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Commentary on Isaiah 38 verses 1–8
We may hence observe, among others, these good lessons: - 1. That neither men's greatness nor their goodness will exempt them from the arrests of sickness and death. Hezekiah, a mighty potentate on earth and a mighty favourite of Heaven, is struck with a disease, which, without a miracle, will certainly be mortal; and this in the midst of his days, his comforts, and usefulness. Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. It should seem, this sickness seized him when he was in the midst of his triumphs over the ruined army of the Assyrians, to teach us always to rejoice with trembling. 2. It concerns us to prepare when we see death approaching: "Set thy house in order, and thy heart especially; put both thy affections and thy affairs into the best posture thou canst, that, when thy Lord comes, thou mayest be found of him in peace with God, with thy own conscience, and with all men, and mayest have nothing else to do but to die." Our being ready for death will make it come never the sooner, but much the easier: and those that are fit to die are most fit to live. 3. Is any afflicted with sickness? Let him pray, Jam 5:13. Prayer is a salve for every sore, personal or public. When Hezekiah was distressed by his enemies he prayed; now that he was sick he prayed. Whither should the child go, when any thing ails him, but to his Father? Afflictions are sent to bring us to our Bibles and to our knees. When Hezekiah was in health he went up to the house of the Lord to pray, for that was then the house of prayer. When he was sick in bed he turned his face towards the wall, probably towards the temple, which was a type of Christ, to whom we must look by faith in every prayer. 4. The testimony of our consciences for us that by the grace of God we have lived a good life, and have walked closely and humbly with God, will be a great support and comfort to us when we come to look death in the face. And though we may not depend upon it as our righteousness, by which to be justified before God, yet we may humbly plead it as an evidence of our interest in the righteousness of the Mediator. Hezekiah does not demand a reward from God for his good services, but modestly begs that God would remembers, not how he had reformed the kingdom, taken away the high places, cleansed the temple, and revived neglected ordinances, but, which was better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, how he had approved himself to God with a single eye and an honest heart, not only in these eminent performances, but in an even regular course of holy living: I have walked before thee in truth and sincerity, and with a perfect, that is, an upright, heart; for uprightness is our gospel perfection. 5. God has a gracious ear open to the prayers of his afflicted people. The same prophet that was sent to Hezekiah with warning to prepare for death is sent to him with a promise that he shall not only recover, but be restored to a confirmed state of health and live fifteen years yet. As Jerusalem was distressed, so Hezekiah was diseased, that God might have the glory of the deliverance of both, and that prayer too might have the honour of being instrumental in the deliverance. When we pray in our sickness, though God send not to us such an answer as he here sent to Hezekiah, yet, if by his Spirit he bids us be of good cheer, assures us that our sins are forgiven us, that his grace shall be sufficient for us, and that, whether we live or die, we shall be his, we have no reason to say that we pray in vain. God answers us if he strengthens us with strength in our souls, though not with bodily strength, Psa 138:3. 6. A good man cannot take much comfort in his own health and prosperity unless withal he see the welfare and prosperity of the church of God. Therefore God, knowing what lay near Hezekiah's heart, promised him not only that he should live, but that he should see the good of Jerusalem all the days of his life (Psa 128:5), otherwise he cannot live comfortably. Jerusalem, which is now delivered, shall still be defended from the Assyrians, who perhaps threatened to rally again and renew the attack. Thus does God graciously provide to make Hezekiah upon all accounts easy. 7. God is willing to show to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, that they may have an unshaken faith in it, and therewith a strong consolation. God had given Hezekiah repeated assurances of his favour; and yet, as if all were thought too little, that he might expect from him uncommon favours, a sign is given him, an uncommon sign. None that we know of having had an absolute promise of living a certain number of years to come, as Hezekiah had, God thought fit to confirm this unprecedented favour with a miracle. The sign was the going back of the shadow upon the sun-dial. The sun is a faithful measurer of time, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race; but he that set that clock a going can set it back when he pleases, and make it to return; for the Father of all lights is the director of them.
