Isaiah 38:1-8
Alternative devotions for Wednesday 13th January
Review
Isaiah 38 describes a mystery illness which Hezekiah had (38:1-8), and Isaiah’s prophecy first of Hezekiah’s death, and then of his temporary reprieve and the adding of years to his life. This passage is reasonably well known today because it contains the famous ‘sign’ of the reversal of time in which the sun goes ‘back ten steps’ (38:8), which is little understood, though sometimes used as a reading and preached upon in church. The passage is also virtually the same as that found in 2 Kings 20:1-10, with the only difference being that 2 Kings adds the promise that Hezekiah will ‘worship in the Temple in three days time’ (2 Kings 20:8), after he has been healed of his illness.
We might expect that this passage is best read as a healing miracle in the Old Testament, but there is something rather strange about it. In the previous chapter, we read about the lifting of the siege of Jerusalem (37:36-38), but here in this story, this event appears to be in the future; for example, in verse 6, the Lord says to Hezekiah ‘... I will also deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria’ suggesting that the deliverance we have just read about in chapter 37 has not yet happened!
Is it possible that for some reason, the events in chapter 38 occurred before those of chapter 37? This seems odd to us, but if we look further at what the Bible says then our suspicions are confirmed. There is no doubt that the deliverance of Jerusalem from Assyria took place in 701BC; and in addition, we know that Hezekiah died only a few years later, around 697BC. In this passage, however, you will read that Hezekiah was given fifteen more years of life because of his repentance, so all in all, this means that this incident must have taken place long before the Assyrian invasion!
Why then does this story appear here in the book of Isaiah? What appears to be happening is this: after the story of the deliverance of Jerusalem, Isaiah records this story about Hezekiah which happened earlier in his life. This was the ‘mini-crisis’ through which Hezekiah learned spiritual lessons which enabled him to stand firm against the Assyrian invasion. Indeed, Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah at the time of this illness, saying that the Lord would save the city of Jerusalem from the Assyrians (38:6). In this historically earlier story, Hezekiah shows himself to be faithful to the Lord, but personally weak and afraid of death; so he begs the Lord to spare him from death and argues with the Lord in the same way that Moses and Abraham had done many years previously (38:2,3, see Genesis 18:20f., and Exodus 33:10f.). Though broken in spirit, Hezekiah received what the Lord had to say to him through Isaiah the prophet, and was strengthened. Consequently, not only was he healed (we read more about this tomorrow), he gained sufficient courage to become the godly man who, in the midst of the crisis of the Assyrians siege of Jerusalem, prayed with confidence to the Lord (see Isaiah 37:15-20).
It may be strange to us to read the ‘mini-story’ about Hezekiah’s strengthening as a King after the story of the Assyrian invasion itself; nevertheless, Isaiah records this because it contains an important spiritual principle. Hezekiah was able to be strong in the greater things required of him later in life because he was faithful, receptive and compliant to the Lord’s will in the smaller but important matters of his personal life; in this instance, concerning his health.
Lastly, although it is not something I can prove, I wonder whether the sign of the turning back of the sunlight on the dial, is somehow connected with the timing of these events. I suggest that when Hezekiah was sick, Isaiah prophesied that Hezekiah would see this sign as a verification that he would receive the extra years of life, after the siege of the Assyrians was lifted. The sign of the clock going back is a reminder to Hezekiah of his earlier illness and his repentance, which is the true source of his spiritual strength.
1 Around that time Hezekiah became ill and close to death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, for you will die; you will not recover.’ 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 ‘O Lord, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what is good in your eyes.’ Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, and He said: 5 ‘Go and tell Hezekiah, “This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will also deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city.” 7 This is the Lord’s sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: 8 “Look, I will make the shadow cast by the sun on Ahaz’s stairway go back the ten steps it has gone down.”’ So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
© All text and pictures on this page copyright Paul H Ashby 2010 - all rights reserved
Lord God Almighty, You are the source of everything:
We praise You for the new life we find in Jesus Christ,
We praise You for the hope of our eternal salvation,
We praise You for the love shown by God the Father,
Lord God Almighty, You are the source of life within us:
AMEN
Where may the human spirit begin to find peace?
In the company of others who believe?
Whilst doing the work of the Kingdom?
In a home where love and care abide?
Lost in worship, in ‘wonder love and praise’?
On the streets where Jesus kept His company?
Speaking out, where possible, for the oppressed?
In a quiet place of Bible study and prayer?
Walking with a trusted friend from the past?
Or may peace be found when we realise
That God is there in every circumstance of life,
And peace comes when we see Him with open eyes,
For anytime, anywhere, everywhere; He is there.
Prayer ideas
Look at the faces of the various people you see today, and ask God to bless them, one by one
On-going prayers
- Pray for Your home church Pray today for those who organise things and keep the church running smoothly, week by week.
- Pray for Nigeria and for the health of President Umaru Yar'Adua
- Give thanks to God for the many opportunities He has given you
