Isaiah 38 - Introduction
_HEZEKIAH, HAVING RECEIVED A MESSAGE OF DEATH, BY PRAYER HATH HIS LIFE LENGTHENED. THE SUN GOETH TEN DEGREES BACKWARD FOR A SIGN OF THAT PROMISE: HIS SONG OF THANKSGIVING._ _Before Christ 714._... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEZEKIAH, HAVING RECEIVED A MESSAGE OF DEATH, BY PRAYER HATH HIS LIFE LENGTHENED. THE SUN GOETH TEN DEGREES BACKWARD FOR A SIGN OF THAT PROMISE: HIS SONG OF THANKSGIVING._ _Before Christ 714._... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THOSE DAYS, &C.— Though the sacred historian has placed this sickness immediately after the defeat and death of Sennacherib, yet it is evident from Isaiah 38:6 that it happened before that time. Hezekiah reigned in all twenty and nine years; he had reigned fourteen years when Sennacherib invaded... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HEZEKIAH TURNED HIS FACE— See note on Exodus 1:4 for an account of the Eastern beds; from the position whereof, as there described, it will appear that Hezekiah made use of this posture, that his attendants might not take notice of the fervency of his devotion; for he turned his face from them,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEZEKIAH WEPT SORE— Under the law, long life and uninterrupted health are promised as rewards of obedience, and immature death is denounced as a punishment. See Exodus 20:12.Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 30:16. When we reflect on this, we need not be surprised at the sorrow which this good king... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL BRING AGAIN, &C.— The _dial_ in use among the Jews was a kind of stairs; the time of the day was distinguished not by _lines,_ but by _steps,_ here called _degrees;_ and the shade of the sun moved forward a new degree every half hour. The Jewish doctors and the ancient Christian fathe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WRITING OF HEZEKIAH— We have here an example of the piety of king Hezekiah, like a true son of David, singing to his _harp_ (for it appears from Isaiah 38:20 that this was a song fitted to that instrument) and pouring forth his sacred meditations as was usual among the pious of this nation. Grot... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID, IN THE CUTTING OFF OF MY DAYS— _I said, while my days are cut off I shall depart; yea, even to the gates of the grave;—of sheol._ Vitringa. Respecting the place of departed souls, and the several expressions concerning a future state found in this song, similar to those in the book of Job an... [ Continue Reading ]
I SHALL NOT SEE THE LORD, &C.— It is plain, that Hezekiah in this verse speaks singly and simply of the advantages which he should certainly lose by being suddenly cut off from life; without any respect to a future state. By _not seeing the Lord in the land of the living,_ he seems to mean, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE AGE IS DEPARTED— _My habitation is taken away, and is removed from me, like a shepherd's tent: my life is cut off, as by the weaver; he will sever me from the loom; in the course of the day thou wilt finish my web._ Lowth. Vitringa understands the word דור _dor,_ rendered _age,_ to signify the... [ Continue Reading ]
I RECKONED TILL MORNING, &C.— The meaning of the first clause is, "When I found myself surviving till the evening, I then thought with myself, that the next morning would be the utmost term of my life: in the mean time I experienced the most grievous pains, as if a lion broke all my bones." He repea... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE A CRANE, OR A SWALLOW— That is, "My pains were sometimes so violent, that they forced me to cry aloud; at other times my strength was so exhausted, that I could only groan inwardly, and bemoan my unhappy condition in sighs." The reader will find in Bochart. Hieroz. pars ii. 1. 1. c. 10. copious... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SHALL I SAY? &C.— _What say I more? he hath promised me, and he hath performed._ The meaning of the verse is, "The suddenness of my deliverance so greatly surprises me, that I want words to express my thankfulness. He hath heard my prayer, and hath performed all my desires; and the remembrance... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD, BY THESE THINGS MEN LIVE— The meaning is, that the promises of grace, attained by humble prayer, and their quick and ready application, give life to the soul; or, that divine grace, and the promises of divine grace, are the life of the soul, are the food and nourishment of true life.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, FOR PEACE I HAD GREAT BITTERNESS— That is to say, "When I thought of, perceived, and feared no evil, and seemed to enjoy my usual health, then this terrible evil came upon me: but thou hast delivered me, and freely forgiven me my sins." Thus Hezekiah does not claim exemption from guilt, but... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE GRAVE, &C.— See Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 30:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD WAS READY TO SAVE ME— JEHOVAH _was present to save me._ Lowth. It seems probable from this verse, that Hezekiah composed several other songs, some of which may be still extant among the Psalms. We may just remark from this passage of Scripture, that the proper fruit and consequence of deliv... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ISAIAH HAD SAID, &C.— _Now Isaiah had said._ "It seems to me extremely probable, (says Dr. Mead,) that the king's disease was a fever, which terminated in an abscess: for, in cases of this kind, those things are always proper which promote suppuration, especially digestive and resolving cataplas... [ Continue Reading ]