Isaiah 38:17. 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 readily and humbly confesses that he deserved punishment, and was indebted solely to the divine mercy. read more
Isaiah 38:18. For the grave, &c.— See Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 30:12. read more
Isaiah 38:20. 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 deliverance from evils is thanksgiving, diffusing itself through all the actions of life. It exhibits to us a picture of our duty and state, who, redeemed as we are, by the precious blood of... read more
Isaiah 38:21. 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 cataplasms, and dried figs are excellent for this intention. Thus the Omnipotent, who could remove this distemper by his word alone, chose to do it by the effect of natural remedies. And here... read more
CHAPTER 38 :-. HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS; PERHAPS CONNECTED WITH THE PLAGUE OR BLAST WHEREBY THE ASSYRIAN ARMY HAD BEEN DESTROYED. read more
1. Set . . . house in order—Make arrangement as to the succession to the throne; for he had then no son; and as to thy other concerns. thou shall die—speaking according to the ordinary course of the disease. His being spared fifteen years was not a change in God's mind, but an illustration of God's dealings being unchangeably regulated by the state of man in relation to Him. read more
2. The couches in the East run along the walls of houses. He turned away from the spectators to hide his emotion and collect his thoughts for prayer. read more
3. He mentions his past religious consistency, not as a boast or a ground for justification; but according to the Old Testament dispensation, wherein temporal rewards (as long life, c., :-) followed legal obedience, he makes his religious conduct a plea for asking the prolongation of his life. walked—Life is a journey the pious "walk with God" (Genesis 5:24; 1 Kings 9:4). perfect—sincere; not absolutely perfect, but aiming towards it (1 Kings 9:4- :); single-minded in walking as in the... read more
4. In :-, the quickness of God's answer to the prayer is marked, "afore Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him"; that is, before he had left Hezekiah, or at least when he had just left him, and Hezekiah was in the act of praying after having heard God's message by Isaiah (compare Isaiah 65:24; Psalms 32:5; Daniel 9:21). read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 38:16
Isaiah 38:16. 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. read more