イザヤ書 38:17-21 JCB

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:9-22

The song of Hezekiah. It is a song of peculiar sweetness—from a literary point of view, characterized by great elegance; from a spiritual point of view, unfolding some deepest elements of Hebrew and of human pathos. I. THE CONTEMPLATION OF DEATH . It was in middle life , in the "noon-tide of his days," that he had to face the dark gates of Sheol. "Midway in life, as to Dante, came his peril of death." It has been said that there is a peculiar melancholy in middle life.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:11-19

The great disclosure. "If a man die, shall he live again?" asks the anxious, hopeful, human spirit. This composition of Hezekiah either indicates or suggests— I. THE LIGHT WHICH THE HEBREW SAINTS POSSESSED . They believed that death did not terminate man's existence; that, after death, he dwelt in Sheol with the spirits of the departed, with "the inhabitants of the land of stillness;" in a region, deep, dark, shut up within impassable gates through which they that have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:17

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness ; rather, behold , it was for my peace that I had such bitterness , such bitterness. The pain that I underwent was for the true peace and comfort of my soul (comp. Psalms 94:12 ; Psalms 119:75 ; Proverbs 3:12 ; Hebrews 12:5-11 ). Thou hast in love , etc.; literally, thou hast loved my soul back from the pit of destruction—as if God's love, beaming on the monarch's soul, had drawn it back from the edge of the pit (comp. Hosea 11:4 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:17

God's way with sin. "For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back." To cast behind one's back, in Hebrew and Arabic, is a figure of speech meaning "to forget, to lose sight of, to exclude from view." Roberts, writing of Hindoo life, says, "This metaphor is in common use, and has sometimes a very offensive signification. The expression is used to denote the most complete and contemptuous rejection of a person or thing. 'The king has cast his minister behind his back,' that is, fully removed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:18

The grave cannot praise thee (cormpare the comment on Isaiah 38:11 ). It is avoiding the plain force of these passages to say that Hezekiah only means that those who go to Hades in a state of condemnation cannot be expected there to praise God (Kay). He speaks broadly and generally of all: "The living, the living, shall praise thee; Sheol cannot praise thee; Death cannot celebrate thee." Manifestly, though he believes in a future state, it is one in which there is either no energy at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:19

The living . Those who still enjoy the light of day. The repetition is emphatic, and has the force of "the living, and the living only. " The father to the children . Hezekiah may, or may not, have had children himself at the time. Manasseh was not born; but he may have had daughters, or even other sons, who did not survive him. He is not, however, perhaps, thinking of his own ease. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:19

Parental obligation. "The father to the children shall make known thy truth." I. THAT TRUTH IS THE COMMON HERITAGE OF THE RACE . Of all open and common things truth is that to which our right is most indisputable. The air, the light, the sea, the sky, the beauty of the landscape, etc; are open to us all; but truth, above all these things, is common property. II. THAT REVEALED TRUTH IS PECULIARLY PRECIOUS TO MANKIND . All truth may be said to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:20

The Lord was ready to save me; rather, came to my rescue ; came and saved me. Therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments ; rather, therefore will we play my stringed instruments. Hezekiah calls the stringed instruments his, because he had recalled their use, and re-established them as a part of the temple service after the suspension of that service by Ahaz ( 2 Chronicles 29:30 ). His intention now is to take continual part with the Levites in . Upon the boil .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:20

Music in the heart. "The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord." The graver question is—Are we ready to be saved? God's arm is not shortened, that he cannot save. And his love to us is the same through all the long centuries. Christ touched the real cause of distance: "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." I. THE READINESS OF GOD . "All things are now ready," said... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:17

Behold, for peace - That is, instead of the health, happiness, and prosperity which I had enjoyed, and which I hope still to enjoy.I had great bitterness - Hebrew, ‘Bitterness to me, bitterness;’ an emphatic expression, denoting intense sorrow.But thou hast in love to my soul - Margin, ‘Loved my soul from the pit.’ The word which occurs here (חשׁקת châshaqtâ) denotes properly to join or fasten together; then to be attached to anyone; to be united tenderly; to embrace. Here it means that God... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:9-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:11-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 38:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 38:17

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