(Chapter 38, Verses 1 onwards) In those days, Hezekiah fell sick even unto death. And Isaiah, the son of Amos the prophet, came to him, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die, and not live. And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight: and Hezekiah wept with great weeping. Whom the Lord loves, He corrects and disciplines every son whom He receives (Prov. III). In order that Ezechias' heart would not be lifted up after incredible triumphs, and victory over the midst of captivity, he is visited with infirmity of his body, and hears that he will die, so that, being converted, he may turn to the Lord's judgment. Indeed, we read about this in the prophet Jonah, and in the threats that are said to be future against David, which did not happen, not because God changed His judgment, but because He incited the human race to the knowledge of Himself. For the Lord is remorseful over evils. And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, because he could not go to the Temple. To the wall of the Temple, next to which Solomon had built a palace. Or rather, next to Jeremiah, to his heart; who calls the heart a wall, so that with his whole mind he might pray to the Lord. And he said: I beseech you, Lord, remember, please, how I have walked before you in truth, and with a perfect heart, and that I have done what is good in your eyes. And knowing that he is about to die, he does not pray for a long life and many years, but instead asks what he should offer in God's judgement. For he knew that Solomon pleased God because he did not ask for a longer life; but going to the Lord, he recounts his works, how he walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart. Happy is the conscience that remembers good deeds during times of affliction: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). And when elsewhere it is written: Who shall glory in having a pure heart (Prov. XX, 9)? This is solved as follows: the perfection of the heart is now said to consist in the fact that it has destroyed idols, perverted the vessels of the temple of Baal, broken the brazen serpent, and done other things that Scripture mentions. However, he wept with great weeping because of the Lord's promise to David, which he saw would perish in his death. For at that time Hezekiah had no sons; for after his death, Manasseh, when he was twelve years old, began to reign in Judah. From which it is clear that three years after his life was granted, Manasseh was born. Therefore, all this weeping is because he despaired of Christ being born from his own seed. Others assert that even holy men are afraid of death due to uncertainty of judgement and ignorance of God's sentence, of which seat they will inhabit. And at the same time, the question of fate is resolved, and the bonds of necessity and causes, in that the day of death is by no means appointed to each individual, but rather someone may live or die by the will of God and unknown mortal causes, especially since the appointed necessity of death is now delayed, and we have read of many who were resurrected after death.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 38:2 vividly portrays King Hezekiah's immediate and profound response to a divine death sentence. Gravely ill and confronted by the prophet Isaiah with the LORD's decree that he would die, Hezekiah did not succumb to despair. Instead, his instinctive reaction was a deliberate and focused turning of his entire being towards the wall, a gesture of intense privacy and humility, as he poured out his heart in fervent prayer to the LORD, demonstrating an unwavering trust in God's mercy and accessibility even in the face of ultimate crisis.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This pivotal verse immediately follows Isaiah 38:1, where the prophet Isaiah delivers a stark and seemingly final message from the LORD to King Hezekiah: "Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live." This pronouncement arrives at a critical juncture in Hezekiah's life, likely during the period of immense national and personal stress surrounding the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. The narrative in Isaiah 38 functions as a significant historical interlude within the broader prophetic tapestry of Isaiah, strategically placed between the account of Sennacherib's miraculous defeat in Isaiah 37 and the concerning Babylonian embassy in Isaiah 39. Hezekiah's deeply personal and immediate response in Isaiah 38:2 sets the stage for a dramatic divine reversal, powerfully highlighting God's profound responsiveness to the earnest, believing cries of His people, even when His own prophetic word appears absolute.
Historical & Cultural Context: King Hezekiah ruled over Judah from approximately 715-686 BC, a tumultuous era dominated by the formidable Assyrian Empire. His reign is historically noted for its significant religious reforms, including the zealous purging of idolatry and the restoration of proper, centralized worship of the LORD in Jerusalem. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a prophetic word, especially one directly from the LORD, carried immense, often unchallengeable authority. To receive a direct divine pronouncement of death was not merely a medical diagnosis but an absolute decree from the ultimate sovereign. The act of "turning his face toward the wall" would have been universally understood as a deliberate and profound gesture of seeking privacy and intense focus. This posture was common in ancient prayer practices, where individuals might seek seclusion or face a specific direction (like Jerusalem or the temple) to pour out their hearts to God. This physical reorientation underscores the deeply personal and urgent nature of Hezekiah's plea, as he intentionally shut out all external distractions to engage in an unhindered, singular communion with the divine.
