Day By Day - Isaiah 38
By Leanne Rich
Opening Thoughts:
Such a moving chapter!
I have a few thoughts about this chapter that may help us when we are suffering.
Key Points: Learning from suffering and sickness
1.Hezekiah gave thanks for the time he was ill. In that time he repented of pride and promised he would lead the rest of his life with a humble heart (verse 15).
Hezekiah learned that the most important thing in life is hearing from God. In verses 15-16 he said:
"But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.
Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too."
He learned that God's very words are the source of life. God created everything by His word. He spoke and it was.
It reminds me of John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
And in John 6:68, 'Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."'
2. Sickness bought Hezekiah time to put himself right with God. Sickness saved him from greater anguish of facing hell for not repenting of his sins.
In verse 17 Hezekiah says, "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back."
3. Sickness brought about a realignment of Hezekiah's priorities.
Verses 19-20 demonstrates this:
"The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord."
Hezekiah was king of Judah and a warrior. He must have been pretty busy running his kingdom and battles. Maybe too busy to spend much time with family and in worship and church and devotions.
Being sick gave him time to realise these failures and to realign his priorities to be at home more teaching his kids and be serving, using his talents, in the Lord's temple.
Final Thoughts:
Sickness can be a time for us to slow down, hear from the Lord, put our lives right and realign our priorities.
Before we ask for prayer for healing, let's remember the words of James: (James 5:14-16)
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Opening Thoughts:
Such a moving chapter!
I have a few thoughts about this chapter that may help us when we are suffering.
Key Points: Learning from suffering and sickness
1.Hezekiah gave thanks for the time he was ill. In that time he repented of pride and promised he would lead the rest of his life with a humble heart (verse 15).
Hezekiah learned that the most important thing in life is hearing from God. In verses 15-16 he said:
"But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.
Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too."
He learned that God's very words are the source of life. God created everything by His word. He spoke and it was.
It reminds me of John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
And in John 6:68, 'Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."'
2. Sickness bought Hezekiah time to put himself right with God. Sickness saved him from greater anguish of facing hell for not repenting of his sins.
In verse 17 Hezekiah says, "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back."
3. Sickness brought about a realignment of Hezekiah's priorities.
Verses 19-20 demonstrates this:
"The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord."
Hezekiah was king of Judah and a warrior. He must have been pretty busy running his kingdom and battles. Maybe too busy to spend much time with family and in worship and church and devotions.
Being sick gave him time to realise these failures and to realign his priorities to be at home more teaching his kids and be serving, using his talents, in the Lord's temple.
Final Thoughts:
Sickness can be a time for us to slow down, hear from the Lord, put our lives right and realign our priorities.
Before we ask for prayer for healing, let's remember the words of James: (James 5:14-16)
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Posted in Isaiah