Isaiah 38:18

18. The grave cannot praise thee The idea of sheol, above mentioned, is here recognised. See Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:9; Psalms 88:11-12. The removal of this sad idea was effected only by the progressive history of salvation. There was, indeed, beyond this, a vague belief of a future state, ever growing more receptive of strength and vividness, till, by Christianity, “life and immortality” were brought fully to light. But Hezekiah’s age saw principally the dark, natural images of the future state, which fact explains the words of this verse.