Key Themes: Isaiah 38:2 contributes profoundly to several enduring themes within the book of Isaiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it serves as a powerful illustration of desperate and persistent prayer in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, showcasing a powerful king who, despite his royal authority, humbly casts himself entirely upon God's mercy. Secondly, it highlights the accessibility and responsiveness of God, demonstrating that even a seemingly final divine decree can be met with, and potentially altered by, fervent, believing prayer. This passage beautifully illustrates the dynamic tension between divine sovereignty and human petition, a recurring motif throughout Scripture, particularly evident in instances like Abraham's intercession for Sodom in Genesis 18:22-33. Thirdly, the act of turning to the wall emphasizes the importance of intimacy and focused attention in prayer, suggesting that true communion with God often necessitates intentional withdrawal from the world's clamor to achieve undivided spiritual concentration. This anticipates later biblical teachings on seeking God in secret, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:6. Ultimately, Hezekiah's experience powerfully reinforces the overarching theme of God's covenant faithfulness and His unwavering willingness to act mercifully on behalf of those who genuinely seek Him, even when their own circumstances or perceived divine decrees seem to dictate otherwise.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey Hezekiah's profound spiritual state. Imagery is central, as the physical act of "turning his face toward the wall" creates a vivid, immediate mental picture of Hezekiah's intense focus, desperate humility, and desire for seclusion. This specific posture functions as powerful Symbolism, representing not merely a physical turning, but a complete reorientation of his entire being towards God, a deliberate shutting out of all earthly distractions and human intervention to engage in intimate, unhindered prayer. The stark contrast between the divine decree of death delivered in Isaiah 38:1 and Hezekiah's immediate, faith-filled act of prayer in Isaiah 38:2 introduces an element of profound Dramatic Tension, setting the stage for the remarkable divine intervention and reversal that follows in the subsequent verses. Furthermore, the simplicity and directness of the language, particularly the concluding phrase "and prayed unto the LORD," lend an air of profound authenticity, urgency, and spiritual gravitas to Hezekiah's immediate and instinctual response to crisis.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hezekiah's response in Isaiah 38:2 serves as a profound theological statement on the dynamic nature of prayer and God's interaction with humanity. It powerfully underscores the biblical truth that while God is absolutely sovereign and His word is inherently powerful, He is also a deeply personal God who hears and responds to the earnest, heartfelt cries of His people. This passage challenges any fatalistic view of divine decrees, demonstrating that prayer can indeed influence outcomes, not by changing God's immutable character or ultimate eternal plan, but by aligning human will with His merciful and compassionate nature. Hezekiah's desperate plea, born out of an ultimate crisis, highlights the profound efficacy of fervent, believing prayer, even when circumstances appear utterly irreversible. It affirms God's profound accessibility and His unwavering willingness to extend grace and mercy to those who humbly and sincerely seek Him, proving that His decrees can be conditional upon human response.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hezekiah's powerful example in Isaiah 38:2 offers timeless and profound lessons for believers facing their own "death sentences"—whether literal pronouncements of illness, overwhelming personal crises, or seemingly insurmountable challenges. In moments of profound despair, when circumstances appear utterly irreversible and divine pronouncements seem final, our most potent, immediate, and instinctual recourse should be to turn to God in earnest, desperate prayer. Hezekiah's deliberate act of turning his face to the wall teaches us the critical importance of intentionality, privacy, and intimacy in our communion with God. It calls us to actively shut out the incessant noise and myriad distractions of the world, to find or create a private, sacred space where we can unreservedly pour out our hearts, our fears, and our deepest desires to the Almighty. This is not a passive resignation to fate but an active, faith-filled, and courageous appeal to the One who holds all power, all mercy, and all authority. His story powerfully reassures us that no situation, no matter how dire or seemingly final, is beyond God's reach or His capacity to intervene. It affirms that our God is one who truly hears, who deeply cares, who compassionately responds, and who delights in showing mercy to those who seek Him wholeheartedly. It profoundly encourages us to cultivate a consistent life of persistent, focused, and believing prayer, trusting implicitly in God's character even when His perceived will appears contrary to our most fervent desires.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was God's prophecy to Hezekiah in Isaiah 38:1 truly unconditional, or was it a warning designed to elicit a response?
Answer: The prophecy delivered by Isaiah in Isaiah 38:1, "Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live," appears on the surface to be an unconditional and absolute divine decree. However, Hezekiah's immediate, fervent prayer in Isaiah 38:2 and God's swift and merciful response in Isaiah 38:5 ("I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years") profoundly demonstrate that God, in His infinite sovereignty and boundless mercy, can indeed choose to alter, extend, or even reverse a decree in response to sincere repentance and fervent, believing prayer. This dynamic interaction highlights a crucial aspect of God's relationship with humanity, where His ultimate will often incorporates His responsiveness to the heartfelt pleas of His covenant people. It strongly suggests that some prophecies, particularly those concerning judgment or negative outcomes, can indeed function as divine warnings designed to elicit a specific human response, rather than being absolute, unchangeable pronouncements of an unalterable future.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's desperate prayer and God's merciful, life-extending response in Isaiah 38:2 find their ultimate fulfillment and deepest redemptive meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Hezekiah turned to a physical wall in his moment of mortal crisis, seeking a private space to appeal to God for an extension of his earthly life, Christ Himself is the ultimate "wall" or mediator, the one through whom all true and lasting access to the Father is eternally granted. Hezekiah's fervent plea for a reprieve from physical death profoundly foreshadows the eternal life that Christ offers, which is not merely a temporary extension of mortal days but a complete victory over death itself and the promise of resurrection. Just as God heard Hezekiah's tears and added years to his life, so too does God, in Christ, hear the desperate cries of a lost and dying humanity and offer spiritual life, healing, and resurrection from the dead. Christ, in His own agonizing, desperate prayer in Gethsemane, perfectly embodied the posture of humble submission and fervent intercession, though unlike Hezekiah, He prayed for the Father's perfect will to be done, even if it meant drinking the bitter cup of suffering and death for the sins of the world. Hezekiah's temporary reprieve from death points powerfully to Christ, who is the true source of all healing and the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, offering not just physical restoration but profound spiritual regeneration and eternal life to all who turn their faces to Him in faith. He is our great High Priest, who ever lives to make intercession for us, ensuring that our prayers are heard and answered according to God's perfect, redemptive will.