.

▸Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and prays.

3

And said, 'Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Key Message

The believer can look back on his life and pray grounded in his relationship with God.

▸Hezekiah's prayer: he asks God to remember how he has walked before him in faithfulness and with a whole heart.

4

Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:

Key Message

Prayer can influence God's plan, and God responds to prayer.

▸Isaiah receives God's response.

5

'Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, 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.'

Key Message

God knows all our prayers and tears, and he responds to them.

▸'I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears'—God knows both Hezekiah's prayer and his tears.

9

A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:

Key Message

A confession of faith that comes from the experience of suffering has greater theological depth.

▸A song of thanksgiving written by Hezekiah after recovering from illness follows (vv.

10

I said, In the middle of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years.

Key Message

Honestly confessing the fear of death is part of biblical faith.

▸Hezekiah's lament begins.

17

Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

Key Message

God's healing includes both physical healing and spiritual forgiveness of sins.

▸'You have cast all my sins behind your back'—a beautiful expression of forgiveness.

20

The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD.

Key Message

The remaining days of the saved person should be offered in praising God.

▸Hezekiah's resolution: after being saved, to offer the remaining days of life in praise at the temple.

21

Now Isaiah had said, 'Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.'

Key Message

God's healing can work through natural means, and faith and medicine are not opposed.

▸God's supernatural healing simultaneously comes through a concrete remedy (a cake of figs).